This week past Mayor, Rotarian and local business woman Susan Kirkpatrick will speak on the history of spice.  Susan Kirkpatrick served on the Fort Collins City Council from 1986-1990 and as the Mayor from 1990-1993.  She was the community’s first directly-elected Mayor.  

According to Susan, her career outside of city politics has been 'checkered'. She holds a PhD in Political Science from Colorado State University and taught at CSU, UNC and at the University of Colorado, Denver.  She also graduated from Harvard University and the University of Michigan.

In 2007, she joined the cabinet of newly-elected Governor Bill Ritter as the Executive Director of the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA).  At DOLA, she managed more than a grant program with more than $100 million in assets and supervised the state’s Division of Emergency Management and the Division of Housing. 

When Governor Ritter decided not to run for re-election, Susan decided to follow her passion for cooking and opened Savory Spice Shop in downtown Fort Collins.  At the shop, she loves to inspire, inform, learn and talk about cooking but mostly spices.  Susan and husband (and RCFC Member) Allan live in Fort Collins.  

Wednesday October 17 RCFC joined with Foothills and Breakfast Rotary Clubs to celebrate our annual Teacher(s) of the Year program.  This year the three clubs honored Brenda Hernandez, a second grade teacher at Irish Elementary, nominated by the Fort Collins Foothills club; Gabby Wymore, who teaches history at Blevins Middle School; and Jennifer Martinez, who teaches music at Bacon Elementary School. 

To start our program, Ms. Martinez led the audience in singing "You Are My Sunshine"; very appropriate for teachers. Each teacher spoke eloquently about their 'calling' to teach, and Brenda Hernandez told a very moving story of a boy who entered Irish at the 3rd grade not reading anything at all.  The joy, when the boy first associated the letters on paper with physical items, was very touching to us all.  

Poudre School District Superintendent and RCFC Member Dr. Sandra Smyser spoke on the importance of teachers, and how they make a difference in lives. 

Satellite Members met on Wednesday, October 3rd at Lirano's Wine Bar.  Jennifer Brooks gave her Classification Talk.  Jennifer Brooks, Kerrie Luginbill and Kelly Kettler were all awarded their Blue Badges. 

There was a discussion on ways the Satellite Members could support causes already being worked on by members and agreement that one of the November Satellite programs would include training for the Four Way Test in schools so that Satellite Members could be involved in that activity this year.  The next meeting is Wednesday, October 17th at 5:30pm at New Belgium Brewery, and will include a facility tour and tasting.