Presiding: Jaime Stine
Meeting Room setup/takedown and general problem solving: Tom Mangan and Ron Van Ekeren
Inspiration: Anita McLaughlin
Professor’s Quote:
Introduction of Guests: Talisha Mottinger
Guests: Todd Pearson introduced prospective member, Hanna Eslinger.
Exchange Students: Irene Sottile
Visiting Rotarians: Harold Colby
Junior Rotarians/RYLA/Young RYLA: Owen & Yessica
Rotaract Students:
Humor: Terry Roark
Foundation Drawing: Yessica won $10 with $858.50 in the jackpot.
O’Dwyers Drawing: Dave Krause
Announcements:
Noel Welch told the club that this year’s Christmas family is a single day with 4-year-old twin girls and a 7-year-old boy.
Larry Struempf encouraged members to sign up for the Christmas party on Dec. 17 at O’Dwyers. The price is $23/person.
Larry Struempf asked club members to consider applying to be an assistant district governor, since this is his last year.
Jaime Stine asked the club to provide any comments on prospective member, JT Walsh by Nov. 21 to a board member.
Beth Jones announced that the community health needs assessment is available.
Upcoming Programs:
Nov. 28: No meeting on Thanksgiving!
Dec. 5: TBD
Dec. 12: UW Science Initiative, Greg Brown
Rotarian of the Week: Nick Hauser nominated all Rotarians who attended the social hour; Steve Morgan nominated Nick Hauser for coordinating the social hour and Kaus Hanson and Keith Downey for sponsoring an event that benefited the Laramie Police Department; Tim Sullivan nominated Kelly Neville for becoming president of the Wyoming Bar Association.
Rotarian of the Month: Gerry Meyer
Songs: Shine On Harvest Moon
Program: My Front Door, Dakota Metzger
Introduction: Don Prehoda
Metzger is a family advocate for the nonprofit organization, My Front Door. The nonprofit assists families with home ownership.
It is a three-phase program. The first phase is mainly financial over a 12-week period. This phase includes working on financial preparedness and civic leadership.
In phase 2, the families work for 18-24 months on establishing savings, becoming more financially literate, and do more with civic leadership. This phase is more one-on-one to help with personal goals, work on acquiring better job placement, and finding education opportunities. The program requires that the families set up an emergency and a housing savings account. The family must save $2,400 by 24 months, but on average most families save about $10,000.
In the final phase, the program assists the families in actually going through the process of purchasing a home. Then it provides continued educational support for 3-5 years. The organization is there for every step of the process and after.
It provides $1,000 maintenance grants to families each year, coupled with classes on increasing home value.
The program is in Laramie and Cheyenne. Each session has ten families participate, and it is only for low-income families. For the classes, the organization provides free childcare and meals.
The families do a group community service project to learn about service and to become better citizens. Eighty-five percent of the families continue to volunteer.
Home ownership helps to move these families out of poverty. It also has been shown to increase letter grades for students by 1 letter grade; to decrease the percentage of children that engage in risky behaviors; increases high school graduation rates; increases the percentage of family members attending college; and decreases the chances the family’s children continue in the poverty cycle.
The organization is currently looking for families to sign up in Laramie. It is also looking for volunteers.
Response: Tim Sullivan
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?
‘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!
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Website: laramierotaryclub.org
Spoke Editor: Caitlin White, 307-630-1965, cwhite@acplwy.org