This coming Wednesday, fellow RCFC member Zak George, owner of ZGL Company, will give us background on the skilled labor shortage, a true issue in Northern Colorado with so many companies hiring educated professionals. Zak will confirm that as the workforce shrinks and the family size gets smaller, there will continue to be an ongoing labor shortages.
The H2-B program (a federal visa program) has offered seasonal industries an option for a dependable workforce. Over the years this program has seen its ups and downs, and many see this program in different ways. The H2-B visa program is NOT immigration but lack of understanding has caused issues over the last few years. In this program you will learn all about the programs history, rules and regulations to get a better understanding of what it takes to get approved each year.
Our speaker will be introduced by Dave Stewart. As many know, Zak has owned a landscaping business in this area for fifteen years, and has been active in the club in the Peach Festival and other activities.
Committee Member Harry Muller presented a STEM Educational grant to Preston Middle School. The grant will be used to fund a student designed Static Flight Simulator at Preston and the STEM Institute. Accepting the grant was John Howe, Director of the STEM Institutes.
Chair Jack Vogt introduced PSD Global Academy History and English teacher, Cat Lauer, who in turn introduced, then “interviewed” RCFC’s Student of the Month, Gillian Moore. Ms. Lauer noted Moore’s heart for service and very useful skills at the Fort Collins Cat Rescue animal shelter. Moore told of falling in love with the work of caring for cats, and even the cleaning of cages. She plans to attend Front Range Community College then CSU’s school of Veterinary Medicine.
February 28, noon member Sandra Munger gave her New Member Talk, and became the newest RCFC Blue Badge member. Sandra recounted her background in Accounting, her work in Health Insurance claims, then her journey back to her first love - becoming a librarian in Canyon, Texas near Amarillo. She has recently retired to Fort Collins where she spent her earliest years while her father studied at CSU. She was a Rotarian and past Club President in Canyon, Texas. She is sponsored by Jean Lamm. Welcome Sandra!!
Merit Badge University Committee chair Randy Kurtz announced that the most recent MBU was our 26th. He recognized all Rotarians who helped, then presented a $400 check to Longs Peak Council BSA to offset MBU costs. BSA Longs Peak Council Senior District Executive John Eastman (also a Rotarian) accepted the check and thanked Rotary.
Our Teacher of the Month for February is Susan Steinmark, a thirty year teaching veteran, with 23 of those years in the Poudre School District. Introduced by Assistant Principal, Cheryl Day, Susan is a very busy instructional coach and literary interventionist. Every day she meets with small groups of students from grades one through five who are struggling with reading. She also mentors and coaches teachers and is proud of the growth she has observed in them. This activity has led to her to become a consultant at the district level for literacy professional development for PSD staff, leading professional development sessions. In preparation, she consumes data attempting to catch students before they falter. She also is part of the district’s literacy curriculum team and the writing curriculum team. Besides specific help with reading and writing, Susan is keenly interested in moral lessons she can impart to students and works with school and community student service projects called Lighthouse projects. She is a teacher with a busy schedule and the dedication to fulfill her many responsibilities. As a student herself, Susan was a Rotary scholarship recipient 35 years ago!
Dr. Amy Franklin, CEO of “Farms for Orphans” (a Loveland-based 501c-3 organization), presented information about hunger among children worldwide and especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as plans for addressing childhood-hunger in the DRC using edible insects, specifically palm weevil larvae, grown under controlled conditions at orphanages there. Worldwide, edible insects provide a widespread and reasonably available source of protein and micronutrients.
Worldwide, approximately ½ of all deaths of children under age 5 is from malnutrition. Even malnourished kids who don’t die suffer from poor health and poor physical and mental development. Most at-risk youth are from disadvantaged environments, especially in underdeveloped countries. Some 153 million children worldwide are orphans. In DRC, there are some 5.1 million orphans, 4.6 million suffering from malnutrition.
Her organization, in cooperation with Congo Relief Mission, United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization and the University of Kinshasa (DRC), is working to develop small-scale palm-weevil-larvae farms at orphanages to provide a source of protein for orphaned children as well as a source of income and employment for the orphans. These farms, all done in 40-foot shipping containers, require no land, no electricity, and minimal technical expertise, require less resources than conventional farms, and create less green-house gases. The larvae provide high protein and key micronutrients with a low risk of disease transmission from animal to human. As there is already a thriving edible-insect market in Kinshasa, this approach needs little change in eating habits. Temperature and humidity are controlled by opening or closing doors/windows in the shipping containers. From start-up with some 400 wild-caught larvae, first harvest is in 3 – 4 months with subsequent harvests every 30 days. A 100-gram serving is some 10 – 12 larvae. The cost of wild-caught larvae in the market is $8 - $9 per pound, relatively expensive compared to other sources of protein (only crickets are more expensive), so harvested larvae may be either eaten or sold. Of the farms started so far, 3 are still running; others have failed due to consumption of the original larvae, natural disasters, or death/departure of the local expert. Her organization provides training for orphans in biosecurity (regular cleaning and disinfection, handling and storage of feed), daily and weekly oversight, nutritional testing, ad market comparison.
Tammie Lee announced that the STEM committee will meet just before the March 6 Rotary Meeting at the Drake Center - 11:15.
Breakfast Rotary will be holding their Roundup and Raffle March 8, Drake Center. $100 each, 500 total tickets.
The Rotary Clubs of Fort Collins are sponsoring a Peace Initiative Speaker Series. The first is a special presentation at CSU’s Lory Student Center Grand Ballroom on Tuesday, April 9, from 6-8 p.m. Cost is $15 for adults, $10 for students. Contact Larry Salmen Larry.salmen@gmail.com (RCFC) or J.J. Shaw (Breakfast Club) for tickets.
Jeanne Fangman announced that the April 17 meeting will be an evening meeting. It is our annual Service Above Self Recognition event. If you wish to nominate anyone for an award, please contact Jeanne by March 1.
Kathy Nicol announced that she is putting together a Rotary table at the Project Self-Sufficiency Luncheon to be held Tuesday, March 26th at the Embassy Suites, Loveland. Please let Kathy know if you wish to be added to this Rotary table. kcnicol@comcast.net or 970/215-1543
Announcements Editor Bonnie Titley will be traveling February 23 through March 12. If you can fill in for Bonnie during her absence, see Bonnie or Stacy Plemmons
Melanie Chamberlain announced the club now had its own storage facility. Members harboring appropriate materials for our archives should contact Melanie or Bonnie.
John Roberts announced the Global Village Museum‘s new exhibit, “Russia in Retrospect”. Six special programs are scheduled during the 3-5 month run.
Michael Stradt announced a planned Fellowship Committee outing to see “Wicked” in Denver sometime before Memorial Day. Interested, see Mike.
Rotaract is trying to establish a community club for those between school and Satellite age, sponsored by all four Rotary clubs. Suggest names to Del Benson.
Rob Marschke asked members to support the 2019 Peach Festival by becoming a Sponsor. Forms were distributed.
All members are encouraged to join the newly established Peace Fellowship. Remember—peace leads to solutions.
Sally Lee urged members to give King Soopers cards as gifts. Talk to her if interested.
Bill Schaffter urges participation in Fort Collins Read Aloud. For information, go to Fortcollinsreadaloud.org.
Marty Bachman reminds all to report special occasions/events/illness that the Care and Recognition Committee should acknowledge. Call Marty, Melanie Chamberlain, or JeanneFangman.
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This coming Wednesday, fellow RCFC member Zak George, owner of ZGL Company, will give us background on the skilled labor shortage, a true issue in Northern Colorado with so many companies hiring educated professionals. Zak will confirm that as the workforce shrinks and the family size gets smaller, there will continue to be an ongoing labor shortages. 
Committee Member Harry Muller presented a STEM Educational grant to Preston Middle School. The grant will be used to fund a student designed Static Flight Simulator at Preston and the STEM Institute. Accepting the grant was John Howe, Director of the STEM Institutes.
Our Teacher of the Month for February is Susan Steinmark, a thirty year teaching veteran, with 23 of those years in the Poudre School District. Introduced by Assistant Principal, Cheryl Day, Susan is a very busy instructional coach and literary interventionist. Every day she meets with small groups of students from grades one through five who are struggling with reading. She also mentors and coaches teachers and is proud of the growth she has observed in them. This activity has led to her to become a consultant at the district level for literacy professional development for PSD staff, leading professional development sessions. In preparation, she consumes data attempting to catch students before they falter. She also is part of the district’s literacy curriculum team and the writing curriculum team. Besides specific help with reading and writing, Susan is keenly interested in moral lessons she can impart to students and works with school and community student service projects called Lighthouse projects. She is a teacher with a busy schedule and the dedication to fulfill her many responsibilities. As a student herself, Susan was a Rotary scholarship recipient 35 years ago!.jpg)
Dr. Amy Franklin, CEO of “Farms for Orphans” (a Loveland-based 501c-3 organization), presented information about hunger among children worldwide and especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as plans for addressing childhood-hunger in the DRC using edible insects, specifically palm weevil larvae, grown under controlled conditions at orphanages there. Worldwide, edible insects provide a widespread and reasonably available source of protein and micronutrients. 
