Today, our guest speaker is Brandi Engeman, Executive Director of Los Alamos Arts Council (LAAC). Since its founding in 1967, LAAC has served as a catalyst for civic engagement through arts and culture. It operates the Fuller Lodge Art Center, providing gallery space, exhibition opportunities, a gallery shop, studio classes, and community programming. Through art fairs, daytime performance series, the Pajarito Literary Festival, and seasonal events like Pumpkin Glow and the Kite Festival, LAAC fosters cultural participation for all ages. Through individual, household, business, and institutional memberships, as well as partnerships with benefactors, the Arts Council harnesses community support to amplify its reach and sustainability.
Peace Conference This Friday Oct 3
Pathway To Peace Conference
The Pathways to Peace Conference will be this Friday, October 3 at La Fonda in Santa Fe. We are also still looking for volunteers to host our guest in Los Alamos this Wednesday, October 1, and to help at the conference.
Rotary Now On Volunteer Los Alamos
We now have a presence on VolunteerLosAlamos.org where we’ll be posting upcoming volunteer opportunities. You can also check out other local organizations there.
Rotary Friendship Exchange In El Paso
Alejandra and James Wernicke took a trip to El Paso this past weeked to participate in Rotary Club of El Paso Camino Real’s annual Tequila Tasting fundraiser. It was a blast and provided some inspiration for our own fundraising events!
Thanks Interact students and Rotarians for coming out to participate in our homecoming float today! Also a HUGE thanks to everyone who helped build the float. We learned a lot about prop making to hopefully make an even more awesome float next year. Or maybe for the Winter Lights Parade?
Clean Up Los Alamos Tomorrow
2024 Clean Up Los Alamos Day at the PEEC Treehouse
We’ll be meeting at LAHS Memorial Garden tomorrow at 9:00 AM and PEEC Treehouse at 10:30 AM. Contact Greg Viola for more info.
Friendship Dinner Sunday
We’ll be meeting at Gabriel’s in Pojoaque at 5:30. Lots of local Rotarians will be there.
This Week’s Speaker
Nathan Valdez, PhD candidate, will be presenting on his work in condensed matter material physics. Don’t forget to check our YouTube channel for past speakers.
Purple Mountains Next Saturday
Join is next Saturday at SALA Event Center at noon for a special engagement that is part snowboarding documentary, part climate action.
At this week’s lunch meeting, we have Lance Metcalf and Luke Creel speaking about the experiences abroad in youth exchange.
We also have a busy weekend ahead and volunteers are much needed.
Wednesday @ 4:30 PM we’ll be carving and painting foam and decorating our homecoming float. Email info@rotarylosalamos.org or contact James Wernicke for directions.
Friday @ 1:30 PM we’ll meet at Canyon School for the homecoming parade. Please be there on time because the parade won’t wait.
Saturday @ 9:00 AM we have Clean Up Los Alamos Day at the LAHS Memorial Garden and @ 10:30 AM we’ll be switching over to the PEEC Treehouse. Contact After that, come up to Pajarito Mountain for Ullr Fest!
Sunday @ 5:30 PM we have a Rotary Friendship Dinner at Gabriel’s in Pojoaque. Clubs from Espanola and Santa Fe will be there.
It looks like Interact will be helping us with the table at Purple Mountains, so why not just show up and watch the movie to support us instead? Follow the link for tickets. Movie starts @ 1:00 PM.
Purple Mountains
Peace Conference Oct 3, Volunteers Needed
The Pathways to Peace Conference is quickly approaching. Get your tickets before they’re gone! We are urgently looking for an overnight host on September 30 for our Peace Conference guest. Please contact James Wernicke if you have a spare room.
This week’s featured image is from The Food Depot Night At The Warehouse, where Rotarians from Los Alamos and Santa Fe and other community members were treated to a tour of the facility. Did you know they feed more than 40,000 individuals across northern New Mexico every month? That’s a lot of logistics!
This Week’s Speaker – District Governor Tom Simon
This week’s speaker will be District Governor Tom Simon. Missed our recent meeting with FSN Director Jen Demas? You can watch it on YouTube. Last week, Tom McCrory spoke on the wonders of geology. We’re working on uploading a recording to our channel. Have an idea for a speaker? Let us know at info@rotarylosalamos.org.
We are partnering with the Santa Fe Passport Club to host a Peace Conference October 3 at La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe. Tickets are limited to 100 participants.
Students are free and encouraged to submit art for the charity art auction. The deadline for submissions is September 15. See our Peace Conference page for more info.
Thanks for your interest in volunteering for our Clean Up Los Alamos Day events on Saturday, September 20, 2025. We will be cleaning up trash and loose yard waste at LAHS Memorial Garden9:00-10:30 AM and the PEEC Treehouse at 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM. Email info@rotarylosalamos.org for more info.
Los Alamos Family Strength Network’s annual Lucky Ducky Day is September 27, 2025. It’s a ton of fun and a great way to support an organization that has a huge impact on local families. You can hear FSN Director Jen Demas talk about it at our recent Rotary meeting here.
August is almost over. The weather is starting to cool and the summer energy is waning, but there’s a great Latin band Severo y El Grupo Fuego playing at the summer concert this Friday Aug 29. Instead of just doing an outreach table, what if we break out the party tent and have a little club party? Let me know if you’re interested in joining because I don’t want to set up that huge tent by myself.
I had a great time attending the Rotary Club of Española’s breakfast meeting on Friday. Both our governor and vice-governor were in attendance as well. I learned about their upcoming blood drive on September 27, which coincides with our movie at SALA, Purple Mountains. We also talked about collaborating on future service projects and hosting a multi-club dinner at Gabriel’s sometime soon.
This Week’s Speaker
This week, we are pleased to welcome Jen Demas, representing the Los Alamos Family Strengths Network.
Family Strengths Network is a cornerstone in our community—providing education, support, and connection for families of all kinds. From parenting workshops and playgroups to teen programs and resource sharing, FSN helps strengthen the bonds that hold families and our community together.
Jen has been deeply involved in this important mission, working to ensure families in Los Alamos have the tools, networks, and encouragement they need to thrive. She brings not only professional expertise, but also a strong passion for supporting resilience, connection, and growth across all stages of family life.
Clean Up Los Alamos Day Sep 20
Don’t forget about our Clean Up Los Alamos Day projects. Starting at 9am, we’ll clean up LAHS Memorial Garden followed by the PEEC Treehouse at 10:30.
The Path to Peace Conference will take place on Friday, October 3, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe, NM. This full-day event invites participants to reflect, engage in dialogue, and take action as we explore the many ways peace is built—through history, reconciliation, and personal responsibility.
Featured speakers include Manuel Montoya, Ph.D., presenting an alternative perspective on economic diplomacy and nuclear nonproliferation; Eria Matsumae, sharing global lessons of peace and reconciliation from Hiroshima; and Denise Moore, LPCC, discussing how peace begins with each of us, even in times of conflict. Additional sessions will feature Rotary leaders, peacebuilders, and international partners.
The day will conclude with the unveiling of a Peace Pole at Thomas Macaione Park, led by Rotary District 5520 Governor Tom Simon. Registration is $50 per person (including lunch) or $25 for students (including lunch), with seating limited to 100 participants. Early registration is encouraged at this link. The conference is hosted by the Rotary Santa Fe Centro Passport Club and the Rotary Club of Los Alamos.
One of the most powerful ways Rotary changes lives is through our youth scholarships and exchange programs. By opening doors to education and global experiences, we give young people the chance to grow as leaders, explore new cultures, and build friendships that span the world. These opportunities plant seeds of understanding and peace that ripple out to strengthen entire communities.
Here is a letter we received from JoyMei Lincoln, one of last year’s scholarship recipients:
Dear Mrs. Linda Bullock,
I would like to express my deepest gratitude for naming me as one of the recipients for the Rotary Service Award scholarship. I am sorry that I was not able to send this earlier, due to some medical complications, but I really appreciate you and the scholarship committee reading over and taking the time to consider my application. Your generous gift will help me to pursue an education at NMSU where I hope to study Criminal Justice or Forensic Biology. Once again, my sincerest gratitude and I hope that one day, I can give back to the community just as you have.
Many thanks, JoyMei Lincoln
We also recently welcomed our exchange student Marlies, from the Netherlands!
This Week’s Speaker
Today’s speaker is Interact President Alyssa Sun, giving us an update on the new school year. We may also have our outbound exchange students stop by.
Rotary Club of Española Meetup Aug 22
Rotary Club of Española meets on the fourth Friday of the month at 7:00 AM at Denny’s on Riverside Dr. Our Club President James Wernicke will be attending this month’s meeting to see if there’s opportunities for us to collaborate. All are welcome.
Bear Dinner Aug 22
The annual Bear Dinner at PEEC is this Friday. It’s always good food and company. Tickets are still available at http://peecnature.org/events.
Night At The Warehouse Aug 27
The Food Depot would like to extend a warm invitation to members of the Rotary Club of Los Alamos to their Night at the Warehouse evening on Wednesday, August 27th, at 5:30 p.m. This monthly event is an opportunity to build connections between civic organizations, the local food bank, and the communities we serve. It provides the opportunity to celebrate our current collaborative efforts while giving us a chance to discuss new opportunities to positively impact Northern New Mexico.
Clean Up Los Alamos Day Sep 20
Come join us for cleanup events next month at the LAHS Memorial Garden and PEEC Treehouse. More info on the calendar.
Purple Mountains Sep 21
Come watch a movie and tell all your friends, too! We’ll be co-sponsoring the event with Citizens Climate Event and sharing about Rotary’s impact on the environment and fellowships like the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG). Watch for tickets to go on sale at SALA’s event page.
Help Save The Arts In Los Alamos!
Los Alamos Arts Council is critically low on funds and may have to close this year. You can help by purchasing memberships, gifts, or signing up for classes. Find out more info at https://www.losalamosartscouncil.org/.
Our guest speaker this week will be Jessica Martinez, Director of Policy and Coalition Building at the New Mexico Immigration Center. Jessica works to shape state-level immigration policy, strengthen community coalitions, and advocate for the rights and well-being of immigrant families. Her talk will explore current immigration challenges in New Mexico, how policy impacts local communities, and the role of coalition-building in driving meaningful change.
Exchange Student Welcome BBQ This Saturday Aug 9
Join us at the Metcalfs this Saturday at 2:00 PM to welcome our 25-26 exchange student Marlies. For directions, contact info@rotarylosalamos.org.
Afterwards, some of us will be attending Tokyo Nights at SALA at 7:30 PM to watch an anime movie.
Hal Davis Memorial This Sunday Aug 10
There will be a celebration of life for Hal Davis at Fuller Lodge this Sunday at 2:00 PM. Hal gave several presentations to our Club about his travels abroad, featuring selections from his vast collection of acclaimed photographs. You may remember him most often being in the company of his wife, Anne (Rotary, 2008-2016), and his daughter, Laura Loy (Rotary, 2012-2022).
Join us at Rufina Taproom this Sunday at 4:00 PM for the kickoff of the International Peace Conference in Santa Fe! This social event is to enjoy great conversation, a welcoming atmosphere, and the opportunity to meet others who are passionate about creating a more peaceful world.
Since we’re talking about peacebuilding, there’s a movie at SALA this Tuesday at 7:00 PM about the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Rotary International has published a statement on the war between Israel and Hamas and supports peace in the region. Here’s an interesting article about the Rotary Club of Jerusalem, which was chartered in 1929 and continues to provide humanitarian aid in both Israel and Palestine.
We have no speaker this week, but we do have some club matters to discuss. First, I attended the District Assembly last Saturday where I learned a few things about club management. I spent some time this weekend reviewing our bylaws and would like to discuss some proposed updates. I also want to remind members to please pay their dues in a timely manner. In my breakout session, I heard about a club that had to dissolve because nobody enforced dues and their cash reserves were quickly depleted. Only about half of our membership has paid dues, so if you haven’t already, please bring a check to Vince. The due date was July 1 for the first half and January 1 for the second half.
Another takeaway was to get creative in inviting members of the community to Rotary and don’t forget to listen to your existing members. To that end, I’d like to pursue Brian Newnam’s suggestion of bringing back lunches. If you would like to participate, please email or text me with your Ruby K’s order before 11 AM. Also, congrats to Chuck Tallman who is featured on this newsletter’s cover photo with his NINTH Paul Harris Fellow pin!
We also need to be more visible in the community if we want to recruit more members, which we can do through more service projects and community-oriented events like the summer concerts. Please consider wearing your Rotary t-shirt when you’re out and about. You never know who might ask you about it.
We don’t have much planned for events in August, but if you have any back-to-school ideas, please let me know. There’s a Peace Conference Kickoff at Second Street Brewery on Aug 10 4:30 PM. In September, we have two events: BBBQ at Bathtub Row on September 7 (time TBD) and an opportunity to partner with Citizens Climate Lobby to screen the documentary Purple Mountains at SALA on Sep 27 12-3 PM.
This week, the Los Alamos Local Business Coalition is hosting their fifth and final forum on local business this Thursday 5:30 PM at SALA. If you’re a local business owner or just want to be support local businesses, it would be a great event to attend.
On a somber note, former Rotarian Hal Davis passed away recently. A Celebration of Life will be held August 10 at 2:00pm at Fuller Lodge. All who knew Hal and his family are invited to come and share a story about him. Donations may be made to the Los Alamos Historical Society’s Oppenheimer House Preservation fund at https://losalamoshistory.networkforgood.com/projects/22122-everyday-giving.
Last but not least, last week’s speaker Adam White asked for donations to the non-profit Waves4All, which helps teach people with disabilities to surf, sail, and experience the ocean.
If you missed last week’s meeting, you can view Adam’s presentation on New Mexico summits on our YouTube channel.
Thanks to everyone who came out to our year-end party last week! To everyone who couldn’t make it, we missed you. I hope you’re enjoying your summer! Here’s the Year-End Report and here’s the 24-25 Rotary Photo Album.
Adam was born and raised in southern Louisiana. From an early age, his fascination with mountains and remote places took hold of his imagination and he would spend hours upon hours reading National Geographic and consuming books about explorers. In college, he often skipped his Monday classes and opted instead for long weekend excursions to westward destinations. He seized an opportunity to permanently leave Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina and relocated his family to northern New Mexico.
Adam now spends much of his free time hiking, biking, climbing, and photography in the alpine mountains and vast deserts of the Four Corner states. He enjoys sharing his knowledge of the area with visitors to New Mexico and will often take friends from out of state to some of his favorite places.
He is co-founder and CEO of “TruFit” – a workout app designed to guide users of all abilities in adaptive fitness exercises, empowering them to meet their health and fitness goals. He is also Executive Director of “Waves 4 All,” an adaptive surfing and sailing non-profit organization.
Upcoming Events
Coffee & Connections every Tuesday
Every Tuesday morning, the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce hosts Coffee & Connections for local businesses to meet with each other.
Friday Night Concerts
Join us at the summer concerts every Friday 5:30 – 7:30 to share with members of the community what Rotary does and has to offer. Please contact James Wernicke for more info.
District Assembly Jul 26
Join us for an enriching District Assembly on Saturday, July 26, from 9-11 AM (Mountain Time) on Zoom!
This engaging session will provide valuable insights into the function of a club board of directors and key roles, including Membership, Secretary, Treasurer, and Public Image. Whether you’re stepping into a leadership position or looking to deepen your understanding, this session is designed to empower and support you.
Should We Bring Back Weekly Meals?
Some members have expressed bringing back weekly meals. I’m willing to pick them up if there’s enough interest. Vote here.
Sorry for the short notice, but we’ll have a collection box for Ruidoso emergency supplies and bottle caps for benches at tonight’s year end dinner. It’s also not too late to submit photos for the slideshow!
The best way to support Ruidoso is to make a cash donation to Community Foundation of Lincoln County, but if you have any of the following items in your pantry or closet you’d like to donate, bring them tonight:
You must be logged in to post a comment.