Rotary Club of Los Alamos -

26.08 Youth Exchange, International Project Fair, Oktoberfest, and More

Dear Rotarians and Friends,

August is already shaping up to be a busy month for Rotary, with opportunities to serve here in Los Alamos, connect with Rotarians across three districts, support our youth programs, and start looking ahead to some major fall activities.

Welcome to Los Alamos, Filippa!

Please join us in giving a warm Rotary welcome to Filippa, our inbound Rotary Youth Exchange student from Denmark!

We are excited to have Filippa in Los Alamos for the coming year and look forward to introducing her to our community, our club, and a little bit of New Mexico culture along the way. Rotary Youth Exchange is one of the best examples of Rotary’s commitment to international understanding, and we hope everyone will take an opportunity to get to know her and help make her year memorable.

Meanwhile, Trey is now in Switzerland, where he is attending language camp as he begins his year as a Rotary Youth Exchange student. He has arrived safely and is getting an intensive introduction to German, Swiss life, and the adventure that comes with spending a year halfway around the world.

With Filippa arriving here while Trey begins his year abroad, we have a wonderful reminder of what Youth Exchange is all about: building understanding one student, one family, and one friendship at a time.

International Project Fair — August 21–22

Rotarians from Districts 4110, 5470, and 5520 will gather in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, August 21–22 for the Tri-District International Project Fair.

The Fair brings clubs with service ideas together with potential international partners and supporters, particularly for projects that may become Rotary Foundation Global Grants. Clubs will have an opportunity to present projects, learn about needs throughout our region, and build the international relationships that make Rotary projects possible.

Our club is planning to participate, and we hope the Fair will help us strengthen existing international partnerships while identifying new opportunities for meaningful service.

For anyone developing a project for the Fair, project abstracts are being requested around August 15, so please reach out soon if you have an idea that should be represented.

Rotary Oktoberfest — Sunday, October 4

Save the date for a new Rotary Club of Los Alamos fundraiser!

Our Rotary Oktoberfest is confirmed for the afternoon of Sunday, October 4, at Bathtub Row Brewing Co.

Bathtub Row is providing the venue without an event fee and has offered to donate $1 from each beverage sold during the event. Local musician Jamie O’Hara is already scheduled to perform on the patio from 3–5 p.m.

We are still working through food, sponsorship, and other event details, but expect an afternoon of music, food and drink, fellowship, and fundraising for Rotary service projects.

More information will be coming soon, and we will need plenty of Rotarians to help with sponsorships, promotion, setup, and the event itself. Please start spreading the word and mark October 4 on your calendar.

Purple Pinky Is Coming Back

Our Purple Pinky campaign will return this Rotary year as we continue supporting Rotary’s effort to eradicate polio.

Proceeds from our Purple Pinky activities will go directly to PolioPlus, helping Rotary and its partners continue the work of reaching children and finishing the job of global polio eradication.

The date and details are still being finalized, so watch for an announcement and opportunities to volunteer. Our goal this year is to make Purple Pinky more visible in the community while reminding people that Rotary has been at the center of the fight against polio for decades.

Join Us at the Friday Night Concerts

Our Rotary presence at the Los Alamos Friday Night Concert Series continues throughout the summer.

These evenings are an easy and enjoyable way to represent Rotary in the community. Come spend some time at the Rotary table, visit with neighbors, tell people what Rotary does, and invite someone who might make a great future member.

You don’t need a sales pitch — just come enjoy the music and share your own Rotary story.

Looking Back: RYLA 2026

Another successful Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) season wrapped up in July after two weeks of leadership camp for young people from across District 5520.

The boys’ and girls’ camps challenged participants through team-building, leadership development, service, communication, and plenty of new experiences. Judging from the daily RYLA journals, campers left with stronger friendships, greater confidence, and memories that will last far beyond the week itself.

Thank you to the Rotarians, counselors, volunteers, clubs, and families who helped make RYLA possible. Programs like RYLA demonstrate what Rotary can accomplish when we invest directly in the next generation of leaders.

Rotary at the Rodeo Parade

Thank you to everyone who helped decorate, organize, walk, ride, wave, and represent Rotary in the Los Alamos County Fair & Rodeo Parade on August 8.

Community events like the parade give us an opportunity to be visible not simply as an organization that meets for lunch, but as neighbors who are actively involved in Los Alamos.

Thanks to everyone who helped put Rotary out in front of the community!

Membership Dues Reminder

If you have not yet paid your 2026–27 Rotary Club dues, please do so as soon as possible.

Annual dues are $250 for the Rotary year. Dues support our club’s operations as well as our obligations to District 5520 and Rotary International.

If yours are still outstanding, please get them to Vince. Members who need to make other payment arrangements should reach out rather than letting dues linger.

There’s Plenty Ahead

Between Youth Exchange, the International Project Fair, Friday Night Concerts, Purple Pinky, and our first Rotary Oktoberfest, there are many ways to participate during the next few months.

You don’t have to do everything. Pick something that interests you, invite somebody along, and get involved. The more of us who participate, the more fun we have — and the more Rotary can accomplish.

Have a spare minute? Read a Rotarian Minute!

26.07 Concert Tonight, Exchange Student Presentations Tuesdays

Greetings Rotarians and Friends,

Come hang out with us tonight at the Friday Night Concert and share your Rotary story with members of the community. We’ll be setting up in the non-profit row at 5:30.

Tuesday Speakers

Join us this Tuesday at noon at United Church for our regular meeting to hear some our past and upcoming Rotary Youth Exchange students talk about their adventures.

Welcome our newest member Kathy!

Soeaking of Rotary Youth Exchange, our newest member Kathy Landschulz was an exchange student. She has spent her career in the medical industry and after many, many, MANY years of consideration, has finally made the decision to become a full member in our Rotary Club. We are looking forward to our shared success with her help this year!

Kathy Landschulz is inducted into Rotary Club of Los Alamos by her father and longest-standing member Chuck Tallman and current Club President James Wernicke.

Fall Fundraiser TBD

We are working on a Fall fundraiser, but we need to get it organized now. If you’re interested in helping us secure a venue, food, music, or sponsors, please let us know.

Cap Sorting in August

We also need to do more cap sorting for our ABC Promise project. If you would like to help coordinate a meeting space and time for that, please let us know. We did it at PEEC last month.

26.07 A New Rotary Year

Dear Rotarians and Friends,

Please join us today at noon at United Church for our first regular meeting of the 26–27 Rotary year.

Because we do not have a guest speaker this week, we will hold a club assembly focused on setting goals and building our calendar for the year ahead. This will be a working meeting where every member will have an opportunity to help decide what our club should accomplish, which activities should continue, and where each of us would like to contribute.

Our Goals

What should success look like at the end of this Rotary year? Potential priorities include:

Attracting and retaining active members
Increasing participation in meetings, committees, and service
Supporting the Los Alamos High School Interact Club
Expanding Rotary’s visibility in the community
Developing future club leaders
Strengthening fellowship among members
Continuing meaningful local and international service

Our Projects

We will review projects that are underway or may return this year, including:

A Bench For Caps (ABC) Promise
Meals of Hope
Purple Pinky and polio-eradication activities
Student scholarships and youth recognition
Interact and Youth Exchange support
International humanitarian projects
Additional hands-on community service opportunities

Our Calendar

Several events require advance planning, volunteers, venues, and firm dates. We will begin identifying preferred dates and project leads for:

Fellowship and social events
Meals of Hope
Purple Pinky
Rotary dinner fundraiser
Holiday activities
Pancake breakfast
Interact and youth activities
Community service days
Fundraising events

Our Service

A successful club cannot depend upon the same few people organizing every project. Please come prepared to identify at least one area where you would be willing to help, whether through event planning, membership, communications, youth programs, fundraising, service projects, speaker coordination, or fellowship.

You do not need to lead a major committee to make a difference. Offering to manage one task, recruit a few volunteers, contact a prospective speaker, or help at an event can be enough to move a project forward.

Upcoming Opportunities

Thursday, July 23, 7:00 a.m.
North Area Presidents’ Council meeting

Tuesday, August 4, 5:00 p.m.
District 5520 Club Presidents’ Forum by Zoom

This meeting is an opportunity to make this year belong to the entire club. Please bring your ideas and your willingness to help turn those ideas into action.

We hope to see you at noon!

Yours in Rotary Service,

James Wernicke
President
Rotary Club of Los Alamos

26.06 End Of Year Party Tomorrow, Plastic Cap Sorting Saturday

Greeting Rotarians and Friends,

There is no lunch meeting this week. Instead, we’ll be meeting at the Bullocks’ home for an end of year party at 6pm this Tuesday. Here’s directions. It’s pot luck style BBQ so bring a side, dessert, and/or drinks and we’ll provide the grilled stuff. We’ll also have a quick recap of the 25-26 year and talk about plans for 26-27.

If you missed any of our lunch meetings, check them out our YouTube channel.

Plastic Cap Sorting This Saturday

We will be sorting plastic caps this upcoming Saturday, June 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) for the ABC Promise Project. We have almost 500 pounds of plastic caps to sort through before they can be transported to a recycling facility where they will be melted down and molded into outdoor furniture for our community.

You can also support the program by setting up plastic cap collection bins in workplaces, schools, and community spaces, and donating temporary storage space in your homes, businesses, and community spaces for collected caps until enough material has been gathered for transport. Here’s a flyer you can print and tape to your collection bin.

Club Officer Training Resources

This weekend, we had an officer training summit. The breakout sessions were recorded and shared to the District YouTube channel. I’d sure love to have more officers this year so check them out and see if anything looks interesting to you!

District Performance Survey Due By June 12

This is a quick reminder to complete our District Performance Survey. With only a short time left, your input is especially important. If you have already submitted your response, thank you so much!

District Performance Survey

And here’s our club’s member survey for the 25-26 year. Please let us know how you felt about this year and where you want the club to go next year.

CLUB MEMBERSHIP SURVEY

26.05 Social Services Director Jessica Strong

Greetings Rotarians and Friends,

Sorry for the long delay since the last update. I’ve been busy traveling to physics conferences the last couple weeks and preparing one of our local community pools for the summer every weekend. We have two meetings this weekend: our regular meeting at United Church on Tuesday at 12:00pm as well as dinner at Beef & Leaf on Thursday at 6:00pm.

Los Alamos County Social Services Director Jessica Strong will be our guest speaker at our regular meeting this week. She has extensive experience in public and community services and oversees programs supporting youth, families, seniors, behavioral health, and vulnerable residents throughout Los Alamos County. She will discuss current community needs, available resources, and the evolving role of social services in the Los Alamos community.

We’ll also be meeting the new Interact board and saying farewell to outgoing seniors.

Representatives from Los Alamos Uniting for Community Health (LAUNCH) accepted a proclamation recognizing Suicide Prevention Month in September 2025.
Photo, left to right: JJAB Executive Director Rachel Mohr-Richards, Los Alamos Community Foundation Program Manager Brandi Weiss, Social Services Manager Jessica Strong, Councilor Melanie Hand, and Los Alamos Community Foundation Executive Director Rachel Kizielewicz.

On Thursday at 6:00pm, we’ll be meeting for drinks and dinner at Beef & Leaf Cafe as well as to discuss long-term club strategy.

District 5520’s Limited-time Paul Harris Fellow match!

If you are not yet a Paul Harris Fellow, District 5520 will match your contributions until June 15 to the Rotary Foundation Annual Fund–Share with the same number of recognition points. Donate to the Annual Fund-SHARE then contact Dick Jones to let him know your donation amount to receive an equal amount of recognition points.

DONATE TO Annual Fund-SHARE

LAHS Senior Scholarship Recognition Event

On May 18, LAHS seniors scholars were recognized for the scholarship. Greg Viola and Vince Chiravalle presented our club’s scholarships. Congratulations to Lance Metcalf (Great Expectations Scholarship), Matthea Fung (Rotary Service Scholarship), Justin Crane (Vocational/Trade Scholarship), and all other students who applied. It was inspiring to see the next generation looking so bright!

2026 Senior Scholars
2026 Senior Scholars
2026 Senior Scholars
2026 Senior Scholars

Volunteer At Pancakes On The Plaza

Rotary Club of Santa Fe is looking for volunteers to help flap jacks on July 4 at their annual Pancakes on the Plaza event in Santa Fe. There are two main shifts on the 4th – 6:30 am to 9:30/10:00 am and 9:30 am to 12:30/1:00 pm.

Interact Bake Sale This Week At Teen Center

The Los Alamos High School Interact Club is holding a bake sale every day this week from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m and Saturday from 11-2 p.m. in front of the Los Alamos YMCA Teen Center, located at 475 20th St, Los Alamos, NM 87544.

Community members are encouraged to stop by, purchase baked goods, and support the efforts of these local students committed to making a positive impact. Proceeds from the bake sale will support the club’s local and international community service initiatives.

Interact, Rotary International’s service club for youth ages 12–18, empowers students to take action through hands-on projects that address community needs and promote global understanding.

For more information about the Interact Club and its service projects, please contact Los Alamos High School or Rotary Club of Los Alamos.

26.04 Community Services Director Cory Styron & New Zealand Friendship Exchange

Greeting Rotarians and Friends,

What a week it’s been for our club! Our club spent Saturday morning cleaning out brush and performing necessary repairs on the PEEC treehouse. This effort helps prepare the nature center for the upcoming Earth Day Festival this Saturday, April 18.

Our club also attended the District 5520 Conference this weekend in Santa Fe. The weekend provided a wonderful platform for fellowship and inspiration, featuring keynote addresses from Alan Mallory and Raj Sisodia. Beyond the networking opportunities with Rotarians from across the district, the conference included leadership workshops and a showcase of youth programs, reinforcing our shared mission and providing fresh ideas for our own club’s growth. Here’s a fun video of our exchange students performing and sharing their experiences.

While the conference offered plenty of formal inspiration, my personal highlight was much less traditional. I had the unique opportunity to head out onto the Santa Fe trails for a few hours of mountain biking with our keynote speaker, Alan Mallory.

There is something about the shared effort of a climb and the focus of a descent that opens up a different kind of conversation. As we rode, we talked extensively about life and resilience—topics Alan knows intimately from his family’s journey up Everest. It was a powerful reminder that whether we are navigating a steep switchback or a complex community project, the “summit” is often less about the destination and more about the grit and fellowship it takes to get there. I’m returning to our club feeling recharged and ready to apply that same resilience to our local initiatives.

This Week’s Speaker

Cory Styron serves as the Community Services Director for Los Alamos County, where he oversees critical quality-of-life divisions including Library, Recreation, Parks & Open Spaces, and Social Services. Under his leadership, the department achieved prestigious CAPRA accreditation in October 2024—making Los Alamos the first community in New Mexico to earn this distinction—and was recently named a finalist for the 2025 National Gold Medal Award for excellence in park management. With over 20 years of experience, Styron also contributes to the field nationally as the Secretary for the Academy of Parks and Recreation Administrators and a board member for the non-profit GP RED.

Thanks to Chris Sierk and Kathy Landshulz for providing lunch for us today! Linda Bullock will also be presenting results from the scholarship review.

If you can’t make it in person, you can join us online. And if you missed our past meetings, check out the recordings on our YouTube channel.

District Conference & PEEC Treehouse Cleanup This Weekend

Greetings Rotarians & Friends,

We need your help cleaning up the PEEC Treehouse this Saturday 9am – 12pm. Please bring rakes and gloves if you have them. We also might need a pickup truck.

District Conference Starts Now

See you this weekend at the Santa Fe Plaza Hilton! You can check out the agenda here.