Rotary Club of Conifer Meeting May 24, 2016

 
PROGRAM: Lets Talk About Mental Health in Jefferson County
Diane Messamore, Jill Harman, Kara Campbell
www.jcmh.org  -  303-425-0300
 
Diane opened the presentation by telling us that she is not only involved with the Jefferson Center but also on the Rotary District 5450 Mental Health initiative.  That group is dedicated to removing the negative stigma that mental health has and providing information about resources.  Jefferson Center is a non-profit organization and it is 58 years old.  It serves Jefferson, Gilpin, Clear Creek and part of Boulder County.  It is the second largest provider in the State.  They accept all who need help, no one is turned away from receiving services.  Funding comes from Medicaid, Colorado State funds dedicated to indigent care, collected fees, insurances, and grants and donations through their Foundation.
 
In our society, virtually all families have been touched by mental health or addictions issues.  Clients come into their programs through family requests, schools, and other organizations.  One in five Coloradans are dealing with mental health or addictions problems.  These are the leading causes of illness in the USA.
 
Kara Campbell spoke to us about the services she provides in the mountain community, with a part-time office in MRC. 
 
Jefferson Center provides services to over 25,000 people a year.  They provide full-service programs, including education about mental health.  There are adult services, family services and school-based services, senior services, wellness services, community outreach and support.
 
 
GUESTS: Diane Messamore, Kara Campbell, Jill Hartman, Carol Carper, Mindy Audlin, Jenna Audlin
 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS/BUSINESS:
  • Street Clean-up is June 4 at 8 a.m. on Pleasant Park Rd.; please sign up with Mark Rehm.
  • Transition dinner at Mark’s home at 5 pm June 18th.  Audrey will pass a list to sign up for food.
  • The Run the Ranch 5K is June 11.  Volunteers will be needed at water stations and possibly for registration.  Diana will send a sign-up. Parking will be in the events field
  • Lee Willis announced that we had a record year at the Home and Garden Show!  The Evergreen location had more attendees than ever before, in spite of the snowy weather.  Even better news, we had 25% increase in net income!!
  • Thanks to Audrey and Pat for their work in tearing down the Veterans Rendevous on Saturday….
  • Finn received an award last week at a brewers event on Island adjacent to Finland.  Congratulations.
  • Carol Carper thanks for the Club for joining in a District Grant to provide 10 protected springs in Kenya.
  • Wes Paxton thanked the club for Rotarian help and participation at the Conifer High School graduation.
 
Explore More:  a book!!  Midy and Jenna Audlin. 
 
Mindy and her daughter Jenna co-authored the book to encourage children to spend more time outside.  On average, kids spend only 30 minutes a day outdoors while the figure for time spent in front of screens is 7.5 hours daily.  Jenna says it is important for kids to get outside.  Nature is good for the brain, the body and the spirit.  It is good for our future; kids that love nature will take care of nature when they become adults.
 
The book is available at Jesse’s book store, the Evergreen Nature Center, and on Amazon.  The Evergreen Nature center is “sponsoring” the book, located on Evergreen Lake.  The book signing will be at Mountain Books June 25 at 12 noon.
 
 
VOCATIONAL PRESENTATION: Lesley Landon
 
Lesley was born in Germany; her dad was an American fighter pilot.  When he retired, she grew up in Tucson.  Married in 1988 and moved to Sonoita, where they raised kids thru elementary and her husband was a pilot for Customs.  They moved to Colorado where her husband worked for the Forest Service.  She raised kids for 15 years and was very active in her community at the schools, Girl Scouts and Stage Door Theater.  Her daughter Jessica wanted to be an exchange student, which is how Lesley learned about Rotary and the Student Exchange.  Evergreen Rotary sent her daughter Jessica to Brazil.  Her family then hosted an exchange student from Netherlands.  She joined Conifer Rotary.  She worked at an insurance company since her kids grew up.
 
 
50/50: Nancy Lynch