Events

Fellow Rotarian, Dr. Cheryl O'Brien, Director of the Idaho Women's Business Center and Board Member of the Idaho State Historical Society will update us on the "Idaho State Historical Society".

Dr. Cheryl O’Brien worked several years as a naval architect for Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and then over 30 years at the INL, where she directed Engineering Programs including criticality and nuclear safety, engineering design, and structural analysis. Her management career included bringing green building design and clean energy advocacy to the Laboratory as one of the first LEED^TM Accredited Professionals in Idaho. With a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Civil Engineering her technical expertise is natural hazard structural analysis and has planned and led technical conference sessions in Asia and Europe. Post career, she completed a Doctor of Arts degree in Political Science with a focus on state legislative adoption of nuclear energy policy and understanding attitudes and risk perception. She is now working part-time as an Associate Director for a non-profit organization advancing women in business. One of her community commitments is serving as a governor appointee on the Board of Trustees for the Idaho State Historical Society, representing District 7. She and her husband Barry own a historical home in Idaho Falls.

Jeff Carr, Executive Director, Rod Hansen, Exhibits Director and Chloe Doucette, Senior Director of Programs at the Museum of Idaho will present "Traveling Exhibits in 2023 & Educational Programming".

SAVE THE DATE to join your fellow Rotarians and their spouses for an evening of holiday cheer and fellowship on Thursday January 19th at 6 pm at the home of  Todd and Gina Stevenson.  

Sign-up and RSVP will be coming soon.  You won't want to miss this fun event!

Classification Talks with Karen Lansing and Christopher White

Chris White and his wife will host a Fireside Meeting at his home on Thursdasy January 26, 2023 at 6:00 PM.  If you are new member you won't want to miss this opportunity to learn more about our Club.

Angie Lee, Director of Promise Ridge Shelter Board Topic: The Promise Ridge Story.

February is Rotary International  "Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution" Month.

Rotary Exchange Student, Emma Verhofstad, will make a Netherlands presentation.

District 5400 Govenor, Janice Fulkerson, will present "District 5400 Update:.

Becky Leatham is a Certified Prevention Specialist and has spent the last 20 years in the field of youth leadership and substance abuse prevention. Living most of her life in Idaho, she is the mother to four adult children, grandma to four adorable grandchildren, and “mom’ to hundreds. Becky began her journey impacting teens many years ago as a volunteer at her children’s school and an AmeriCorps Service Member. She credits her success to great mentors early in her career and a knowledgeable and passionate group of coworkers she calls friends today. Becky is the founder and Executive Director for Community Youth in Action and is mentoring a large staff to always carry on her mission if she ever “gets hit by a bus” or chooses to retire.

Mayor Sean Coletti will be our speaker and his topic is "The Cost of Water - One City's Experience with Water Conservation".

Sean Coletti graduated from Rigby High School and attended Ricks College prior to serving as a missionary in Seoul, Korea for two years. Afterward, he continued his education at Brigham Young University, where he received his Bachelors Degree in Political Science, and University of Connecticut Law School, all while serving in the Army National Guard as a counterintelligence agent and Korean linguist.  After school, Sean clerked in Twin Falls and then American Samoa, after which he began as a new associate at Hopkins Roden Crockett Hansen & Hoopes, PLLC, where he is now Partner and has been working for 15 years.  Sean served two terms on the Ammon City Council and is on his second term as Mayor of Ammon.  In addition to his Mayor responsibilities he also serves on various boards including the Imagine Idaho Foundation, the Idaho Health Facilities Authority, the Idaho Magistrate’s Commission, and the Idaho Workforce Development Council.  Sean is married to Ammon native Jessi Grigg Coletti, and they have two sons, Jaydn and Sterling.

John Radford, Idaho Falls City Council Member, - topic "The Benefit of Urban Trees".

John Radford, is a member of the Idaho Falls City Council and was born and raised on the West Side of Idaho Falls. John attended Ethel Boyes grade school and Eagle Rock Junior High and then Graduated from Rigby High School. John attended Brigham Young University and then served a mission for his church in Michigan. John returned to Brigham Young University and then transferred to Idaho State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. John also holds an MBA that he earned after attending Idaho State University and Washington State University. John's Family is made up of his wonderful wife of 21 years, Melanie (a Ballet Teacher), a terrific daughter, Ella (an aspiring author and book designer). John lives next to Tautphaus Park here in Idaho Falls, were he has spent many hours with his family. He has had the joy of reading, selling, sharing, and learning from customers while selling books for the past 20 years. This experience has allowed John a rare opportunity to learn from an amazing cross section of our community. It is his ability to learn and listen that has inspired his journey into civic service.

Classification Talks with Cheryl O'Brien and Jay Kunze.

David Richards, Idaho Falls Water Superintendent, - topic "Public Water System Management, A Drink From The Firehose".

David is a native of northwest Montana. He is presently the Superintendent of the Idaho Falls Water Division, where he has served for the past 19 years since 2004. He previously served as Assistant City Engineer for Layton, Utah (1998-2004) and as an Engineering Assistant for the Mesa, Arizona office of Sunrise Engineering, Inc. (1997-1998). David graduated from Brigham Young University (Provo, UT) with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in 1997. He is a registered Professional Engineer in both Idaho and Utah and a Class IV Water Distribution Operator in Idaho. David has been married to his wife Jana for nearly 28 years. Together they have recently become empty nesters with three children and three grandchildren. David has previously served through the board ranks of the American Water Works Association’s Intermountain Section (over Utah & SE Idaho) and currently serves as Vice President of the Eastern Idaho Water Rights Coalition.

Rotarian Engagement Fun

Rich Kirkham, Pocatello Rotary Club, Past Chair, World Service Committee & Jed Thomas, Chair, World Service Committee - Topic: Ghana Well & NICU Projects.

Rich Kirkham

Rich Kirkham is a member of the Rotary Club of Pocatello, Idaho, organized in 1919. Club membership has always been very active and wonderfully service minded.  The club currently has 91 members.  Rich has been a club member for 21 years and has served on various club committees.  He served as a board director from 2010 to 2018, presiding as club president in 2015-2016.  He served on the Rotary District 5400 Council from 2018 to 2023, and presided as District Governor in 2019-2020 overseeing 44 clubs in Idaho and Oregon.  

Currently Rich is the chairman of the World Service Committee for his club.  The club is very engaged in International service.  They have treated cataracts in Nigeria, sent computers to Mayan schools in Mexico, sponsored school children in Jerusalem, or funded relief efforts for Ukrainian refugees, and sent a Friendship Service Exchange Team to Suriname.  The club is working on another Friendship Exchange to Peru later this year.  

Professionally Rich works with his family as real estate property manager, investor, and developer.  He and his wife, Kathy started their real estate company when they were married in 1980.   Rich and Kathy have four married sons and 12 grandchildren.   

The club is currently working on two big service projects in Ghana with the Ghana Accra Legon East Rotary Club: providing water wells for schools and completing a NICU at the University Hospital in Accra.  

Jed Thomas

Jedd has been a Rotary Club of Pocatello member for 29 years and a Rotarian for 33 years.  He served as on club committees and a board director prior to presiding as club president in 2003-2004.  He was Rotary District 5400 Rotaract/Interact Chair 6 of the years between 2000 and 2008, a District Grants Subcommittee Chair 2013-2018, and an Assistant Governor 2018-2021.  

Currently, Jedd is the project chair of the Pocatello Club World Service Committee’s Ghana wells project and was member of the Friendship Service Exchange Team visit to Suriname in November 2022. 

Professionally Jedd is a commercial lender and office manager with The Bank of Commerce and has been a banker, mainly in commercial lending and management, for 41 years.  He and his wife, Karen, have a daughter and three sons, each married, and 10 grandchildren.    

Jana Hill, Board Member with the Idaho Period Project, will present "Period Poverty in East Idaho". 

"As a mom raising two strong young men and now one amazing adult daughter, I have found a passion for helping women see their true beauty, both inside and out and leaning into their talents.  Back in 2021 I decided to embrace one of my favorite passions which is serving others. I created a social media page with the idea that women can help each other in times of need. So All Heart Women (Instagram) was created. My thoughts are that service comes from the heart and moves to your hands.  I started to reach out to every non- profit organization I could find locally and messaged them to see what I could do to help them and their organization. In 2022 I found Avrey at the Idaho Period Project. She said they were putting together an event in Rigby and I could come help. I showed up to a very organized and powerful event surrounded by women who were advocating for young women in our community to ensure they had easy access to period products. The goal was for these products to be in the schools and in their homes, where they could not afford them. After attending this event, I definitely had a whole new look on Period Poverty and the need our surrounding communities were in desperate need of.  I continue to help the Idaho Period Project and serve as a member on their board. I have grown to love all of these amazing people who are putting someone else ahead of their own. Avrey, the President of Idaho Period Project has been such an inspiration to me and believes that if we can just help one girl feel more comfortable and prepared, then we are changing the world. I truly believe that service is the best thing we can do for our communities. These young kids have so many obstacles and mounds of pressure on them everyday. If we can help them lift those loads, then we will continue to help and build our community.  I have been blessed with a great family and a work family who supports me with the time to continue serving others. I have been able to help the following groups to name a few: The Haven, The Village Foster Child Program, Promise Ridge, Idaho Period Project, DYW of Idaho, CYA, and the Soup Kitchen. I have been able to help lots of different people locally and will continue to help, support and educate others. Serving others begins with that burning sensation in your heart that makes your heart feel like it will burst, so let it out and serve your neighbor."

Please plan to atend the Duck Race Meeting that will be held immediately following the regular Club Meeting on April 12th!  See you there!

David Leroy, Former Idaho Lieutenant Governor, is our speaker and his topic is "Save The Lincoln Funeral Car".

Lara Herway, Principal at Sunnybrook Strategies, - Topic "Expansion of the Civic Center For The Performing Arts".

Judge Dane Watkins, Idaho Seventh Judicial Administrative District Judge, Topic: Law Day and the Liberty Bell Award

Spring Rock Garden Clean Up Time!

When: May 3rd   Time: 6:00 PM - Until Dark

Location: We will be cleaning up the Greenbelt along the Rock Gardens located by Taylor Crossing (Pancheri Bridge to Springhill Suites).

Instructions: Bring garden gloves, rakes, shovels, etc. Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation staff will provide some tools and direction. Bring your family and enjoy an evening of service and fellowship!

  Chris Aspinall, Idaho Falls Rescue Mission & Ariel Jackson, Community Food Basket -  Topic: Food Insecurity in the Idaho Falls Area.

Classification Talks with Jerry Shively & George Boland.

It's Duck Race Kick Off Event Day!!!!

David Pettyjohn, Director Idaho Humanities Council - Topic: Council Update

Rotary Club of Idaho Falls Scholarship Program - presentation of scholarships by Abigail French.

June is Rotary International "Rotary Fellowship" month.

Program Chair:  Abigail French

Greeter:  Susan Johnson

Sergeant-At-Arms:  Mark Young

Davin Napier, Co-Owner Idaho Mountain Trading, President Snake River Trails Alliance (SRTA) "Gem Lake and outdoor sports enthusiast".

Topic: The Springboard for biking in Eastern Idaho

June is Rotary International "Rotary Fellowship" month.

Program Chair:  Gray Augustus

Greeter:  Susan Johnson

Sergeant-At-Arms:  Mark Young

Brian Ziel, Director of Marketing Mountain View Hospital and Idaho Falls Community Hospital, Topic: Preventing a trip to the hospital one pedal, one helmet at a time.

June is Rotary International "Rotary Fellowship" month.

Program Chair:  Gray Augustus

Greeter:  Susan Johnson

Sergeant-At-Arms:  Mark Young

Heritage Park Ribbon Cutting

June is Rotary International "Rotary Fellowship" month.

Program Chair:  Kevin Call

Greeter:  Susan Johnson

Sergeant-At-Arms:  Mark Young

Our regular Club Meeting has been cancelled on July 5th due to the Fourth of July holiday.