DISTRICT INDIAN COMMITTEE UPDATE

Posted by Jim McGibney (Denver) jmcgibney@earthlink.net 
 
 
Annual Gala at Denver Art Museum & Annual Coat Drive
 
Several years ago, and before he was District Governor, Mike Oldham started a Rotary District Committee that was/is focused on partnering with the Denver Indian Center for a number of critical activities. This is a unique committee in that in the District - typically the work of Rotary is completed at the Club level.
 
That said, Mike’s instincts were good. The Indian Community in Denver and across Colorado spans across several Rotary Districts and across many clubs. In short— it is a state wide Rotary effort and it seems the best place to focus the actual activities is at the District level.
 
The committee has been a good partner with the Denver Indian Center over several years and we are now entering the time of the year when the need for Rotary’s help is the greatest. There are several activities planned from here to Christmas starting with the Gala at the Denver Art Museum on September 12th.
 
This Gala is the 32nd Annual Gala, and if you attend you will gain a unique perspective of this vibrant community. You will be able to purchase crafts (remember Christmas is coming), you will have a unique view of Indian humor (incidentally it is not much different than other humor in Colorado — but perhaps a bit more nuanced and thoughtful), and you can meet many family’s that were an integral part of the founding of Colorado. 
 
The baker’s dozen benefit is that the Denver Indian Center will be recognizing Rotary District 5450 and the District Committee for their hard work and help over the past several years.
 
In true Rotary style, the DIC have kept the tickets reasonably priced— and the venue is quite exceptional. Please join us for this unique evening. If you go the web site below, you can purchase tickets and you can get a good sense of how much there is going at the Denver Indian Center.
 
 
Lastly— winter is coming. Last year District 5450 looked in their collective closets and provided 200 coats that were no longer being used. Those coats were provided to those that needed them just before the first major storm — that included children and adults. Whether you join us at the gala or not — please see if you have coats you won’t be using or need and coats you can give to the Denver Indian Center. You can bring the coats the night of the gala, you can bring them to the Denver Indian Center M-F at 4407 Morrison Road, Denver 80219, or we will arrange to have them picked up at your Club.
  
We hope we will see you at the 32nd Annual Gala for the Denver Indian Center at the Denver Arts Center on September 12th. It is always a fun evening.