No Club meeting this week. Wishing all Rotarians a Happy Thanksgiving!
Welcome to our Club!
Rotary At The Idaho Falls Festival of Trees
November is Rotary International "Rotary Foundation" month.
November Program Chairman: Cindy Ozaki
November Sergeant-At-Arms: Ian Turner
November Greeter: Margaret Wimborne
Michelle Ziel-Dingman, Executive Director of The Snake River Animal Shelter - "An Update"
November is Rotary International "Rotary Foundation" month.
November Program Chairman: Cindy Ozaki
November Sergeant-At-Arms: Ian Turner
November Greeter: Margaret Wimborne
Celete Eld, Executive Director of Hospice of Eastern Idaho, Inc. - "Palliative Care...What?"
November is Rotary International "Rotary Foundation" month.
November Program Chairman: Cindy Ozaki
November Sergeant-At-Arms: Ian Turner
November Greeter: Margaret Wimborne
President thoughts for November
As we move into November, the Rotary International theme this month is "The Rotary Foundation". Our November program chairman is Cindy Ozaki and she has a couple of great speakers for us. We are also headed into the holiday season so read the bulletin closely as we will only have two meetings in November at the Westbank, and only two in December. Rotary at The Festival of Trees and our Rotary Christmas Party are on the way. We have also been blessed with great attendance and a lot of new members this fall. Not sure what you all are doing right but keep it up.
As you read these comments, our local elections will be wrapping up. While I may care more than some, as this election determines who I work for, I also have had the privilege of watching our form of government from the inside. When I observe the involvement of elected officials, including those who are not elected, I cannot think of a better quote, as the well-used Teddy Roosevelt’s Man in the Arena quote:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
When I look at our members, I see inspirational people who are in the Arena of Life in many areas and making a difference. In summary, I am grateful for our great Club where we can "Unite for Good" and in a small way be in the Arena of Life.
In Fellowship,
Stephen Boorman, President
Rotary Club of Idaho Falls
Chenele Dixon, Executive Director of Idaho Solutions, will facilitating a Civil Discourse Panel "Civil Discourse In Action: Listening, Learning and Showing Up" with Representative Josh Wheeler and Representative Chris Mathias.
October is Rotary International Economic and Community Development Month.
October Program Chairman: Brad Cramer
October Sergeant-At-Arms: Lisa Schultz
October Greeter: Chris Aspinall
Janet Gallimore, Executive Director of the Idaho State Historical Society - "Preserving the past, enriching the future"
October is Rotary International Economic and Community Development Month.
October Program Chairman: Brad Cramer
October Sergeant-At-Arms: Lisa Schultz
September Greeter: Chris Aspinall
Wade Sanner and Cindy Donovan - "The State of the City of Idaho Falls and the City of Ammon"
October is Rotary International Economic and Community Development Month.
October Program Chairman: Brad Cramer
October Sergeant-At-Arms: Lisa Schultz
September Greeter: Chris Aspinall
Carrie Athay, Executive Director of the Idaho Falls Symphony - "Beyond the Stage: The Arts as an Engine for Community Growth"
October is Rotary International Economic and Community Development Month.
October Program Chairman: Brad Cramer
October Sergeant-At-Arms: Lisa Schultz
September Greeter: Chris Aspinall
Rotarians,
As we move into October, the Rotary International theme is "Economic and Community Development". Our program chair this month is Brad Cramer and he has some great speakers for us. With topics ranging from a conversation on civil discourse, to talking about celebrating our 250th Anniversary as a country, and community growth topics thrown in. Topped off with our own Carrie Athay talking about the impact of the arts.
As we approach an election season it is important to remember that our economy and community are built on the bedrock of the ability to talk and work with all our neighbors. Life would be quite boring if we were all the same. An election also raises the question of the purpose of government. For me that is “to provide an environment in which private industry can prosper” with “private industry” including the tranquil enjoyment of our private life as well as our commercial interest. Or, as stated in some old document, “establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty”.
This brings us back around to economic and community development, which is built on that civil discourse that Rotary does such a great job of fostering. Which is why many Rotary clubs and/or Rotarians are working with Braver Angels a group working to help America heal its current divide (https://braverangels.org/rotary/).
In summary, I am grateful for our great club where we can "Unite For Good" and have discussions that provide for greater "Economic and Community Development".
In Fellowship,
Stephen Boorman, President
Rotary Club of Idaho Falls
Helena Welling, Bonneville County Supervisor of Elections - "The Mycorrhizae of Local Elections"
October is Rotary International Economic and Community Development Month.
October Program Chairman: Brad Cramer
October Sergeant-At-Arms: Lisa Schultz
September Greeter: Chris Aspinall
Senator Dave Lent - "Idaho's Education Movement"
September is Rotary International "Basic Education and Literacy Month"
September Program Chairman: Liza Leonard
September Sergeant-At-Arms: Steve Cannon
September Greeter: Lisa Schultz
Kathy Buck, Rotary District 5400 Governor "A Visit With Our District Governor".
September is Rotary International "Basic Education and Literacy Month"
September Program Chairman: Liza Leonard
September Sergeant-At-Arms: Steve Cannon
September Greeter: Lisa Schultz
Karla LaOrange, Superintendent, Idaho Falls School District 91 - "Strengthening Education in Idaho Falls”
September is Rotary International "Basic Education and Literacy Month"
September Program Chairman: Liza Leonard
September Sergeant-At-Arms: Steve Cannon
September Greeter: Lisa Schultz
President thoughts for September
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose”, a quote that applies to seasons of the year and seasons of life. As I write this on Labor Day weekend, this weekend seems to be the most definitive season of the year. That clean break between summer and fall, vacations and school, camping and school sports, hiking and hunting. It is the time when we know we will have shorter and cooler days, the garden is about done, it is a mental shift. We are now headed into fall, a season I love, crisp mornings and warm afternoons, a season that just smells different.
Now of course the date that starts summer is Memorial Day. So just how did the last Monday in May and the first Monday of September get chosen?
According to google: Memorial Day began as Decoration Day in 1868, with May 30th chosen by General John A. Logan because flowers would be in bloom across the country. The date was originally selected for decorating Civil War soldiers' graves but was changed by Congress in 1968 to the last Monday in May, taking effect in 1971, to create a three-day weekend and honor all fallen U.S. service members. While The date for Labor Day was chosen for a practical reason: the first Monday in September was a date that fell between the July 4th and Thanksgiving holidays, providing a much-needed mid-year break with good weather for the proposed parades and picnics that honored the labor movement. The first celebration was on September 5, 1882, in New York City, a date chosen by the Central Labor Union, which later changed it to the first Monday in September.
With that bit of trivia, thanks to Elaine for a timely bulletin to let us know what is happening in our club. September is education month so support our students and thank a teacher if you get a chance. Also, always we are working to get great speakers each week, attendance has been good through the summer and should just improve. Finally, we are still emphasizing membership recruitment this year.
As we "Unite For Good", I am looking forward to a great year.
In Fellowship,
Stephen Boorman, President
Rotary Club of Idaho Falls
Debbie Critchfield, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State of Idaho - "Education In Idaho"
September is Rotary International "Basic Education and Literacy Month"
September Program Chairman: Liza Leonard
September Sergeant-At-Arms: Steve Cannon
September Greeter: Lisa Schultz
City Council Member, Jim Francis "A Land Use Decision: A City Council Faces the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
August Program Chairman: 20th & 27th: Amanda Poitevin & Chris Aspinall
August Sergeant-At-Arms: Lisa Burtenshaw
August Greeter: Kathy McBride
Jaydene Wiles -"The Koha Project: Supporting Maternal and Community Health in Haiti"
August Program Chairman: 20th & 27th: Amanda Poitevin & Chris Aspinall
August Sergeant-At-Arms: Lisa Burtenshaw
August Greeter: Kathy McBride
Presentation of the Duck Race Winners & Prizes to kickoff the meeting - Our Speaker is Idaho State Senator Kevin Cook - Topic "750K by 2100: Keep Idaho's Water Here
Fellow Rotarians,
I sat down to write this I looked back at what Catherine and Kristin had said the past two years. Because, the more things change, the more they stay the same. They both focused on Rotary’s theme for August, which is Membership, which we need to continue to focus on. While we are the largest club in our district, we are only about 2/3 of what our membership was 20 years ago. I read a while back that the upcoming generation supports causes not organizations and my observation is that is true, with full disclaimer that “anecdotes plural do not statistics make”.
Now the quote “the more things change the more they stay the same” did not start with a Bon Jovi song, or even some Frenchman in the 1800’s like Wikipedia says. There is book tucked way back in the Bible where the Preacher says, “there is nothing new under the sun”, which I find encouraging.
I find it good that as our club changes and our new members have invested in the Duck Race, which is the envy of Rotary clubs all over our district, and the greenbelt is the envy of Cities all over the northwest. We owe a huge debt to those who had the vision for the greenbelt and started this fund raiser so many years ago. I am proud to see our club continuing to raise money to grow this awesome community asset. Take a moment to pat yourselves on the back, we have an awesome club.
To come full circle, our club has a huge cause that all generations can get behind and support. A cause that can attract members from all generations, we just need to spread the message. Of course, our club also offers great opportunities to build relationships, weekly learning about what is happening in our community, funds scholarships, and other ways to give back we haven’t yet thought about. The shark pond is an example (thanks Eugene).
Thanks for everything you all do.
In Fellowship,
Stephen Boorman, President
Rotary Club of Idaho Falls
DUCK RACE PEP RALLY with Kevin Call and Mike O'Bleness
August is Rotary International "Membership" month
August Program Chairman: 6th & 13th: Kevin Call & Mike O'Bleness 20th & 27th: Amanda Poitevin & Chris Aspinall
August Sergeant-At-Arms: Lisa Burtenshaw
August Greeter: Kathy McBride
This week our lunch meeting will be held at Sandy Downs in celebration of the upcoming War Bonnet Round Up!
Here is what you need to know:
Park in the regular parking lot off of York Road/E 65th S just south of the grandstands.
Pick up your lunch of burgers, fries, soda, water, etc. as you enter the gate and proceed to the north side of the grandstands.
Walk to the north side of the grandstands or there will be transportation to the grandstands by golf cart/ATV if you prefer.
Our program will be the history of the War Bonnet Round Up. After the program members are welcome to take a walking tour of the grounds and see the "behind the scenes" of the rodeo. Please wear appropriate attire and walking shoes for this event.
EXPLORING THE WORLD THROUGH WEST AFRICAN CUISINE - Rotary Summer Picnic at The Museum of Idaho - No noon Club Meeting this week!
Bring your family and experience authentic West African cuisine, explore the Museum of Idaho and enjoy a fun evening of fellowship!
July is Rotary International "New Year/New Leadership" month.
July Program Chairman: Brandi Newton
July Sergeant-At-Arms: Amanda Poitevin
July Greeter: Eugene Engmann
President-Elect Eugene Engmann will present our Club's first "Shark Tank Event".
July is Rotary International "New Year/New Leadership" month.
July Program Chairman: Brandi Newton
July Sergeant-At-Arms: Amanda Poitevin
July Greeter: Eugene Engmann
Rotarians,
As I step into this new role, I reflect on the comments I gave for my induction.
Far too often our society today fails to adequately value excellence. There are four people that I find inspirational because they uniquely exhibit excellence. Willie Nelson who exemplifies consistency, longevity, and endurance. Danny MacAskill, an individual who has practiced and perfected art of trials bicyclist. Jimmy Chin, outstanding climber, photographer and videographer. Jordan Burroughs, one of the best US wrestlers of all time who didn’t do anything special, just did the basics especially well. For me these inspirational figures show how endurance, practice, skill, humility, and a focus on the basics produce excellence.
I also had to reflect on the untimely passing of our own Bruce Turner who exemplified all these great characteristics. Bruce took care of the basics, as Secretary Bruce managed a massive amount of the administrative work for our club. He did it quietly, with humility, with diligence, and with precision. He was the person that I wanted to do the final review of the budget, when in doubt I turned to his board meeting minutes, history, Bruce had that also. Life is a journey, not a destination, a journey in which Bruce continuously pursued excellence to the end.
I also talked about privilege. One of the graduation speeches I remember was the West Point Commandant of Cadets, whose message to the cadets was that “they were privileged, they had one of the finest educations from one of the most elite schools in the world, but they were not special". And because they were privileged and were not special, they had a greater responsibility to go out and contribute, to provide value, and to make a difference in the world.
While in today’s world privilege is an overused and misused concept, the concept of being blessed and having privilege is foundational to the purpose of any service club. Privilege comes from many sources; a good family, job, education, a drive for excellence, great mentors, opportunities, and the list goes on.
Again, Bruce was a model of this principle with his contributions and work for our Rotary Club and his church. Bruce put Rotary’s motto "Service Above Self" into practice. He gave hours, money and energy to causes greater than Himself, he lived the spirit of Rotary.
As we start a new Rotary year, remember excellence is not an achievement, it is a lifestyle, a lifestyle that often results in opportunity and privilege. Privilege that results in a Rotary membership and an opportunity to help others. And let’s look to help others, and particularly for any opportunity to help others in their journey towards excellence.
Bruce has given us an example and set a standard of excellence for all of us.
In Fellowship,
Stephen Boorman
President, Rotary Club of Idaho Falls
Service Above Self
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
United States of America