It probably goes without saying that we are all busier than ever.  Therefore, I will be the first to say that when I have spare time, my inclination is to think what would be fun.  I admit that I joined our club 12 years ago in hopes of extending my business relationships.  Interestingly, this goal faded in importance as I got more and more involved in the club.  The primary reason I stay a member of our club is because I truly enjoy the camaraderie of our club and I have fun both at the meetings and at events (both social and charitable) we are involved in outside of the meetings.  I also feel a sense of satisfaction that I am contributing towards our club vision of “Improving Lives”.

I just received the stats of the 2016 Peach Festival Volunteer signups.  Our club was allocated 118 volunteer slots.  84 slots were signed up for, resulting in a 71% sign up percentage.  The Fort Collins Club (including their Satellite group) sign up percentage was 91%, After work was 146% and Breakfast was 109%.  However, we actually ended up covering all our slots with volunteers who did not sign up.  My sense was that those of us who signed up stayed through extra shifts.  As long as I can remember, it seems like every year the Peach Festival chairpersons tell us that we are behind in signups and implore us to sign up right up to the last minute.  I see this happening with other events as well. 

The question then is why is that?  I took the opportunity to talk to a few of you and ask your opinion.  Some stated that they were so busy that they only had the bandwidth to contribute financially.  Some thought that the decision made before I joined the club to have charitable assessments as part of the dues structure negated the need to have fundraisers.  Interestingly, those members who consistently volunteer their time said they volunteer because they know it is important but also because it is fun.  They recommended that I figure out a way to convey to the club how much fun they have at these events. 

Rotary needs both our dollars and our time to fulfill its vision.  I understand that each of us may be at a stage in our lives where we don’t have enough of both to give to Rotary.  For all of you who contribute financially both through our quarterly dues assessments as well as those who contribute above and beyond that, THANK YOU.  For those of you who volunteer, THANK YOU. Going forward, I’d like to ask each of you to consider using more of your spare time to help at events and to participate in our social events, not because you have to, but because you want to.  I ask those members who participated in the events to be sure to let other members know what fun things happened and to personally invite other members to join you at upcoming events.  I can never say “guarantee” in my line of work but I am going to say it here – Come join us and I guarantee you’ll have fun!

Rotary International is trying to attract new members and one idea that has surfaced is to have an extension of the primary club and form another group under them.

A group of existing Foothills members have been meeting with non-Rotarians to create a "Foothills Evening Group". We are currently meeting every two weeks at O'Dell Brewing from 5-6:00pm. The plan is to meet bi-weekly and have one service project at least once a quarter.

The largest cost to most clubs is the meal cost.  Since the Evening Group has no paid meals, this results in a lower dues structure which can remove a barrier for some.

We are still a small group and the expectation from our Board of Directors is for the group to be live October first. Since this is an extension of our noon club the membership is added to the Foothills Rotary roster and abides to the same rules and procedures of the primary club (i.e. membership applications, RI dues, District support, etc.)

We have had several discussions in our meetings from "What is Rotary?" to what we do as a club locally. A few examples are:

Ron Randle spoke to the group about our Star committee and his willingness to help provide the same information to the Evening Group.

Carl Dierschow, who attracted a person who came to our first meeting from the social meeting website meetup.com, discussed our involvement in social media from Facebook to various sites for people looking for a service club.

Mike Hohl spoke about our involvement with the four other Fort Collins Rotary club in the Peach Festival and where the money raised from the event goes.

Jill Klinger showed us what it’s like to support exchange students worldwide.

We are trying to attract individuals that can't attend a club's weekly noon meeting, who may have financial limitations because joining a club with meal costs, or may have time difficulties during the day, but are wanting to be involved in a service organization.

If you know of someone who may be a candidate for our Foothills Evening Group, please bring them to our next meeting on September 6th at O'Dell at 5:00pm.

Last year, the men and women of Rotary International sponsored me to become a Rotary International Youth Exchange Student.  You sent me to Alberti, a town about 100 miles southwest of Buenos Aires, Argentina.  When I started the year, I looked at it as a great way to see Argentina, learn Spanish, and meet new friends.  My Exchange was all of those things and more.  Rotary International sponsored me through a year that was the toughest, most challenging and simultaneously life-changing and rewarding year of my life.

Our outbound orientation taught us about Culture Shock.  Ay Dios! Were they right-  not only were my eyes open, but my eyebrows were raised when I saw that all those articles I had read to prepare were true. My welcoming committee (host mom and sister, Rotary counselor, and soon- to- be- best friend) all kissed and hugged me in the airport. My host sister was wearing five-inch platform shoes.  I barely understood a word through their thick “porteño” accents. And I experienced the hair-raising experience of riding in a car during rush hour with no seatbelts.  Little did I know that in a few short months, I would fully embrace all of those things, and many more. But getting to that point wasn’t easy. I was reluctant to accept some things, or else didn’t know how to let go of my former habits and beliefs.

I was told at Outbound Orientation that I would be physically and emotionally exhausted during my first 3 months on exchange. My Rotary community really helped me through this time. My first host mom, Marian, loved me like a daughter.  She became my friend and a Mom who I will always love and keep in contact with. Marian never stopped encouraging me to step out of my comfort zone, and tirelessly persuaded me to speak up, despite my broken Spanish. I often felt lost, left out, and misunderstood during that first part of my year. I made lists upon lists of words and grammatical structures that I didn’t understand. When I had the time, I looked them up, wrote them down, and- more often than I’d like to admit- promptly forgot them. But throughout all of the hardships, small victories kept me motivated: remembering that word, understanding a joke, realizing that I just made it through a conversation without grasping for what I was trying to express. And when I got tired, Marian was there with mate (an Argentine tea), a smile, and a hug (whether I thought I wanted one or not).

My second host family was equally wonderful for very different reasons.  My second host mom, Silvina, helped me improve my grammar, correcting me at every misstep. She taught me the cultural mores of being a member of an Argentine family with the chores and responsibilities that are included in fitting in.   And from day one, my friends helped me become more Argentine- from what I believed, to what I said, to how I danced, to what I wore (but, to their dismay, I never gave up my Chacos.)

By my seventh month, I realized that the Rotary International goals of promoting international goodwill, understanding and peace were being accomplished.  I was thinking and dreaming in Spanish. At times I even struggled to speak English; random words seemed to escape me, and a surprisingly positive feeling followed every forgotten word. I was surely a different person than the girl who had stepped off the plane. I became more comfortable expressing myself and my thoughts.  I was more comfortable both in the presence of peers and when I was alone with my own company.  As much as they changed me, I think I made an impression on my friends and family as well.  I broke some stereotypes my Argentine family and friends had of Americans.  For example, my Argentine family and friends believed that Americans are materialistic and wealthy.  They were surprised when I told them that I hate shopping, and they were shocked when I told them that I am working two jobs and paying for college with scholarships and loans.  That’s unimaginable to them.

And when my final week came, it felt unreal. How could it be that I had spent only 9 months in Argentina? I couldn’t decide if I felt as if I had arrived just the week before, or as if I had lived my entire life in that little country town. I now spoke with my hands like a true Italian immigrant, I drank mate almost religiously, I no longer danced like an American ironing board, and I knew the new songs before my friends did. When I thought of going “home,” I realized that I now have two homes, two families, and a changed life.  I went to Argentina as a normal American teen.  When I returned from Argentina, I realized that Rotary exchange not only gave me the language skills and new friendships that I started my year expecting: you have equipped me with the knowledge and desire to bring goodwill, peace and understanding to other cultures.  And now that I am home, I am already thinking of ways to continue what you have started for me.  Thank you for sponsoring me as a Rotary International Youth Exchange scholar.

Rotaract originally began as a Rotary International youth program in 1968 at Charlotte, North Carolina and has grown into a major Rotary-sponsored organization of over 9,539 clubs spread around the world and 219,397 members.  It is a service, leadership and community service organization for young men and women.  Rotaract focuses on the development of young adults as leaders in their communities and workplaces. Clubs around the world also take part in international service projects, in a global effort to bring peace and international understanding to the world.

"Rotaract" stands for "Rotary in Action", although the name originally comes from a combination of "Rotary" and "Interact" (International + Action), the high school level program created by Rotary International in 1962.

The purpose of Rotaract is to provide an opportunity for young men and women to enhance the knowledge and skills that will assist them in personal development, to address the physical and social needs of their communities, and to promote better relations between all people worldwide through a framework of friendship and service.

Most Rotaract activities take place at the club level. The CSU Rotaract club holds formal meetings on Monday evenings.  The meetings feature speakers, special outings, social activities, discussions or visits to other clubs. Club members also get together on designated days for service project work, social events, or professional/leadership development workshops.

To be eligible, prospective members must:

• Be 18–30 years of age

• Show that they are committed to Rotaract, and show that they are of good standing in the community.

• Demonstrate a passion for "Service Above Self."

After being approved by the club, prospective members are 'inducted' to become members, also known as 'Rotaractors'

My wife Julie and I have lived in Fort Collins for over 60 years combined. Julie was born here and I came to Colorado State in 1981. We have two daughters, Katalin 22 and Emily 18. Emily is attending Regis University this fall and Katalin recently graduated from Marquette University, and started her career at Convergys in Westminster, Colorado as a consultant. Julie is with the Heath District of Northern Larimer County. Together we own Ace Hardware of Fort Collins / Clays’ Ace Hardware where I work in the business full time. Prior to acquiring the Ace Hardware on Harmony & Lemay last November, I spent nearly 30 years in commercial and retail banking with most of my time at Wells Fargo and First National Bank of Omaha.

While Julie is a native of Fort Collins, Colorado, I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio prior to coming to Colorado State.  We love Fort Collins and CSU, and we have supported our community over years through volunteering. Julie has recently concluded 9 years with the National Charity helping our girls understand the value of supporting our local community. Our companies (both Gerard Management Company and Ace Hardware of Fort Collins) are members of the North Fort Collins Business Association which is focused on the continuous improvement on North College Avenue (north of the Poudre River to Highway 1) and assisting children in need across the city. I am currently the Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Group that works directly with the North College Urban Renewal Authority and the City of Fort Collins.