Next week Joan Redeen of the Downtown Business Improvement District will tell us about the ongoing work of the Downtown Safety Alliance. Join us at noon on Zoom or at the Meadow Lark Country Club!
Last Week at Rotary
Last week Rotarians went on a field trip to Charles M. Russell High School to learn about the improvements generous donors to the GFPS Foundation have made possible on that campus.
After a brief introduction by GFPS Foundation Director Stephanie Schnider, two CMR teachers described the enhancements that donations made possible in their subject areas. John Lawson, who teaches science, described the STEM Center itself, where Rotarians gathered for the meeting. It is a new, very large, and highly adaptable space where students can engage in a variety of activities to advance their understanding of science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics (hence, the STEM acronym). Whether it's conducting experiments, listening to distance-delivered presentations thanks to modern technology, or enjoying a planetarium experience, high school students are able to do things in this space that simply weren't possible in their existing classrooms. Teachers still use those classrooms, but book time in the STEM Center for extended learning.
Although the voters made the structure itself possible by approving a $98.9 million building bond in 2016, donations from Davidson Companies employees, as well as Chuck and Gerry Jennings, gave the STEM Center the equipment and supplies that makes it such a rich resource for learning.
Lindsey Graham Gustafson, famed CMR athlete and coach, then showed Rotarians the auxiliary gym, again made possible by voters but made "zaah" by generous community members. The auxiliary gym has a state-of-the-art weight room and fitness center, wrestling room, and full-length basketball and volleyball court. The Thurber family, headed up by fierce Rustler fan Linda Thurber Morin, played a key role in making the gym a place of pride. The fitness equipment came through the generosity of Brian Loucks.
As Rotarians watched these two fine teachers who were once fine students at the very high school they presented to us in its "brand new clothes," the message about the power of public education was not lost on anyone. Public schools do more than educate the community's children. They create the community of the future. Powerful stuff.
The Virtual Peace Park Assembly
President Lacey Gallagher and Mary Moe attended the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Assembly last weekend. Great Falls Rotarian H.B. Mitchell played an instrumental role in establishing this peace park in 1932, the first in the world. Next year, on the 90th anniversary of that event, Great Falls Rotarians will be the host club for the assembly. Fred Anderson has generously offered to head up that effort.
Conducted on Zoom, this year's assembly did not have the interaction that has characterized past events, and of course, the beauty of the peace park itself could only be captured second-hand. However, the presentations and discussions were engaging and convivial. Kalispell Rotarian Jeff Mow discussed the unique challenges Glacier National Park has faced during two pandemic summers. Waterton Park Superintendent Sal Rasheed added his own perspectives from the Canadian side of the border. District 5080 Rotarian Maria Kliavkoff then provided an inspirational keynote on the importance of peace and the impact of peace-building activities through Rotary.
The topical speaker was Dr. Leroy Little Bear, who earned his B.A. at the University of Lethbridge, completed his Juris Doctorate at the University of Utah, and returned to Lethbridge to create a baccalaureate degree in First Nations Governance at his alma mater – the only program of its kind in Canada. He talked about the history of the bison on the great plains, its importance of the bison to the indigenous peoples of Canada and the western United States. He encouraged Rotarians to support and participate in the efforts now being made to ensure the continued existence of the species. His remarks initiated a great deal of discussion among Rotarians in attendance.
This and That
Preparations for Harvest Howl are now ramping up, headed up as usual by Mike Wier and a planning group that met last Wednesday night. Table sales are ongoing and posters are available for publicizing the event. Susan Wolff is coordinating with the Electric Rotary Club, who will run the silent auction portion of the event. She urged Rotarians to consider what they could donate to the silent auction that would bring in the kinds of revenues generated in the past. It's important to keep the quality of auction items up so that the reputation of the auction becomes part of the draw of Harvest Howl. And part of the take, of course.
Gregg Holt had the great suggestion to provide a link to more information about Rotarians to assist the Membership Committee as it recruits new members. A one-pager (duplexed) listing members, their professions and current employment, as well as phone numbers and years in Rotary, will be provided to all Rotarians soon.
Milestones
Happy birthday on Monday to Tom Nelson. What a stalwart and steadying influence you have had on our club, Tom! Best wishes for the happiest of days Monday and in the year to come.
September also marks the 35th anniversary of Jim Humphrey as a Rotarian. His father was a Rotarian and, as so many other stellar Rotarians have, he followed in his father's footsteps. Unfailingly kind and multi-talented, Jim, too, is stalwart and steadying in his impact on our club. We are fortunate to have relied on him for 35 years. Here's to 35 more!
Weekly Wisdom: In Between
That time between summer and autumn, between greenery and gold, between the heat and rising wind that is once again readying itself to rush it all away in a climactic symphony of color and scent … that, in my opinion, is one of the best parts about living on earth.
