On Tuesday, Sept. 5th 2017, Erik Lukens, editor of The Bulletin, will be speaking on Newspapers and Democracy.

As well, our new inbound Rotary exchange student, Isaac, from Chile will be giving a brief presentation.

On Tuesday, August 29th 2017, our guest speaker will be Brian Hudspeth, Development Manager, Bend Parks and Rec, talking about the Riley Ranch Nature Reserve.

Background: Located in northwest Bend along the east side of the Deschutes River, Riley Ranch Nature Reserve is comprised of 184 acres which were formerly used as a ranch and purchased by the District in three acquisitions in 2010 and 2013. Appearing relatively untouched in some places, the land features open meadows, juniper and pine forests, unique lava flows, cliffs and the river’s rocky canyon.

On Tuesday, August 2nd 2017, we will not be having a formal lunch meeting, as we’re expecting significant traffic issues due to tourists in Bend for the eclipse. Instead, we’ll have an informal “round table” meeting for whomever wishes to attend. We’ll have sandwiches available.

On Tuesday, August 8th 2017, our guest speaker will be Congressman Greg Walden.

U.S. Rep. Greg Walden represents the people of Oregon’s Second Congressional District, which includes 20 counties in central, southern, and eastern Oregon. Walden and his wife spent more than two decades as radio station owners in the Gorge. He’s also a licensed amateur radio operator (W7EQI). He put that small business and technology experience to work as chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology. His work in support of Oregon’s rural farm and ranch economy has earned him local and national recognition. He’s helped write and pass bipartisan legislation to expedite treatment of fire-prone forests, and continues to work across the aisle to find natural resource solutions. The House has also passed bipartisan legislation Walden has championed to fix broken federal forest policy to restore forest health and put people back to work in the woods, as well as legislation (now law) to bring more water and power to Central Oregon for job creation.

On Tuesday, August 1st 2017, our guest speaker will be Rotary District Governor Claudette McWilliams.

Claudette joined Rotary in 1999. Since that time she has served as club president, AG and Executive AG in addition to her service on numerous club and district committees, including the Nominating, Credentials and Elections, Membership, Strategic Planning and DRFC Committees. She is a Charter Interact Club Advisor, graduate of the District Leadership Academy and a PETS Instructor. Claudette is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, who was selected as Rotarian of the Year by her club. She is a recipient of RI’s Four Avenues of Service Award.

On Tuesday, July 18th 2017, our guest speaker will be Kyle Gorman, Region Manager at Oregon Water Resources Department. Kyle will be talking about the Deschutes River and the Klamath River Basin.

On Tuesday, July 11th 2017, our guest speaker will be Kim DeBroux from TechTrek.

Tech Trek Central Oregon is a local, week-long camp at Oregon State University’s new Cascades Campus for girls who are passionate about Science Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). 36 rising eighth-grade girls from Jefferson, Crook, and Deschutes counties will attend the camp July 23rd – 29th. Tech Trek is uniquely designed for girls and offers a first-hand look at how exciting careers in the science can be.

Roger Lee from EDCO will be our presenter.

Founded in 1981, EDCO is a non-profit corporation supported by private and public members and stakeholders. Their mission is to create a diversified local economy and a strong base of middle class jobs in Central Oregon. They attract and guide outside employers through the relocation process as a resource for regional data, incentives, talent, site selection and more; they mentor and advise scalable young companies from concept to exit on issues such as access to capital, critical expertise, and strategy; they partner with local traded-sector companies to help them grow and expand.

Tom Counos and Tom Cocanower will be presenting on the Rotary Foundation and our club’s own Bill Berg Foundation.

The Rotary Foundation is Rotary International’s foundation for funding Rotary International’s six causes:

1. Promoting peace
2. Providing clean water
3. Saving mothers and children
4. Supporting education
5. Growing local economies
6. Fighting disease

Our club’s Bill Berg Foundation was formed in 1995 to provide a permanent fund from which youth-related projects in our community can be funded.

Join us from noon till 1:15 at the Deschutes Brewery Mountain Room, 901 SW Simpson Ave, Bend, OR 97702.