Year in Review

 
ROTARY CLUB OF EVERGREEN
2015-2016 Year in Review
There:  Be a Gift to the World
 
WITHIN THE CLUB 
 
Our membership grew slightly, ending the year at 101 active members and 107 total with a couple more applications in the wings. We welcomed 9 new members. We said farewell to Bob Stillmock who passed away suddenly in the Spring. 
 
We received five District or RI awards. Ron Catterson received the Four Way Test Award from the District, Harry Schaefer received the Volunteer in Service Award, Carol Carper the Active Senior Rotarian Award and the club received the Preserve Planet Earth Award thanks to the great leadership of Carma Schaefer. The club also was one of only five clubs in the District to receive RI's Presidential Citation Gold Award.
 
Our club gave special recognition in the form of a Peace Builder award to Curt Harris for his 18+ years of international service. 
Our Family of Rotary provided much love and support to several members and friends in the community. Todd Bastian received the Mat Matson Family of Rotary award for his organ donation to a lifelong friend, saving a life and making us all very proud to call Todd a friend and fellow Rotarian. 
 
Curt Harris and Barb Scripps served as Assistant District Governors for our District 5450.
 
Many of our members participated in a "Visioning" exercise to plan and guide our club out to the year 2021. 
 
We co-hosted our second annual Thanksgiving luncheon for the Evergreen community welcoming over 170 senior citizens as well as those less fortunate in what was a very warm and inviting event. 
 
We enjoyed each other’s company at a Holiday Party at the Lake House as well as several Dine-arounds, Rowdy Rotarian outings and party board events, including our fifth annual beer tasting and second annual Mardi Gras party.
 
Publicity for our many activities came into focus with a dramatically improved website, newsletter and active communications with the media. This heightened recognition in our community is tremendously important. To quote our incoming RI president, John Germ, “The more we are known for what we’ve achieved, the more we’ll be able to attract the partners, the funding, and, most important, the members to achieve even more.”
 
With the assistance of our Rotary International Vice President, Greg Podd, we hosted a private gathering at the Mt. Vernon Country Club for our RI President, K. R. "Ravi" Ravindran. He and Greg shared many personal experiences about their year in leadership in what was a very special evening that won't be forgotten by those in attendance. 
 
We enjoyed the inspiring words of over 40 guest speakers on wide ranging topics. We heard from one of the Lost Boys of Sudan and his 1,000 mile trek across Africa, from a fellow Rotarian who lost his eyesight in his prime, an Air Force fighter pilot, an international news reporter, about women in the military, and so many other fascinating subjects.
 
Another hugely successful Recycle Roundup was held. A District Grant of $7,000 was secured to help fund the event.
 
Ethics in Business award saw a record number of candidates (11). The winner will be announced in July.
 
Our Foundation had another excellent year, raising over $120,000 of revenue from investments and various fund raising activities, including:
     $50,000 from 100 Holes of Golf. We are awaiting final numbers.
     $16,000 from the Mountain Area Home and Garden Show
     $2,178 from Operation Valentine
     $2,000 from our Beer Tasting party 
     $4,500 in donations
     $3,295 from the Silent Auction at our Christmas party
     $2,461 from our Safeway/King Soupers cards.
     $13,000 in ISC donations.
     $1,270 for Mountain Reads
     $5,028 for the Back Pack program
     $2,800 for the Mardi Gras party
 
 
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY 
 
100 Holes of Golf raised over $50,000 for various causes. 15 different organizations and 7 Rotary causes benefited.
 
We co-hosted the 11th annual Mountain Area Home and Garden Show and raised a record $32,000 which was shared equally with the Conifer club.
 
We co-hosted with the Mountain Foothills club our second annual Thanksgiving luncheon for the Evergreen community welcoming over 170 senior citizens as well as those less fortunate in what was a very warm and inviting event.
 
We presented over $60,000 in Community Service grants to various local non-profits and projects. The highlight was our legacy fund gift of $30,000 to fund the creation of the Evergreen Musical Park. An additional $5,000 of legacy funds went to the Outdoor Lab to assist in the establishment of their "Living Lab" greenhouse program.
 
We supported the first Diversity Day at Evergreen High School with a $1,000 donation.
 
We were responsible for over 1,150 books being sent to local preschool children through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library project.
 
We sponsored 5 students at RYLA and 5 students at Young RYLA, providing scholarships with a value of $5,400. Five club members served as senior counselors for these programs.
 
Our "Road 'Warriors" participated in highway clean up along Highway 74 under CDOTS Adopt-a-Highway program.
 
We sponsored the Interact Club at Evergreen High School and with some 40 members they were actively involved in many Interact and Rotary club activities.
 
$3000 went to Project Sanctuary to sponsor a returning veteran’s family.
 
Over $5,000 was raised plus many volunteer hours spent in support of the Mountain Backpack project, which provides meals to kids in need.
 
The Mountain Reads adult literacy program obtained a $9,000 grant for books and supplies to support their adult tutoring and counseling program.
 
A Mental Health initiative was commenced to help raise awareness of mental health issues.
 
$1,800 was donated to the Evergreen Homeless Shelter program
 
WITHIN THE WORLD
 
The International Service Committee took in donations of approximately $13,000 and distributed around $15,000 for ten different global projects on three continents. One highlight was a $4,000 commitment to a joint project with the Peace Corps in Togo. We anticipate this amount being matched by a District Designated Funds grant in the near future.
 
We donated approximately 2,400 doses of polio vaccine in honor of our Friday morning speakers.
 
Two members participated in a trip to East Africa to review various Rotary projects and lead a hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro with five Masai girls, the first of their tribe to ascend to the peak of the 19,000+ foot mountain.
 
Two members went to Kenya on a service trip to support Sasa Harambee's organic farming program as well as provide medical aid support to local residents.
 
Two members and spouses went to Guatemala on a service trip to support Starfish-One-By-One.
 
We were well represented by Greg Podd at the Rotary International Convention in Seoul, South Korea. Greg’s service to Rotary for
many years and in particular this past year as RI Vice President has been just incredible. He has brought recognition to our club and without doubt, he truly epitomizes our motto of “Service Above Self.”
 
Our ISC is a committed group that is passionate about what they do and is recognized as one of the most accomplished in our District.
 
Congratulations Evergreen Rotarians on a great year and a job well done!
 
Bob Bradley, President
6/23/16