Events

🎉 You're welcome to bring guests to join us – the more, the merrier! 🎉

It’s Election Day, so hopefully you’ve already voted! 😉 Our Happy Hour next Tuesday is early enough that no final results will be in yet, so no matter what, there’ll be no losers at this Happy Hour!

We are joining as an exhibitor the South Metro Denver Chamber Non-Profit Fair & Business After Hours! We're excited to showcase our organization and the impactful work we do for our community. Below are the essential details for the event.

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Location: Arapahoe Community College-Summit Room 

Address: 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive Littleton CO. 80160
Event Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Promotion Opportunities

We encourage all exhibitors to prepare:

• Please register for the event to include your booth hosts and any others from your organization attending HERE
• Promotional materials, business cards, brochures, or handouts
• Interactive or engaging elements for your booth to help attract attendees and spark conversations

Event Schedule & Networking

This event provides a fantastic opportunity to connect with local businesses, community leaders, and other non-profits. Attendees will be encouraged to visit each booth. The Chamber will provide attendees with a passport card listing all participating non-profits. When they visit our booth, please initial next to our non-profit as you see fit. Attendees will need to visit a minimum of 10 exhibitor booths with initials on their passport to be entered to win door prizes that have been donated to the event. Prizes will be given out toward the end of the event, and you must be present to win!

Important Reminders

• Parking: Parking will be available on site. We recommend parking on the Northwest side of the college in their student parking lot as no tickets will be issued during the event. Street parking is not property of the college so please read signage carefully. You can enter the building on the North or West entrance, but the Summit Room is located on the West of the building.
• Refreshments: Light refreshments and beverages will be served throughout the event.

"UFOs:  Fact and Fiction," by Peter Van Arsdale, Ph.D.

The talk will begin with the U.S. Air Force’s Project Blue Book during the 1960s. It was based at C.U.-Boulder, tasked with nation-wide UFO research, and involved Van Arsdale as a student researcher.  As a hobby, he has continued investigating these phenomena since.

   Sociological, anthropological, and psychological themes will be featured.  Some of the most well-known events, like Roswell, and some of the interesting — and often unusual — people he's met over the years will be highlighted.  These include scientists, astronauts, believers, and skeptics — and purported UFO correlates, i.e., “earthly oddities” like cattle mutilations, alien abductions, Bigfoot encounters, and Foo Fighters.

   His published work covers perceptions of UFOs, from believers to skeptics, and a remarkable case from Colorado covered in his 2022 book “Encounters,” under the title “The Charlatan.”  (Spoiler Alert:  He does not believe there are aliens among us.)

   An intriguing array of photos also will be included. 

Bio: Peter Van Arsdale is an applied cultural anthropologist, member of the Rotary Club of Denver SE, and a retired university professor.  He currently assists Regis University on a pro bono basis.  He is co-chair of the Rotary District 5450 WASH Action Group.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4220831275

As the holidays approach, now is the perfect time to give back and help our community prepare for the season. We are looking for six volunteers to join us at SECORCares for a particular service project to support families prepare for the holidays.

Your efforts, whether packing food, organizing donations, or lending a helping hand, can make a real difference in the lives of those facing hardships during this time of year. This is an excellent opportunity to spread holiday cheer and experience the joy of giving.

Together, we can make the holidays brighter for those in need.

After you register, please fill out the following liability waiver google form prior to volunteering in the SECOR warehouse.  

https://forms.gle/ymctoRUt2iPfjSYQ8

SECORCares current protocols include: 

• Ages 10 and over; groups of minors under 12 need to have a 1 adult to 3 student ratio.

• Closed-toe shoes required. Otherwise just comfortable working clothes.

• We ask anyone feeling ill to stay home.

• Bring a reusable water bottle

• Bring a lock and plan on using the on-site lockers to lock up any valuables or personal items

This is our 3rd Anual Englewood High School Football Team Banquet! 

Over 75% of the Englewood High School population participates in the food assistance program. Over 25% of the football team members don't have a proper bed to sleep in and in many cases a home to go home to, being forced to stay on friends couches. With that being said let's put our Santa hats on and serve these students an end of season/holiday party.  

We will be doing the following duties: Set-up, checking in the team and family, serving food, and cleaning up after the event.  

We need 12-16 volunteers to make this event a true success.  

Rotary shirts and Santa hats welcome!

Join your fellow DMS Rotarians for our annual Heritage Porluck.  Bring some food to share that represents your heritage.  If you don't like food from your home land, bring something you like and would like to share,  Bring your own drinks as well  If you are already signed up and know what you are bringing, please, let me know so that I can share that in the final invitation next week.

The Heritage Porluck will be held at

Rich & Melody Sattizahn's

7697 S Roslyn Court

Centennial, CO 80112

on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 from 5pm to 8pm

This was a lot of fun last year, and will be again this year.  Nobody went home hungry.

In December, we take a break from hosting guest speakers 🎙️ as the holiday season ❄️✨ approaches. This gives us all time to slow down, celebrate with loved ones 🕎🎉, and recharge for the year ahead. We’ll be back in January with fresh opportunities to engage and connect 🔜.

We are having a joint Happy Hour with Five Points RiNo Rotary club. This is a chance for us to get together with other Rotarians in our district.  It would be nice if we had a strong turnout from Denver Metro South.

Food and drink will be available for your purchase.  Come out and meet some new Rotarians.  Guests are welcome!

"Empowering Veterans: The Mission of Houses for Warriors"

Discover how Houses for Warriors is transforming the lives of homeless and at-risk veterans in our community. Andrew Canales, Air Force veteran and CEO of Houses for Warriors, will discuss the unique challenges facing veterans today and how the organization’s innovative programs, such as transitional housing, mentorship, and personal development, are making a lasting impact. He will also share how his Veteran-owned business, Hero Haul, supports the mission by providing moving and junk removal services while employing and empowering fellow veterans. Learn how these combined efforts are building a community of resilience, empowerment, and opportunity for those who have served our country.

Speaker bio:

Andrew Canales is an accomplished entrepreneur with a passion for supporting his fellow veterans. After six years of honorable service in the United States Air Force, including two combat tours in Iraq, Andrew went on to establish a successful career as a business owner.

With a deep commitment to serving his country and his community, Andrew founded Hero Haul (formerly Your Colorado Movers), a thriving moving and storage company that has been recognized for its exceptional service and commitment to excellence. Under his leadership, Hero Haul has become a trusted name in the industry, known for its reliability, efficiency, and attention to detail.

In addition to his business ventures, Andrew has dedicated himself to supporting homeless and injured veterans through his nonprofit organization, Houses For Warriors. As the founder and CEO of this 501(c)(3) organization, he has created a range of programs and services aimed at providing transitional housing, benefits, and personal development resources to veterans in need.

Andrew’s unique perspective as a veteran himself has enabled him to connect with his fellow veterans on a personal level, and his unwavering commitment to serving their needs has inspired countless others to get involved in his mission. With Houses For Warriors, Andrew has created a network of strategic partnerships and opportunities with businesses, donors, and community leaders across the country, all with the goal of ending veteran homelessness in the United States and improving the quality of life for every veteran struggling with homelessness.

As an inspiring entrepreneur and dedicated veteran, Andrew Canales continues to make a significant impact in the lives of those around him. With his big heart and unwavering commitment to service, he serves as a role model for others in the community and beyond.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4220831275

Join us once more in collaboration with 105 W. Brewery in Castle Rock to support our local Denver veterans in need. This year, we are proud to partner with Houses for Warriors, a grassroots organization founded by a young Marine who returned from war grappling with severe PTSD. With ambitious goals and dreams, Houses for Warriors is making a significant impact on the homeless and at-risk veteran community in Denver.

Check out their mission: [Houses for Warriors](https://housesforwarriors.org/)

Houses for Warriors urgently requires various housing essentials. They furnish homes for veterans transitioning out of homelessness and operate a transitional home to help veterans regain their footing. We'll be gathering new and lightly used housewares, clothing, non-perishable food, and furnishings.

In addition to the collection drive, we're hosting a silent auction and fundraiser to bolster Houses for Warriors in their mission.

This event is generously sponsored once again by 105 W Brewery and will take place from 12-6. We're seeking approximately six volunteers for three two-hour shifts to manage our table at the brewery. The Honor Bell Foundation will also be present, adding to the Veteran-focused atmosphere. Learn more about their work: [The Honor Bell Foundation](https://www.honorbell.org/)

After the success of last January's event, we're optimistic that this will be another significant win for DMS.

Service Above Self!

You can order dinner at 5:30pm and the bowling will start at  6:30pm and end by 8:30pm

Dinner and drinks are on your own.  Please bring $20 for bowlling.

Please, RSVP by January 31, 2025

pups!

This presentation is on the Denver Cherry Creek district grant that our club helped finance. They did a water project for an organization that rescues young girls from prostitution. He will talk about that charity as well as showing the water project as well as pictures of his visit to our WASH project at the St. Joseph’s school. 

Speaker bio:

Robert is a charter member of the Denver Cherry Creek Rotary club, Denver’s first breakfast club. He was club president in 1996-97 and assistant Governor. In 1998 he sold his businesses and moved his family to Chicago to join the professional staff of Rotary International as a senior manager.  For eighteen years Robert served RI as the Division Manager responsible for global travel, traveler safety and corporate relations. He created the Rotary affinity credit card program that has brought millions of dollars to The Rotary Foundation. Robert built and implemented a robust travel risk management program that protected hundreds of thousands of volunteers and staff performing humanitarian projects often in remote and dangerous locations.  He served his professional association as Chairman of the Travel Risk Education committee and was an advisor to the Overseas Security Advisory Council of the US State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security.

Robert received his BA from the George Washington University School of Public and International Affairs and his MA from the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver, now known as the Korbel School. He has led twenty-six club sponsored dental missions to Latin America providing free dental care to more than seven thousand of the poorest of the poor. He is a major donor and Bequest Society Member to The Rotary Foundation and recipient of Rotary’s highest award the Service Above Self Award. Robert retired from RI and moved back to Parker with his family in 2018. He was club President of Denver Cherry Creek Rotary in 2021-22 and is an Assistant Governor of Area 3 in Rotary District 5450 as well as the district fundraising chair.         

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4220831275

Our March meeting is at Top Golf.  The swinging starts at 5:30pm and includes an $18 food and beverage credit for a member cost of $50.  We are definitely golfing.

We are limited to 16 golfers so sign up early.

It is that time again! We will be serving at the Sewall Child Development Center. https://sewall.org/ 

Sewall provides early education and therapeutic supports for young children (birth through 6 years) of all abilities through a continuum of programs. In 2016, Sewall provided inclusive, high-quality direct services to 670 children.

Sewall is a leader in providing fully inclusive, high-quality early education to children across Denver. As a nonprofit, we do not turn families away based on ability to pay or the child’s needs.

• Inclusion – All abilities welcome. 

• Experience – Learn more about our long history HERE

• 1:5 Staff to Child Ratio

• Expert Staff – Learn about our staff HERE

• Child-Focused

• Play-Based – We use curriculum proven to help children learn best

Their main facility in Denver can always use some TLC. We will be working in the facility on various different projects to help them be better prepared for the kids and families they serve. I will put more details up when I have them. Wear your tennies and get ready to do what we do best.... serve our community. We could easily use 10-12 volunteers.

We look forward to serving with you! 

You're invited to join us via Zoom for an inspiring talk! We'll begin with exciting club updates, and then dive into an engaging presentation from our guest speaker. Whether you're a member or a guest, we welcome you to be part of this dynamic session.

Topic: Without the help of pollinators, our lives would be fruitless…literally! This talk will give pointers on how to identify the many insects that pollinate flowering plants and how to create healthy pollinator habitat in your own backyard, including the perennials and shrubs you can plant now to attract them. 

Speaker Bio: Amy Yarger, Butterfly Pavilion horticulture director, has worked in the public horticulture field since 1996.  She received a bachelor's degree in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Irvine and then went on to study plant-animal interactions at the University of Michigan, where her master's thesis concerned the effects of invasive weeds on pollinator-plant relationships.  Amy currently leads Butterfly Pavilion’s local pollinator habitat initiatives and partnerships, such as the Baseline Pollinator District, Manitou Springs Pollinator District and Cool Boulder. Her work at the Butterfly Pavilion, where she has worked since 2000, touches on many of her passions: plants, insects, habitat conservation and science education.   ​

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4220831275

The April Happy Hour event will be at Double Edge Axe Throwing this Wednesday at 6pm.  Cost is $35 per person.

Our numbers our down due to the absence of some of last years stand outs.  Nicole "Hatchet" Handel is in Houndourus , Brianna "Slinging" Sherman is

out seeking national Rotary fame, and Tim "Old Fashion" Hagan and Debbie "Hammer Throw" Hagan have lett the club.

However, President "Dead Eye" Johnson will be in attendance.  Dave is know as "Dead Eye" not because of the accuracy of this

throw, but because it seems one of his eyes is ded.  Join us we did this lasst year and everyone had a good time. 

A full bar with surprising ly good drinks and limited food selection will be available for purchase.

Safety Tip from "Stumpy" Johnson - "Weaar closed toe shoes.  Safety shoes even better."

Why not get off the coach have a fun evening out.  No experience necessary.

Our club is proud to continue our partnership with Sewall Child Development Center, an organization we've had the privilege of volunteering with in the past. As part of our upcoming Epic Day of Service on May 17th, we’ll be volunteering at three of their locations—supporting their mission to provide high-quality, inclusive early childhood education to children of all abilities.

This presentation will describe the 80-year history of Sewall Child Development Center and its focus over the past 34 years on inclusive early childhood programming. The benefits of the program on children of all abilities will be explained, as well as the challenges that early childhood programs face after COVID. Two videos of young children in action will be featured.

Presenter Bios

Heidi Heissenbuttel, MA, ECSE is the President and CEO of Sewall Child Development Center. She joined the staff in 1987 as a teacher and earned her Master's in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Denver in 1990. As Program Director for 21 years, she led major initiatives including new satellite programs, the Diagnostic and Evaluation Clinic, and disability services at Denver Great Kids Head Start. Since becoming CEO in 2010, Heidi has spearheaded collaborations with Denver Public Schools, WellPower, and the creation of REACH, an inclusive elementary charter school. A strong family advocate, she’s also a Sewall parent and has led the organization through the challenges of the pandemic with a focus on teacher retention, food access, and high-quality inclusive care.

Rosa Chavez joined Sewall in 2008 as a parent when her son David enrolled in the toddler program. She was drawn to the inclusive model, where therapists and teachers work together in the classroom, and became an active classroom volunteer. In 2011, Sewall hired her as an administrative assistant. Over the past 14 years, she has held a variety of roles including teaching assistant, van driver, building manager, and Spanish translator. Since 2020, Rosa has served as the Food-Garden Program Director, leading Sewall’s Healthy Food for Denver Kids program. She brings both professional skills and the invaluable perspective of a parent. David graduates high school in May—a celebration for the whole family!

Get ready for an energizing day of inspiration and impact! Our in-person Club Visioning session will be led by a trained facilitator from District 5450, guiding us through a dynamic and collaborative process to imagine the future of our club.

Your voice matters. Whether you’ve been a member for years or just joined recently, your ideas, insights, and passion are essential to shaping who we are and where we’re going. This is your chance to help create a shared vision that reflects what’s most important to you and to all of us.

📝 Before April 26:
Please complete the Vision Exercise prior to the workshop. This will help prepare you for the discussion and ensure your insights are included.

If you are unable to attend, we still want your voice to be heard! Please share your completed Vision Exercise with another member who will be attending so your ideas can be brought forward during the session.

And because service is who we are, we’ll also be making a hands-on impact by packing nutritious Bean Soup kits for the Bean Soup Project, part of Project Our Town.

Join us for a meaningful mix of strategy, service, and connection!