I am excited that our second Rotary Newsletter features our inspiring community project – Fix Up Festival (FUF). FUF is an annual event where Bozeman Sunrise Rotary brings our community together to help in-need homeowners with essential repairs before winter arrives. This year businesses, nonprofits and volunteer groups came together to repair eight homes and two roofs, adding to the 132 homes and 10 roofs that have been improved over the last 15 years.
We were truly inspired by how the Bozeman community and Rotarians worked together to make a difference in these families lives and we are pleased to share a story with you that demonstrates the impact of our joint hard work. Please go to our website to learn more about the FUF and the other incredible projects supported by Bozeman Sunrise Rotarians! Thank you for your interest and support, and enjoy our November Newsletter!
Alfons Staerk
Fix Up Festival Chair
Fix Up Festival
“Today is better than Christmas. I live all alone here, no children, no partner so this team is not just helping me a little, they are keeping me from being homeless. Keeping even one person from becoming homeless is so important.” Gail has lived in her trailer since 2009 and the construction kept deteriorating and she was not able to do much to stop it. And she said that she had a hard time asking for help so she has been living in a bad situation for a long time. The flooring was so rotten that she kept tripping on the plywood sticking through. Even more worrying was the skirting on the outside of her trailer; it had developed holes and mold, and animals were living underneath. Also, the wind would blow through underneath making her very cold in the winter and freezing the pipes. But the worst was, her trailer no longer complied with the park standards and she had already been written up once and was afraid of being evicted.
Then she saw the FUF signs and decided that she had to try; she was left with no other choice. And she was so tired of feeling exhausted and depressed. Now she has a beautiful new peal and stick vinyl floor and skirting on her home- all because of the wonderful Dovetail team who again this year volunteered for the FUF – their 15th FUF. Truly amazing!
Gail feels indebted to the wonderful people who have ensured that she will not lose her home and kitty – love kitty as she calls her. Gail also talked about how kitty is her emotional support and now she feels like she has the energy to do some of her own projects, like painting in the kitchen, to ensure that she and kitty have a comfortable home. Almost in tears she ended the conversation by saying that she doesn’t even know where to begin to thank Rotary. “It may be only one day for the workers but this day was a life changer for me”.
The Bozeman Sunrise Rotary Club adopted East Gallatin Recreation Area in 1992, transforming it from a former landfill into a beloved park. Over 23 years, members contributed time and funds to its development. In 2015, the city asked the club to design and oversee a new park entrance to come off of Manley Road. Working with local businesses (Northwestern Energy, Mesa Moving & Storage and MAP Brewing) and securing funding through donations, grants, foundations including the the Gianforte Family Foundation, the Kirsten & Patrick Kainz family, and the Yellowstone Boys & Girls Ranch foundation and bank partnerships (First Security, First Interstate Bank, Bank of Bozeman, Yellowstone Bank and Opportunity Bank).
Completed in August 2024, the $430,000 project features a new entrance and paved parking, improving access to trails, volleyball courts, the dock area, and Rotary Centennial Pavilion. It marks the club's largest investment in the park's infrastructure to date.
The Bozeman Sunrise Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Tripureswor are in the third year of their 3-year Nepal Global Grant, aimed at providing teacher training in active learning for K-12 education. Partnering with Nepalese NGO PHASE Nepal, the project has delivered two workshops and on-site training for teachers. Schools involved have also benefited from new computer labs equipped with interactive learning software.
The project will conclude in March 2025. In its final phase, activities will include installing teaching seismometers, providing science teaching aids, and engaging with school committees. Earthquake preparedness training will also be provided.
A spring 2024 evaluation showed significant improvements in teaching and school environments, particularly in poorer schools. To assess further and explore future projects, a group of 10 Rotarians will visit Nepal in November 2024. They will meet local partners and visit schools, including a potential site for a new Global Grant.
2024 Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Fellows
For a number of years, Sunrise Rotary Club's International Committee has taken the Rotary International initiative - of supporting International missions - to heart through a special collaboration between Montana State University (MSU) and the US State Department called the Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (FTEA) program. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, this prestigious fellowship has been bringing exceptional international educators to U.S. universities since 2005.
This year’s 20+ educators have come to MSU from all over the world, including Peru, Mongolia, and Tanzania, and spent six weeks in Bozeman, learning, teaching, and sharing their expertise in local schools. The program is designed to promote cross-cultural exchange and to foster innovative teaching practices that can be applied both here and abroad.
Through support from Bozeman Sunrise Rotary, the FTEA fellows will submit project proposals to support and develop programs in their communities that align with Rotary's worldwide goals. Stay tuned for more information about these projects.
Annual Holiday Auction and Dinner - Save the Date!
The most wonderful time of the year is almost here, and so is our highly anticipated Holiday Auction! Join us on Thursday, December 5th for an evening of festive fun, exclusive items up for bid, dinner and the opportunity to support great projects here in our community and abroad.
Click on the button below to purchase tickets, register, and view some of the auctions items you may bid on. Stay tuned for more details on auction items, event activities, and how you can be a part of this exciting event!
Bozeman Sunrise Rotary Club members are dedicated to improving our community and the world in which we live. Through projects such as the ones mentioned above our work reaches many. If you are interested in volunteer opportunities click here to email our president with your contact information. You will hear from us soon!
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