Club Assembly and Year End Picnic

It has been two weeks since we published a newsletter because last week was our “picnic” event capping the Rotary Year. While we are on the subject, Huge thanks to Jody and Gordon Niswender for making their beautiful home available. Although it was planned to be a picnic in their back yard, the weather was less than cooperative, so everything was done indoors. More on the event later.

Two weeks ago, we held our final club assembly for the year and the gavel was passed to Ralph Moore. Susan Van Deren presented the Rotarian of the Year award to Pete Hyland for epitomizing the motto of “Service Above Self”…and then he promptly left for Hawaii. Bob Penny, Susan Van Deren and Bruce Florquist were recognized for perfect attendance.

Susan Van Deren announced that we had completed the fund drive for the Rotary ReLeaf project with a check from the Jackson Hole Supper club. John Roberts, Assistant District Governor was a guest He reminded us that the Polio Plus Day is October 24.

After receiving the gavel, Ralph Moore said that he doesn’t expect to be the “doer” in the coming year, but will instead try to channel all the wonderful energies in the club. He reminded us of the RI President’s motto for the year…”The Future is in Your Hands”.

Rotary Picnic:
25 Rotarians and/or spouses enjoyed a wonderful dinner, camaraderie, and maybe a little wine at the Niswender’s house. Jody and Gordon had worked hard to set up the back yard, but a deluge prevented anyone from using it. Instead, we had a great time in their beautiful house. Capping off the evening, we raised some money for the club. Susan Van Deren bought the CU-Wyoming Football package that CU President Bruce Benson gave us during his visit last month. Jody auctioned off three loaves of her famous bread, and Susan Van Deren Auctioned off a dinner for four at her house. The Squicqueros were the high bidders. In all, $330 was raised for the club.

Quiz: Answer to last question. John Steinbeck in “The Grapes of Wrath” was the first to call Route 66, “The Mother Road”. Next question: In 1975 what fictional character’s obituary was printed on the front page of the New York Times?

Quote of the Week: “The worst prison would be a closed heart.” Pope John Paul II

Outgoing President Susan Van Deren pinning the President's pin on incoming president Ralph Moore.

Aims Community College

Guests last week included Carolyn Woodruff who was here to support our speaker; Margaret Blyth who is interested in joining the club and was a speaker for us several years ago; and B.J. Nikkel, Colorado House Representative from District 49. Congratulations go out to Scott Bailey whose son Tyler was drafted by the Colorado Rockies. Two other Eaton Baseball players were drafted this year also.

PROGRAM:

Our program for the week was presented by Dr. Marsi Liddell, President of Aims Community College. Aims was created in 1965 when voters created a special district. It became active in 1965 and graduated its first three students in 1966. Today, Aims has campuses in Greeley, Downtown Greeley, Ft. Lupton, and Loveland. Berthoud will soon have a campus and an Automotive Center is being built at the Iron Mountain Complex right here in Windsor. Liddell says it is scheduled to be open this coming January.

Aims is a comprehensive community college with a variety of specialized programs. In addition to its health services it has an aviation program and has recently instituted an air traffic controller’s course. It has a fully certified flight simulator in its Aviation Building.

Beaty Hall, which is the oldest building in the system is undergoing renovation and when completed will house visual and performing arts, a radio station, a TV station, and an audiology/recording studio.

Liddell showed pictures of many of the college’s growth plans including the “Promenade” at the Greeley campus as well as the new complex that will be built in Berthoud on the Northeast corner of I-25 and the Berthoud Exit.

Liddell said objectives for growth include renewable energy courses that will focus on wind, water, soil, and solar. They hope to entice smaller energy companies to co-locate with the campus. She also touted some recent legislation that allows high school students to have concurrent enrollment so that when they receive their high school diploma, they also have the chance to earn their Associates degree through community colleges at the same time…a great savings to students and their families.

Quiz: Answer to last week’s question: When Port wine is cured in wooden casks, it is called “tawny”. Next question: Who was the first author to call Route 66 “The Mother Road”?

Quote of the Week: “There are two ways of exerting one’s strength; one is to push down, the other is pulling up.” Booker T. Washington

Dumb Law of the Week: Elephants may not be used to plow cotton fields. North Carolina

Bruce Benson, President University of Colorado

President Elect Ralph Moore encouraged Rotarians, especially incoming Board Members to attend the District Assembly in Ft. Collins on June 12. Pete Hyland announced that the club netted $475 from the beer sales at Pelican Fest despite the weather.

Guests last week included Marcy Benson, wife of our speaker and Ken McConnellogue Associate Vice President at CU. Other guests included Bill Allen, father of Susan Van Deren, Judy Templeman, and Joy Waters who also submitted her membership application.

PROGRAM:
Our program for the week was presented by Bruce Benson, President of the University of Colorado. Benson is visiting communities throughout the state to promote CU as well as all higher education in the state. Benson said that image was near and dear to him and he believes in always pushing your reputation, and that openness and transparency are important. He says it is important to talk about the issues openly and when good ideas come up, he doesn’t care who gets the credit. Benson said “Problems don’t get better, so solve them.”

Benson touted CU’s position on Academics and Research. Its Earth Sciences and Aerospace Curricula are tops in the country. The University boasts four Nobel Prize recipients, including Tom Cheh who is returning to the University.

Economic times have been hard on education. Benson, who has very successful business background, said he knew there were going to be some hard times, but he didn’t anticipate the depth of the economic problem. As there are only four ways that the University can get funds (State Legislature, Tuition, Philanthropy, and Research Grants) the last three have to pick up the slack when there are severe cuts from the legislature. This last year was the 3rd biggest year in fund raising and research grants amounted to $660 million, but he pointed out that research monies do not pay for operational costs. Be bemoaned the fact that Colorado is 48th in the country in terms of higher education funding from the state. The 25% cut in funding from the state legislature is being met with more efficient operations. Benson is proud that CU’s tuition runs well below that of other major universities around the country.

QUIZ: Answer to last week’s question. James Dean received two Academy Award nominations posthumously-One for Giant and one for East of Eden. Next question: when Port wine is aged in a bottle, it is termed vintage. What is it called when it is aged in wooden casks?

Quote of the week: “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” Henry Ford

Dumb Law of the Week: It is unlawful to lend your vacuum cleaner to your next-door neighbor. Denver

Four CU grads. From L to R, Bruce Florquist, Bill Allen, Bruce Benson, Susan Van Deren