This week we'll hear about the exciting new swimming pool/rec center project made possible by a unique partnership between the City of Great Falls and Malmstrom Air Force Base. City Manager Greg Doyon and Parks & Recreation Director Steve Herrig will tell us all about the project and stand for questions. Join us on Zoom Tuesday at noon!
Long-term, there's also exciting news. The Philipsburg Rotary is getting back to business. They will hold their summer concert on August 21, featuring Chancey Williams, with Ryan Criss and Shakewell. They'll be seeking our help again. Let's see: service above self, fantastic music, sun, fun and people in crowds again? YES!
Last Week at Rotary
Last week we heard from Dr. Jason Carter, the Vice President for Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education at Montana State University. Dr. Carter’s research focuses on neural control of the cardiovascular system in humans and the role of sleep in cardiovascular disease. He is Past-President of the American Kinesiology Association, is a Fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology, and currently serves as Councilor for the American Physiological Society.
Last year MSU received about $167 million for research purposes, over half of which came from the U.S. Departments of Defense and Health and Human Services/National Institutes of Health. His job is to lead the university in the strategic and accountable use of those funds, based on four strategic focuses: care for the environment, health and wellness in our communities, food and fuel security, and securing the future of Montana. Some of their research is top-secret and carefully protected. Much of it ends up being used by local and state businesses. Software, biotech, and biomedicine research are driving the creation and growth of new businesses in Montana.
As head of MSU’s graduate education mission, Dr. Carter is responsible for programming serving over 2000 graduate students on the MSU campus. That is a major increase, and he is particularly proud of the increase in Latino and Native American graduate students.
Mindful of its land-grand mission, MSU has been a leader in testing for COVID-19 and has won a grant to develop a saliva-based test for the virus. The university has partnered with the State of Montana to expand COVID-19 surveillance testing and is sharing biomedical equipment with Bozeman medical facilities.
Cari Yturri found it notable that, while not one of the graduate school’s four strategic tenets, graduate level work in the arts and humanities is also an emphasis and has considerable economic impact. Their film department has received two Emmy awards, the most recent for a documentary about Yellowstone. Also, Dr. Carter and his colleagues are now considering adding 11 new masters program and they currently have “stackable” certificates that can add up to a master’s degree.
Bill Bronson, who supplied the notes for this article, put his impression of Dr. Carter very succinctly: "This fellow was pretty amazing." Isn't it great that Montana can attract such superb talent! We all benefit from quality in higher education.
Honoring a Great Rotarian
At their meeting last week, our board of directors decided to remember Bill Harp in a special way. We will be creating a "memory book" to present to the Harp family. We're sure many of you have photographs and memories of Bill from your associations with him over the years. Maybe you served with him on the Rotary board. Maybe you served with him on the interview committee for Camp RYLA. Maybe you helped him flip burgers at Camp Rotary, set up tables at Harvest Howl, cheer the Voyagers on at the ball field or our swimmers at the pool. Maybe you just observed him in action and have an insight you'd like to share.
We want your stories. And we want your photographs. If you'd prefer to talk through your story, that's fine. We'll set up a phone call and have some cub reporters jot down notes and clear the story with you before publication. Please participate in celebrating this great Rotarian. Reply to this email and just let us know if you have a photograph or a story you'd like to share. Let's raise this man up where he belongs.
A Power Couple
It was a dark and story night in the Little Belts . OK, OK, it was actually day. The wind huffed and puffed and, although it did not blow Camp Rotary down, it threw a whole lot of other stuff around, making it impossible for our trusty caretaker, Shawn Larson, to get to the camp to check on things. The microburst had knocked the power out at the camp and also at his house. In fact, as of this writing, the power is still out at his house.
Sensors and alarms at the camp were going off like popcorn at a theater, but the road to the camp was blocked. Braving the storm, Shawn tried to get to the camp, but it was impossible. Power poles were broken and strewn across the roadway. Trees were piled like pick-up-sticks. Too much, even for our diligent caretaker. But not for Ken Munski and Gaines McFadden.
Chain-saws a-blaze, the intrepid pair slashed and sliced through downfallen trees and scampered past power poles spitting fire. At last, they arrived at the camp. God was looking out for Rotary's pet project. The camp was fine. Concerned that the pipes might burst if the temperatures got too low, they were happy to find the thermometer reading 41 degrees. Another disaster averted. Shawn will bring a generator up there this weekend.
Some of this story has been exaggerated, but the important parts are true. We leave it to you to decide what's important.
Milestones
Just one birthday this week, but it's well worth celebrating. Best wishes on Monday to Bob Wigdorski for completing another trip around the sun! May your next year be your best ... so far!
