Last week we heard from 7 of the 8 high school students we sent to RotaryYouth Leadership Academy. Each spoke individually, but common themes emerged. They were nervous and shy initially at camp, but the activities were amazing, the speakers inspiring, and the experience life-changing. Notably, our own Carol Lindseth was one of the inspiring speakers! Thank you, Sydney Blair, for your continued leadership on the RYLA project!
Prior to the featured presentation, Fred Pfieffer made the formal presentation of a sophisticated public address system for Camp Rotary in memory of his grandson, Charlie Townsend. At the age of 13, this beguiling young man was killed on a motorcycle between Vaughn and Fairfield. Charlie had happy memories of Camp Rotary, as Fred did, and the Pfieffers wanted to pay it forward. Thank you, Fred, and our continued condolences for your loss.
To-Do List
The Rotary Camp Ops Committee meets this Tuesday after our regular meeting.
The Rotary Social, always on the last Wednesday of the month, will celebrate this Wednesday at the Max Lounge inside the Heritage Inn, starting at 5:30. Come clink a glass and enjoy fellow Rotarians as we say goodbye to September.
We're gearing up for Harvest Howl, so for the next few weeks at Rotary we'll be accepting donations for the silent auction. Please consider attractive and creative donations for this huge fund-raiser. Wine baskets are especially popular, so bring your a bottle of something inspirational to Rotary in October!
Dictionaries Have Meaning(s)!
Every fall Rotary Club of Great Falls gives every third-grader in vicinity a free dictionary - some 1500 all tolled. Most Rotarians go to schools in Great Falls, but we also deliver dictionaries to outlying areas.
There are few activities Rotarians enjoy more. The kids love having their very own dictionary and learning just how much is in that book, from synoynms to sign language. Judging from this picture of Rotarian Kevin Clark at West Elementary, the enjoyment ricocheted.
Denise Gray oversees this project and she needs two things from us: (1) If you're willing to volunteer for a delivery to a rural school, she'll be at Rotary this week to give you some instructions and some dictionaries. (2) If you've delivered dictionaries, please let Denise know at Rotary this week how many dictionaries you delivered and return extra dictionaries and decals.
Rotarians Keep It Clean
Many hands make light work, and last week we had them for our quarterly highway clean-up. In addition to co-chairs John Koppelman and Fred Anderson, lending a hand were Ryan Miller, Tyler Hinston, Nicole Michelotti, Paul Cory, Tony DiLello, Ken Munski, and Kurt Baltrusch.
It was hot and it was buggy, but we only heard rattlesnakes one time, John reported. Afterwards, the group chilled out at the Black Eagle Brewery, shown here.
Thanks to all of you for making this entrance to our community litter-free!
Milestones
As we usher in October, let's celebrate the birthdays of Rotarians new and veteran. Our indefatigable sergeant-at-arms, Channing Hartelius, turns 39 on Friday. On Saturday, new member Amy Beames and red-badge member Michael Duchemin turn the page. And on Sunday, the heartiest laugher on the planet, Todd Neighbor, celebrates another year of life. Much joy to all of you. Thank you for the joy you bring to our world.
Weekly Wisdom: Reflections from Pope Francis
On the U.N.'s greatest mission:
"It must never be forgotten that political and economic activity is only effective when it is understood as a prudential activity, guided by a perennial concept of justice and constantly conscious of the fact that, above and beyond our plans and programs, we are dealing with real men and women who live, struggle and suffer, and are often forced to live in great poverty, deprived of all rights."
On human dignity:
"The common home of all men and women must continue to rise on the foundations of a right understanding of universal fraternity and respect for the sacredness of every human life, of every man and every woman, the poor, the elderly, children, the infirm, the unborn, the unemployed, the abandoned, those considered disposable because they are only considered as part of a statistic."
Last week we heard from 7 of the 8 high school students we sent to Rotary Youth Leadership Academy. Each spoke individually, but common themes emerged. They were nervous and shy initially at camp, but the activities were amazing, the speakers inspiring, and the experience life-changing. Notably, our own Carol Lindseth was one of the inspiring speakers! Thank you, Sydney Blair, for your continued leadership on the RYLA project!
Many hands make light work, and last week we had them for our quarterly highway clean-up. In addition to co-chairs John Koppelman and Fred Anderson, lending a hand were Ryan Miller, Tyler Hinston, Nicole Michelotti, Paul Cory, Tony DiLello, Ken Munski, and Kurt Baltrusch.
