Letters

Local Rotary Club celebrates 60th
       Rotary Club of the Garden of the Gods, the second oldest Rotary Club in Colorado Springs, celebrated its 60th anniversary June 26. Organized by Westside and Manitou Springs businessmen in 1947, it was first known as the Rotary Club of West Colorado Springs-Manitou Springs. The charter president was William Henderson, who went on to help found the Pikes Peak National Bank and become mayor of Colorado Springs.
       The club, renamed Rotary Club of the Garden of the Gods in 1966, has a long record of community service, being instrumental in many Westside activities. Early projects involved sponsoring the Westside Scout Troop and Westside Hockey Club. The club assisted the Forestry Service during Christmas tree cutting, planted green ash trees to provide shade in Old Colorado City and was the original organization to plant more than 3,000 trees on the old quarry scar in the foothills.
       In 1984, the club established the Champions Program that has evolved into an area-wide, yearly Rotary event honoring nearly 400 scholar athletes from El Paso and Teller counties. Over the years, Rotary Club of the Garden of the Gods has continued its commitment to the local community and expanded its involvement in international programs.
       The main objective of Rotary International is service in the community and throughout the world. As volunteers, Rotarians build goodwill and peace, provide humanitarian service, and encourage high ethical standards in all vocations. There are some 1.2 million Rotarians in more than 32,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas.
       To find out more about Rotary, visit the website, rotary5470.org, or contact me at 632-3655 or vauthrin@comcast.net.

Carla Vauthrin, President
Garden of the Gods Rotary Club