The true spirit of Thanksgiving isn't just about what we have—it's about what we give.
November brings a season of gratitude—a time to gather with family and friends, count our blessings, and reflect on what truly matters. But for Rotarians, Thanksgiving is more than a holiday. It's a reminder of why we serve.
At the heart of Rotary International is a simple yet powerful belief: Service Above Self. Across the globe, Rotarians turn gratitude into action—feeding the hungry, providing clean water, supporting education, fighting disease, promoting peace, and bringing hope to communities in need.
From our own neighborhoods in Denver to villages halfway around the world, Rotary reminds us that compassion knows no borders, generosity speaks every language, and even the smallest act of kindness can create lasting change.
As members of the Denver Cherry Creek Rotary Club, we have much to be thankful for—not only the blessings in our own lives, but the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. Every service project, every scholarship, every helping hand, and every friendship formed through Rotary is a reminder that giving back is one of life's greatest rewards.
This Thanksgiving, as we celebrate the abundance in our lives, let's also remember those facing hardship, hunger, conflict, and uncertainty. Our work is far from finished, but together we have the power to make the world a little brighter.
Because the greatest expression of gratitude isn't simply saying "thank you." It's giving someone else a reason to be thankful.
🍁 This Thanksgiving, Let's Give Thanks—and Keep Giving Back.
🕊️ From Fellow to Peacemaker: Alexis Romero Shares Her Journey
Contributor: Alexis Romero, D5450 Peace Fellow, International Christian University , Mitaka, Tokyo
I am currently working on the Applied Field Experience part of the Rotary Peace Fellowship. Peace fellows have the opportunity to travel to another part of the world to work on either collecting data for their thesis or pursue professional development, spending 8 to 12 weeks abroad during the summer break.
I have chosen to volunteer with a non-governmental organization in Norway called In the Same Boat, one of the world’s largest volunteer-based professional cleanup efforts. I live in a small sailboat with three other volunteers and a skipper, while three additional boats work further north along the coastline. The crew learns about sailing several times a month as they travel to new locations across the southern coastline. On a typical day, we take a motorboat to islands throughout the area, cleaning up marine litter and analyzing pollution patterns. In July alone, the volunteers were able to clean 88,127 pounds of trash across 220,000 miles.
Norway’s coastline makes up 10% of the world’s coastline and much of the fish caught there is exported globally. Despite being one of the richest countries in the world, some of Norway’s remote communities still lack real access to waste management, forcing residents to dispose of trash illegally.
The organization’s goal is to create a model for waste management that remote communities worldwide can replicate, working with fishermen and local governments to shift attitudes and behaviors around marine litter. I have learned an enormous amount about Europe, European culture, sailing, ecosystems, and pollution. I will return to Tokyo at the end of September to complete the final year of my thesis program.
Cherry Creek Trail Cleanup
Boots, Bushwhacking & a Waterlogged Tent
To get to the real junk, Rotarians ( Denver 31, DCCR, and RINO Five Points) put on their boots and headed into the brush. There, they discovered the wreckage of a waterlogged tent, along with some clothing and even a credit card. (The credit limit remains a mystery!)
Getting the soaked tent up the steep embankment was no easy task, but the cleanup crew pitched in and worked together to get it to the top. The Parks Department then brought a truck to the pickup point to haul everything away.
Along the way, the brave volunteers got to brush up on their bushwhacking skills—and enjoyed a view of the creek that most people never get to see!
Next trail cleanup is scheduled for September 12, 2026.
Jeff Maen searching for GOLD
Keith Frankl ready for ACTION!
Sarah Werner's got it under control
Peach Sales Fundraiser
DCCR members staffed the pickup site as hundreds of buyers stopped by to collect their orders.
The numbers were impressive: more than 10,000 peaches—570 boxes totaling 2.5 tons—were distributed!
Even better, the fundraiser generated approximately $7,500 to support our community and international service projects.
🍑 The Sweetest Sales Pitch? A Peach!
Want to help make next year’s peach sale even more successful? Share the goodness!
Give a few of those delicious, juicy Palisade peaches to friends, family, neighbors, and associates. There’s no better sales pitch than a peach that’s so good, people immediately ask, “How can I get some next year?”
A little sharing now can turn into a lot more peach lovers—and more support for our Rotary projects—next year!
Share a peach. Spread the word. Grow the sale! 🍑
⛳ A Hole-in-One for Rotary!
The Denver Cherry Creek Rotary Golf Tournament was a HUGE success! Thanks to the incredible support of our sponsors, golfers, and volunteers, the tournament netted more than $40,000—funds that will fuel the club’s community and international service projects throughout the year.
A special THANK YOU to all of our generous sponsors and to the DCCR members who donated their time, energy, and enthusiasm to make the day such a success.
Great golf. Great people. Great cause. That’s how we drive Rotary forward! 🏌️♀️🏌️♂️💙
🎉 Meet Our RYLA Stars!
Tuesday, September 22 | 5:30 PM McAuliffe Middle School — 25th & Holly
Forget the usual Tuesday morning meeting—we’re bringing the fun to the evening with a pizza party celebrating the incredible students and families DCCR sponsored for Young RYLA and RYLA this summer!
Club members and families are invited to join us for an evening of pizza, stories, and inspiration as our RYLA participants share their experiences and tell us how these programs made an impact.
It’s a chance to: Meet the outstanding young people our club sponsored
Come hungry—and come ready to be inspired! You’ll leave with a renewed appreciation for the difference Rotary makes in the lives of young people.
Youth & Literacy Update
September is Basic Education and Literacy Month for Rotary.
This is one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus. We all know how critical reading and writing are for success in life – for gaining information, communicating, making agreements, and so forth.
Enhancing Basic Education skills and Literacy are essential in reducing poverty, improving health, encouraging community and economic development, and promoting peace. Improvements can reduce maternal death, improve childhood survivability, and reduce poverty. They can also enable success in business or a profession.
Consider how DCCR could showcase “THE MAGIC OF ROTARY” by supporting basic education and literacy in our community or somewhere else in the world.
SAVE THE DATE
Next Committee Meeting- September 3 @ 4PM via Zoom
October 10 @ 1 PM DCCR Book Club
December 12 @ 10 AM- 5PM Barnes & Noble Book Fair
International Service Update
Big ideas. Bigger impact.
The International Service Committee recently heard an inspiring grant proposal from Marianne Temple of the Evergreen Rotary Club for an adaptive Sexual & Reproductive Health (SRHR) program in Arusha, Tanzania.
The program, implemented by Her Journey to School (HJTS), focuses on supporting students with special needs—especially adolescent girls with disabilities. The project will train teachers in adaptive teaching methods, improve accessibility, and provide age-appropriate reproductive health education designed to meet the unique needs of these students.
The committee approved $1,000 from our club, along with a $1,000 District Designated Fund (DDF) contribution, and the proposal has now been submitted to the Club Board for final approval.
Small investment. Big possibilities. This is Rotary in action—helping create safer, more inclusive opportunities for young people around the world. 🌎💙
Next International Service Committee Meeting: August 24, 2026 | Zoom
Come join the conversation and see where Rotary takes us next! caption hereType caption here
Community Service Update
🎨 Roll Up Your Sleeves for a Paintathon!
Grab a paintbrush and make a big difference with a little elbow grease! DCCR members will join Brothers Redevelopment for a Paintathon, helping low-income families give their homes a fresh exterior makeover.
This is more than a coat of paint—it’s about pride, dignity, and creating a place families are proud to call home. And the best part? You don’t need to be a professional painter. Just bring your energy, enthusiasm, and willingness to help!
Mark your calendar: October 10 💪 Come ready to paint, laugh, connect, and make an impact!
Your Saturday morning could brighten someone’s home—and their whole neighborhood. Let’s make a difference, one brushstroke at a time!
October 15 | Joshua Station Community Dinner
Serve Up Some Good!
Join your fellow Denver Cherry Creek Rotarians from 5:00–7:00 PM for our Joshua Station Community Dinner.
We’ll help prepare, set up, and serve dinner at Joshua Station, a transitional housing community for families rebuilding their lives after homelessness and part of Mile High Ministries.
This special evening has become a DCCR tradition, and we’re proud to return two or three times each year to share a meal, lend a hand, and build community.
Come hungry to help—and leave with a full heart!
District Governor Cindy Chase is excited to announce:
SAVE THE DATE for the 2026 District Conference -
Saturday, December 5, 2026
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
The Green Center at Colorado School of Mines
924 16th Street, Golden, CO
Mark your calendar now - more details coming soon!
PS: Ask Cindy the story behind the Raccoon Hat.
Barcelona is Calling
The siren call of Spain is here! 🇪🇸🇪🇸
Registration opens next month for the 2027 Rotary International convention in Barcelona!
Join People of Action from around the world in Spain, June 26–30.
🌏Connect with fellow changemakers, share passions, exchange thoughts, discover fresh perspectives, and find new inspiration to create lasting impact. Save the dates and start planning your Barcelona adventure!
Learn more and sign up for updates: https://convention.rotary.org/en-us
Join other D5450 Rotarians in Barcelona!
Register before October 1 to save MONEY. Price increases from $50 to $65 after October 1st. In person and Zoom options available.
🏆 40 Years of Cherry Creek Rotary: Award-Winning Trivia!
As we count down to our 40th anniversary in 2027, here’s a little Cherry Creek Rotary history worth bragging about!
🏅 TRIVIA #1: District Rotarian of the Year
How many Denver Cherry Creek Rotarians have been named Rotarian of the Year by Rotary District 5450?
The answer: THREE!J
Jim Mayhew — 1997
Jim Hoops — 2010
Joel Russman- 2020
That’s two members of our relatively small club earning one of District 5450’s top individual honors. Not bad for a club with a big heart and an even bigger commitment to Service Above Self!
🌎 TRIVIA #2: Rotary International’s “Service Above Self” Award
How many Cherry Creek Rotarians have received Rotary International’s prestigious Service Above Self Award, one of Rotary’s highest individual honors?
The answer: TWO!
Dr. Scott Johnson — 2003 Scott was recognized for helping launch the club’s Dental Mission, which began providing free dental care to communities in Latin America.
Robert Mintz — 2004 Robert was honored for his role in founding the Dental Mission and for his continuing commitment to the project.
Two District Rotarians of the Year. Two Service Above Self recipients. One remarkable club! As we approach 40 years of Cherry Creek Rotary, there’s plenty of history to celebrate—and plenty more to make.
Ideas for feature stories and photographs are needed for future newsletter editions. Please forward stories, photographs to adriankraw@comcast.net by the 20th of the month. It would help immensely.
