Presiding: Tim Eisenhauer
Meeting Room setup/takedown and general problem solving: Tom Mangan, Ron Van Ekeren & Mark Mader
Inspiration: Anita McLaughlin
Professor’s Quote:
Guests: Aimee Binning introduced Darin Binning; Murray Schroeder introduced Sally Schroder.
Exchange Students:
Visiting Rotarians:
Junior Rotarians: Jason Scott
Rotaract Students:
Humor: Terry Roark
Songs:
Foundation Drawing: Keith Downey won $10 with $284 in the jackpot and 46 cards in the deck.
O’Dwyers Drawing: Rollin Abernethy won a $20 gift card from O’Dwyer’s.
Announcements:
- Becky Maddox announced that we are two weeks out from the duck race on June 30. Let Becky know how you can help on the day.
- Amelia Kelso needs volunteers to assist with a couple youth programs she is holding over the summer. She needs mock interviewers and generational volunteers for a generational dynamics workshop.
- Caitlin White announced that the Albany County Public Library is participating in The Great American Read, an 8-part PBS series. Several events are upcoming.
Rotarian of the Week: Tim Eisenhauer nominated the duck counters/sorters; Jan Lawrence nominated Anita McLaughlin for manning the front table at the last minute.
Rotarian of the Month: Aimee Binning
Special Presentation: Sally Schroder spoke to the club on behalf of Snowy Range FFA. The FFA chapter needs to raise $36,000 to attend national convention this fall. The chapter had six teams win at state convention. FFA is reaching out to the community and does have sponsor levels.
Introduction of Program: Tim Stamp
Jim Mathis gave the club an update on WyoTech. Jim started by telling the club how WyoTech changed his life. He came to WyoTech wanting to learn just a single topic area. While there, his perspective changed and he became interested in teaching. Jim started as a student at WyoTech at age 19 and eventually became the president and CEO.
The current WyoTech owner, ECME, is a subdivision of Zenith. The nonprofit has run the school for about three years and has poured lots of money into its several schools. Zenith announced at the beginning of last November that it was closing all of its schools. Hearing this, WyoTech employees stood up to fight to keep the school.
UW and LCCC were approached because ECMC will sell to a nonprofit. At the end of January, Jim met with several local business leaders as well.
The school would cost about $12-$14 million. The state legislators changed a bill to allow WyoTech to apply for a $5 million loan. After a lot of negotiation, Jim has secured the loan and financing to purchase WyoTech. It is not a done deal, but if all goes as expected, closing should be in two weeks.
WyoTech would then seek approval from the accrediting body. In the future, the school would start with 11-12 students who are interested in a second course. This will help to maintain the open status. Then the school will start marketing for new students.
Jim expects it will take three years to break even. Those involved hope to cover the expenses during those three years before the school begins to make money. There are approximately 50 employees left at WyoTech.
Responding for the Club: John Vandel
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?
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Website: laramierotaryclub.org
Spoke Editor: Caitlin White