Stories

The ice is as thin as anyone has seen it on the Dillon Reservoir this time of year, which could speed up an ice melt fundraising event for the Summit County Rotary. @9newsmornings @9newsdenver

In the heart of Summit County, a quiet revolution is underway—one plastic wrapper at a time. The Plastics Action Team at Summit Rotary, in partnership with NexTrex, is leading a grassroots effort to divert plastic film from our landfill and transform it into durable trailside benches. What began small has grown into a vibrant collaboration with Rotary, Sierra Club, MeetUp groups, HOAs, churches, and a dedicated network of community volunteers.

The program targets commercial soft plastics—think shrink wrap and pallet wrap— which curbside systems can’t recycle. Instead of ending up in the landfill, these materials are collected, weighed, and shipped to NexTrex, where they’re repurposed into long-lasting composite lumber. For every thousand pounds Rotary collects, NexTrex sends a composite bench, ten of which are now in public spaces around the county. 

Local businesses have stepped up in a big way. Murdoch’s, iFurnish, Mountain Comfort, and Sherwin-Williams Frisco have been diligently collecting their shrink wrap, contributing 20 to 60 pounds of plastic wrap each week. Thanks to their managers and staff, and the volunteers who sort and transport the material, the program has diverted an estimated 45 dump truck loads of plastic—from the Summit landfill over the past four years.

The impact is tangible. By reducing landfill volume and giving plastic a second life, the program supports cleaner waterways, healthier wildlife habitats, and a more sustainable future for our mountain community, proving that environmental stewardship can be both practical and inspiring.

And the momentum is building. St. Anthony Hospital has joined the effort, and several construction sites are now collecting plastic wrap from pallets and packaging. But with growth comes need. The team is actively seeking more volunteers to help an hour a week with removal of labels and tape. Businesses that generate 20+ pounds of plastic film per week are encouraged to contact Rotary Plastic for a quick waste audit and onboarding. We’ll help you setup a collection system that works for your team

Getting involved is easy. Whether you’re a business owner, a student, a retiree, or part of a community group, there’s a role for you. Volunteers can sign up for weekly shifts at Rotary Plastic Action Team SignUp. 

Together, we’re proving that small actions—when multiplied—can lead to big change. Join us in turning waste into worth and building a clean earth legacy, one bag at a time.

My career is defined by my commitment to the Rocky Mountain region's youth. Before taking the helm at Team Summit Colorado in early 2017, I served as the Director of Operations at Ski and Snowboard Club Vail (SSCV). In that role, I was the logistical engine of one of the world's premier ski clubs, managing everything from safety and transportation to elite-level venue coordination. Prior to my time in Vail, I spent nearly a decade (2002–2011) as the Program Director for the Loveland Racing Club. During my tenure there, I was credited with transforming the program by significantly increasing athlete enrollment and fundraising revenue while simultaneously lowering the cost of participation for athletes. I am also a veteran of the international racing circuit, having played key roles in the race operations for the Alpine World Cup and the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

I'm from Mansfield, Ohio (Realator Magazine's 6th most affordable ski town in the US) and moved to Summit County in 2009. I'm married to Colleen Bechtel and have 4 grown children (oldest to youngest): Cecilia, Julia, Stace and Jackson.

I've worked for Breckenridge Ski Resort for 35 years. In winter, I worked as a professional ski patrolman and the assistant patrol director. In summer, I work as a general contractor building and remodeling houses. I ended my career with our resorts working as the risk manager for both Breckenridge and Keystone. In the late 1990s, I owned the Sundance hat company in Breckenridge. In 2025, I built my last home and retired in November 2025.

I grew up in Central New Jersey in the Delaware River Valley. I moved to Breckenridge in 1976 and still live here to the present day. I enjoy skiing skinning, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and most other mountain sports. I grew up archery hunting with my father in New Jersey and have continued hunting when I moved to the West. My newest sport is pickleball. I enjoy playing in both Breckenridge and Silverthorne. My next adventure will be hut-to-hut skiing in the Silveretta region of Austria with a group of guys that I go to Europe with every year for the last 20 years.

Write the Rockies, Summit County’s annual writing contest, started Jan. 8. Submissions will be received until March 8. 
 

The contest will have separate poetry and short story-contests for middle schoolers, high schoolers and adults. Each category will have Spanish and English categories with separate awards. Each category will have $600 in prizes to award to the top three submissions: $300 for first place, $200 for second and $100 for third. Winning entries will be included in the 2026 anthology, and writers may get the chance to read their work aloud for Krystal 93.

A link to submit is at SummitCountyLibraries.org/writetherockies. Writers can submit no more than one short story of 5,000 words or fewer and no more than three poems. Writers can submit to both language categories, but each work must be unique and cannot be a translated version of another work. All work must be original, and all work may be subject to AI and plagiarism screening.

Write the Rockies is a collaboration between the Summit County Rotary Club, The Education Foundation of the Summit and Summit County Library.

Adult writing contest winners accept their awards April 15, 2025. Pictured from left are Maritza Charros, Daisy Castillo, Alex Ramos, Holly Meyers, Chiron Lovecraft, Rose Ridge, Leigh Gaddy and Alex Mason.

• Grew up in Denver -- consistently active in many sports and outdoor activities
• Parents taught and encouraged me in several outdoor activities, most notably tennis, hiking, camping and backpacking in the mountains, alpine and backcountry skiing, bicycling, running    
• B.Sc. degree in geology from Colorado College  
• M.Sc. degree in geology from Colorado School of Mines (emphasis on exploration geochemistry)  
• Worked as a professional geologist for several companies including Chevron Resources, US Geologic Survey, FMC, Westmont Mining, Tetra Tech, Camp Dresser & McGee, and Amplified Geochemical Imaging    
• Work included research, field work, technical geology and exploration geochemistry, computer mapping (GIS) and database management, technical writing, project management, team management, personnel hiring, proposal writing, developing cost estimates, tracking budget and project progress  
• Currently volunteering at Copper Mountain as Mountain Safety Patrol (7 years)  
• Currently volunteering at Willow Springs HOA with trail maintenance (16 years)  
• Copper Mountain homeowner since 2011 (condo)

🌟 Interact Club Inspires!

The introductions were one of the most inspiring parts of the entire meeting!
Many of our High School Interact members joined us and shared all the amazing things they’re doing — from community projects to hands-on Rotary service. Listening to them, it’s clear that leadership, compassion, and purpose are alive and well in this next generation.
As I said during the meeting: “These young people are our future.” And what a bright future it is!

🎉 Welcome, Jack & Neal!

Inductions are always a treat, and welcoming Jack Bezler and Neal Drobenare was no exception. Their energy, ideas, and commitment will make our club even stronger and more vibrant.
Big thanks to Andy and Elaine for introducing them to us — Rotary keeps growing because of connections like these!

😂 Dave Groth Being... Dave Groth

Every club has that one member who keeps things interesting — and for us, that’s Dave! This time, his card decided to take up permanent residence on his forehead. Luckily, it was one that needed to be torn up anyway. Perfect timing, Dave. Never change.

JANUARY

January 27 – Update Donor Money* – SIR GIVING Donation Platform - Ute Room 8:45

FEBRUARY

February 9 – Bingo at the Block 5:30 – 8:00

February 17 – Board Meeting 8:45*

February 19 – Happy Hour Vine Street (Frisco) 4:00

MARCH

March 3 – International Services Team* - Ute Room 8:45

March 10 - Literacy Team* - Ute Rom 8:45

March 17 – Board meeting* - Ute Room – 8:45 All welcome

March 26 – Happy Hour – AC Marriott (FRISCO) 4:00

UPCOMING

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE – Panama April 12-18 and October 11-17 – See Joan Tilden for additional information.

* Designates Zoom access

Use this code to Donate to the RI Foundation!

Upcoming Announcements and Activies!

We're thrilled to congratulate Ben Smith on officially joining the Summit Rotary Club at our June 10, 2025 meeting!

HELLO  ROTARY GOLFERS, FRIENDS, AND GUESTS FOR 2023 SUMMER GOLF!

Rotary and friends, golf begins Tuesday June 13!  We will be playing on Tuesdays at the Breckenridge Golf Course.  Sandy Mortensen will be reserving tee times at 6:30 am on Fridays and she will need to know by Thursday evening if you want a tee time the following Tuesday.  Friends and guests are welcome but they must contact Sandy so a firm headcount is known before Friday morning. Sandy will send a reminder email to remind you to contact her if you want to play. 

• $24 for 9 holes for Breckenridge residents, walking.
• $30 for 9 holes for Summit County residents, walking.
  • Carts are extra.

How to get on the master Summit Rotary golf list for the summer:  Email or text Sandy Mortensen with your name, phone number, and email.    If you text, please include your name on the text.    Put Rotary Golf in the subject line of emails.   zlsandy@mac.com   or  970-390-0176 text

Thanks,

Sandy

Rotary Meet and Greet and Orientation September 29  at the Elks Club in Silverthorne

 

• 5PM to 5:30 social Meet and Greet. Social 
• 5:30-6:30 Orientation to Rotary and our Club
• Open to all club members, anyone interested in knowing more about  Rotary and Summit County Rotary Club are invited. 
• There is a small charge for dinner for all others.
• Perspective members attending, dinner is included.
• The kitchen at the Elks needs to know how may are attending so RSVP to Sandy Mortensen.970-390-0176 text, or zlsandy@mac.com

It’s that time of year again! The Summit Foundation’s annual Duck Race is next Saturday, September 3 at the Riverwalk Center in Breck. Please support the community and buy a “six quack” for a chance to win fabulous prizes!

www.summitduck.org

Thank you!

Jeanne Bistranin

• Dec 15th - Rotary Holiday Party

Volunteer Opportunities:   https://www.summitfirc.org/en/food-and-thrift/

We are so excited to announce that we will be re-opening the Breckenridge Thrift Store on April 6^th!  Below is all the information – please spread the word!! We are in the process of updating all media.  Days and hours are subject to change - once/if we are fully staffed and/or if the store is subject to closing if staff calls in sick with the limited staff that we have.

What:  Breckenridge Summit Thrift & Treasure

Where:  1745 Airport Road Breckenridge, CO

Store Days and Hours:  Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 10 am – 4 pm

Donation Days and Hours:  Wednesday and Friday 11-3; behind Breck Thrift Store (by the food market entrance)

What are we accepting:  ONLY Gently used clothing and shoes. Donations will only be accepted at the Breck Thrift Store and no other FIRC locations.

Store Phone for additional questions:  970-423-6444

Carla Decker, Director of Programs

• Sign up opens April 12, 2022
• Sign Up Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f48a4aa2ba0ffce9-silverthorne
• There are 25 volunteer positions needed
•  There are two shifts  12-4 and 4-8.  The specific tasks are detailed in the sign up with the number of volunteers needed for each task/shift
• Volunteers can buy event tickets for $25.00.  Please do not  buy a ticket on Eventbright.  We will give information on how to buy volunteer tickets at a later date

Get your Duck today and make a difference at  www.summitduck.org.  A chance to win fabulous prizes while supporting the Foundation! 

It’s all DUCKY!

You all know it is officially The Summit Foundation (TSF) DUCK season - Rubber Duck Season, that is.  Mark your calendars for the race, Saturday, September 4, on the Blue River in Breck.   And, you all know your DUCKS do make a difference, but there is a chance you did not know exactly how. 

Did you know TSF was the catalyst for several local initiatives, contributing (at least) the first $150,000 to:

       Building Hope
       The Peak Health Alliance
       Precollegiate Program (supporting first generation students in their efforts to attend college)
       CATCH (healthy after school programs)
       and more!

Did you know TSF has supported nearly all of the nonprofits that have presented to Summit Rotary:
Public Radio (5/18); SOS (6/15); NRO (6/29); Cycle Effect (4/27); Starting Hearts (8/21); Peak Health Alliance (8/17); Alpenglow (8/24); Blue River Water Shed Group (upcoming) and many (many) more, including the Community Dinner!  

The long and short of it is TSF works to support and raise up nearly every facet of our Community, daily striving to be the Soul of the Summit.

We know you Rotarians are amazing and help SO much.  And, if you had an inkling you also could make a difference with a DUCK this DUCK season.  It is as easy as logging into  www.Summitduck.org.  If you have a business you can purchase a Business Battle Duck for $100 and vie for some pretty great prizes.

But, as we all know, helping our community is the Big Win, regardless of whose Duck swims the fastest.   Now is the time to get your Ducks in a Row!    

Cindy Bargell
 

• Review the performance programs
• Purchase tickets

• Date: Saturday, June 26^th 9am-1pm (often goes until 2pm if we take a lunch break)
• Location: Salt Lick Trail System - I-70 Scenic Area (Westbound side)
• Sign up by Friday 6/18
• Corridor cleaning and general trail maintenance on a variety of trails in the Salt Lick Trail System.  Light to moderate work, hiking 2-3 miles during this project (with tools).

• When --- every Wednesday starting in late May or early June.
• We have two times during the day for nine holes. 
• 8:00 AM to 10 AM starts or 2:30 PM starts.
• Punch cards are available for purchase at the pro shop. Carts $10 per round. 
• 4 day window to request tee times — so let Tom know by phone or e mail, the  FRIDAY before that next week.
• If you want to join with specific players, let Tom know.
• Friends or relatives can join our group any time during the summer.  Give Tom their name/names, phone #, and e mail.

• Tom French 303-808-6717      Td.french@comcast.net

Hello Ann & Dave:

Sharing  with you and Summit Rotary Club (one of my first audiences to listen to my presentation of GoldHorn Crypto) that 

today GoldHorn Crypto surpassed over €2.000.000,00 AuM (Assets under Management) and over 780 clients all around The World (when we had zoom meetup we had €220k and cca. 230 clients). 

 

Warm message of Happy Easter from Slovenia.

 

Regards,

 

Marko Pavlović

marko.pavlovic@goldhorn-crypto.com

To ensure that the club newsletter and other Clubrunner emails are successfully delivered to your email inbox, add the following email address and domain name to your email's contact list/safe senders/whitelist:

1. mailservice@clubrunner.ca 
2. @clubrunner.email

What is a whitelist and why is this needed?

Email spam filters often include the ability to "whitelist" certain sender IP addresses, email addresses or domain names to protect their email from being rejected or sent to a junk mail folder.   

From Wickipedia:  A whitelist is (1) a list of email addresses that a mail server or email client program is configured to accept as valid, incoming mail. Also called a "safe senders list," only messages from addresses on the list are allowed, and all the rest are discarded.   (2) A list of valid domain names that a mail server is configured to accept. All mail from users with that domain are allowed. 

Gmail:

According to internet:  Gmail offers an option to add specific addresses or domains as "safe" so they aren't automatically marked as spam, known as a "Whitelist." Your Whitelists must be managed and set by you. If you want to accept all email sent from a specific address, follow these instructions:

1. Log in to your Gmail
2. Click the gear icon in the top-right, and select Settings.
3. Click the Filters and Blocked Addresses tab. 
4. Click Create at New Filter. 
5. In the pop-up window, in the From field enter the clubrunner email addresses listed above separated by OR. example mailservice@clubrunner.ca OR @clubrunner.email
6. Click Create filter.
7. Check "Never send it to Spam".
8. Click Create filter

Member, Rotary Club of El Dorado Hills Ca. D5180

The RCAT met on December 16. We welcomed two new members- Jennie Stevens and Tina Cunningham- from the Breckenridge Club.

We had two guests- Merrill Glustrom from the Boulder Club, who spoke on a project on e-waste and computer refurbishing in Israel and Palestine, and Andrew McKean, from the Jeffco Rotary Club, who spoke on an idea for public exhibits on solutions to climate change. This prompted a discussion by the club as to whether we could work on a local exhibit, to educate the public on solutions that are available to combat climate change. Several club members are interested in being trained by High Country Conservation as Zero Waste Ambassadors.

The next meeting will be Wednesday, January 13^th, at 7:30 pm.