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
September 17, 2026 Impact Newsletter

Inspiration:  John Shaw shared a poem called Advice from the River and shared fun facts about the Poudre Rive. 


IDEA quote:  IDEA quote:  “It were not best that we should all think alike; it is the difference of opinion that makes horse races.”  ~ Mark Twain


Upcoming Programs:  Please see the side panel for upcoming speakers and be sure to invite your friends!
 

Rotary Cares:  If you are aware of a fellow Rotarian who is going through a challenging time (i.e. personal or family health, family death, etc.) please let Sara Murphy know so we can let them know we are thinking of them and provide whatever support we can.  Sara.jane.murphy1@gmail.com.

 

Guests:
 

  • Jennifer Kendall, biologist with NLGRP
  • Dr. Phil Purdy, guest speaker, animal physiologist with NLGRP
     
  • Chris Philben, guest of Andy Chaffin

Program:  Dr. Phil Purdy, National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation

  • Agricultural research program of the USDA
  • Purpose is to preserve genetic material from plants and animals so that it can be used in case of emergency to repopulate whole plant or animal species
  • The collection includes old crop varieties, livestock genetics, microbes and other biological material
  • The practical payoff is disease-resistant crops such as lettuce and wheat
  • More than 3,300 breeders have donated samples
  • The dairy collection is described as the world's largest collection of dairy genetic resources, with about 7,903 animals
  • The organization is designed to provide a backup if an epidemic or other disaster severely reduces a population.
  • GRIN database keeps track of what genetic material exists, including pedigree, genetic, physical and environmental information
  • Preserving genetic diversity before you need it is far easier than trying to recreate it after it is gone. 

  • The organization sees collaboration with breeders, researchers and other stakeholders as essential to deciding what should be preserved. 

  • Fun facts:
    • Have about 3,000 species of corn
    • Oldest bull (still alive) was born in 1948
    • Can create a whole chicken population in under a year

 

Announcements:

  • Kathy Miner:  Stay tuned for details about a fellowship event in Old Town (concert by the Molly Higgins Band) on Sept. 26
  • Fran Lefler reminded us to bring hygiene products on Oct. 1 for the Early Childhood Development Program - see email from Phil Murphy on Sept. 17 for details
  • Saira Hafeez thanked those who helped at Camp Hope; RendezVous trail cleanup will be on Oct. 17 in the afternoon
  • Tim Cochran:   Several breweries will do PSA for Pints in honor of Prostate Cancer Awareness month - get your PSA checked!
  • We are all eligible to take advantage of events at the Welcome to the Fort Collins Chamber - Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce 

 

September 10 Club Meeting

Erik Johnson, Associate Professor of Music Education at Colorado State University, presented the program this morning (September 10) on the BRAINY Program. BRAINY is a program of the Colorado State University Art Museum with assistance from Department of Art and Art History, and the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. BRAINY was conceived to provide arts opportunities for students from Title 1 schools in northern Colo.

For more information: https://theatre.colostate.edu/brainy/

 

2026 Pass The Gavel

The Annual Pass The Gavel event was help Sunday night at the Ridgen Farm Barn. Out going 2025-2026 President Joe McCarthy recognized many members of the club that have provided extraordinary service over the past year. Rotarian Bob Waltermire was given the Rotarian of the Year award for his service to International Service and providing support and guidance throughout the year.

President Joe was recognized for his service to the club by incoming President Bob Melrose.

EPIC Day of Service

The four Rotary Clubs in Fort Collins got together today for an EPIC Day of Service. Approximately 50 Rotarians descended on the Colorado State University's Environmental Learning Center to do fire and invasive plant mitigation projects. Members from the 4 Clubs in Fort Collins along with members of the Colorado State University Rotaract Club were in attendance. John Chandonais from Colorado State set up the projects and at the end of the day stated that it “would have taken him a whole year to do the tasks Rotary accomplished in a few hours.”

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.

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
Bob Melrose
President Elect
Tom Strause
Past President
Joe McCarthy
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
Youth Exchange Officer
Connie Sheltren
Foundation Chair
John Sheltren
Foundation Treasurer
Andy Chaffin
Executive Secretary/Director
Sara Murphy
Breakfast Rotary Download Files

New Members

Jeaneen Kappell

I am a securities and government enforcement attorney by trade, but am currently with a Denver-based nonprofit, GlobalMindED, as their Regional Director of Partnerships for Colorado. 

 

My husband Tim and I moved to Fort Collins in a process that spanned April 2025 to February 2026. We have zero kids, four cats (Gatsby, Gilley, Gigi and Evie), and hope to get a cat-tolerant dog in the near future. We grew up in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX, 

 

Rotary is a fantastic way for me not just to network, but also to get involved and give back to my new community while I take a pause in my law practice.

 

I am staying busy during this “in-between phase”: running, hiking, and yoga are my staples. I have also joined my neighborhood book club as motivation to move to fiction reading after years of nothing but case law.

Joel Reimnitz 

Joel moved with his wife and dog from Los Gatos, California two years ago.  During the settling-in period he met Bob Melrose and Joe McCarthy and decided to give Rotary a try.  Presently he is interested in environmental issues, food-shortage issues, and international projects.  He is excited about meeting the breakfast club Rotarians and finding ways to get involved with club activities.

 

Joel enjoys bicycling, traveling, golf (9 holes is best) and acrylic painting.  With his wife Charlene as playing partner he is a silver life master at bridge.  He is a retired anesthesiologist.  His daughter and son-in-law and their children are settled in Fort Collins and he is grateful for the opportunity to know his grandchildren as they grow up.

Newsletters
Rotary International News