July 13, 2023 Meeting Summary

Presiding: Randi Downham

Meeting Room setup/takedown and general problem solving: Tom Mangan & Team

Inspiration: Keith Downey

Introduction of Guests: Hanna Eslinger

Guests: Kelly Neville introduced prospective member, Justin Christenson and guest, Ann Nelson; Dave Hansen introduced prospective member, Rob Jenkins.

Rotaract/Interact Students:

Foundation Drawing: Ken Patel won $10 with over $400 in the jackpot.

O’Dwyers Drawing: Jerry Gruber

 

 

 

Special Presentation: Kerry Greaser, Paul Greaser, and Jerry Gruber celebrated birthdays with a gift to the club foundation.

 

Rotarian of the Week: Caitlin White nominated all Rotarians who gave during WyoGives this week; Jenny Eisenhauer nominated former Laramie Rotarian, Dennis Tanner, for his birthday check idea.  

 

Songs: Happy Birthday  

 

 

Introduction: Paul Montoya

 

Meals of Hope was founded in 2007 and has a long-standing Rotary connection. Their motto is “coming together to end hunger.”

 

The organization has provided about 1 million meals in the U.S. There is a growing food insecurity need. Often people are confused about the difference between food insecurity and hunger. Food insecurity is not having access to sufficient food that meets basic needs. Food insecurity can lead to hunger.

There are 80,000 families in Wyoming that are food insecure. This has jumped up from 61,000 a few years back. About ¼ of these numbers are kids.

 

Wyoming has one food bank and six mobile pantries. They work with 163 partner food pantries. Food drives around Wyoming account for 10-12 percent of the food needed for Wyoming families.

 

Food insecurity for children equates to lower reading and math skills; lower graduation rates; and more significant illness and behavior problems.

 

Meals of Hope does food packing events. This is when the community comes together around a shared purpose of fighting hunger. Meals packed cost between $0.32 and $0.39 per meal. Each meal has between 6-8 servings. The meals are shelf stable for 12-24 months.

 

Groups can sponsor a meal pack, volunteer at an event, or donate. The minimum pack is 5,000, which lasts about 6 weeks at Laramie Interfaith. It costs about $2,000 per event and takes about 2 hours packing. For 5,000 meals, 30 volunteers are needed. For 50,000 meals, 120 volunteers are needed. A portion stays in the community and the remainder goes to the Wyoming Food Bank.

 

Response: Eric Feurstein

 

 

July Birthdays: Caitlin White, Jerry Gruber, Joe Steiner, Tony Hoch, Kerry Greaser, and Paul Greaser.

 

July Rotary Anniversaries: Jenny Eisenhauer (11), Dave Hansen (7), Klaus Hanson (11), Rebecca Miller (6), Kelly Neville (11), Joe Stiner (13), Michelle Tilley (2), Tom Wolfe (8).

 

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.