May 08, 2025 Meeting Summary

May 8, 2025
Meeting Summary
Presiding: Kelly Neville
Meeting Room setup/takedown and general problem solving: Tom Mangan and Ron Van Ekeren
Inspiration: Natalie White
Professor’s Quote:
Foundation Flash:
Introduction of Guests: Michelle Johnson
Guests: Michelle Johnson introduced Patti DeRosa; Justin Christenson introduced Nathan Killpack.
Visiting Rotarians:
Junior Rotarians/RYLA/Young RYLA/Exchange Students: Eva, Kamrie, Olafur
Rotaract/Interact Students:
Humor: Todd Pearson
Foundation Drawing: Keith Downey won $10 with $608 in the jackpot.
O’Dwyers Drawing: Kerry Greaser
 
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. We are halfway to the sponsorship goal. 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.
  • Terry Moss announced that the club is requiring every member to buy or sell 5 tickets for Taste of Laradise.
  • There will be a social hour in May on the fifth Thursday.
 
Upcoming Programs:
  • May 22: Laramie Plains Civic Center, Jessica Brauer
  • May 29: Rotary Exchange Student, Olafur Jonsson
  • June 12: Wyoming Hunger Initiative, Jenny Gordon
 
Rotarian of the Week: George Gill nominated Murray Schroeder and the Rotarians that helped with community cleanup day.
 
Special Presentation: Patti DeRosa was inducted into the club. Welcome Patti! Eva and Kamrie received their Junior Rotarian certificates.
 
 
Songs: The Happy Wanderer
 
Program: Rotary Park, Laramie Parks Director, Michael Bork.
 
Introduction: Tony Hoch
 
Michael Bork has been with City of Laramie for about a year. He is the new director Parks & Recreation.
 
Progress is happening now on the Laramie Rotary Clubs Park. The park is off Bill Nye Avenue behind the neighborhood by the high school. The Laramie Rotary Clubs provided $25,000 for the park to be named for Rotary.
 
The new sign is up, and the restrooms are underway. The playground will be installed soon. The pavilion’s soil is in and the area will have sod added in the next two weeks. 
 
Large rock and stone will be tiered around the area, and a flagstone pathway is underway. There will be a sport court. It has a basketball hoop, but it could also be a pickle ball court. You could just need to bring your own net. The Recreation Center is also considering checking out pickle ball nets.
 
There will be a dry creek bed for storm water that really defines the area. The dog park is currently going in.
 
Next steps include putting the pour-in-place down for the playground surface. This will be done by the end of May or early June. It will have 100 different plantings. It is 8 acres of space. There will be one big shelter by the play area.
 
No parking was incorporated into the design because it was not cost effective. There will be street parking.
 
The City of Laramie hopes to have the grant opening in mid-July.
 
In other parks news, they are working on the Spring Creek Phase II from 23rd Street to 9th Street. There are plans, but no funding, to also expand from 9th Street to 3rd Street. The City is working on a West Side/West Laramie connector trail from 3rd Street to West Laramie.
 
Optimist Park will receive an inclusive playground this summer or fall. Laramie Bike Park will go in behind the Rec Center.  This will have ramps, jumps, a skill course, and other features for mountain bikers. There will also be a kid track. LaBonte Park is getting a new parkway and will have fitness stations added in.
 
Response: Patti DeRosa
 
‘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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Spoke Editor: Caitlin White, 307-630-1965, cwhite@acplwy.org