June 12, 2025
Meeting Summary
Presiding: Kelly Neville
Meeting Room setup/takedown and
general problem solving: Tom
Mangan and Ron Van Ekeren
Inspiration:
Professor’s Quote:
Foundation Flash:
Introduction of Guests: Dave Hansen
Guests: Trista Ostrom, Natalie
Speckner, John Bard introduced Karen
Bard; Rollin Abernethy introduced
Carolyn Abernethy; Todd Pearson
introduced Amanda Nisson, Kynley
Pearson, and Mireya Pearson; Keith
Rittle introduced Ted Rittle; Holly
Dyer introduced Scarlett Barnes.
Visiting Rotarians:
Junior Rotarians/RYLA/Young
RYLA/Exchange Students:
Rotaract/Interact Students:
Humor: Keith Rittle
Foundation Drawing: Christina
Kuzmych won $10 with $908 in the
jackpot.
O’Dwyers Drawing: George Gill
Meeting Summary
Presiding: Kelly Neville
Meeting Room setup/takedown and
general problem solving: Tom
Mangan and Ron Van Ekeren
Inspiration:
Professor’s Quote:
Foundation Flash:
Introduction of Guests: Dave Hansen
Guests: Trista Ostrom, Natalie
Speckner, John Bard introduced Karen
Bard; Rollin Abernethy introduced
Carolyn Abernethy; Todd Pearson
introduced Amanda Nisson, Kynley
Pearson, and Mireya Pearson; Keith
Rittle introduced Ted Rittle; Holly
Dyer introduced Scarlett Barnes.
Visiting Rotarians:
Junior Rotarians/RYLA/Young
RYLA/Exchange Students:
Rotaract/Interact Students:
Humor: Keith Rittle
Foundation Drawing: Christina
Kuzmych won $10 with $908 in the
jackpot.
O’Dwyers Drawing: George Gill
Announcements:
• Don’t forget to volunteer to work
the greeting table!
• Kelly Neville reminded the club
that Sunrise Rotary needs
volunteers for the Jubilee Days
jalapeño contest.
• Dave Hansen, on behalf of Tim
Eisenhauer, told the club that we
are sending five students to Young
RYLA and one student to RYLA.
• Taste of Laradie was a big success.
We sold out, and the raffle was
great. We will gross over $20,000.
Upcoming Programs:
• June 26: New officer inductions
Rotarian of the Week: Kelly Neville
nominated Shaun Bullock, Keith Rittle,
and Terry Moss for their work on Taste
of Laradise; Terry Moss and Chet
Lockard nominated Kelly Neville for
her work on Taste of Laradise; Kelly
Neville nominated Tim Snowbarger for
Laramie Connections’
accomplishments.
Songs: Grand Ole Flag
Program: Wyoming Hunger Initiative,
Jennie Gordon
Introduction: Don Prehoda
First Lady Jennie Gordon is one of 10
kids in her family. Her mother was a
war bride and her father struggled with
food insecurity. During campaigning,
Gordon noticed that there was a food
shortage theme across the state. She
wanted to work on this issue in all 23
countries to support current work.
Over 83,000 Wyoming residents
struggle with food insecurity. The
Wyoming Hunger Initiative works to
address this in many ways. They have
supported infrastructure projects
through $887,887 in grants. This is a
once-a-year process. This year, they
had $150,000 to give and over
$260,000 in applications. This supports
organizations in our community such
as: Laramie Interfaith, Laramie
Connections, the Eppson Center for
Seniors, and the Laramie Soup
Kitchen.
Food from the Field is a program
where wild game is donated and
provided. Over 73,000 pounds has
been donated from 1,185 animals
through 12 processing locations.
Beef for Backpacks is a program where
a beef stick is sent home in every
backpack that is part of a Backpack
Program in the state. One processed
cow yields 2,880 beef stick snack
packs. This serves 80 kids for 26
weeks. Each week 7,000 beef sticks are
needed statewide to handle the
demand. 307 Meats in Laramie does all
the processing for this program.
Fair to Fork is a program where
Wyoming Hunger Initiative purchases
pigs at fair from kids. The pig is then
donated for food.
Grow a Little Extra is a program where
people can grow extra food in home
and community gardens that can be
harvested and donated. In 2024, 44,616
pounds were donated. One unique part
of this program is the Wyoming Honor
Farm with inmates in Riverton. The
inmates learn to farm the food and
provide a donation.
Angel Accounts is to support paying
off school lunch fund debt. This is a
big issue in Wyoming. The debt was
paid off in 2021, but has been climbing
ever since.
The organization also participates in
holiday assistance statewide, and
supports the Shop with a Cop program.
The UW Tackle Hunger football game
and Hearts for Hunger are also their
projects.
Wyoming Hunger Initiative is in the
process of becoming a 501c3 nonprofit,
so it can carry on once Gov. Gordon’s
time in office is complete. They will
work to develop an endowment, hire
staff, building current projects, and
develop new strategies.
Response: Doug Faus
‘Response: The Rotary Club of
Laramie will make a donation to the
public library children’s book fund in
the speaker’s name.
NOTE: We Do Not Donate a Book!
Rotary 4-way test
Of the things we think, say, or do:
•Is it the Truth?
•Is it Fair?
•Will it build Good Will and
Better Friendships?
•Will it be Beneficial to All
Concerned?
Like us on Facebook!
Website: laramierotaryclub.org
Spoke Editor: Caitlin White, 307-630-
1965, cwhite@acplwy.org
• Don’t forget to volunteer to work
the greeting table!
• Kelly Neville reminded the club
that Sunrise Rotary needs
volunteers for the Jubilee Days
jalapeño contest.
• Dave Hansen, on behalf of Tim
Eisenhauer, told the club that we
are sending five students to Young
RYLA and one student to RYLA.
• Taste of Laradie was a big success.
We sold out, and the raffle was
great. We will gross over $20,000.
Upcoming Programs:
• June 26: New officer inductions
Rotarian of the Week: Kelly Neville
nominated Shaun Bullock, Keith Rittle,
and Terry Moss for their work on Taste
of Laradise; Terry Moss and Chet
Lockard nominated Kelly Neville for
her work on Taste of Laradise; Kelly
Neville nominated Tim Snowbarger for
Laramie Connections’
accomplishments.
Songs: Grand Ole Flag
Program: Wyoming Hunger Initiative,
Jennie Gordon
Introduction: Don Prehoda
First Lady Jennie Gordon is one of 10
kids in her family. Her mother was a
war bride and her father struggled with
food insecurity. During campaigning,
Gordon noticed that there was a food
shortage theme across the state. She
wanted to work on this issue in all 23
countries to support current work.
Over 83,000 Wyoming residents
struggle with food insecurity. The
Wyoming Hunger Initiative works to
address this in many ways. They have
supported infrastructure projects
through $887,887 in grants. This is a
once-a-year process. This year, they
had $150,000 to give and over
$260,000 in applications. This supports
organizations in our community such
as: Laramie Interfaith, Laramie
Connections, the Eppson Center for
Seniors, and the Laramie Soup
Kitchen.
Food from the Field is a program
where wild game is donated and
provided. Over 73,000 pounds has
been donated from 1,185 animals
through 12 processing locations.
Beef for Backpacks is a program where
a beef stick is sent home in every
backpack that is part of a Backpack
Program in the state. One processed
cow yields 2,880 beef stick snack
packs. This serves 80 kids for 26
weeks. Each week 7,000 beef sticks are
needed statewide to handle the
demand. 307 Meats in Laramie does all
the processing for this program.
Fair to Fork is a program where
Wyoming Hunger Initiative purchases
pigs at fair from kids. The pig is then
donated for food.
Grow a Little Extra is a program where
people can grow extra food in home
and community gardens that can be
harvested and donated. In 2024, 44,616
pounds were donated. One unique part
of this program is the Wyoming Honor
Farm with inmates in Riverton. The
inmates learn to farm the food and
provide a donation.
Angel Accounts is to support paying
off school lunch fund debt. This is a
big issue in Wyoming. The debt was
paid off in 2021, but has been climbing
ever since.
The organization also participates in
holiday assistance statewide, and
supports the Shop with a Cop program.
The UW Tackle Hunger football game
and Hearts for Hunger are also their
projects.
Wyoming Hunger Initiative is in the
process of becoming a 501c3 nonprofit,
so it can carry on once Gov. Gordon’s
time in office is complete. They will
work to develop an endowment, hire
staff, building current projects, and
develop new strategies.
Response: Doug Faus
‘Response: The Rotary Club of
Laramie will make a donation to the
public library children’s book fund in
the speaker’s name.
NOTE: We Do Not Donate a Book!
Rotary 4-way test
Of the things we think, say, or do:
•Is it the Truth?
•Is it Fair?
•Will it build Good Will and
Better Friendships?
•Will it be Beneficial to All
Concerned?
Like us on Facebook!
Website: laramierotaryclub.org
Spoke Editor: Caitlin White, 307-630-
1965, cwhite@acplwy.org