Rotary clubs in District 5450 have participated with the Colorado Garden & Home Show’s Flower Power program for the past 25+ years. On the last day of the show, Rotary clubs collect the flowers displayed at the show and distribute them to senior care facilities in the Denver Metro area.

Our Parker Rotary Club committed to participate in Flower Power this year.  On Sunday night, February 16, Edith Blankson helped pack up the flowers into cardboard boxes. On Monday, February 17, Michael Graham-Hyde, Alex Doyle, and Gail Lehrmann used a rented U-Haul truck to pick up 38 boxes of flowers and plants (304 total) from Empower Field in downtown Denver.  Deliveries were made to six area senior care and retirement centers: Terra Bluffs, Life Care Center of Stonegate, Pine Grove Crossing, Parker Post Acute, Castle Country Assisted Living, and Morning Star Senior Living.

Thank you to President Sue Garwood, PE John Huffaker and his granddaughter Grace, Tim and Mavis Mackin, Ron Saatjian, Michelle and John Schultz, and Ron Sorlien for their help unloading the plants and flowers! 

Just a few more days to get your tickets!  Please help spread the word about the Mayor's Mardi Gras Ball on Saturday, March 1.  Tickets are available from our club website.  Proceeds from this event benefit the Parker Task Force, so we get to have a great time and support a valuable community organization, both at the same time!  Limited quantity are available.

As we move towards spring and the end of the school year, the Rotary Club of Parker is sponsoring these opportunities for youth in our community:

• Scholarships for high school seniors moving on to further education or training.  For more information and to download the application, click here.  The deadline to apply is April 11, 2025.

• The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) are back for summer 2024.  RYLA (for high school students who are currently a sophomore, junior, or senior) and Young RYLA (for students going into eighth grade) are leadership-training programs sponsored by Rotary International that promote, encourage and reward outstanding young people.  Successful applicants will be sponsored by the club so that attendance is at no cost to them.  For more information and to access the registration form, click here.  

Do you have youth in your life who might benefit from these opportunities?  Please pass the word!

After a couple of delays due to frigid weather, on February 1 a group of Rotarians helped set footings in place to support the cabins that will be used by mental health professionals at Affinity Ranch.  We're thrilled by the completion of each step that brings this project closer to realization.  The day started out gray but the sun was shining at the end!  Click here for a slideshow that shows the project.  There will be a second work day to finish the job, planned for March 15.  Click here for more information and to sign up.

We are grateful to following local businesses that contributed materials and services:

THIS SATURDAY! Food Drive for the Parker Task Force – Saturday, March 8, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Click here to sign up for a two-hour shift soliciting donations for the Parker Task Force at the Stroh Ranch King Soopers. 

IN ONE WEEK! Affinity Ranch EAP Cabin Footing Installation – Saturday, March 15, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Weather permitting! Help prepare the footings for the cabins to be installed at Affinity Ranch.  For lots more details and to sign up for a shift, click here.

Thank you to Steve Brown, who has been organizing the speakers for our weekly meetings for the past 2+ years.  He is being joined by Kelly Birner, who will assist Steve in arranging for our speakers.

But we can play a role as well!  Do you know people/organizations in our community who have a great story to tell?  Please let Steve and Kelly know!

Can you help run the AV equipment for our meetings?  It has been a huge asset to provide the Zoom component to our weekly meetings -- we typically have about 8 members attending by Zoom.  If you would be willing to be trained on the AV equipment, please let President Sue know.