Pagosa Springs Third Graders Receive Dictionaries Thanks to Rotary Tradition

By JoAnn Laird

Laughter and excitement filled the halls of Pagosa Springs Elementary School this week as members of the Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs delivered their annual gift of colorful dictionaries to every third-grade student.

More than 100 books were handed out, with students eagerly signing their names inside the front covers before diving in. Rotarians encouraged the children to look up various words, and it wasn’t long before the students began calling out suggestions of their own—quickly learning how to use their new dictionaries. The smiles on both sides made the day a clear win for everyone involved.

Taiwanese Sophomore Embarks on a Year of Learning in Pagosa Springs Through Rotary Exchange

By Lisa Scott

The Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs is currently hosting Wennei Chan, high school sophomore, from New Taipei, Taiwan who arrived in Pagosa Springs August 20.

New Taipei is the second largest city in Taiwan and is in the northern part of the island which is surrounded by the South China Sea. Wennei’s father is an engineer and her mother is an art curator and she has an eight-year-old sister. She and her family live in a suburb community which is away from the commotion of the urban city and has more parks and trees.

Photo courtesy Terri House
Wennei Chan, a high school sophomore from New Taipei, Taiwan, shares insights about her home country with the Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs on November 20.

Small grants, big impact:

Rotary’s Teacher Mini Grants spark creativity in local classrooms

By Terri House
Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs

Sometimes, it’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference. A single sewing machine, a microphone, or even a light box can open doors to creativity, confidence and connection for students across Archuleta County.

That’s the heart of the Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs’ Teacher Mini Grant Program, which once again this year proved that small investments can make a big impact in local classrooms.

Photo courtesy Al Myatt
Pagosa’s district-wide music educators collaborated on a Rotary Mini Grant to purchase a house microphone for the high school auditorium and Art Teacher Linda Lutomski received a grant for a creative classroom project. Pictured, back row, left to right — Pagosa Family School (PFS) Interim Principal Sara Blakemore, PFS Elementary Art Teacher Lutomski and PFS Middle School Art Teacher Lisa Kopplinger. Front row, left to right — Rotarians Pat Love and CiCi Stuart, Pagosa Springs Middle School (PSMS) Music Teacher Malinda Burnett, PFS/PSMS Music Teacher Katrina Thomas, Pagosa Springs High School Music Director Leo Baughman and Pagosa Springs Elementary School Music Teacher Anika Borders.

Sponsors: Service Above Self

The Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs extends heartfelt thanks

to the following individuals and businesses whose generosity

makes a lasting difference in our community.

Their support fuels Rotary’s outreach programs and scholarships for 2025,

ensuring we can continue to serve where we are needed most.

They embody the very spirit of our motto, “Service Above Self.”

Barn dance success

Photos courtesy Al Myatt

Saturday night’s 10th Annual Jewels & Jeans Barn Dance was a great success, celebrating country fun, community spirit, and the heart of Rotary. Proceeds from the event will support local youth programs, scholarships, and community service projects.

PSHS students launch new Rotary Interact Club

Photo courtesy Ed Feragen

Pagosa Springs High School students celebrate the launch of their new Rotary Interact Club, a student-led service organization that empowers teens to connect, lead, and make a difference locally and globally. Pictured, left to right, are Duke Ketchum, Wyatt Carr, Van Halterman, Justin Sewell, Jackson Chaney, Marlie Adams, Kyley Matyniak, Madison DeClark, Adelyn Hittle, Madisen Stretton, Bella Adkisson, Isabela Forster, Leah Blackman and Dawson Iverson.

A new student-led club is taking off at Pagosa Springs High School. Fourteen enthusiastic students came together this week for the very first meeting of the school’s Rotary Interact Club, a youth organization that empowers teens to connect with each other, serve their community, and make an impact around the world.

Rotary receives $160,000 for science education in West Africa

Photos courtesy David Smith

Empowering teachers, inspiring students: At Rotary’s 2023 teacher training workshop in Niger, educators gained practical tools and strategies to enhance science education and foster critical thinking in six high schools in Niger. These new Rotary Foundation grants will extend these efforts to 38 high schools in Niger and Togo.

By David Smith

The Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs has just received grants from The Rotary Foundation totaling $160,000 to support science education at the high school level in Niger and Togo.

The long-term goal of these projects is to prepare students for careers that require a solid foundation in science. These projects will improve the critical thinking skills of all students and contribute to national wealth by increasing the scientific skills of the workforce.

Niger and Togo are among the poorest countries in Africa. Nearly 50 percent of the population in Niger lives on about two dollars a day. The northern area of Togo, where this project will take place, has a similar poverty rate.

Rotary helps Habitat day

Photo courtesy Maddie Bergon

Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs’ finest traded meetings for tool belts on Saturday. With hammers in hand and plenty of teamwork, they joined Habitat for Humanity of Archuleta County mentors to help build a new home. Pictured, left to right, are Teri and Ken Chadwick, Bryan Weitzel, JoAnn Laird, Frazier Barr, and Kirk Geer.

Breaking labels, building leaders: Adelyn Hittle shares Rotary Youth Leadership Awards experience

Adelyn Hittle attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) at the La Foret Conference and Retreat Center in Colorado Springs in June. She made a presentation to the Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs last week that was very impressive.

Rotary’s Feed Our Children Program enters its 15th year

By Jo Bridges |. Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs

In Pagosa Springs, we believe no child should ever go hungry. Yet, the reality is that many children in our community face food insecurity. The Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs and Pagosa Springs Mountain Rotary Club have been working to combat this issue through our Feed Our Children program, which will begin its 15th year of providing weekend meals to families in need this August.

Last year, we served 40 families, involving 94 children, which was our largest ever participation.

All public school children are provided a free breakfast and lunch each school day, a crucial service that ensures they have meals during the week. However, the need doesn’t stop when the school day ends.

The Feed Our Children program bridges this gap by supplying nutritious food to children every weekend throughout the school year. Each Thursday, third- and fourth-graders from participating families pick up backpacks at school, filled with food for all of the children in the family to enjoy over the weekend. Our goal is to help children return to school on Monday, happy, nourished, and ready to learn. This initiative complements the efforts of local food banks by providing additional food specifically chosen to appeal to children and requiring minimal preparation.

Welcome!

Service Above Self

We meet In Person

Thursdays at 11:59 AM

Coyote Moon Lounge

120 Piedra Road
PO Box 685
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147
United States of America

Phone:

(970) 507-0500

Email:

rotary.psrc22@outlook.com

District Site

Bulletins

Venue Map

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No Meeting This Week (Christmas Party Dec. 12)

Dec 11, 2025

Kade Jackson - Aquatic Biologist - CPW

Dec 18, 2025

Update on Region Fisheries Management - Colorado Parks & Wildlife

Cindi Galabota

Jan 08, 2026

CSU Extension: Services Provided to Our Community

Joshua Peck - US Forest Service District Ranger

Jan 15, 2026

Updates on the San Juan National Forest

View entire list...

Monthly Board of Directors Meeting
27 Talisman Drive

Dec 08, 2025 12:00 PM
Monthly Board of Directors Meeting
27 Talisman Drive

Jan 12, 2026 12:00 PM

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While membership in any Rotary club is by invitation, and current members are encouraged to sponsor new members in their circle of acquaintance, we also welcome prospective members to let us know of your interest directly. We encourage you to visit one of our club meetings, socials, or service projects as a guest to get to know us.

The Rotary Club
of Pagosa Springs
Board of Directors
meets on the
second Monday
of each month at noon
at TBK Bank uptown
(27 Talisman Drive).

President

President Elect

President Elect

President Elect

President Elect

Immediate Past President

Rob Foster

Treasurer

Patricia Lewis

Recording Secretary

Jim Garrett

Board Member - Social & Fellowship

Kenneth Beesley

Board Member - Fundraising

Kirsten Bennett

Board Member

Frank Estes

Board Member - Youth Service

Edward Feragen

Board Member - Vocational Service

Rob Foster

Board Member - Club Service

Livia Lynch

Board Member

Sam Pittmon

Board Member - Community Service

Frank Wiley

The Rotary Foundation

David Smith

Membership Co-Chair

Melanie Garrett

Public Relations

Terri House

The Rotary Voices podcast features in-depth interviews with thought leaders, Rotary news updates, and immersive stories from Rotary magazine. Learn more at https://pod.link/rotary.

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