The Centennial Rotary Club is proud to recognize fellow Rotarian David “Willy” Willman for receiving the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service, one of the highest honors awarded by Rotary International.
This award honors Rotarians who demonstrate exceptional service beyond the club level, contributing at the district and international levels and exemplifying Rotary’s mission of Service Above Self.
Dave’s leadership, generosity, and willingness to serve wherever needed reflect the very best of Rotary. He joined Rotary nearly 15 years ago and became a member of the Centennial Rotary Club 18 months ago.
Pictured with Dave are Mike Klingbiel, District 5450 Foundation Chair, and Matt McLaurin, Centennial Rotary Club President (2025–2026).
Please join us in congratulating Dave on this well-deserved honor.
👏 Well done, Dave!
Dave Willman Receives Rotary Citation for Meritorious Service
An old man is met by his attorney and is told he is going to be audited. He rides to the IRS office with his attorney, and when he gets there, he begins to talk with the IRS agent. "I bet $2,000 I can bite my own eye!" The IRS agent agrees to the bet, believing it is an impossible task.
Membership chairman, Rob Johnston, welcomes our new member, Michael Tapp.
As many of you heard in Michael's classification talk last month, he is a long-time Rotarian that we are grateful to have join our Club. Michael comes to us from Denver Mile High Rotary Club where he had been a member since 2000. Michael is proud to say that he has Rotary in his "blood" where both his father and uncle were Rotarians and attended RYLA at age 16. Even more impressive, he met his wife, Betsy, through Rotaract. Michael has a long history of experience in the Financial Services industry starting first as a Bank Regulator and then moving into private industry where his current role is as a Mortgage Broker with Prosperity Home Mortgage. We have Tom Gross to thank for bringing Michael into the Club where they have worked closely on numerous real estate transactions. We are looking forward to benefiting from Michael's extensive Rotary and industry experience especially in the areas of finance and project leadership.
On Saturday, November 27 eight intrepid Rotarians (and one intrepid wife), under the leadership of committee chairperson, Karen Fleck, met in front of the King Soopers stores at Holly and Arapaho and in Arapahoe Crossing to solicit food for Integrated Family Community Services. Fortunately, the weather was on the relatively balmy side for late November so Rotarians Michael Tapp (with the able assistance of his wife, Betsy), Lance Burkholder, Samantha Osei-Asibey, Anne West, Phil Chipouras. Michele Burke and Doug Hanna were able to stay relatively comfortable. Centennial citizens gave the way they usually do -- generously and from their hearts -- so we were able to fill Karen's RAV4 to the brim with foodstuffs. This is later than we normally do food drives but with the Christmas season coming up, we felt it was important to gather as much food as we could for the IFCS food bank.
Two of our junior volunteers help collect donations for the food bank at Intergrated Family Community Services. The November 27, 2021 event resulted in a SUV packed full of generosity.
Shown here is Club President, Trip Butler, presenting a new member packet to one of our newest Rotarians, Joel Rowland.
We first met Joel when he spoke to us about Heros of Impact, which focuses on youth development and leadership, where he serves as Executive Director. Those of us who heard his presentation were extremely impressed with his vision and passion and knew then that if we could encourage Joel to join us, that he would make a great member. Joel is a past member of Clayton (SC) Rotary Club where he was actively involved in youth leadership and community service. He is interested in continuing his passion for youth and community leadership and with our Imagination Library program. We are sure through his past Rotary experience and passion for community, that Joel will be off and running leading great projects in no time!
Centennial Rotary club Welcomes New Member, Joel Rowland
As many of you know, we are partnering with Rotary Club Zrenjanin in Serbia to raise funds to provide badly needed medical supplies to this hospital which serves a community of approximately 190,000. With an annual income of less than $800, basic supplies to address such issues as childhood diseases, medical exams, and post-operative follow-up care are beyond the reach of most of this population.
Our club secretary, Karen Fleck, was almost a native of Colorado as she was born in Sedgwick County, across the border in the NE corner of Colorado, where she spent her youth. She worked in the sugar beet factory in Ovid as working in this factory was sort of a family affair, until the factory was shuttered --- along with 17 other Colorado sugar factories.
Rob Johnston and Rad Elekovic have teamed up on a project to raise money to send much-needed medical equipment and supplies to the Dr. Djordje Joanovic Hospital and the Dr. Vasa Savic Hospital for Pulmonary Disease in the Republic of Serbia. This will be done in partnership with Project C.U.R.E, which will provide the requisite 40-foot container, along with the equipment and supplies. Centennial Rotarians will help load them into the container for delivery to Serbia.
The results are in and they were truly amazing. Our Centennial Rotarians gathered enough food to fill 225 bags of food for the families of Crawford Elementary School. There was even food leftover for the Crawford pantry.
Tim Eunice and his crew did an amazing job at Centennial's recent Whiskey Warmer. This was the first time for the event and we had no way of knowing whether or not it would be successful.
The City of Centennial is expanding its variety of community events this year with the introduction of "Whiskey Warmer". And the Rotary Club of Centennial was been invited to do all the pouring. Leading the way is our resident spirit sales superman, Tim Eunice, who is already working on ways to make this fundraiser one of our best this year. The event takes place on Saturday, October 23 from 1-5 pm at the Centennial Center Park. Please sign up to help out on the BestRotary.com website and make plans to stick around to enjoy live music, food trucks, and local craft whiskey. Sounds like a good night to have Uber on speed dial.
In an impromptu vote on Oct. 4, the Club's Board of Directors voted unanimously to approve a request of $3500.00 to help sponsor an Afghan refugee family. Of this $3500, $3000.00 will be matched by the district. We will raise $3000.00 from three other clubs that will also be matched. That total will be $12,000.00. The extra $500.00 is to ensure we are not underfunded. If it's not needed, we will return the money to the foundation. The total amount for the project is $12,500.00, which will be used for rent, household items, clothes, food, educational items, and other supplies the family may need.
Jean Henry, who is chairing this event, reports that she has had an amazing response but there are still some open items. If you are donating a small item feel free to bring it to the meeting and we will collect it there. For larger items, will coordinate a drop-off or pick-up once the apartment is leased.
Lutheran family services tell us that they are also in need of clothes. As a result, we will begin to collect clothes donations in advance of knowing specific family sizes. Those that won't work for the Rotary refugee family will be donated to the LFS
Comments from the LFS: "Most families are arriving with much less than a full wardrobe. They've acquired a change or two of clothes at the military bases where they were vetted and background checked but still need of clothes to prepare for the winter in Colorado."
If you are donating clothing ...
1. Please make sure all garments are gently used with no tears or stains.
2. All socks, underwear, bras, and shoes must be new and unworn.
3. Smaller adult sizes are needed more than large sizes (extra small, small, and medium).
On Sept. 24, eight brave cyclists mounted up and biked 25 miles through Denver. This was the Woohoomanity challenge, a joint fundraiser of several Denver area Rotary clubs. Four members of the Rotary Club of Centennial participated along with friends and family members. The four stalwart Rotarians were Mary Alice Jackson, Doug Mazezka, our president, Trip Butler, and Jon Bellum.
On September 11, 2021, the Rotary Club of Centennial celebrated its 20 anniversary. Chartered back on May 10, 2001, the party was the culmination of a brilliant series of guest speakers and tributes to 20 years of Service Above Self, all orchestrated by the committee chair Katherine Henschen Hauff.
Yes, we're going to do another food drive for Crawford Elementary School. Bag distribution will be on Oct 16, with food pickup and sort on Oct 23. Volunteers are of course needed so if you can lend a hand, please contact Cathy Smith who is chairing the event. This is an easy event and one that Centennial Rotarians always support.
So, what are you waiting for? Give Cathy Smith a call and let her know you will help.
Led by Rotarian extraordinaire, Roxy Hahn, the plan was to fill 75 backpacks for second graders at Aurora's Crawford Elementary school. We learned about the significant need from President-Elect Tom Gross, whose daughter is a teacher there, and chose the school because their student population represents 19 different countries, of which 70% are English Language Learner (ELL) students.
Centennial Rotary rises to the Woohoomanity challenge
I invite you to join the Rotary Club of Centennial, along with the rest of the Denver area Rotary Clubs on Saturday, September 25 for the Woohoomanity Challenge. The "Woohoo" takes advantage of the Charitable Affiliate program of the renowned Denver Century Ride, to turn one of the top outdoor events in America into a brilliant fundraising opportunity.
A husband and wife were driving through Louisiana. As they approach Natchioches, they started arguing about the pronunciation of the town. They argued back-and-forth, then they stopped for lunch at the counter, the husband asked a blonde waitress, "Before we order could you please settle an argument for us? Would you please pronounce where we are very slowly". She leaned over the counter and said, "Burr Gerr Kiing."
Our beer sales at Centennial Under the Stars were about as flat as a three-hour-old beer. We had the beer and a bunch of volunteers from the Centennial Rotary Club, mother nature did not smile upon us brightly. In fact, it began pouring rain about an hour after the event started. We had some sales but nothing like we had at July''s Brew and Que. Some of our volunteer Rotarians got drenched but as usual, we had a fun time and raised at least some money.
The new Ready, Set, Crawford project is yet another signature project created by our amazing club. The Rotary Club of Centennial will be purchasing backpacks and school supplies for 75 children from under-served areas, prior to the event. We will need members on August 7th to help fill the backpacks with school supplies. This event will take place at the Centennial Airport- 7565 S Peoria St., Englewood, Co., 80112. The building is located at the northeast corner of the Perfect Landing Restaurant parking lot. We are hoping to have a big turnout of volunteer members. This event will be followed by a social afterward. For more information contact Roxy Hahn, Barb Medina or Marc Garfinkel.
Help is needed with this project and you can sign up on our Rotary website, BestRotary.com
Be sure to save the afternoon and evening of September 11.
This is when the club will be celebrating our 20th year anniversary. According to Kathleen, our committee chairman, there are some great things planned and it's not to be missed.
In recent weeks, the Rotary Club of Centennial has introduced a "20 for 20" initiative as part of our celebration of 20 years of "service above self". The goal, 20 new Paul Harris Fellows will receive their first Paul Harris Fellow pin at our 20th Anniversary celebration on September 11.
This effort is the brainchild of Katherine Hauff as a salute to the impact our Club has made to our community, as well as a tribute to the inspirational contributions of her parents, Honorable member Jeannie Henschen and her late father, former member and Past President, Hank Henschen. The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation. Although this is not a topic that has been top of mind during the last 14 months, it is hard to overstate how crucial the Paul Harris Society is to the mission of the Rotary Foundation and its support of our six areas of focus.
John is shown here with Club President, Trip Butler
Our Rotary Club meeting of July 31 was graced by the presence of the District Attorney of Colorado's 18th Judicial District, John Kellner. John was sworn in as district attorney on January 12, 2021. His District includes Arapahoe, Douglas, Albert, and Lincoln Counties, and more than 11 million people. Jon gave a fascinating talk, which gave us a much better insight into what the district attorney does, how many people his office employs. Among the many services, John's office provides are the Division of Criminal Justice, Dispute Resolution, the Department of Corrections - Victims' Services, the Colorado Division of Youth Services, and the Sex OffenderManagement Board.
The truth is that not every member of the Rotary Club of Centennial loves beer. But we sure do love selling beer. This year the city of Centennial is hosting three summertime events. The first of these, Brew and Cue was held week before last. There was lots of Cue but we were the only ones selling brew. Needless to say, our stand was very popular. We had a lot of fun and raised money, some of which will probably be used to help fund our next big event, Ready, Set, Crawford.
Be sure to look for us at Centennial's next summer event, Centennial Under the Stars. Stop by and say hello and maybe buy a brew or two.
This years was absolutely awesome. I think it was the first time that most of us were able to get together since before the pandemic. Ken and his wife did an amazing job of hosting the event. We had a catered dinner, white wine (much of which was contributed by our members), red wine beer, and soft drinks. Click to view pictures from the event.
April showers bring May flowers and, for Rotary Club of Centennial, April showers have brought with them the hope of a reblooming of the flowers of fellowship, friendship, and service.
We kick off the month of May with seeds planted by the Food Scarcity Team, fertilized with funds from our Club Foundation, and blossoming into a full-fledged Food Drive on May 1st to support the Crawford Elementary School community in Aurora with food collected by Club members from friends and neighbors to restock the school’s on-site food pantry.
Ken was born and raised in North Denver. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and his law degree from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.
He began practicing law as a sole practitioner in the Englewood/DTC areas, He later became a member of a boutique downtown law firm with multiple Colorado offices. Finally, Ken served as in-house counsel and vice president for a regional specialty wood products company located in Wheat Ridge,
Ken retired in 2015. He still maintains a part-time mediation practice that he launched in 2010 which involves acting as a neutral in assisting in the resolution of a wide variety of legal disputes. He also acts as an arbitrator.
To celebrate the twentieth-year anniversary of the Centennial Rotary Club and in support of Rotary District 5450's regional-wide Day of Service, the Club had chosen to celebrate by doing what it does best: serve the community. On May 8th the Club will serve the community in five different ways: a drug take-back program, an electronics recycling program, a blood drive, a Shred-Athon, and the awarding of their Club-sponsored brand-new community diversity award, as well as other exciting presentations.
After Hurricane María devastated Puerto Rico in September 2017 and widely knocked out water service on the island, residents were left without safe water to drink — a problem that continued long after the storm ended.
So the Rotary Club of Centennial decided to lend a hand with its “WaterRico” project to provide in-home water filters to residents in need, focusing on the area of Moca in the island's northwest corner. Rotary clubs focus on community service abroad and in local areas.
Rotary Club of Centennial recently announced the creation of the Rotary Has a Dream Diversity Award, which is a $500 cash award to a Centennial citizen, business, or organization. The mission for the award is outlined below. The deadline for receipt of applications for both awards is midnight on May 1, 2021.
Music has been an important part of leading an ordinary life for students at the Music School for Children With Disabilities in Honor of Paul Harris in Lublin, Poland. Founded by Rotary members, the school serves 20 students with various disabilities, including Down syndrome, autism, and visual impairments. The Rotary Club of Lublin-Centrum-Maria Curie-Sklodowska has provided funding with help from Rotary Foundation Matching Grants and the Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society, which houses the school.
After their son Mateusz was born with underdeveloped eyes, Mariusz and Joanna Kania looked for ways to help him be active. When he showed an aptitude for music, they looked for a teacher and were thrilled to find the Paul Harris music school.
For years, Angalia Bianca had slept in abandoned buildings throughout Chicago. She stole. She did drugs. She spent time in and out of jail for forgery, theft, trespassing, and possession of narcotics. But after she landed in prison for the seventh time, something changed -- Bianca knew she wanted a better life. She just didn’t know how to make it happen.
After serving her time, Bianca sought help from a local homeless organization, A Safe Haven, and moved to its shelter in the Rogers Park neighborhood. Bianca followed the program closely -- she attended all the required meetings, passed drug tests, and volunteered at every opportunity.
What is it like taking a large team to Africa? It has probably been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. In mid February, I began leading Rotary members from all over the East Coast of the United States through Ghana. I’ve tried to give the team a warm Ghanaian welcome like I’ve received on my earlier trips. A large trip is a real blessing because each person sees Ghana and our work in a different way.
A highlight for the team was greeting the chief of Sagadugu. The team got excited about buying goats and food for children in the villages where I support eight churches. It was good to see the pastors of most of the eight churches, and I had to explain that we were just passing through on our way to Bolgatanga.
Throughout India and around the world, Rotary clubs are celebrating a major milestone: India has gone three years without a new case of polio. The last reported case was a two-year-old girl in West Bengal on 13 January 2011. To mark this historic triumph, Rotary clubs illuminated landmarks and iconic structures throughout the country with four simple but powerful words, "India is polio free."
The three-year achievement sets the stage for polio-free certification of the entire Southeast Asia region by the World Health Organization. The Indian government also plans to convene a polio summit in February to commemorate this victory in the global effort to eradicate polio.
For years, Angalia Bianca had slept in abandoned buildings throughout Chicago. She stole. She did drugs. She spent time in and out of jail for forgery, theft, trespassing, and possession of narcotics. But after she landed in prison for the seventh time, something changed -- Bianca knew she wanted a better life. She just didn’t know how to make it happen.
What is it like taking a large team to Africa? It has probably been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. In mid February, I began leading Rotary members from all over the East Coast of the United States through Ghana. I’ve tried to give the team a warm Ghanaian welcome like I’ve received on my earlier trips. A large trip is a real blessing because each person sees Ghana and our work in a different way.
Throughout India and around the world, Rotary clubs are celebrating a major milestone: India has gone three years without a new case of polio. The last reported case was a two-year-old girl in West Bengal on 13 January 2011. To mark this historic triumph, Rotary clubs illuminated landmarks and iconic structures throughout the country with four simple but powerful words, "India is polio free."