The January 29, 2026 meeting will be held at the City of Fort Collins Council Chambers at 300 LaPorte Avenue. Meeting will start promptly at 7am and end shortly before 8 am.

Fort Collins Breakfast Rotary is a diverse group of service-oriented individuals of all ages who work together to make our community and world a better place. We believe in having fun while expanding network opportunities, learning from weekly programs and uniting to solve problems. We are dedicated to creating lasting change—and find that endeavor richly rewarding.

Our Club’s culture is defined by five core values:

  • Service—We act with compassion to improve lives.
  • Adaptability—We embrace open-mindedness and lead the changes required to broaden our impact.
  • Community—We support each other through life’s ups and downs, having fun along the way.
  • Diversity—We see our differences as a source of strength.
  • Integrity—We live our lives individually and as a club according to Rotary's Four-Way Test

Rotary’s Four-Way Test applies to the things we think, say and do in our personal and professional lives:

  1. Is it the TRUTH?
  2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
  3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
  4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

If you want to make connections, find purpose and give back to the community, then attend one of our weekly meetings. We meet on Thursday mornings at Ginger & Baker, 359 Linden St. Fort Collins. We gather at 6:45 a.m., with every meeting wrapping up by 8 a.m.

Check us out and see if we’re a fit for you.

Club News
Finally Home Kit Project

Several members of the Breakfast Club spent Saturday morning putting together Toolkits for Big Emotions for the Finally Home organization.

Children and youth who have experienced trauma often feel big emotions. The first step in being able to safely work through overwhelming emotions is to name them. We created a Finally Home Toolkit for BIG Emotions for children and for youth. The Toolkits equip parents, teachers, and caregivers to help young people correctly identify their emotions and establish calming strategies. Each Toolkit contains a Family Guidebook, Quick Reference Guide, and eight different concrete items that assist children in emotional regulation. Items in each kit are tailored to the two different age groups.

Since 2008, Finally Home has been equipping foster, adoptive, and kinship families to build healthy homes where children and youth can heal and thrive. For more information: https://finallyhome.net

$10K No Sweat Raffle Enables Rotary to do Good 
 
 
Rotary Club of Fort Collins Breakfast’s  $10,000 No Sweat Raffle 
 
Buy a ticket for $100 and you just might win $500 or $1000 or $10,000. ONLY 500 tickets will be sold. And you don’t need to be present to win!!!  
 
This is a WIN NO-MATTER-WHAT opportunity! Funds raised from ticket purchases will be used to serve more people in our local community and around the world: 
  • Award grants to area non-profits such as Neighbor2Neighbor, Coats & Boots, Food Bank of Larimer County and MORE
  • Support our youth through scholarships, leadership awards and international exchanges!
  • Address community needs, particularly underserved areas and populations
Drawing will be conducted Saturday, March 28, starting at 6:00 p.m. at Innosphere Ventures in Fort Collins. Again, no need to be present, we will notify you if your ticket is drawn. Only one winner per ticket.
 
To give back to our community and our world and to have a chance to win $10,000, purchase your No Sweat ticket TODAY at https://rotaryfcbreakfast.org/
Breakfast Rotary Members Receive Paul Harris Recognition

 

Chair John Sheltren presented the following members with their Paul Harris recognition pins from The Rotary Foundation: Sam Preuss (her first!); Connie Sheltren (her 6th) and Walt Grady (his 7th). The Rotary Foundation recognized Rotary members with a Paul Harris (Rotary's founder) with a pin for every $1000 they donated to the foundation.

 

 

Becky Niemiec PACT Presentation

Becky Niemiec,  Associate Professor at Colorado State University and Founding Director for PACT Colorado (People and Animal Companions Together), presented a program to the Breakfast Club on January 22 on providing assistance to families in need so they can care for and keep their pets. 82% of pet owners consider their pets family, but 27% of pet owners have had to give pet away. Pets have been found to be good for one's health - exercise, blood pressure, mental health, fun! However, sometimes people delay healthcare services because they have no support for their pets (63% of hospitalized pet owners worry about their pets)

Mission of PACT is to provide assistance to human and animal families in need so they can care for and keep their pets through:

  • House Call program - people come and provide walks; mobile vet care (vaccines); help with grooming; help with pet deposits
  • Temporary Foster Care

For more information visit: https://www.pactcolorado.org

 

Rendezvous Trail Cleanup

Six hardy souls, 4 Rotarians and 2 guests, cleaned up a section of the Rendezvous Trail near Fort Collins High School. This hands on activity is a monthly event and part of the Community Service Committee of the Breakfast Rotary Club. In addition to cleaning the trail, the other on going hands on activities include Meals on Wheels, and the Food Bank for Larimer County.

It's Palisade Peach Time

Nothing says summer like a delicious Palisade peach, and our Club is selling 20 lb. boxes of these amazing peaches again this year.

Every box of peaches purchased helps a child learn about the excitement of books and reading. Why? Because a portion of proceeds from peach sales will go to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Larimer County, an early literacy program that provides a free, age-appropriate book each month to a child age 0-5 who is enrolled in the program, and Book Trust, a program which provides students in Title I elementary schools the opportunity to choose and keep their own books at no cost to their families.

Funds raised will also be used to support local and international Rotary projects.

You can order your boxes of Palisade peaches today through Aug. 17 online at Fort Collins Breakfast Rotary – Fort Collins Breakfast Rotary.

Giving Back to Our Community

Our Club's three fundraisers--peach sales, 10K Raffle and Field Of Honor--allowed the Club to have a major impact on our community. During fiscal year 2024-2025, we awarded more than $35,000 in grants to non-profits in our community. 

Our Community Service Committee sorted through numerous grant applications and ultimately awarded grants to 11 area non-profits. Grants ranged from $4,000 to $1,000 and were for a variety of causes coats and boots for underserved community children, rent subsidy, music for marginalized persons, literacy, etc.  

Non-profits benefitting from Club fundraising included the following:

  • Project Self Sufficiency
  • Coats & Boots 
  • Neighbor to Neighbor
  • Off The Hook Arts: musical instruments
  • CSU Writing Center
  • Hispanic Women's Farming Proyecto (FC Community Action)
  • Sound Effects
  • Food Bank of Larimer County
  • Mujeres de Colores
  • Outreach Fort Collins 
  • Fort Collins Action Network, Hispanic Farming ProjectNetwork: Hispanic Farming Project 

Eight additional non-profits--one that specificaly provide services to veterans and first responders--were key beneficiaries of funds generated from the Field Of Honor through sale of medallions, donations and Community Supporters. Grants ranging from $4,000 to $600 were provided to the following non-profits:

  • First Responder Trauma Services
  • B-Bold Empowered Adaptive Living
  • High Plains Honor Flight
  • Vets Honoring Vets
  • Berthoud American Legion Post 67
  • Larimer County Search & Rescue
  • Health 4 Heroes
  • Platte River Veterans Fly Fishing

“Grants awarded to non-profits address the needs of our community, ” stated Brooke Cunningham, who headed up the Club's Community Service Committee. "We are passionate about our community and having a lasting impact on it. We want to make the world a better place for all.

“These grants are why we fundraise.”

2 Club Members Receive Paul Harris Recognition 

Two Club members were recently recognized as Paul Harris recipients: Andy Groeger, far left, and Saira Hafeez, second from right. Andy was recognized as a “Paul Harris plus seven” contributor while Saira was presented her first Paul Harris pin. Saira, who leads the local Rotaract Club, was extremely surprised as her donation to the Rotary International Foundation stemmed from a donation from the club on her behalf.

A club member receiving a Paul Harris pin is based on a contribution to the Rotary International Foundation of $1,000. 

Pictured with Andy and Sara are Club president Joe McCarthy, second from left, and John Sheltren, RIF Club Chair, far right.

‘My Hero’ Essay Winners Recognized

The first-, second- and third-place winners of the Club's Field Of Honor “My Hero” essay contest for third and fourth graders in the Poudre School District read their essays during a recent Club meeting. 

First-place winner Riley Whitehead, Eyestone Elementary, wrote her “My Hero” essay about her uncle Nick Gaucher who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma at age 11 but who chose to live life fully and not sit on the sidelines. Battling the disease, Nick went skydiving and snowboarding. 

“He lost his battle with cancer but his spirit continues to live on within me,” Riley wrote. “I hope to live life to the fullest, just like my uncle once did.”

Riley was presented a certificate of achievement and a check for $100 from the Club.

The mother of Jac Samson, the second-place winner, Olander Elementary, read her daughter's essay for her.  Jac is nonverbal and communicates through eye blinks and hand raises. Jac chose her teacher Mr. Morgan Lopotowski as her hero. 

“Mr. Morgan takes his time when he talks to me, Jac wrote. “He gives me time to answer and gives me yes or no choices. . . I feel safe with Mr. Morgan because he understands my needs. Mr. Morgan challenges me in my classroom.”

In addition to receiving a certificate suitable for framing, Jac was given a check from the Club for $75.

 

Placing third among the 260-plus “My Hero” entries was Safa Hamidzai, Rice Elementary. Safa's essay honored her parents.

Safa's first paragraph of her essay stated, “My heroes are my parents because they always smile through tough times and they fought to protect us and our country in war.” 

She concluded her essay with “One day I hope to be a hero to others the way that my parents are for me.” 

Like the other two winners, Safa received a certificate of achievement. She was also presented with a check from the Club for $50.

Field Of Honor: Club's Gift to the Community

 

The Field Of Honor--a gift to our community by our Rotary during the four-day Memorial Day weekend--again served two key purposes: 1) to provide the community a place to salute our country's heroes and to educate the next generation; and 2) to raise funds for our Club. 

This year's Field Of Honor raised close to $50,000. Of that amount, just under $40,000 came from Community Supporters and just under $10,000 from medallion sales and donations. 

Proceeds from the Field Of Honor will be used by our Club to award grants to non-profits in our community--40% will be given specifically to non-profits that provide services to veterans and first responders--and to help underwrite community service projects. 

Although the weather wasn't ideal during the four-day event, Club enthusiasm and community involvement and appreciation was evident.

“Presenting the Field Of Honor is a huge undertaking for our Club and a significant fundraiser,” states Dave Marvin, Club Field Of Honor chair. "Field Of Honor has also become an integral and important part of our community's Memorial Day weekend culture.

“What a beautiful place to honor the service men and women who gave their lives to protect our freedom as well as honor our first responders and personal heroes. The 500 American flags that comprise the Field of Honor are an amazing, humbling and inspiring sight. And every medallion attached to a flag tells a story.”

Fort Collins Breakfast Rotary appreciates the generosity of the businesses and individuals who donated to the Field Of Honor as Community Supporters and those individuals who purchased medallions. Their benevolence will be returned to our community and have a positive impact on many lives. 

Honor Your Hero at Field Of Honor

Got a hero? A veteran, active military, first responder, a friend who goes beyond again and again, a former teacher? Honor him or her at the Field Of Honor, May 23-26, at Spring Canyon Community Park, Fort Collins.

The back of every medallion has the hero's name, a brief description of why he/she is being honored and the donor's name.

Net proceeds from medallion sales stay in our community: grants to non-profits that provide services to veterans and first responders, additional community non-profits and club service projects.

Purchase your medallion today at Fort Collins Breakfast Rotary – Fort Collins Breakfast Rotary.

May Student of the Month Honored
Josh Gelfeld, a student at Centennial High School in Fort Collins, was recognized at a recent meeting as the Club's Student of the Month. Zak Larson, the Centennial High School teacher who nominated Josh, said he appreciated Josh's “love of learning.” Zac pointed out that Josh asks for books so he could learn more beyond what was being taught in the classroom and he applies what he learns in school to his life outside of the classroom. 

 

A very humble and thankful Josh said he never thought he would be Student of the Month--but said he was honored to be named such. 

As the Club's Student of the Month, Josh received a certificate of recognition, a Rotary water bottle and a crisp $50. Presenting these items to Josh at the first Rotary meeting in May was Club member Dan St. John.
Field Of Honor, May 23-26

The Field Of Honor will again be at Spring Canyon Community Park, Fort Collins, during Memorial Day weekend, May 23-26. This awe-inspiring display of 500 American flags flying in formation salutes our country's heroes: veterans, active military, first responders and personal heroes.

This sea of red, white and blue is free to the public and is the ideal place to reflect on our country being “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” Individuals are encouraged to walk among the 500 flags and read the medallions attached to the flags. Each medallion tells a story.

In addition to the Field Of Honor providing the community a place to honor our heroes, this Memorial Day display is a Club fundraiser. Funds are raised by the sale of medallions and through Community Supporters, with net proceeds staying within our community. Rotary turns the funds raised into grants to non-profitr that provide services to veterans and first responders as well as grants to other community non-profits and Club community service projects.

“Field Of Honor is our gift to the community that keeps on giving throughout the year thanks to our Community Supporters and those who purchase a medallion,” states Dave Marvin, Club member who chairs the Field Of Honor. 

Grants Awarded to Two More Non-Profits

Two non-profits in our community recently received grants from our Rotary: Food Bank of larimer County and Platte River Veteran's Fly Fishing.

The Food Bank of Larimer County were given a grant of $2,000 to help fund its Kids Cafe Summer Meals. A note received by the Club's Community Service Community underscores the importance of helping our community: "The Food Bank’s Lunch Lab is gearing up to hit the road in less than a month, and the Cloverleaf mobile home community will be on our route again this year thanks to your Rotary! Our team is so grateful that we’ll be able to serve the kids at Cloverleaf again, especially in a year with so much uncertainty."
 
The second non-profit to receive funding was Platte River Veteran's Fly Fishing. This non-profit that provides services to veterans sought funding to purchase fly fishing rods. These rods will be used to teach veterans the required skill, patience and attention to detail required when assembling a fly fishing rod.
 
Our Club's three key fundraisers--Field Of Honor, 10K Raffle and peach sales--provide the funds needed so our Club can continue to help meet the needs of our community and improve lives.


 

Helping Keep Community Trail Clean

Once a month Club members walk the Rendezvous Trail in Fort Collins and clean it as they go. This Saturday, Rotoact members joined the Club's community service project. 

Cleaning the Rendezvous Trail is one of many that our members undertake in our community. 

Food, Fellowship & Winning Raffle Ticket

Fort Collins Breakfast Rotary members enjoyed an evening of fellowship, food and fun on Thursday, April 3, during its $10K Jackpot Jubilee's “Raffle for Good” celebration. At the end of the evening, one lucky person was $10,000 richer when raffle ticket 1073 was drawn.

“Not only was one person super surprised and over-the-moon happy when his/her ticket was drawn, but this fundraiser added approximately $25,000 to our Foundation treasury,” states Bob Melrose who chaired the fundraiser. 

“That money won't stay in the Foundation treasury long, however, as we have numerous community and international service projects to undertake. We are chomping at the bit to give this money back to our community and the world.”

Providing Our Community with Hygiene Products

Our Rotary members continue to support the parents of young children enrolled in Poudre School District's Early Childhood Education by providing them with personal hygiene products--everything from diapers, laundry detergent, paper towels and toilet paper to hand soap, shampoo and toothpaste. This past month our Club made not one, but two deliveries, of personal hygiene products. 

Club member Fran Lefler who spearheads this Club project also oversaw the delivery of the Club's 65 boxes and bags of hygiene products to PSD ECE in March. 

“Every hygiene product provided by our Club means parents have money to spend on nutritious food for their children,” Fran states. “No parent has to decide whether a family stays clean or has food on the table.”

ISC Water Project Helps Ethiopian Village

Rotary Club of Fort Collins Breakfast recently completed its ninth International Service Committee Water Project in Ethiopia—and its second water project in Nekemte, Ethiopia. 

Our Club’s latest Ethiopia-based project involved renovating the Laga Guracho’s water source that impacts almost 2,000 individuals. Work completed in the rural village of Lalo Kebele, Jima Arjo District, Ethiopia, included repairing a spring cap, upgrading a water collection point, building two clothes washstands and adding a four-faucet collection point. Thanks to this project, it is now more convenient for women and girls in the area to collect water for their homes.

The work was completed in less than a year for $6,300—or about $3.25 per person. And the system is anticipated to remain relatively maintenance free for decades. 

Funding contributors for this International Service Project included Rotary District 5440; the Central Highlands Foundation; Presbyterian Women of First Presbyterian Church, Soda Springs, Idaho; and Rotary Club of Fort Collins Breakfast.

International Committee a Committee of Action

The Club’s International Service Committee meets every other month to hear updates on projects being funded by the Club and to consider potential projects. Nine projects have been funded by the Club for 2024-2025:

  • Toileton WASH, El Salvador
  • Reforestation and water management, Brazil
  • Library, Gambia
  • Hospitalia Atitlan, Guatemala
  • Rotary Blood Center, India
  • Smokeless cooking stoves, India
  • Latrines, Cambodia
  • Wood-burning stoves, Ukraine
  • Divine Mercy School, Ukraine

With a bit more than $10,000 remaining in this year’s budget, the committee discussed eight additional projects seeking funding: five projects in Ethiopia, one in Panama, one in Nigeria and an international project in the research phase at Colorado State University. 

“Pinpointing a project to fund is a major responsibility that committee members take seriously,” states Bob Waltemire, committee chair. “In addition to considering sustainability and the number of people impacted, we consider involvement of other Rotary clubs, district grants and the like. We strive to stretch our funds as far as we can while doing lasting good in the world.”

March Teacher of the Month in the Spotlight

Michaela Walker, a teacher at Wellington Middle High School, was recognized as the Club's Teacher of the Month by Dan St. John. When introducing Michaela, Marc Buffington, principal of Wellington Middle High School, noted that she is a “go-to” teacher whose classroom has a “wonderful vibe.” In addition to teaching middle schoolers, Michaela stepped up and created subplans for a colleague out on leave and leads professional development classes for her peers. Fort Collins Breakfast Rotary is honored to recognize an outstanding teacher each month, as they are influencing the next generation of community leaders.

In addition to receiving a certificate of recognition, Michaela received $250 to help meet classroom needs.

Mark Korb Recognized as a $10,000 Paul Harris Fellow

Donating $10,000 to the Rotary Foundation is a big deal, and Club member Mark Korb, far right, was recognized for his generosity and support of The Rotary Foundation at the $10,000 level at our Feb. 20 meeting. Club President Leighanne Allford and our Club’s The Rotary Foundation Chair Bob Melrose presented Mark with a medallion and thanked him for helping great things happen in Rotary locally and internationally.

Founded more than 100 years ago, The Rotary Foundation transforms gifts such as those from Mark into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. Since its founding, The Rotary Foundation has invested more than $4 billion in life-changing, sustainable projects. 

Applications for RYLA, Young RYLA  Open

Pass the word: Young RYLA and RYLA applications are now open.

 

If you know youth who would benefit from a fun, life-changing leadership training program that is conducted in an atmosphere of trust and respect, then they belong at this summer’s RYLA or Young RYLA leadership camp. 

 

Young RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) is open to students currently in the seventh grade while RYLE (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) is open to students who are currently sophomores and juniors. Young RYLA campers have a choice of two sessions: June 22 - 27 or July 6 – 11. RYLA has one camp session: July 27 – Aug. 1.

All camps are conducted at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colo. 

 

Youth do not need to be connected to Rotary to apply. Because Rotary believes in investing in our youth, the cost of attending this adventures-in-leadership week is free to participants.

 

The Top 5 benefits obtained by youth attending a RYLA or Young RYLA camp include. . .

  • Build communication and problem-solving skills
  • Discover strategies for becoming a dynamic leader in his/her school and community
  • Unlock his/her potential to turn motivation into action
  • Learn from community leaders, inspirational speakers and peer mentors
  • Have fun while forming lasting friendships

 

Club member Ron Catterson has been involved with RYLA for the last 10 years and says he has seen “incredible transformations from participants over the course of one short week as they learn to lead themselves and others.” Ron adds that many students walk away from their leadership experience stating that “It was the best week of my life!”  

 

Applications are due by early April and available at https://rockymountainryla.org/

And the Ed Gillette Award Goes to. . .

Long-time Club member John Trewartha was recognized as the Club's 2024 Ed Gillette Award recipient at our Feb. 6 Club meeting.

 

The Ed Gillette Award is presented to a Club member who uses his/her profession to do good in the world.  Through his profession, an Ed Gillette Award recipient demonstrates Rotary's “service above self” and adheres to Rotary's four-way test of the things we think, say or do.

 

“In each of his multiple jobs, John has shown that he is highly worthy of this award,” stated Krishna Murthy who presented the award to John.

 

The inscription on the plaque presented to John reads, “In recognition of vocational excellence and integrity as was exemplified by Dr. Edward L. Gillette, esteemed member of the Rotary Club of Fort Collins Breakfast.” 

 

Congrats, John. Well deserved.

Our Meetings
When: Thursday at 6:45 am 
Where: Ginger & Baker
Location: 359 Linden St
Fort Collins, CO  80524 USA
 
All Meetings are both Live and Zoom.
 
Mail address:
PO Box 272728 Ft Collins, CO 80527
Club Executives & Directors
President
Joe McCarthy
President Elect
Bob Melrose
President - Elect Nominee
Tom Strause
Past President
Leighanne Alford
Treasurer
Bob Loosley
Secretary
Lisa Boesch
Director - Club Administration
Sara Murphy
Director - Public Relations
L. Wilton Lyles
Director - International Services
Robert Waltermire
Director - Membership Services
Leighanne Alford
Director - Community Service
Chuck Rutenberg
Director - Vocational Service
Ron Catterson
Director - Youth Services
Steve James
Youth Exchange Officer
Connie Sheltren
Foundation Chair
John Sheltren
Foundation Treasurer
Andy Chaffin
Peach Festival Club Chair
David Haase
Speakers
NO MEETING
Mar 19, 2026 7:09 AM
Bob Schaeffer
Mar 26, 2026 7:00 AM
History of Liberty Common School
View entire list...
Breakfast Rotary Download Files

New Members

A lifelong champion for service, Ellyn brings more than 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience and over 30 years as a volunteer and community advocate. She currently serves as a fundraiser for United Way of Larimer County and says she is inspired daily by the generosity and community spirit of Northern Colorado.

Ellyn is excited to join Rotary, build meaningful connections, and serve alongside others passionate about making a difference. Outside of work, she enjoys mahjongg, golf, biking, the theater, and cheering on her daughter at volleyball tournaments.

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