Speaker:  Lindsay Lofaro, Executive Director, Buddy Program.

She has spent 13 years with the Buddy Program. Research shows struggling kids are helped tremendously by mentoring, and the mentor gets the special feeling of helping someone who needs it. As President Obama said (via video) about My Brothers Keeper program, you don't need all the answers or all the time in the world to make a difference in these kids lives. Some of the challenges the program faces: funding, showing the community the need, creating relationships, and finding and keeping a good staff. 

 

Guests: Jill Kosdrosky (Mike Kosdrosky), Debbie Welden (Heidi Hoffmann), Bettina Slusar (Todd Shaver), Dave Munk (Craig Melville), Kai Waanders (Dad Waanders).

 

 

Maurice Emmer announced the youth exchange committee needs interviewers December 2-4 in Grand Junction. Guest Dave Munk announced that the Special Olympics folks need X games housing for up to 8 people,  January 24th to the 28th. Guest Debbie Weldon announced there will be a shopping bazaar to benefit a program that helps with water, sanitation and hygiene in Kenya; November 1, 4-7 PM Aspen Community Church. Llwyd Ecclestone announced that Ernie Fyrwald needs someone to supervise the Salvation Army sign-ups for bell-ringers this year.

 

 

October and November are bring-a-guest-for-free months at Rotary!
 
November 3: Patti Cummings, Executive Director, Court Appointed Special Advocates
November 10:​ Kathy Hegberg, Founder of FocusedKids
November 17: Gabrielle Greeves, Executive Director, WindWalkers Equine Assisted Learning and Therapy Center 

 

 

No Rotary Meetings; Make your own Thursday Breakfast!
November 24: Thanksgiving Day
December 15: Rotary Holiday Party this week. Date TBA.
December 22: Not sure why this meeting is cancelled.
December 29: Not sure why this meeting is cancelled.

 

 

Happy Bucks; Clarence Blackwell is "just happy", Kathy Klug is happy for our community and that "the" Donald mentioned the gold medal parents for people serving in the military, Peter Waanders is happy for running the NYC marathon and the Buddy Program, Mike Kosdrosky was happy for the Indians win and hoping for a sweep of the Cubs, Meredith Maaske was sad to announce she is leaving the club to move to Denver, but was so happy to be a part of the club, Llwyd Ecclestone was happy for the Dolphins to have won 2 games, Emily Burr was so happy to have had Meredith in the club.