RCFC is honored to have with us this Wednesday Dr. Melba Pattillo Beals, who will share her experience as one of the Little Rock Nine, a group of nine African American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Beals will be introduced by Stacy Plemmons. Their enrollment was followed by the Little Rock Crisis, in which the students were initially prevented from entering the racially segregated school by Orval Faubus, the Governor of Arkansas. After President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent a 101st Airborne division as escorts, the students were able to attend.
We are happy to announce the approval of an economic development project in Guatemala. The "Better Corn for Guatemala" grant is a two-pronged project to increase incomes of Guatemala's poorest corn farmers through access to improved seeds and training, especially given the challenges of COVID-19. Our club has contributed $8,000 to the project through member donations.
February 10, nationally acclaimed author Dr. Melba Pattillo Beals, will visit RCFC, via Zoom. In 1957, Beals, then 14 years old, was one of nine high school students chosen to integrate Little Rock (Arkansas) Central High. Her experience is chronicled in her best-selling book, “Warriors Don’t Cry”. For her work, she has been awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.
The nine students quickly became known as “The Little Rock Nine,” for their bravery and perseverance in the face of death threats, personal harassment and the blocking of the school entrance by a mob incited by Governor Orval Faubus. President Dwight Eisenhower sent in troops from the 101st Airborne to escort the students into and around the school.
Thanks to all for who participated in our annual Quad Clubs Purple Pins for Polio. Thanks especially to Ruth Lutes and Sharyn Salmen who organized and ran this virtual event. Rotary Club of FC collected $4145 in donations or a $12,435 with the Gates Foundation 2-for-1 Match.
The Community Service Committee is planning a food drive for the Larimer County Food Bank from February 5th - 15th. Committee members will be dropping off bags on Feb 3rd & 4th with a list of needed items so members can fill the bag and put back on their porch for pickup by 10am on Tuesday February 16th. Committee members will be around that day for pickup.
There will also be additional lists in the bag to distribute to friends and neighbors asking them to participate, if possible, and to return to the members porch for pick up.
On Wednesday, February 17th at 5:30 pm, there will be an event at SpeedPro to sort the items for delivery to the Food Bank. An Eventbrite signup will be sent out on the 4th - limited participation is 20 members due to Covid restrictions.
For our Rotary Zoom meeting on February 3, Dr. Richard Knight, professor of wildlife conservation at CSU, introduced many of the ways people on both sides of the Red/Blue (urban/rural; conservative/liberal) divide have common interests and needs, then discussed many of the organizations and processes that can help bridge those gaps.
During his first meeting as President, Del Benson outlined his priorities and thoughts for RY 2020-21. He touched on the challenges of declining noon membership and the resultant reduction in income and charitable pledges to support our service mission. Del then outlined his priorities and a "U+2" Time, Talent and Treasure Challenge for every member:
Bring in two new members
Double contributions to Rotary funding needs
Help on two funding initiatives
Give time to two additional service projects
Organize new projects and outcomes
Attend two more meetings every quarter
Combine categories engaging U+2 and have twice the fun and accomplishments
He closed his remarks with preliminary plans for a "Good and Lucky Non-Event Fundraiser" that raised $79,000 for charitable causes so far.
Now we need to work on the U+2 membership growth. Del asks that we focus on membership recruitment, retention, and reactivation with objectives to include young and old, female and male, persons of color and other diversity, and persons of progressive interests to make Rotary better and more inclusive in our community and world.
The History Fellowship this Wednesday is immediately following the noon meeting. With tensions rising between the US and Putin's Russia - a situation some are calling a new Cold War - we will go back in time to review the situation when we had bipartisan support for how the US would confront the Soviet Union in the first Cold War. All are welcome.
The Community Grants Committee seeking grant applications focused on Arts and Culture. Please contact Kathy Nicol for details.
The Peace Builder Newsletter featuring writer and blog facilitator, Lindsey Pointer, has just been published. Contact Bill Timpson if you did not get a copy.
Earl Reinkensmeyer, a former member of RCFC, passed away on January 20th. Due to illness he had not been active recently, but had worked on an irrigation system for the Catholic orphanage in Mexico and was on the STEM committee. His memorial service was February 8.
Older Announcements Still Relevant:
President Del Benson announced a $10,000 donation to the RCFC Legacy Fund from David Everitt and the Everitt family, in support of the Good and Lucky Non-Event! This brings the total raised to $70,000, plus a $19,000 matching grant for the United Way Fire Relief fund! Total raised was $89,000!!Thank you Rotarians for your generous support of our community.
Marty Bachman and Sally Lee report that just 35 families shopping at King Soopers earned $524.87 last quarter - just for shopping! That's a $525 donation that goes directly into our charitable budget. If you haven’t signed up yet, see Sally or Marty.
The next Rotary Book Fellowship discussion will be February 11, reviewing the book Warriors Don't Cry, by Dr. Melba Pattillo Beals, a memoir of her experience as one of the Little Rock Nine. Dr. Beals will be our noon speaker on February 10. Contact Dave Stewart for details.
First Pres church has indicated they are not comfortable hosting Rotary any time soon. For now, all meetings will continue to be via Zoom.
General reminder of our Fellowships schedule. First Wednesday: Peace. Second Wednesday: History. Third Wednesday: Investments. Fourth Wednesdays: Science. All meet immediately following the Wednesday noon Zoom meeting, using the same login.
President Del announced a 'one-stop' Finances email - treasurer@fortcollinsrotary.org. Del also reminded members that 'the buck stops here' and asked that any complaints or concerns also be directed to him.
Marty Bachman reminds all to report special occasions/events/illness that the Care and Recognition Committee should acknowledge. Call Marty, Susan Brand, Melanie Chamberlain, or JeanneFangman.
RCFC is honored to have with us this Wednesday Dr. Melba Pattillo Beals, who will share her experience as one of the Little Rock Nine, a group of nine African American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Beals will be introduced by Stacy Plemmons. Their enrollment was followed by the Little Rock Crisis, in which the students were initially prevented from entering the racially segregated school by Orval Faubus, the Governor of Arkansas. After President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent a 101st Airborne division as escorts, the students were able to attend.
February 10, nationally acclaimed author Dr. Melba Pattillo Beals, will visit RCFC, via Zoom. In 1957, Beals, then 14 years old, was one of nine high school students chosen to integrate Little Rock (Arkansas) Central High. Her experience is chronicled in her best-selling book, “Warriors Don’t Cry”. For her work, she has been awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. 
For our Rotary Zoom meeting on February 3, Dr. Richard Knight, professor of wildlife conservation at CSU, introduced many of the ways people on both sides of the Red/Blue (urban/rural; conservative/liberal) divide have common interests and needs, then discussed many of the organizations and processes that can help bridge those gaps.
During his first meeting as President, Del Benson outlined his priorities and thoughts for RY 2020-21. He touched on the challenges of declining noon membership and the resultant reduction in income and charitable pledges to support our service mission. Del then outlined his priorities and a "U+2" Time, Talent and Treasure Challenge for every member: