Please bring your wine or liquor donation for Harvest Howl to this Tuesday's meeting at the country club. We'd like to get this detail wrapped up this week!
Cari Yturri is still looking for donations to the dessert auction ...
There will be no meeting at the country club at noon on August 30. Instead, we're enjoying one another's company in the VIP booth at the Voyagers game that evening. We've made reservations for 60, so feel free to bring a loved one and/or a friend. Please confirm your attendance by signing up at the attendance desk at a Rotary meeting soon.
Last Week at Rotary
In a powerful presentation last week, Luke Urick of Eagle Mount told us about a new program in Montana, the Montana Vet Program (MVP). Did you know that every week, a Montana vet commits suicide and that nationally the figure is 20 vets every day?
Luke, pictured here with Beth MacFadden, is leading the effort to do something about through MVP. MVP is committed to helping Montana veterans "suffer well" - that is, transition safely into civilian life through veteran-surrounded healing. MVP uses Montana's iconic outdoor locations as a backdrop for veteran-led therapeutic trips into the wilderness. Packing the dogtags representing 639 Montana veterans who have succumbed to suicide, veterans help veterans deal with their struggles through physical activity, comradery and tough-minded healing.
MVP provides the camping equipment for these veterans, and that requires donations. They're working on grants and fundraisers, but every little bit helps. Check out their website and consider a donation at www.eaglemount.net.
This Week at Rotary
Our featured speaker this week is Abigail Lichliter, who will introduce us to the Building Active Communities Initiative. Join us at noon at the country club!
Rotarians Are ... Award-Winners!
Most of us know Gary Bjelland (photo by Great Falls Tribune) as the indefatigable runner we see all over town summer, winter, spring and fall. When we think of him winning awards, it’s for road races.
Think again. Gary Bjelland has just been awarded the George L. Bousliman Award of the State Bar of Montana, an award reserved for Montana lawyers who have demonstrated extraordinary professionalism in their contribution of time and resources to the profession.
Gary has been active in Bar leadership in a variety of capacities, but this award recognized in particular Gary’s work chairing the board managing the Group Benefits Trust, which provided health insurance for interested members. Two past presidents of the Bar nominated him for the award, praising him for his dedication and hard work in managing the eventual discontinuation of a program that had outlived its usefulness.
And he never broke a sweat! Congratulations, Gary.
Milestones
We've heard some humdingin' 3-minute talks in our day, but this week's rendition took the cake!
Wendy Sire, an account executive for Wells Fargo Advisors, traded her red badge for a blue one today and, as is the custom, preceded that event with her 3-minute talk. However, she broke tradition in a unique way: her talk was given entirely in verse!
Between rhymes, we got a fascinating portrait of a woman with royal blood in her veins and a will of iron who has excelled as a single mother and as a professional in a very competitive business world. She also showed herself to be a self-deprecating soul with a rich sense of humor.
Welcome to the club, Wendy! Your talents will be called on early and often!
Weekly Wit
We are here on this earth to champion each other, support each other, lift each other up, root each other on. We are here to make sure that no one - not one soul - suffers in silence or alone. We are not here to master suffering. We are here to master love.
In a powerful presentation last week, Luke Urick of Eagle Mount told us about a new program in Montana, the Montana Vet Program (MVP). Did you know that every week, a Montana vet commits suicide and that nationally the figure is 20 vets every day?
We've heard some humdingin' 3-minute talks in our day, but this week's rendition took the cake! 
