The Rotary Club of Carson City held its second annual picnic at Genoa park on May 27, 2023.  The weather was perfect.  The barbecue duties were professionally handled by Paul Esswein and Jim Gray.  The other members brought a smorgasbord of side dishes and desserts.  We were treated to a history presentation by a Docent of the Genoa Museum.  We also toured the Genoa Museum and Mormon Station. Adults, children, and pets had a great time.  The picnic was adeptly organized by Peter "Snowshoe" Thompson. 

 

 

The Sutro Tunnel is an engineering marvel that was initiated by Adolph Sutro.  His plan was to create a near horizontal tunnel to reach the vertical mine shafts of the Virginia City Comstock.  This tunnel would drain water from the shafts, and infuse clean air for the Miners.  Construction started in 1869 and reached the first mine shaft in 1878.  The tunnel and the surrounding structures are being preserved by The Friends of Sutro Tunnel, a non-profit organization.  On April 8, 2023, with much effort, members of The Rotary Club of Carson City volunteered to help restore some of the buildings to original condition.  Jackhammers, crowbars, knives, drills, hammers, and chisels were used to remove a non-original brick and concrete floor from the Carriage House.  Plaster board walls and insulation were also removed.  In addition, soiled carpet, insulation, cabinets, and drapes were removed from a large residence. Over 3.6 tons of material were removed from the structures !

  Each month during the school year, the Rotary Club of Carson City honors a teacher with a plaque and a check. The deserving teacher is selected by virtue of the value they bring to their school and to their students.  The difficult decision is made by the Principal of their school. This month we honored Fremont Elementary Teacher, Laura Gentine, who received her awards at the Rotary luncheon.  

  Also during the school year, a Student of the week is selected by their teachers.  The student is selected on the basis of academic achievement and extracurricular endeavors.  The student is also treated to lunch and receives a check from the Rotary club.  The honor this week went to Pioneer Academy student, Madelyn Peachay.

  

   Each  year the Rotary Club of Carson City awards a grant to a local school.  This is a competitive process whereby teachers from local schools present a project that they want to pursue in their school. Past winners included schools that wanted to fund their robotics programs, their hydroponics program, etc.  Every year the Education Grant Committee of the Rotary Club of Carson City reviews the proposals and, with great difficulty, chooses a winner.  

 

   The winning project this year was submitted by Empire Elementary School teachers, Laura Ricks and Nancy Cole.  The grant this year was $5,000.  It will be used to enhance the school's Lending Library with Mathematics Learning Materials.  These books will be utilized by the teachers to increase math proficiency in students for years to come.  Members of the Rotary club surprised Ms. Nancy Cole in her classroom with the award.  

 

 

Rotary Youth Exchange is a program that allows local teenagers to spend a year in a foreign country.  In exchange, teenagers from around the world come to spend a year in the United States.  It is a life changing experience for each of these students. The Rotary Club of Carson City and other Rotary clubs arrange for housing, education, and sponsor these lucky students.  Over Nevada Day weekend these guests from around the world, are invited to gather in Carson City under the supervision of the Rotary Club of Carson City.  This year twelve students joined us for the weekend.  This year's teens were from Sweden, Denmark, Taiwan, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Austria, Brazil, Spain, and Germany.   They visited Carson City and Virginia City. They joined local Rotarians marching in the Nevada Day parade. The teenagers made new friends and wonderful memories. As a result of the Rotary Youth Exchange program students learn leadership skills, become global citizens, and often learn a new language.    Learn more at https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/youth-exchanges

Approximately 30 members of our club visited the Basalite Company in northeast Carson City on October 4, 2022.  After enjoying a box lunch supplied by our caterer, Heather Beaupro, our group split into three groups. We donned protective gear and joined a member of the Basalite team to tour the facilities.  The informative afternoon demonstrated the techniques used to make pavers, cement, and various decorative landscaping blocks.  Basalite is a family owned company with operating plants in nine States and Canada.  

 

 

With her calm delivery and just seconds to spare, Carson High School Senior Jessica Knutson won the Rotary Club of Carson City’s Speech Contest this week.  Area high school students were invited to compete in the annual event to help them hone their public speaking skills and win cash prizes.

 

The Rotary Club of Carson helped charter and assists Boy Scout Troop 33, recently providing funding to start a new Girls Boy Scout Troop formed in 2021.  Rotarian John Copoulos is the charter representative from Carson Rotary. 

Carson Rotarians enjoyed a work day to collect turkeys, packaged goods and pet food to assist Friends in Service Helping (FISH) and Pets for the Homeless on Saturday, November 13th.  Over 20 turkeys and hundreds of food items and pet food were donated by the Community.  Thanks to all who stopped by to donate!