A small but mighty group of Rotarians worked in the sensory gardens at Affinity Ranch on June 21, weeding and planting flowers. Check out the after and before photos to the left and below...
Rotary Club of ParkerParker, Colorado
We currently have hybrid meetings: an in-person meeting with a Zoom component.
Please go to the Calendar to see the dates, formats and speakers of our meetings.
The Rotary Club of Parker is once again selling luscious Palisade peaches and pears for an August delivery!
We offer
- 18-pound box of peaches = $48
- 9-pound box of peaches = $33
- 9-pound box of pears = $33
Click here or on the peach picture to be directed to a secure site where you can place your order and pay by credit card. You can also indicate a partner organization who will share in the proceeds of your order.
The peach/pear pickup date this year is Saturday, August 23 from noon to 2:30 p.m. at the Planet Fitness parking lot (SW corner of Parker Road and Main Street in Parker).
Questions? Please contact ParkerRotaryPeaches@gmail.com
Thank you for supporting the Rotary Club of Parker and our community service projects!
Our Rotarian of the Year likes to get his hands dirty, is not afraid of hard work.
Since joining our club seven years ago, you could always count on him: if he said he would be there, he would be there – especially if it meant being outdoors.
He quickly became a chief point of contact for Praying Hands Ranch as he pulled together a team who also liked being outdoors and getting their hands dirty in the Ranch garden.
He worked hard over the years to develop contacts who donated garden items from flowers to soil to bark -- you name it. He has secured numerous donations to create a beautiful and peaceful garden to be enjoyed.
He is one of our clubs’ military veterans, who has served our country proudly. He has worked hard for better than three years to involve our club in a Veterans Project but with little success until this year. Because of his almost 20 years in the VFW, he brought the VFW to Rotary who brought in Aging Resources of Douglas County. It all came together in the Second Annual EPIC Day of Service on May 17, when the club took part in four projects to maintain veterans’ yards. “Veterans, We Thank You for Your Service” was a huge success.
Our Rotarian of the Year is truly an advocate for the betterment of our community and our club. Today we honor Ron Sorlien as our Rotarian of the Year.
Every Change of Command ceremony is capped off with the passing of the gavel! Here outgoing President Sue Garwood passes the gavel to incoming President John Huffaker.
A group of Rotarians and friends helped out at Parker Days, serving in one of the beer tents. The event was a ton of fun!
The Rotary Club of Parker took part in the Epic Day of Service on May 17, along with hundreds of other Rotary clubs around the world. Our focus was on projects to benefit local veterans. We had four projects going to maintain the yards of veterans, in partnership with the VFW and Aging Resources of Douglas County. Check out the photos in this slide show!
At the Change of Command celebration, we remembered four club members who died during the past year. We miss them terribly, as all were exemplary representatives of Rotary's motto Service Above Self.
William S. Gripman – Bill
On the morning of his graduation from University of Michigan, Bill was commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy and in the afternoon married Nancy, to whom he was married for 64 years. You can see Nancy’s name in the Parker Task Force grocery store as she and Bill were its founders. Bill joined Rotary in 1996 as a Retired Sales Exec, was active in many community projects, and became an Honorary Member prior to his passing. Nancy was also a Rotary member, joining in 2008 until her passing in 2015.
Deann Olson
Deann began figure skating at age 12. That was considered too late for serious competition, but Deann showed them all. She had a successful career as a figure skater and later a second successful career in professional coaching, taking skaters of all levels to the United States Figure Skating Association ranking. She was inducted into the Skating Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, where each year the Deann Beideck Olson trophy is awarded to the winner of the Northwest Pacific Juvenile Girls Ice Skating Competition. Deann gave skating instructions to several Hollywood actors and young hockey players. She brought her passion to Rotary in January of 2016 where she appeared at almost every event. Dinners for Eight were some of her favorites!
Michael Oldham -- Mike
Mike was a retired attorney who joined Rotary in September of 1998, sponsored by Bill Gripman. Mike quickly became involved with youth and the Boy Scouts of America, in particular Troop 16. He was our club President from 2004-2005 and secured the District Grant for Respire Haiti for schoolhouse education. Mike was a member of the District American Indian Committee and Polio Plus Committee. Polio was close to Michael’s heart as he had polio at an early age. Mike became District Governor in 2009-2010.
Allan Johnson – Al
Al joined our Club in April of 1996 as a Retired Aviation Executive. He served as club President from 2006-2007. While heavily involved, Al preferred being outdoors and those were the projects he supported. He was also a past AG (Assistant Governor), helping clubs to grow while becoming more involved in their community. His wife, Jane Johnson , served as president in 2011-12 and is currently an Honorary Member.
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Service Above Self
Parker, CO 80134
United States of America