The Glen Haven Flood and The Rotary Foundation

 
In 2013, the Big Thompson Canyon flooded, again.  Water managers tried to control the flood, diverting water to Horsetooth Reservoir and Carter Lake and by holding back as much water as possible in Lake Estes.  But the nearly 8 inches in 48 hours in Estes Park, almost 13½ inches in a spot near Drake, scoured the canyon, destroying U.S. 34, and rolled east, picking up the swollen Little Thompson River near Milliken before joining the South Platte.
Wednesday, January 25, our guest speaker will be Past District Governor Julie Pharis, introduced by RCFC Foundation Committee Chair, Mike Sollenberger.  Julie lived in Estes Park Co for 33 years and will share her experience being a District Governor during the 2013 flood, and how she witnessed The Rotary Foundation’s work in her own backyard.
 
 
 
 
At the 1917 Rotary convention, outgoing RI President Arch C. Klumph proposed to set up an endowment “for the purpose of doing good in the world.”  In 1928, it was renamed The Rotary Foundation (TRF), and became a distinct entity within Rotary International.  
 
In 1929, the Foundation made its first gift of $500 to the International Society for Crippled Children. The organization, created by Rotarian Edgar F. “Daddy” Allen, later grew into Easter Seals.  From an initial contribution of $26.50 TRF has grown to more than $1billion.  TRF has one of the largest and most prestigious international fellowship programs in the world.
 
Julie Phares has been a Rotarian since 1994 and has served as both Longs Peak Rotary Club and Estes Park Noon Rotary Club Presidents.   In 2003, and again in 2010 she was named "Rotarian of the Year, by these clubs.  In 2005 she was named District 5440 "Rotarian of the Year", and has served as the District Trainer, Assistant Governor, and helped organize the District Rotary Leadership Institution.  She has also served as the lead trainer for the High Country President Elects Training, held in Denver each year.  Her passion in Rotary is to share Rotary Foundation stories and she has traveled to Guatemala, Russia, and Australia to see your Rotary dollars at work.  She is spokesperson for the RI Global Grant awarded to the resident of Glen Haven impacted by the 2013 flood.  She now resides in Loveland, and is a member of the Loveland Rotary.  
 
Julie is a Paul Harris Fellow plus 5, and a member of the Paul Harris Society.