Greetings Rotarians and Friends,
On their way to Juárez this weekend, the Wernickes stopped at Que Suave Coffee in Socorro. On the shop’s “Local Legends” board was a photo of our 2024 inbound youth exchange student, Joan Gurrera, alongside the New Mexico Tech rugby team. They had an outstanding season, finishing ranked #4 in the nation.
It’s remarkable that a student from Mallorca, Spain, would land in Los Alamos and continue pursuing his passion for rugby at a New Mexico college—an example of the lasting impact of the Rotary Youth Exchange program.
Speaking of Youth Exchange, we have a special joint meeting scheduled with the Rotary Club of Enkhuizen, who are currently hosting our outbound student, Silas Iverson. This is a great opportunity to meet and connect with fellow Rotarians from abroad.
If you can’t attend in person, you can join us via Google Meet.
They’ve also sent each member of our club a box of flower bulbs. Please plan to pick yours up at the meeting—any unclaimed boxes will be donated to the Los Alamos Garden Club.
New Meeting Format Reminder
As a reminder for 2026, we have transitioned to our new club meeting format to make participation more accessible. We now gather twice a month: second Tuesday at noon at United Church and fourth Thursday at 6pm rotating local venues. Please check the club calendar for the most up-to-date schedule.
A Bench For Caps (ABC) Promise Program Underway
Our application has been submitted for the ABC Promise Program, which transforms recycled plastic caps into benches and other community furniture while raising awareness about plastic use. We have already collected nearly 200 pounds of caps—almost enough for our first bench—but we would like to gather more to make the delivery trip worthwhile.
Please consider placing a collection container at your business or community gathering space and inviting others to participate. We are also seeking volunteers to help sort, clean, and store the caps as we continue building our total.
Here are some examples of acceptable and unacceptable caps.
Register Now For District Conference
The 2026 District 5520 Conference and Celebration will be Thursday, April 9 to Sunday, April 12th at the Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza. This year’s event features world-class speakers, including best-selling authors Alan Mallory and Raj Sisodia, alongside engaging activities like Santa Fe tours, club luncheons, and an Awards Gala. With the venue limited to 200 Rotarians, members are encouraged to register as soon as possible to secure their spot for this fun, interesting, and impactful experience. Take advantage of the special hotel rate extension for longer stays.
Submit Your Sonny Brown Award Candidates
Do you know any deserving recipients for the 2026 Sonny Brown Business of the Year Award? District 5520 invites you to nominate businesses (Non-Rotarian Small, Medium, Large, or At-Large Rotarian Owned) that demonstrate outstanding service, high ethical standards, and excellence in community involvement, employee relations, and product quality. Please submit any worthy local businesses for consideration to our club board immediately, as we must finalize our endorsed nominations and submit the required applications to the District Selection Committee no later than March 25, 2026.
RYLA 2026 Needs Mentors
We are currently seeking a dedicated member to chair our club’s committee for the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA). RYLA is a premier development program organized by our district, offering young leaders the chance to enhance their skills and forge lasting friendships. Participation is a vital way for our club to support the next generation of leaders. If you are interested in leading this important initiative or learning more, please contact James Wernicke at our next meeting.
Help Support Local Families With Family Strengths Network
We recently heard from Jen Demas, Executive Director of the Family Strengths Network (FSN), regarding a critical funding gap. Due to recent changes, FSN is facing a $10,000 reduction in its United Way allocation, which directly impacts their ability to provide vital programming to families in Los Alamos. As an organization that has supported FSN in the past, including Jen’s presentation to our club in August, we have a chance to step up and help them continue their important work.
Lab employees can donate through the LANL Giving Tool to secure a 50% match, maximizing your contribution. Donations can also be made via FSN’s Givebutter account on their website or by mailing a check to their office (3540 Orange St).
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