As I come to the end of my year as President of our club and just wanted to stop and thank all of you for making my year such an enjoyable one.
We accomplished a lot:
Adopted ClubRunner as our means of communication. We were the largest club in the District 5440 now using it. (Thanks to Carl Dierschow)
Steve Martin and the World Community Service committee had their first international project in years other than Akumal, with a matching grant.
Curtis Carlson added another Interact club at Fort Collins HS (we also have Rocky Mountain)
Membership increased by more than the plus one target. (Thanks John Davis)
David Robinson and the Purple Pinkie Crew raised more than $11,500 for the eradication of Polio. (just amazing)
New treasurer Vince Lubenow is getting our finances back on track.
Artie Bavoso will have a golf fundraiser this June to aid in some of our charitable giving.
I’m excited about incoming President John Davis and the ideas he has for the club. John will be a great president and I have already learned some of his talent and skill sets. Bruce Hoffman (PEN) will be up to bat at his turn before he knows it and with four new board members Curtis Carlson, Bryan Watkins and Brian Lacey beginning their three year terms and Carl Dierschow stepping in to fill Kelly Meyer's remaining two year term, the existing board will be even stronger. I want to thank our departing board members Mark Goldrich, Tom Hyland, and David Robinson for their commitment to the club and serving three years in their board positions and as committee liaisons, and Kelly Meyer whose job change prompted her to be off the board, but was able to stay in the club.
I also want to thank our club members for their patience with me and their input during this year. We have a fun group of members and I still believe we are the best club in the district, even if we can’t sing.
Thanks again for giving me the opportunity to be your president.
Sincerely,
Dale L. (aka Dave) Gorsky
Fort Collins Foothills President 2013-2014
The new Rotary Year (2014-2015) is rapidly approaching. I’ll be leaving for the Rotary International Convention in Sydney Australia soon and not long after that I’ll be ringing the bell every Tuesday. Thank you to the club for offering the incoming President the opportunity to attend the convention. I think it will be a great way to get even more inspired to lead the club next year.
My number one goal for the year is to continue the fun and family like environment for our members, as well as our guests. We can provide service to our community and world through many organizations, but we do it with Foothills Rotary because of the fun we have with the people at our table every Tuesday.
My other 2 major goals will be to continue pursuing a club fundraiser(s) where we can raise money from the community and not just our own generous membership, and also add another international service project, while continuing our support of Akumal. I’m truly honored for the opportunity to lead such an amazing club and thank all of you for the encouragement and words of wisdom you have given me.
In the spring of 2006, the Board of Directors approached Artie Bavoso to come up with an idea for an international project to celebrate the club’s 30th Anniversary in 2007. As condo partners in the town of Akumal, Mexico, Artie and another Rotarian, Ron Rockvam, were already quite familiar with the area known as the Maya Rivera. From their travels to this region, they knew it was home to many Mexican nationals who worked in the hotels and restaurants for very low wages and were in need of some assistance.
In June of 2006, they visited the Rotary Club of Playa Del Carmen. It was twenty miles to the north but was the closest Rotary Club to Akumal. It was be important to ascertain their club’s interest and capability to partner on a project in their area. On the same visit, they toured the Akumal Pueblo.
In the Akumal Pueblo, the Otoch Paal Montessori School (founded in 2004) was looking to upgrade their existing concrete buildings by replacing their thatched roofs with concrete and constructing at least two more buildings. The school was currently serving 30 children but wanted to significantly expand its enrollment for their early childhood education program (youngsters from 18 months to 6 years old).
The Otoch Paal Montessori School does not receive any state or federal funding. The school is open to all Mexican national children at no charge, provided the parents are willing to put in service time at the school. Both parents need to do the service work, engaging in such tasks as helping make the classroom materials, or cleaning and maintaining the classrooms and its grounds Only 25% of the families at the school pay full tuition and these are the children of families who are not Mexican nationals. It is these funds that actually pay for the teachers in the school.
In September of 2006, Artie and Ron presented a plan to the Foothills Rotary Board. In December, Phase I (a school supply drive) was launched and it raised almost $1,500. In January of 2007, Phase II (a building campaign with a three-year pledge period) was launched. The campaign officially ended in late 2009 and almost $50,000 was raised from club members and friends. Fellow Rotarians from the Playa Del Carmen Rotary Club in Mexico provided the construction management for all of the renovations and construction.
Today, there are about 85 children being served in four beautiful and well-kept buildings. It’s all quite amazing and over the years several Rotarians have been able to visit the school and see the results of their donations. The dream of the school officials now is to construct an additional building of at least two floors in order to have a primary school so children who are being raised in the Montessori methodology have an alternative to the Mexican public school system.
Many thanks go to all of those who contributed to this wonderful project!
Being brief is always difficult for lawyers! I was born in Cawker City, Kansas, the home of the world’s largest ball of twine. My father was a pharmacist and drug store owner.
I grew up in Salina and Junction City, Kansas, and graduated from K State and Washburn U. I worked summers in Boulder and Estes Park, and discovered that the Rockies were a bit more scenic than Mount Sunflower back in Kansas.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Lawyers are never “free”! Now that I’ve “transitioned” after 41 years from gainful employment, I enjoy the newfound ability to pick and choose at my whim. My current favorites are golf, the health club, reading, and travel.
What attracted you to Rotary, and keeps you involved?
Initially, it was a way to meet people and give back to the community. Through the years I continue to be impressed by what both the national and local organizations can do.
Who is a person you most admire, and what have you learned from them?
On a personal level, my wife, a long time teacher. Her zeal for her profession is most impressive. On an expanded level, those individuals who practice in whatever they do with integrity.
What are your hopes for the future?
In the past 10 months, both Kathy and I have “transitioned” from full time employment, our first grandchild was born and our youngest son was married. With all of these treasures, again on a personal level my hopes are to “stop and smell the roses” to the fullest. On an expanded level, that as a human race we somehow recognize the need to peacefully coexist with one another. In this regard Rotary does so much.
As I come to the end of my year as President of our club and just wanted to stop and thank all of you for making my year such an enjoyable one..jpg)
The new Rotary Year (2014-2015) is rapidly approaching. I’ll be leaving for the Rotary International Convention in Sydney Australia soon and not long after that I’ll be ringing the bell every Tuesday. Thank you to the club for offering the incoming President the opportunity to attend the convention. I think it will be a great way to get even more inspired to lead the club next year.
In the spring of 2006, the Board of Directors approached Artie Bavoso to come up with an idea for an international project to celebrate the club’s 30th Anniversary in 2007. As condo partners in the town of Akumal, Mexico, Artie and another Rotarian, Ron Rockvam, were already quite familiar with the area known as the Maya Rivera. From their travels to this region, they knew it was home to many Mexican nationals who worked in the hotels and restaurants for very low wages and were in need of some assistance.
The Otoch Paal Montessori School does not receive any state or federal funding. The school is open to all Mexican national children at no charge, provided the parents are willing to put in service time at the school. Both parents need to do the service work, engaging in such tasks as helping make the classroom materials, or cleaning and maintaining the classrooms and its grounds Only 25% of the families at the school pay full tuition and these are the children of families who are not Mexican nationals. It is these funds that actually pay for the teachers in the school.
Today, there are about 85 children being served in four beautiful and well-kept buildings. It’s all quite amazing and over the years several Rotarians have been able to visit the school and see the results of their donations. The dream of the school officials now is to construct an additional building of at least two floors in order to have a primary school so children who are being raised in the Montessori methodology have an alternative to the Mexican public school system.
Could you tell us about where you grew up?