The Past Few Weeks:
On February 3, we heard about an new book club at the Bozeman Public Library - "Ultimate Book Nerds" from Carmen Clark and Becky Kasten.
Our monthly service project for January was working at the Gallatin County Food Bank warehouse. Thanks to everyone who showed up to give a hand, and to Joseph K. for the photo.
Recent Speakers, Activities,
and News
Molly Bowman from Bozeman Youth Cycling was our guest speaker on January 20, describing the different groups and activities they work with for students from Grades 1-5, middle school, and the bike clubs at both high schools.
On January 20 we welcomed Lisa Inabnit as a new Bozeman Rotary member - so great to have you with us!
Jackie Vick was recognized as a Paul Harris +3 Fellow for her ongoing support of the Rotary Foundation on January 20. Jackie is also a member of the Paul Harris Society - congratulations!
Our speaker on January 13 was Jestine Lackner, founder and CEO of Sustainable Classrooms, which is working on manufacturing bricks from plastic waste for classroom construction, and providing lunches for a school community in Gada Cope - Adekpe, Togo
Chris Budeski was recognized as a Paul Harris +5 Fellow for his ongoing support of the Rotary Foundation on January 13. Chris is also a member of the Paul Harris Society - congratulations!
On January 6, we welcomed two new Bozeman Rotary Club members: Matt Kline and Nicole Melara. Congratulations, we are excited to have you joining us!
Our annual Holiday Party was on December 30 at the historic Martin-Campeau home, with a potluck dinner, and white elephant gift exchange!
The Bozeman HighSchool Jazz Band (under the direction of Kelly Berdahl) provided music for our last regular meeting of 2025!
On December 16, we heard from our 2024-2025 outgoing RYE student Brodey Beehler about his year in Spain.
Our guest speaker on December 9 was Jenny Jones from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks who spoke about Elk, Livestock and Brucellosis, and a targeted surveillance project used to track herds and infection.
On December 9, member Carol Anway presented a banner from the Rotary Club of Tripureswor, Nepal. She taken part of a Rotary International Project trip to Kathmandu to visit schools November 13-29.
December 5: Our sponsored Interact Club from Gallatin High School had an ornament decorating booth at the Annual Christmas Stroll downtown.
District Governor Lucy Smith visited our club meeting on December 2, giving an update on happenings at the state level, and what being a Rotarian means to her.
Thanks to everyone who helped with bell ringing for the Salvation Army on November 22 at Rosauers!
On November 18 we heard from our 2025 short term exchange student Anna Paige Elwell, about her experience hosting a student from Spain for three weeks, and spending three weeks in Spain with the other family.
On November 11, we recognized our Student of the Month Award recipients from Gallatin High School. Congratulations to (L-R) Logan Brown (October), Mackenzie Lupher (November), and Wilder Henningsen (September)!
Our guest speaker on November 4 was Dr. Kathryn Bertany, CEO of Bozeman Health
On November 4, Amelia Huba from The Shelf at Gallatin High School gave our club an update on the warm winter clothing drive currently underway. She was presented with a check for $845.00 in member donations and and additional $1,000 budgeted for youth homelessness and the work The Shelf does.
We had a club flag exchange with visiting member David Kean, from Lee's Summit, Missouri, who has attended our meeting in the past when visiting family in Bozeman
On October 28, we delivered clothing and other items to the Gallatin High School Shelf, as part of their winter warm clothing drive. L-R: Joseph Kielczewski, Jeff Vick, Amelia Huba (BSD7 Family-School Services Program Associate), Sharon Erickson, Don Ray George. Today there are nearly 200 known homeless students in the Bozeman School District. If you wish to make a financial donation, please click the link in the right column on this page ("First Tuesday - Youth In Homelessness").
Our 38th Annual Agriculture Appreciation Dinner was held on October 27 at the GranTree Inn. The program guest speaker was Jack Riesselman (left), Professor Emeritus of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology at MSU, and host of Montana Ag Live. Dr. Sreekala Bajwa, Vice President, Dean and Director of the MSU College of Agriculture also gave an update on MSU Ag. Thanks to Joseph Kielczewski and the club Ag committee for all of their hard work and efforts that made this evening a success again this year!
Ric Tieman and Susan Gibb were recognized at the Gavel Dinner October 27 as Major Donors - Level Three by the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation.
A big THANK YOU to the following businesses and individuals for your sponsorship of our
Annual Agriculture Appreciation Dinner:
TABLE SPONSORS
Anonymous, Barnard Construction, Bozeman Health,
Cashman Nursery, Lance and Mary Kay Dissel,
First West Insurance, Les Schwab Tires,
Murdoch's Ranch & Home Supply,
Ric Tieman & Susan Gibb, Security Title Co.,
State Farm - Dan Rust, Stockman Bank
OTHER SPONSORS
First Security Bank, Madison Engineering, Anonymous,
ERA Landmark Real Estate, Owenhouse Ace Hardware
On October 21 we heard from our Rotary Youth Exchange student Benno about his home country of Germany. He also did a Club Flag Exchange, as well as a banner from his hometown.
Also on October 21, club President Jeff Vick was recognized as a new member of the Paul Harris Society, by District 5390 PHS Administrator Roger Barnes.
Club member Pam Bredberg gave the inspiration on October 21, in advance of World Polio Day on October 24. She spoke about the history and efficacy of polio vaccinations, and had a raffle drawing for a book, as well as the board game Candy Land (which was created by Eleanor Abbott in 1949 while recovering from polio herself, and inspired by the children she saw in the polio ward).
October 14: Matthew Fields, Microbiology Professor and Director of the Center for Biofilm Research at MSU was our guest speaker.
Our guest speakers on October 7 were Alex Crawford (L) and Renee Stephens (R) from Scouting America.
Fix-Up Festival October 4: Bozeman Rotary participated again this year (for the first time in a few years) by financially adopting a home and helping with much needed repairs and cleanup. Thanks to Lance & Mary Kay Dissel, Joseph Kielczewski, and Lloyd Mandeville for working on site that day!
October 3-4: District Assembly in Kalispell - opening dinner and kickoff session. L-R: Judy & John Patterson, Pam Bredberg, Jackie & Jeff Vick
Third grade dictionary deliveries are underway! ABOVE: Lloyd Mandeville helped deliver to Belgrade schools on September 29. This annual project reaches 21 schools and approximately 1,200 students in the Bozeman and Belgrade communities, with a dozen club members participating in the deliveries.
On September 29, the Bozeman Rotary Nursing Scholarship was established through the MSU Alumni Foundation. This permanent scholarship endowment will be used to support nursing students at the University (now and for generations to come) in gaining the knowledge and skills needed to earn a nursing degree.
Thanks to Lance Dissel (above right) for all of his work the past six months, and Alex McGee from the MSU Alumni Foundation for making this possible.
Our guest speaker on September 23 was Todd O'Hair from the Montana Chamber of Commerce, who spoke about the need to finally have a serious and adult conversation about sales taxes in Montana.
Our guest speaker on September 16 was Sam Knight from ROC Wheels, who spoke about the adaptive wheelchairs they make and distribute globally. For more information: https://rocwheels.org/
Our guest speaker on September 9 was from Justin Barth from GVLC (Gallatin Valley Land Trust), who gave an update on the new Bikefill Park Project. For more information or to make a donation, please visit: https://www.gvlt.org/bikefill
We also heard from Mary Hubbard, District 5390 International Service Chair on September 9 about an international education project in Nepal we are helping sponsor along with several other Rotary clubs in the state.
Immediate Past President Jackie Vick was recognized on September 9 as a new member of the Paul Harris Society, by District 5390 PHS Administrator Roger Barnes - Congratulations!
Our guest speakers on September 2 were Shawn Kohtz (Director of Utilities) and David Fine (Economic Development - Urban Renewal Program Manager) from the City of Bozeman
On September 2, Susan Gibb was recognized as a Paul Harris +8 Fellow for her ongoing support of the Rotary Foundation. Together with her husband Ric Tieman they are Rotary Major Donors: Level 3 - congratulations!
We have a winner! Matt Conner drew the gold marble from a sea of blue ones on September 2, and will receive half of the pot that has been growing for 40 weeks (around $417.00). It is a 50-50 raffle, with the other half going to Polio Plus - congratulations! We restart the process on September 9 with 52 blue marbles and one gold.
Our service project on August 26 was labeling 45 cases of dictionaries in preparation of distributing them to third grade students in September who attend schools in the Bozeman and Belgrade area!
Congratulations to Chris Budeski, who became a member of the Paul Harris Society on August 19th - Chris is already a Paul Harris (+4) Fellow and longtime member of Bozeman Rotary! Roger Barnes who is the District 5390 Paul Harris Society Administrator presented Chris with a certificate to recognize this level of commitment to the Rotary Foundation.
"Service Above Self"
2632 Catron Street
Bozeman, MT 59718
United States of America