March 20, 2025
Meeting Summary
Presiding: Dave Hansen
Meeting Room setup/takedown and general problem solving: Tom Mangan and Ron Van Ekeren
Inspiration:
Professor’s Quote:
Foundation Flash: Don Prehoda noted that the Club Foundation started in 1985. Ralph McWhinnie helped with the startup. He joined in 1926 and had perfect attendance for 67 years. Members can contribute $250 and become a McWhinnie Fellow. All the celebration and raffle funds go to the Club Foundation. The Foundation has $180,000. They contribute 5% each year to the club for activities and projects. The Club Foundation is working on a bylaws update.
Introduction of Guests: Hanna Eslinger
Guests: Michelle Johnson introduced Patti DeRosa; Paul Montoya introduced Steve & Michelle Eberle
Visiting Rotarians:
Junior Rotarians/RYLA/Young RYLA/Exchange Students:
Rotaract/Interact Students:
Humor: Terry Roark
Foundation Drawing: Jerry Greaser won $10 with $258 in the jackpot.
O’Dwyers Drawing: Christina Kuzmych
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.
- Murray Schroeder will have plans for cleanup day soon.
- Board elections will start in May. It is an opt in process.
- Dave Hansen noted that Read to Feed is off to a good start. A sponsorship goal will be out soon.
Upcoming Programs:
- April 3: Legislative Update, Gary Crum & Trey Sherwood
- April 10: Laramie Youth Crisis Center/Cathedral Home
Special Presentation: Jean Garrison celebrated a late birthday with a donation to the Club Foundation!
Rotarian of the Week: Tim Sullivan nominated Don Prehoda for his work with the Club Foundation.
Songs: Springtime in the Rockies
Program: Albany County Tourism, Andi Jaspersen
Introduction: Sarah Brown Mathews
Andi Jaspersen is the new director of Albany County Tourism. She has been with the tourism board for six months. She loves helping other people make memories.
Albany County Tourism shares travel experiences, shares what makes our area unique, focuses on economic drivers for local businesses, and partners to improve amenities. Eighteen percent of sales tax collected is paid by visitors in Albany County. The average household would spend $672 more in taxes for services, if not for Albany County tourism, mostly through the lodging tax.
Albany County Tourism encourages both day trippers and overnight stays. The organization works to support local event support to bring more people to the community. They are supporting our Taste of Laradise event. Events can apply for support four times per year.
Albany County Tourism uses an event impact calculator to look at return on investment. This is estimated based on different areas of spending. For example, Turf Wars brought in about $1 million resulting an additional $31,000 in tax collected. Basically, they spend $1 on ads and get $6 in return. They partner with UW Marketing and with athletics. Ticket sales for games are long reaching. There is an average $2.6 million spent on home games and a large increase to overnight stays.
Albany County Tourism has a resource guide and offers FAM tours. These tours take people to visit businesses that could increase tourism interest. One group they are working with is Bookdock Nation, a snowmobility company. They are doing a video that could increase tourism.
Response: Tim Sullivan
‘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.
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Website: laramierotaryclub.org
Spoke Editor: Caitlin White, 307-630-1965, cwhite@acplwy.org