Posted by Lynn Matson

Inspiration:

Marcy Woodland inspired us with her reasons for being a Rotarian. Marcy is proud to be a Rotarian and likes to recite the Five-Way Test by including the question “Will it be fun?”

Guests:

Lauren Brainard - repeat guest/CSU student
Tricia Canonico – speaker and Fort Collins City Council member
Austin Kelly - repeat guest of Dave Haase
Samantha Preuss - repeat guest/CSU student
Amber Runyon - application in process
Dan St. John - Dan St. John’s father
Mario Simpson - repeat guest of Bob Hau

IDEA (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awareness) Quote: “You either believe that people respond to authority, or that they respond to kindness and inclusion. I'm obviously in the latter camp. I think that people respond better to reward than punishment.” -Brian Eno

Future Programs: Please see the side panel for upcoming speakers and be sure to invite your friends.

Rotary Cares: If you are aware of a fellow Rotarian who is going through a challenging time (i.e., personal or family health, family death, etc.) please let Sara Murphy know so we can let them know we are thinking of them and provide whatever support we can. Sara.jane.murphy1@gmail.com

Good News:

Diane Knight – shared that Carrie Levy’s son has a 90% chance of surviving cancer after his treatments of chemotherapy. The meal train for Carrie Levy is only one slot short this Saturday night. Carrie’s father is having heart surgery this week. Contact Diane to sign up. (303-324-4337)
Dave Haase is happy there is a naming sponsor for the Peach Festival
Ann Griffith is thankful that Bob Loosley has a process for billing Rotarians for fellowship events and that Tim Cochran provides extra cheer with Horse and Dragon beer.

Announcements:

John Carroll reminded us that next week’s meeting will be off-site at the Centennial High School at 330 East Laurel. Park on the street and proceed to the gym in the newer building.
Joe McCarthy would like Rotarians to contact him joegmccarthy@yahoo.com if you are participating in Purple Pins for Polio on February 2 from 2 – 4:30.
Joe also wanted to ask Rotarians to include our exchange student Margherita if you are attending a rodeo.
See email sent earlier to register for the Quad Club Pot Luck at the Drake Center - 802 W Drake Rd March 2 from 4:45-7:30.
Joe McCarthy and Phil Murphy both told stories at the Sip and Tell Story Swap at Horse & Dragon on Wednesday. You too have a chance to hear or tell stories at future Sip and Tell events; February 26 at 7PM, the theme is “Panda” and on March 26, the theme is Fire at Horse & Dragon Brewery 124 Racquette Dr, Fort Collins.

Vocational Talk by Marianne Blackwell:

Marianne has lived in many locations in the US plus Germany and Kazakhstan is now living with her husband, Don of 39 years/10 months and 3 dogs near their son in Fort Collins
Marianne has degrees in Psychology and Law
She lived in Kazakhstan shortly after the Soviet Union had fallen where her husband spoke Russian
Marianne has been involved in fund raising and lists Oklahoma, Stockton, CA, Colorado Springs, and Castle Rock among the many places she has lived.
Welcome Marianne to the Rotary family!

Program:

Gary Turner introduced Tricia Canonico, Fort Collins City Council member from District 3 and board member of the Front Range Passenger Rail (FRPR) project.

Tricia provided a presentation on the Front Range Passenger Rail project:
The FRPR website: https://www.ridethefrontrange.com
To get updates about FRPR and provide input, fill out this Jotform: https://www.jotform.com/form/240306530425041
FRPR will provide passenger rail service from the Wyoming border to the border of New Mexico.
FRPR board has been coordinating with Union Pacific, Amtrac and BNSF railways
There will be nine initial primary stations: Ft. Collins, Loveland, Longmont, Boulder, Denver, South Denver, Castle Rock, Colorado Springs and Pueblo.
Fort Collins to Denver will be the first leg of the rail to open by 2029
Initially there will be three trips per day with 5 passenger cars
By 2035 there will be 10 trips per day
FRPR will have priority over freight transportation.
The station in Ft Collins will be at either Vine, Old Town or the South Transit Station.
90% of the funding for FRPR via the Infrastructure Bill was paused for 90 days on Jan. 22, 2025
The other 10% of the funding is to come from the following proposed taxes: 0.23% sales tax, a $3/day car rental fee, oil and gas production tax and rider fees

Tricia Canonico, Fort Collins City Council member:

Marianne Blackwell: