Tuesday is the day we meet our goal for Polio Plus! Our “shred” event runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. We'll meet and munch inside while our workers greet and crunch outside. Bring your boxes of documents to shred and encourage your friends to do the same!
Speaking to us will be Duane Moe, whose brother Don was struck by polio in 1952, when polio hit Great Falls and a cloud of dread hung over the community. Duane will recall those dark days in his family and in this community.
On a brighter note, the 50-50 pot is now over $250! Chances are good for a winner next week! Join us at noon at the country club.
Last Week at Rotary
Last week we played host to a delegation of young people from Ukraine. A young woman named Anastasia (right) spoke for the group, with another woman named Tatiana (left) interpreting for her.
Ukraine is determined to establish itself as a state independent of Russia, but it isn't easy. For one thing, Russia occupies two of its states, and over 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers have fallen so far to the Russian efforts to regain control of Ukraine. Beyond that challenge, Ukrainians are struggling to claim the tools of self-governance. The focus of their visit to Great Falls is to learn more about economic development and democratic tools citizens can use to get the government they want.
Anastasia told us that Ukrainians recognize the importance of education to their goals, and they are revamping their approaches to education to create more interdisciplinary, learn-by-doing approaches. They are seen as leaders in the fashion industry and are gaining ground in the tech industries. They are enthusiastic about the breath of fresh air their new leader brings to Ukraine, but concerned about the fact that old habits die hard. Keeping citizens like themselves actively engaged in moving Ukraine forward is vital to their future.
Evening Rotarians got to hear from Heidi Hockett last week about the role of Northwestern Energy in the Northwest. Heidi piqued their interest by beginning with a quiz about the company and then went on to explain the answers. Northwest is not only a major supplier of power, but also a major contributor to community service projects in its states of service. Heidi encouraged members to participate in the Beyond the Dam event today. There are races for cyclists, runners, walkers, rollers and strollers. Start at Giant Springs State Park and cross the Black Eagle Dam for spectacular views and the warmth of community. Part of the proceeds go to maintain our beautiful River's Edge Trail.
Reminders
Calling all drivers! We will once again need drivers either to deliver a few teenagers to Rotary Youth Leadership Academy on Tuesday, July 9, or to pick them up on Saturday, July 13. If you are available for a drive to or from the Livingston area on either of those days, please contact Sydney Blair as soon as possible.
Have you reserved your tables for Harvest Howl? The bands are arguably the best bands yet! Los Lonely Boys has a Tex-Mex sound that is sure to get people on the dance floor. They are Grammy winners whose best-known song is "Heaven." The top-billed band is Smash Mouth, with double-platinum recordings dating back to 1987 and the musical soundtrack to "Shrek" to boast of. Two huge draws! This year's Harvest Howl is going to be another record-breaker! Reserve your tables today!
This week's bulletin bucks # is 143. If that's the number on the back of your button, contact Todd Neighbor for your $25 gift card!
Update on the Bridge to Camp Rotary
Since learning of the recently reduced weight limitations on the bridge to Camp Rotary, Camp Liaison Ken Munksi has been hard at work. Yesterday he forwarded a report to our board of directors from Great West, outlining the alternatives for addressing the issue. (Because Great West had done the original assessment for the United States Forest Service that led to the reductions, contracting with them capitalized on their continuity and credibility with the Forest Service and saved us time and money.) Ken has personally inspected the bridge in its current condition and concurs with Great West's assessment.
Here is an overview of the alternatives presented by Great West:
Alternative 1 would require about $60,000 to upgrade the bridge to accommodate an ambulance (or pickup with trailer) of 10 tons (20,000 lbs.). In Ken’s opinion, this weight level would be generally adequate for continued camp operations in the near term.
Alternative 2 would upgrade the bridge to accommodate an ambulance (or pickup with trailer) of 10 tons (20,000 lbs.) and to accommodate a school bus of 15.5 tons (31,000 lbs.) for about $100,000.
Alternative 3 would construct a new bridge superstructure on the existing concrete foundations/abutments, at a cost of $160,000-$200,000. The existing concrete substructure elements make this alternative the least attractive, in Ken’s opinion, given the high cost coupled with the unknowns/limitations regarding the existing concrete substructures.
Alternative 4 is the construction of an entirely new bridge, including new foundations/abutments, at a cost in the range of $400,000-$500,000. Capacity would be at least 20 tons (40,000 lbs.), accommodating legally loaded trucks traveling the highways. Ken believes this is the most desirable long-term solution.
The board is pursuing two paths of action. With respect to a short-term solution, Ken will send the request to the Forest Service with a request for a second meeting with land owners and lessees who use the bridge. From that meeting, we hope to understand how much the other lessees and the Forest Service are willing to contribute to financing the $60,000 temporary improvement or find out if anyone else has come up with a better plan.
As for the long-term solution, Sheila Rice will head up an exploratory committee to talk to our county commissioners and federal representatives about government resources for installing a new bridge. If securing federal and/or county support for a new bridge is unsuccessful, we may need to start budgeting and researching how to have our own bridge built. But, as the saying goes, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Ken stresses that as Rotarians, we must be careful to give correct but concise information when we get questions from camp users and the general public.The short answer, if we are asked, is that campers must abide by the posted limits on the bridge. Lacey Gallagher is the designated Rotarian to answer questions on the bridge and its limits.
Ken also notified the board that he is officially moving to Lewistown and will no longer head up the Camp Rotary project, including bridge restoration. Fortunately, he has identified an equally qualified replacement. He is passing his designation as Camp Rotary Liaison to John Juras. Ken will continue to help as needed. We can't thank you enough, Ken, for all you've done for Camp Rotary and for Rotary itself.
Milestones
Birthday celebrations are in store tomorrow for Doug Hagen and Eric Hinebauch.Paul Cory celebrates his birthday on Wednesday. Best wishes to all three from your friends in Rotary.
Weekly Wisdom: In Service
What is so rare as a day in June? For Rotarians putting service above self, pretty much any other day of the year.
Last week featured several days in June. On one of them, Rotarians showed up at the rescue mission to serve dinner. From left, they are red-badge member Dr. Chuck Jennings, evening member Trish Foss, President-elect Cari Yturri, new member Sandy Filipowicz, board member Heidi Hockett, sergeant-at-arms pro tem Art Taft, President Todd Neighbor, and evening member Katelyn Farrington. Seated in the front is event organizer and weekly rescue mission volunteer, Carey Gray.
These are busy people who come from all walks of life. Last week all those walks came together in the kitchen of the rescue mission. It's wonderful to see our newest Rotarians joining our "vintage" members and evening members putting on aprons with noon members. It's even more wonderful to see them all doing what Rotarians in Great Falls have been doing for 103 years and counting - extending a helping hand to those in need.
Pretty much every day this month, Ken Munski has been exploring how to address the problem of the bridge to Camp Rotary. (See related story above.) After doing all that work, he provided the board with guidance and added, as a post script, that due to his relocation to Lewistown, he won't be able to continue as Camp Rotary Liaison. He chose an able successor and promised that, of course, he'll help out whenever he can. It would be impossible to overstate the number of hours that Ken has dedicated to this role. With his expertise in engineering, he's perfect for it, exemplifying the beauty of the original impetus for Rotary, bringing together community members from all walks of life in order to share their talents to do good in this world.
But it isn't Ken's expertise in engineering that has distinguished him as liaison. It's the sunny outlook he brings with him everywhere he goes. Need to clean up Camp Rotary in the pouring rain? Let's go! Need to muck out the cabins? Sounds like fun? Need a new bridge? Let's roll up our sleeves, put on our thinking caps, and get 'er done! He makes everything seem possible. Ken, thank you for all you have done for all of us in the happiest of ways ... and for all you've done for our happy campers, past, present and future.
James Russel Lowell ends his famous first verse about that rare June day with a couplet that could just as easily apply to the joy of fully comprehending the service above self of fellow Rotarians:
Last week we played host to a delegation of young people from Ukraine. A young woman named Anastasia (right) spoke for the group, with another woman named Tatiana (left) interpreting for her.
