May 1, 2025
Meeting Summary
Presiding: Kelly Neville
Meeting Room setup/takedown and general problem solving: Tom Mangan and Ron Van Ekeren
Inspiration:
Professor’s Quote: Rollin Abernethy
Foundation Flash:
Introduction of Guests: Keith Rittle
Guests:
Visiting Rotarians:
Junior Rotarians/RYLA/Young RYLA/Exchange Students: Eva, Kamrie, Olafur
Rotaract/Interact Students:
Humor: Todd Pearson
Foundation Drawing: Kerry Greaser won $10 with $543.50 in the jackpot.
O’Dwyers Drawing: Tom Mangan
Announcements:
- Don’t forget to volunteer to work the greeting table!
- Board elections will start in May. It is an opt in process.
- Dave Hansen told the club that three classrooms will participate in Read to Feed. The club is trying to help with $750 per classroom. Donate if you can.
- Tom Mangan announced that the MS Walks will be on May 31 in Cheyenne and June 1 in Laramie. You can sign up or donate.
- District Conference is June 12-14 in Loveland. The club can support registration and other expenses if you’re interested in attending.
- The board is proposing reducing the minimum number of board members from 6 to 5; adding a non-voting Public Image Officer to the board; and switching the election process to opt-in. The membership voted to approve these changes to the bylaws.
- Terry Moss announced that the club is requiring every member to buy or sell 5 tickets for Taste of Laradise.
Rotarian of the Week: Keith Downey and Jenny Eisenhauer nominated Anna Cramer for being named a 20 Under 40 Award recipient; Anna Cramer nominated Rotarians that helped with the United Way of Albany County allocation tours; Kelly Neville nominated Dan Pasman for his new business venture.
Songs: He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands; Home on the Range
Program: Albany County Public Library Rejuvenation Project, Caitlin White
Introduction: Tony Hoch
The Albany County Public Library was granted funding though the Wyoming Library Multi-Purpose Community Facility Program, a grant to the state of Wyoming from ARPA funds. The grant is for a capital project at the Laramie Branch. The total project is about $2.6 million.
The project will focus on updating ACPL’s two multi-purpose, public meeting rooms and creating a new multi-purpose space. The spaces need to address work, education, and health needs in Albany County.
For the Meeting Room, the entire room is being renovated. It will have new paint and carpet, as well as a modern AV system. A new entrance from the lobby will be added and the room will have a kitchenette. The storage closet will also be enlarged and have a garage door to make moving tables and chairs easier.
For the Conference Room, the room is doubling in size. It currently has a capacity of 8, but fits about 6 comfortably. The new capacity will be 15. This room will be remodeled to soundproof the walls and have new technology added. The room’s entrance will move to the south wall to allow it to be a rentable space when the library is closed.
The new addition is an Activity Center for kids and families. This will be in the footprint of an existing exterior patio that will be enclosed and become part of the main building. The Activity Center will have small step seating for storytimes. It will also have its own entrance off the lobby.
For the project, ACPL was able to install a permanent exterior ramp to an emergency exist on the south side of the building. This is serving as ACPL’s temporary entrance while the front entrance is closed.
The front entrance is also being renovated to accommodate the expansion to the Conference Room. It will also have a single-user bathroom and a water fountain with a water bottle filler. All three spaces will have their entrances off the new front entrance.
The public restrooms will be updated. To do this, the restrooms will need to be closed for an extended period. ACPL will have outside toilets available starting in late May.
Portions of the roof will be updated and an exterior storage closet has been added on the east side of the building off the Activity Center.
ACPL is excited about the project. It’s public meeting spaces are highly used and the improvements will improve public access.
Response: Jerry Gruber
‘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?
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Website: laramierotaryclub.org
Spoke Editor: Caitlin White, 307-630-1965, cwhite@acplwy.org