May 29 Club Meeting will be at The Gardens on Spring Creek 7 AM

Rotary Club of Fort Collins Breakfast - Where Members Become Friends

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
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.

$10K Jackpot Jubilee Enables Rotary to do Good 
Rotary Club of Fort Collins Breakfast’s  $10,000 Jackpot Jubilee Raffle is now open for business. Buy a ticket for $100 and you just might win $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 Thursday, April 3, at 7:30 p.m. at Horse & Dragon in Fort Collins. We’ll notify you if your ticket is drawn.
 
To give back to our community and our world and to have a chance to win $10,000, purchase your Jackpot Jubilee ticket TODAY at https://rotaryfcbreakfast.org/

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.

Club Honors 4 Paul Harris Fellows

Four Club members were recognized at our Feb. 6 meeting as Paul Harris Fellows:

  • Tony Catania
  • Jeptha Vernstein
  • Joseph VanDerLinde
  • Molly Skold

Bob Melrose, the Club's The Rotary International Foundation chair, presented each new Paul Harris Fellow with a Paul Harris pin and certificate.

 Receiving a Paul Harris Fellow award signifies that a Club member has contributed $1,000 or more to The Rotary International. Funds donated to The RI have a local impact and a global reach. Half of the funds contributed to the Rotary Foundation Annual Fund comes back to our home district in the form of grants, and our Club frequently receives district grants to supplement community projects. Additionally, The Rotary Foundation takes action in communities around the world—from teaching children to read in Ecuador to a microcredit program in Indonesia. Every dollar given to The Rotary International multiples and does good.

Club Honors January's Teacher & Student of the Month

Melinda Phipps, a part-time teacher at Centennial High School, was designated by our club as Teacher of the Month for January. During a presentation at our Jan. 30 Rotary meeting at Centennial High, the person who nominated Melinda spoke glowingly about Melinda's contributions to the staff and the students. She described Melinda as “a part-time teacher who has a full-time impact on students.” Students and staff attending the presentation were nodding in agreement and gave Melinda a hearty round of applause.

Fernando “Fernie” Gonzales was named Student of the Month for January. A student at Centennial High School, Fernie was overcome with emotion as a school counselor called him a peer leader and “sunshine in human form." During his acceptance speech, Fernie spoke with humility and from the heart as he wiped away a few tears. Fernie related that his motto is to “give more than he gets.” Fernie plans to attend Front Range Community College in the fall. 

Congratulations to these two outstanding and deserving individuals.

Thank You Purple Pins for Polio Sponsors

Fort Collins Breakfast Rotary is one of four Rotary organizations in Fort Collins that helps organize and bring to fruition a Purple Pins for Polio bowling extravaganza each year. This fundraiser is a Rotary International project that raises money and awareness for polio eradication.

When Joe McCarthy, our Club's Purple for Polio chair, sought lane sponsors within our Club for the event, he met with success. The following companies said “yes” to being a Club lane sponsor: 

  • Horse & Dragon
  • Jackson Eye Care
  • Mutual of Omaha
  • Ed Carroll Motor Company
  • ALC (Andrew Chaffin CPA)
  • DaVinci Signs
  • Domino's

In addition to being a lane sponsor, Domino's, owned by a FCBR member, is also providing pizza for the event. 

Thank you to these businesses, and Exodus Moving, for helping our Club reach its Purple Pins for Polio sponsorship goal. Together we can help eradicate polio around the world.

Helping Keep Ukranians Warm
International Service
Our Club’s International Service Committee received a request from Feed The World for funds that would go toward the purchase of wood-burning stoves for families and shelters in the Ukraine. With the on-going war against Russia, gas supplies have been cut-off or severely dwindled and wood stoves can provide much needed heat and assist with meal preparation.

This cry for help was heard and acted upon by our Club. At its November meeting, our Club’s International Service Committee voted to award Feed The World with $3,000 that will provide 15 wood-burning stoves for use by families and shelters in Ukraine.  

 
Club Awards Four Grants to Help Serve Our Community
Our Club’s Community Service Committee has a big responsibility when it meets, as committee members review grant proposals submitted by non-profits across our community. Committee members strive to be good stewards of the Club’s money that is generated by our three key annual fundraisers. Since there is only so much money to award each fiscal year and so many non-profits in our community submitting grant proposals, decision-making can be challenging.

Committee members consider the non-profit submitting each grant and how the money awarded will serve and impact our community.

At its most recent meeting, our Club’s Community Service Committee approved three more grants for this fiscal year:
•    $2,500 to Sound Affects for their Performance Program so musicians can continue to enrich the lives of the elderly by performing live music in assisted living facilities.
•    $4,000 to Project Self-Sufficiency for its Healthy Families Transportation Fund. This grant will help provide individuals enrolled in Project Self-Sufficiency to have safe, reliable transportation to and from work and/or to/from their post-high school education source
•    $1,000 to Outreach Fort Collins, a street-based outreach program that maintains our community as a safe and welcoming place while connecting those in need to services and supportive networks. This grant will help ensure staff has appropriate gear to safely perform their jobs. 

Our Club’s Community Service Committee also oversees grants awarded specifically to non-profits that provide services to Veterans and First Responders. These funds are raised by our annual Field Of Honor.

In addition to the grants already awarded in this fiscal year, the Community Service Committee approved a grant of $2,000 to Larimer County Dive and Rescue. This grant will go toward the purchase of a new boat.
 
Club Holiday Party 2024
A line in a Christmas carol states “faithful friends who are dear to us gather near to us,” and this line came true as Fort Collins Breakfast Club members and their guests participated in the Club’s annual Christmas party on Thursday, Dec. 19. 
  
After exchanging hugs, fist bumps and holiday greetings, we feasted on a Christmas breakfast buffet and listened as a local school choir filled the air with Christmas melodies. Club members added to the merriment by singing the final song with the choir. 
  
To the delights of the children and grandchildren of Club members, Santa made his annual appearance and handed out gifts. 
  
Here’s wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas season.
From Soap to Toothbrushes, Diapers & More 
Armed with the facts that 50% of low-income families worry about meeting their children’s hygiene needs and 73% of low-income households cut back on food expenses to afford hygiene products, Fort Collins Breakfast Rotary members recognized that they needed to step up to the plate. 
 
For the past three years, our Rotary has been collecting and providing hygiene products twice a year for Early Childhood Education to distribute to its families in the Fort Collins area. Early Childhood Education is a no-cost and tuition-based preschool program that has classrooms in 21 district elementary schools and 7 community sites in the Poudre School District. The PSD-based program, which offers services that help families build a strong foundation, relies on donations to help families meet a variety of needs
Read more...
Supporting School Readiness in Preschool Children in India
 
Fort Collins Breakfast Rotary is partnering with Rotary Club of Khadki, Pune, on a project to train government preschool teachers and supervisors in four rural blocks of Pune District, Maharashtra, India, so they can equip rural parents to support child learning at home, thus helping children to be ready for Grade 1. 
 
The three-year project, which started July 1 of this year, includes training 333 preschool teachers who will then train and empower 7,700 parents, resulting in 8,927 children benefitting from the project.
 
Between July and September, 303 out of the 443 parents in Bhor Block—one of the four selected geographies—had participated in orientation meetings. Key topics covered at these meeting were brain development until age 6, how children learn and school readiness. Program implementation in two other blocks, Khed1 and Maval, began this month.
 
“Parents are changing their mindsets, are beginning to understand their role in childhood education and are feeling empowered,” stated Daljit Mirchandani, a Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Khadki, Prune (Maharashtra,India), who spoke at a November FCBR meeting.
Club Members Deliver Coats, Boots to Schools
 
Rotarians delivered 190 boxes of winter coats and snow boots to 29 Fort Collins elementary schools on behalf of the Fort Collins-based non-profit Coats & Boots. The 190 boxes were filled with 1,500 new winter coats and 1,500 pairs of boots for Poudre School District children in need.

“This past year, our Rotary awarded a Community Service grant to Coats and Boots so it could purchase winter coats and boots for school children, and now we got to help deliver those coats and boots—plus a whole lot more coats and boots—to schools that will hand them out to students,” states Bob Melrose, a member of the Club’s delivery team. 

“No child should be without a warm winter coat and a nice pair of snow boots. And it warms my heart to see our Rotary helping keep school children warm now that cold weather is on its way.”
November Teacher of the Month
Fort Collins Breakfast Rotary recognizes outstanding teachers during the academic year by honoring them as “Teacher of the Month.” Nominated by their superiors, this elite group of teachers are dedicated to educating tomorrow’s leaders and are committed to the success and well-being of every student they serve. They inspire change and surpass expectations for exemplary vocational service. 

November’s Teach of the Month was Tiffany Gonzales, an English and Language Arts teacher at Preston Middle School., Recognized as the Club’s “Teacher of the Month” at its Nov. 7, meeting, Tiffany was presented with a check for $250 to use at her school. 

“My students know that, while I am not there to be their best friend,  I am there for them,” Tiffany stated. “I am there to push them academically and help them grow as individuals.

“Thank you for this award and for Rotary’s commitment to education.”
2024 - 2025
 RI Theme
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
Leighanne Alford
President Elect
Joe McCarthy
President - Elect Nominee
Bob Melrose
Treasurer
Bob Loosley
Secretary
Lisa Boesch
Rotary Foundation
Bob Melrose
Past President
Michele Marquitz
Director - Club Administration
Sara Murphy
Director - International Services
Robert Waltermire
Director - Membership Services
Joseph Vander Linde
Polio Co-Chair
Bob Melrose
Director - Youth Services
Steve James
Polio Co-Chair
Joe McCarthy
Director - Community Service
Brooke Cunningham
Peach Festival
David Haase
Director - Vocational Service
Ron Catterson
Director - Public Relations
Teres Lambert
Breakfast Rotary Download Files

New Members

Lauren Brainard

Lauren Brainard is a biomedical engineering and chemical engineering student at Colorado State University.
 
Lauren started attending Rotary for the key purpose of making connections and soliciting support for a senior design project for CSU. She said she found that she loved how positive Rotary was and how committed to the core values everyone was and wanted to join.
 
“Rotary is a great way to start my Thursdays,” Lauren states, “and the speakers are always so inspiring!”
 
A native of Monument, Colo., Lauren is one of three girls and currently lives with her older sister. When not studying or working on her senior project, she enjoys a variety of engineering-oriented projects—from thrift flips to fixing electronics to making a picture frame for her parents. She also likes to read fantasy books, hike, climb and ski.
 
Lauren has two cats, Frank and Scooter, that she says, “are stinkers sometimes but they're pretty cute, so they always get away with it!”

Samantha Preuss

When Samantha started a senior CSU project in August 2024 focused on developing a disposable menstrual health solution for girls in Uganda, she made a connection with Club member Cindy Cloyd. This led her to attend a Rotary meeting. Finding a niche in the Rotary club, she decided she wanted to be a part of it!
 
Samantha is a senior at Colorado State University where she is majoring in with biomedical and mechanical engineering. After her graduation this May, Samantha will pursue a Master's degree in mechanical engineering in the fall. 
 
Having grown up in Pueblo, Colo., Samantha chose CSU for two key reasons: She wanted to be close to family for college, and CSU offers a biomedical and mechanical engineering dual-degree program.
 
In her spare time, Samantha enjoys skiing, hiking, painting, furniture refinishing and spending time with her two dogs: an English Springer Spaniel named Sadie and a yellow lab named Charlie. 

Maria Elena Thomas

Maria Elena is a Family Liaison for Poudre School District. Before this, Maria Elena served as an elementary school principal and directed a nonprofit group home for youth.
 
A former member of the Rotary Club of Centennial, Colo., Maria Elena took a break from Rotary to travel the world, serving in the Peace Corps in Cambodia, walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain and living all over Europe. Along the way, she developed a deep love for multicultural experiences, global citizenship and conversations about equity.
 
Maria Elena and her husband Gary have three children and two grandchildren, who they are currently co-parenting with their son.

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