Read by Past President & R4MH District Co-Chair Seth Patterson at our December 3, 2020 Club meeting via Zoom.
Whoever said Friday the 13th is unlucky must not have been a Rotarian.
This year on Friday, November 13, Rotarians for Mental Health (“R4MH”) hit the trifecta!
First, our Rotary Connects project, received a Zone Innovation Award…and I still don’t know what a Rotary Zone is! That project provided cell phones to about 750 low income clients of the nine Community Mental Health Centers serving our District so that they could continue their therapy using emerging telehealth technology.
Second, the project was part of an award to our District for our pandemic relief work from the Association of Fundraising Professionals for National Philanthropy Day. Here is a link to an awesome two minute video about that work.
Some of you will recall in 2008, during dearly departed Sue Fox’s term as Club President, our Club was recognized as an Outstanding Service Organization from the same National Philanthropy Day organization. Also that year, another dearly departed member and then CEO of Denver Kids, Donna Hultin, was recognized by this group.
Last, but not least, on November 13th, the Rotary Club of Denver Southeast’s Foundation granted $2,000 to R4MH to offset a portion of our 2020 State of the State Symposium expenses.
So…during this period of giving thanks, the members of Denver Rotary have much to be thankful for:
- The community service and fellowship of two of our outstanding members, Sue and Donna;
- Our support to some of those less fortunate, so that they can maintain a critical health service; and
- The continued support of fellow Rotarians, and some prominent non-Rotarians, for our pandemic relief work.
Not to be greedy, but there is one other thing we could wish to be thankful for, that is spreading the knowledge of the good works of Rotary…beyond Rotary.
So, any time that anyone asks what you are thankful for, please consider something that you value from your involvement in Rotary.
GO ROTARY…and Broncos and Buffs and soon, Nuggets!
