December 19, 2024 Meeting Summary

December 19, 2024
Meeting Summary
Presiding: Kelly Neville
Meeting Room setup/takedown and general problem solving: Tom Mangan and Ron Van Ekeren
Inspiration:
Professor’s Quote: George Gill
Foundation Flash:
Introduction of Guests:
Guests:
Visiting Rotarians:
Junior Rotarians/RYLA/Young RYLA/Exchange Students:
Rotaract/Interact Students:
Humor: Todd Pearson
Foundation Drawing: Eric Feurestein won $10 with $246.50 in the jackpot.
O’Dwyers Drawing: Jerry Gruber
Announcements:
  • Don’t forget to volunteer to work the greeting table!
  • Do you know a family that would be willing to host Olafur from mid-March to June? Let Caitlin White or Todd Pearson know.
  • Randi Downham gave an update on Rotary Park. The project is $2.4 million. There will be a sign for Rotary. The plans do include a bathroom and a sport court. There are other areas we could raise funds for as well.
  • The bylaws vote passed. We will be taking on a membership drive in the new year.  
  • Neil Theobald has resigned from the club.
 
Rotarian of the Week: Shaun Bullock nominated Dustin Richards for playing in a band; Murray Schroeder nominated Anna Cramer for helping a community member in need; Todd Pearson nominated Kerry and Jane Greaser for their performance at the UW Gala.    
 
Rotarian of the Month:  Ron Van Ekeren
 
Songs: Jingle Bells, Joy to the World
 
Program: Wyoming Conservation Corps, Tyler Carroll, Caleb Johnson, Tommy Furland
 
Introduction: Sarah Brown Mathews
 
The Wyoming Conservation Corps started in 2006 to provide its members with stewardship projects to improve Wyoming. It is part of AmeriCorps.
 
WCC’s mission is to provide individualized development through localized service with hands-on experiences. It is a service organization that educates on natural resources management. It empowers youth in conservation. WCC provides university-level courses as part of the member’s training. They also receive wilderness medical education and field training.
 
WCC’s forte is trail building and land management construction. It has a traditional crew and a veteran trail crew. The projects have two leaders with 4-6 members. The projects are 6-10 days where the group lives on site. Each member gets 80 hours of service and 4-6 hours of education credit.
 
WCC also has individual internship placements. There are 20 placements at various host sites for 450 hours of work. The benefits are building professional connections with partners, understanding the agencies, and building leadership, technical, and personal skills. There is also an education scholarship and a living stipend.
 
The agencies also benefit by decreasing costs, engaging volunteers, and training future stewards and managers.
 
In 2023, WCC had 34 AmeriCorps members, and it was the seventh year for the veteran trail crew. There were 20 partners, five being new. WCC maintained or constructed 70 miles of trail, five miles of fence, and 175 beaver dams. In 2024, there are 44 members.
 
WCC is working on becoming its own nonprofit, outside of UW.  The organization teaches values, work ethic, and accountability. It is most active in the summer. The work is physically and mentally demanding.
 
Partner organizations include: UW, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Wyoming Game & Fish, Wyoming Water Development Office, and conservation districts.
 
Response: Tony Hoch
 
‘Response: The Rotary Club of Laramie will make a donation to the public library children’s book fund in the speaker’s name.
NOTE: We Do Not Donate a Book!
 
Rotary 4-way test
Of the things we think, say, or do:
•Is it the Truth?
•Is it Fair?
•Will it build Good Will and
  Better Friendships?
•Will it be Beneficial to All    
  Concerned?
 
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
•FIRST. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
•SECOND. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
•THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;
•FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
Like us on Facebook!
 
Spoke Editor: Caitlin White, 307-630-1965, cwhite@acplwy.org