This week Deb Sivumaki will bring us up to date on the activities of Eagle Mount. At the evening meeting, Nancy Schlepp will repeat the presentation on the Black Butte Copper Mine that she gave at the noon meeting in late October. Join us at noon on Tuesday or at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at the country club!
Our board also meets this week. Feel free to join them at 5:30 this Tuesday in the board room at the country club.
Last Week at Rotary
Colonel Russell S. Williford, Vice Commander at Malmstrom Air Force Base, and First Lieutenant Joshua A. Farris joined the noon club last week to tell us about something new at the Base this holiday season, "Adopt an Airman."
The program is patterned after a long-standing program in the military academies, pairing cadets with local community members so that the cadets get off base, have a second "home," and become integrated in community activities. Joshua was in this program at the Air Force Academy, and his time with his host allowed him and other Airmen to come to enjoy the world off the base and make lifelong friendships.
Community members interested in hosting would attend a social on the Base on Nov. 21 and meet prospective airmen. Two Airmen will later be matched with each host, and they would gather for a meal sometime over the Thanksgiving holiday to get further acquainted. After that, arrangements will be made for a longer stay at the host's home over the Christmas holiday.
Commander Williford shared how some Airmen have no idea where Malmstrom AFB is when they get their orders. They think they're going to Germany and need to take some kind of foreign language classes. Once here, they are sometimes unsure how to make connections with community members. He encouraged Rotarians to attend the social at the base on Nov. 21 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. For more information or if you don't have a base pass, contact Joann Gogo.
Rotarians Invest in Great Falls Schools
At a ribbon-cutting for "the hub" connecting the historic Great Falls High School with its south campus last week, we were reminded of the old saying that it takes a village to raise a child. Thanks to the commitment to quality education that characterizes the village we call Great Falls, we are on our way to having a completely restored facility that gives Great Falls children the education they need to succeed in the world ... and the relationships that are the basis of this community, generation after generation.
Rotarians are very much a part of this village, as evident in the number of Rotarians who attended the ribbon-cutting. Especially impactful in the Great Falls project are former Great Falls High School graduates and current Rotarians in the Bob Oakland and Ian Davidson families. The Oaklands have made sure that the career-technical portion of the facility is state-of-the-art. The Davidsons have taken on the challenge of updating the beautiful auditorium, preserving its art deco beauty but bringing its comfort and technology into the 21st century. Bob Oakland couldn't make it but Cooper and Ashley were there to represent the family. Ian Davidson also had to decline, but his wife Nancy and daughter-in-law Wendy were on hand. And, of course, Rotarian Dave Crum was his usual affable and efficient self as GFPS Foundation Director, attending to every single detail behind the scenes.
But that's not all. A Rotarian, Cheryl Crawley, was instrumental as superintendent of schools in raising community awareness about the declining quality of school facilities. GFPS school board member Mark Finnicum, also a Rotarian, was on hand to show that service above self also extends to public service. And scattered throughout the throng in attendance were the familiar faces of Rotarians who care enough about the children in our community to celebrate this new phase of community life.
A proud day for Great Falls. A proud day for Great Falls Rotary.
Milestones
Happy birthday this Friday to Steve Schnider. May the year to come be full of health, prosperity, and happiness!
Spotlight on ... Art Taft
One of our club's most active members is Art Taft. It seems that no task is too big or too small for him to do. Whether it's putting together all the backdrops for Harvest Howl or supplying the photographs for this bulletin, Art's volunteering hand is the first to go up.
Art had a distinguished career in broadcasting, ultimately retiring as the sales and commercial production manager for KRTV a few years ago. But being idle is not in his DNA. He is now a media consultant and West Coast partner for Nick Sibley Music. He enjoys helping businesses succeed through the power of good ideas and signature music. When he's not consulting or working on a Rotary project, Art is volunteering on some other community project, often supplying guitar music and witty lyrics to an occasion. Needless to say, when the devil goes looking for a workshop, he skips Art's house entirely.
If you know Art the Contrarian, it will not surprise you that the reason he joined Rotary in Kalispell 28+ years ago was because someone told him he couldn't possibly qualify. He's been a dedicated member ever since. For him, the rewards of being a Rotarian are getting to know fellow members and working on projects that make a difference for others.
Art hails from Sunburst, Montana, and still returns frequently to the Sweetgrass Hills. He and his wife, Kim Haloupek, have two adult children. Art loves exploring Montana, camping, playing music around a campfire ... and Rotary, of course. Thanks, Art, for all you do for all of us!
Weekly Wisdom for Veteran's Day
It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.
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