Lamplighter November 16, 2020 (Nov 16, 2020)

Check Out the Website

Don't forget to check out the club's website at parkerrotary.org for the latest news and updates to our club calendar.

Parker Task Force Food Drive Saturday, November 14

Thank you to all Rotarians who contributed to the success of this food drive either by

volunteering at the facility on November 14
dropping off food, or
making a financial donation to the Task Force.

The Task Force collected 317 cases of food on Saturday! Here’s just a sampling of the steady stream of cars that came through:

The Club also presented a check for $18,650, half of which was donated by members and half of which was matched by the Foundation.

The Foundation will continue to match club members’ donations made through December 31, 2020, up to $10,000 total. If you would like to contribute, make out your check to Rotary Club of Parker Foundation (memo = Parker Task Force) and mail it to

P.O. Box 1472

Parker, CO 80134

Thank you for your generosity in supporting local people struggling in this difficult year.

Garden Planting at Praying Hands Ranch

We had the opportunity to work in the gardens at Praying Hands Ranch, taking advantage of the lovely weather to plant perennials donated by Tagawa Gardens. Ron Sorlein and family collected the plants and got them to the ranch, then Mike Oldham (pictured above with Mary and Shirley Hanson) took over as the on-site supervisor.

Click here for a photo album of the project. There were several other workers over the three days in addition to those pictured in the slide show. Thank you to all who answered the last-minute call to get the plants into the ground!

Student of the Month for November Ponderosa High School

We congratulate Noelle Lopez on being selected as Student of the Month for Ponderosa High School. Noelle was able to join us via Zoom for our meeting on November 12, accompanied by her parents Julie and Paul and by Natalie Garcia, an Assistant Principal at Ponderosa. In addition to her strong academic standing, Noelle has served the Ponderosa community in a variety of functions. She is currently president of Sources of Strength at Ponderosa, a national youth suicide-prevention organization that promotes positivity in schools. She has also served as an officer for National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America, as well as serving as a Link Crew Leader and on the Ponderosa Activity Cabinet. In her spare time, Noelle studies ballet and has progressed to dancing on pointe.

Noelle plans to become a nurse practitioner and is still narrowing down her college choices. We wish you all the best, Noelle!

Additional Stories Lamplighter Nov 16

Nominating Committee for Club Officers and Directors 2021-2022

It’s that time of year when we think of who might serve as officers for our club for the upcoming 2021-2022 Rotary year. The club will be asked to vote on the following three members to join the nominating committee: Lew Million, Randy Hill, and Susan Gustin. They will join incoming president Jim Muir and past president Gail Lehrmann on the committee. The club will vote on these members at the meeting on November 19.

Congratulations, Laura!

Congratulations to club member Laura Hefta for winning a seat on the Parker Town Council in the election on November 3!

Support for Eagle Scout Project

Eagle Scout candidate Ethan Rasmusson of Troop 16 attended our club meeting on October 29 to describe his Eagle project: building three benches for the memorial garden at the church that hosts the troop. After consideration, our Boy Scout Committee determined that the Club will sponsor one of his three benches, awarding him a gift of $130.

Our Scout Committee is a Community Service Project of the club. We have an ongoing understanding with Eagle Advisor Ron Carlson of Troop 16 that we will welcome requests for support from an Eagle Candidate who will submit his Eagle Application to us for review and appear before the club to present his project and respond to questions. Helping these young men attain Eagle is a fine community service that our club has supported for many years.

Virtual Luncheon and Polio Update with RI President Holger Knaack

The virtual luncheon on Sunday, November 1 gave us the opportunity to meet with Rotary International President Holger Knaack. He spoke to us from his home in Germany (dinner time for him), while we participated in our lunch time. If you missed the opportunity to participate in the virtual luncheon, you can watch recordings of the two speakers:

- RI President Holger Knaack (31 minutes)

- Rachel Lonsdale, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (16 Minutes)

The event was a big success in raising funds for the End Polio Now campaign. The District surpassed its October polio giving goal of $40,000, and, combined with the other five High Country PETS districts, the event raised close to $100,000! With the 2:1 Gates Foundation match, that generated almost $300,000 to help eradicate polio.