INSPIRATION: Catherine Varra-Nelson shared a resource available from Rotary International (RI) – lessons that can be learned in less than a minute. While begun in 2015, the US clubs did not adopt them until 2023.
Catherine shared the history of the Paul Harris recognition – named after the founder of Rotary, it encourages Rotarians to support RI financially to make a difference in the world. After donating $1,000 you receive a Paul Harris Society certificate and a lapel pin.
IDEA THOUGHTS: “The most beautiful people we have known are those that have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep, loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” — Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. Let’s work together to Unite for Good with all people.
GUESTS:
• Harl Hopper – returning guest of Steve James
FUTURE 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
PEACH MONTH – ALL THINGS PEACH FOR OUR CLUB -
Peach Festival Update
o Dave H – moving along well – he is excited for Saturday, Aug 16th from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm at Civic Center Park
o Kira – 20 spots left for volunteering at the Peach Festival
o Leighanne – taking over the volunteer coordination as Kira is getting married on August 16th
Peach Pre-Sale Update from Leighanne
o 331 cases sold as of Wednesday, July 30th
o Goal is to net $33,000 which entails selling 1,200 cases
o Proceeds will benefit Dolly Parton Imagination Library – Larimer County, Book Trust, and the great work our Club does
o August 17th is the last day to sell peaches
o Leighanne will send a sales template and a QR code to the club
Peach Booth Update at the Peach Festival from Tony C
o 15 slots remaining on Saturday, August 16th (we removed the last shift)
o Tony looking for folks willing to help with the coordination of the Peach Booth
VISIT FORT COLLINS – PRESIDENT AND CEO, CYNTHIA EICHLER
- Cynthia provided the background of Visit Fort Collins and thanked Molly Skold (from our Club) for her service on the board
- Tourism is an economic engine that is often hidden because of the targeting of out of state visitors – nationally and internationally
- Visit Fort Collins has been around for ~40 years and was created in 1984 when the Marriott and Hilton hotels were being built and needed guests to come and fill the hotels
- Cynthia shared that the #1 reason people come to Fort Collins is because they are friends are family. Visit Fort Collins is focused on leisure travelers, meetings, conventions, etc.
- 1 year ago they opened the newest visitor center (in the old Coopersmith’s Poolside) to get people into Old Town
- Fort Collins has a lot of international guests as we are between Yellowstone National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park – international guests spend 5x more than other guests
- In 2021, a 3% lodging tax was implemented and Visit Fort Collins receives ~70% of those collected monies. However, that number has not changed since. Recently, FTC was the 2nd community nationally to implement a tourism improvement district which assesses guests an additional 3%.
- Citizens of Northern Colorado do not pay for tourism – the guests do. Visit Fort Collins has hosted ~185 events with a focus on October to April and Monday through Thursday activities.
GOOD NEWS:
- Kathy M shared tickets are still available for the Aug 22nd fundraiser at the Gardens on Spring Creek – Garden A’Fare. It is the only fundraiser each year for the non-profit, Friends of the Garden
- Gary T polled the members about the Colorado Kolaches that we served at the offsite. It seems we have a new partner for our offsites in addition to Consuelo’s burritos
- Bob W let the International Service Committee know that we needed to make a few decisions pretty quickly. He asked everyone to respond by e-mail for the vote.
- Mark C has been traveling to NJ a lot with the arrival of his newest grandbaby (now up to 2 babies), born on July 10
- Mark C also reminded the club about the Rendezvous trail clean up at 9:00 am on Saturday, 8/2
- Lynn and Lois Matson just celebrated their 55th anniversary at the Gardens on Spring Creek
- Gary and his wife just celebrated their 54th anniversary on July 30th
- Andy C just celebrated a special birthday in Kansas City with 30 friends and family ranging in age from 2 years old to 88 years old. He had a great time.
- Susan P offered her assistance to anyone in the club to help us get more and more people to buy our fabulous Palisade Peaches
ANNOUNCEMENT: President Joe shared that next week is a Club Assembly and we will be focusing on the member survey he had shared. Joe envisions the meeting as connecting people with various activities to get involved and educating members on what Rotary does.
The next board meeting was Monday, August 4th.