Rotary Club of Los Alamos

25.05 McCrory on Geothermal

Dear Rotarians and Friends,

On Saturday, Los Alamos hosted the annual Jemez Mountain Trail Run, an event that draws some of the world’s elite ultrarunners to run up to 50 miles from the Sheriff’s Posse Lodge to the top of Pajarito Mountain and back with a few scenic detours along the way. I was a volunteer at the Guaje Aid Station, 9 miles from the start. We had our first runner show up 1 hour 16 minutes into the race—an incredible pace. The event raises money for the Los Alamos cross country teams and other local organizations.

Once the first wave of runners had passed, I headed off to Tres Piedras for the Los Alamos Mountaineers Climbing School. I’m hoping to hone my skills well enough by next month to climb Es Pontas in Mallorca where my family will reconnect with our youth exchange student Joan Gurrera from last year. The day ended with the sold-out YIMBY Film Festival, an event to promote our natural world and community-driven projects to make Los Alamos an even better place to live. The event was organized by Kyle and Turin Dickman who lead Tuff Tykes events every Saturday.

We are looking for three people to serve as committee chairs for the 25-26 Rotary Year. This is a great way to be more involved in what I’m committed to making a productive year.

Membership Chair: Oversees member recruitment, retention, and engagement.
Service Chair: Coordinates community service and hands-on volunteer projects.
Foundation Chair: Promotes donations to The Rotary Foundation, Rotary 1312, and oversees global grant activity.

LEARN MORE

This Week’s Speaker

Tom McCrory (third from left) joins a panel of other industry leaders discussing geothermal development at New Mexico Tech in 2023.

Tom McCrory’s extensive career has been dedicated to addressing environmental challenges, particularly in the realm of groundwater and soil remediation. His expertise encompasses a broad spectrum of remedial technologies for site cleanup and environmental restoration. He is currently serving as a Senior Geologist at S&K Mission Support, LLC, contributing to projects that safeguard our environment and public health. Tom is also affiliated with DeltaT2V LLC applying his geological expertise to advance geothermal energy solutions. His work in this area underscores the intersection of environmental stewardship and sustainable energy development.

Can’t make it in person? Join us on Zoom every Tuesday 12:00 – 1:00 PM.

Join On Zoom

If you missed last week’s meeting, you can view past meetings on our YouTube channel. Los Alamos Public Schools Superintendent Jennifer Guy gave us an update on what’s going on in LAPS and Climate Activist Sara Mason told us about Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL) and bipartisan climate solutions to Congress. Want to help send two Los Alamos CCL students to Washington this year? Donate here.

Help Pinon & Chamisa Teachers Pack Up Classrooms May 27-29

Pinon and Chamisa are ready to move to their new buildings. Teachers need to pack up their classroom materials. The school district will then move the boxes to the new buildings. Packing (not actual moving) help is needed at each school. Kiwanis, Rotary and the School Foundation Board will be helping. Volunteers are needed for:

Tuesday May 27 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Wednesday May 28 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Thursday May 29 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

If you can help any of these times, please email Cheryl Pongratz.

Interact Club & Barranca Mesa Collect Items For Local Food Banks

LAHS Interact Club put up a donation box for The Food Depot and LA Cares at Barranca Mesa Elementary and the community answered by donating 243 items!

Mariannridge Math Tutoring Project Update

The project started in mid 2020 as a small pilot programme. The Rotary Club of
Durban Umhlatuzana and the Umhlatuzana Education Fund NPC in collaboration with
approximately 30 university students from UKZN (University of KwaZulu-Natal) deliver
mathematics instruction on Saturday mornings during the school year, to learners at Mariannridge Senior Secondary School. Initially, the free tuition was provided to 12th graders preparing for the matric exam, and the pass rate increased from 66% in the previous year, to 87%.

Based on this success, it was decided to expand the programme, offering the free Saturday instruction to 8th grade learners. This has grown to serve over 200 students in grades 8 – 12. The result has been a 100% matric pass rate in Mathematics and Science for 2024 and 300 more learners registering at the Mariannridge Senior Secondary School in 2025 than the year
before. Mariannridge is a peri-urban township outside of Durban, originally established in the 1970s for the Coloured population. Presently the vast majority of the students are Zulu. Over 97% of the beneficiaries of this project are Black South Africans as per the B-BBEE Codes of
Good Practice.

This rewarding, cost effective project owes its success to the UKZN tutors who generously volunteer their time each Saturday. Refreshments and transportation to and from Mariannridge for the tutors is provided. Textbooks are provided for the learners. The members of the Durban Umhlatuzana Rotary Club (founded in 1978) donate their time to the management of this project and no Rotary Club member receive any remuneration. More project details can be found on the website (https://umhlatuzana-education-fund.org/)

The Umhlatuzana Education Fund, NPC is a registered South African Non-Profit Company (registration number 2022/383364/08). Donors are eligible for a Section 18a certificate for exemption from SARS (Tax reference number 9236978251 PBO reference number 930076439).

Your contribution will help to open up opportunities for these learners both in terms of accessing university and other post-high school career opportunities, as mathematics is the basis of modern science and technology, which is becoming increasingly central in all areas of society and economic life. For more information about the programme or more financial
details, please contact us.

Club President: Deon Delport, 082 571 3324 | deonhome2011@gmail.com
The Mariannridge Mathematics Tutoring & Enrichment Project
(https://umhlatuzana-education-fund.org/)

May 6: Mason on Citizens Climate Lobby and Upcoming Events

Greetings Rotarians,

Thanks to everyone who attended, volunteered, and spread the word about our Sheriff’s Posse Lodge Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser last Sunday. The event raised $1,887 for our future projects! We also handed out business cards and spread the word about Rotary’s impact and meeting times to the 300 or so attendees. Let’s keep that momentum going as the weather warms up and we spend more time outside and socializing. Please reach out to your friends and invite them to attend our Tuesday lunch meetings.

We are also looking for members who are interested in stepping up to be officers in the 25-26 year. It would be great to get some new people and their perspectives to try it out. We’re looking for secretary and treasurer as well as committee chairs: Club Administration, Membership, Public Image, Service Projects, Rotary Foundation, and Youth Services. If you’re interested, please email me! I promise to make it as smooth as possible for you!

Yours in Rotary,

James Wernicke, President-Elect

This Week’s Speaker

This week’s guest speaker is Dr. Sara Ann Mason. Dr. Mason is a climate advocate and the New Mexico State Coordinator for Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL), a nonpartisan, grassroots organization that empowers everyday citizens to build the political will for effective climate solutions. Her interest in climate advocacy was sparked by witnessing the devastating weather events in her home state of Texas and the persistent fire dangers in New Mexico. By engaging citizens in lobbying Congress, building media relations, conducting grassroots outreach, and organizing communities to support bipartisan climate solutions, CCL contributes to building a more livable world. Sara’s presentation can be found here.

Want to support Los Alamos students going to Washington, D.C., to lobby for climate action?

DONATE

LAHS Student Volunteer Appreciation Event May 6

Know any student volunteers who like ice cream? Invite them to this special event in their honor at Los Alamos High School this Tuesday, May 6 during WIN time (2:00 PM) in the lobby of DSA or if the weather permits, just outside of it. This event is sponsored by Los Alamos Community Foundation.

Bike To Work Day May 15

National Bike to Work Day is May 16th this year, but Los Alamos County is celebrating National Bike to Work Day on May 15th this year. Join us for a community commute! The Bike Bus will start from three locations this year, Barranca Mesa Pool at 7:06 am, North Mesa Soccer Fields at 7:07 am, and the Canyon Complex at 7:17 am. All three groups will meet at the County Energizer Station at Canyon and Diamond (Lemon Lot) at 7:40 am.

Epic Day of Service May 17

Rotary’s Epic Day of Service is a coordinated, statewide or district-wide day of hands-on community service. Clubs across a region work simultaneously on separate service projects under a unified banner—raising Rotary’s visibility, impact, and energy in one concentrated effort. It originated in Rotary District 5450 (Colorado) but is spreading to other areas due to its success. The core idea is: “Imagine the power of thousands of Rotarians, family, and friends serving together on one single day.”

Is there anyone who is willing and able to champion a club activity for this event? Please email me or let me know at our lunch meeting.

Summer Concerts Start May 23

Want to help spread the word at summer concerts this year? It’s easy and plus, you’re literally hanging out at a concert! Here’s a YouTube video of our first performance, southern New Mexico native Dzaki Sukarzo.

Apr 29: Chamber of Commerce Director Sandy Jones, Earth Week Recap, Pancake Breakfast May 5

Dear Rotarians and Friends,

It’s easy to forget we owe our very lives to this planet. Let’s make sure we’re giving back. Whether it’s through planting a tree, cleaning up a trail, or supporting a clean water project, we can shape a healthier, greener future for everyone. By simply making everyday choices to consume less and more efficiently, we can easily make a difference. By joining and supporting groups like the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG)³, we can take a more active role in ensuring future generations have access to a beautiful and thriving planet.

This Week’s Speaker

This week’s speaker is Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce Director Sandy Jones. Since assuming this role in August 2024, Sandy has been a dynamic force in our community, leveraging her extensive experience to support local businesses. Before joining the Chamber, Sandy served as the Center Director for the Small Business Development Center at UNM-Los Alamos, where she provided invaluable guidance to entrepreneurs in Los Alamos, Cuba, Jemez Springs, and Española . Her diverse professional background spans R&D, utility emergency operations, accounting, e-commerce, and software engineering, reflecting her adaptability and commitment to excellence.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Sandy is deeply involved in community initiatives. She is a founder and current president of the Los Alamos Film and Culture Festival and serves as Secretary of the Board for United Way of Northern New Mexico. Additionally, she contributes her expertise to the Los Alamos County Art in Public Places Board and plays a pivotal role in “Project Oppenheimer,” focusing on business and hospitality development.

Rotarians Review Scholarship Applications

At last Tuesday’s meeting, Rotarians met to review applications for this year’s scholarships. We had at least a dozen applications, all extremely accomplished students. A recurring theme in many of their essays is a need for belonging and communities among teenagers. To that end, Los Alamos JJAB is hosting Teen Nights at SALA through May to provide teens with a community space.

Rotarians Clean Up PEEC Treehouse

Los Alamos Rotarians and LAHS Interact members cleaned up the Rotary Treehouse at PEEC last Wednesday in preparation for their Earth Day Festival.

The treehouse was our club’s 2018 service project under the guidance of Club President Laura Loy and Service Director Oliver Morris. At $30,000 it was our club’s most ambitious project, seeing over 40,000 visitors annually.

Pancake Breakfast May 4

Rotary Club of Los Alamos will be serving pancakes this Sunday May 4 for 7AM to 11AM at the Los Alamos Sheriff’s Posse Lodge. Come enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes in four flavors, eggs, bacon, and sausage for only $10! May the Fourth be with you!

Youth Volunteer Appreciation Ice Cream Social May 6

Know a youth volunteer? Invite them for ice cream at next Tuesday’s appreciation event!

Apr 15: Laura Gonzales on Rotary Projects

Dear Rotarians and Friends,

As the weather warms up and the days get longer, it’s the perfect time to re-energize our commitment to Rotary. There’s many opportunities coming up to get involved in community service, reach out to potential new members, or help lead the club in the 25–26 Rotary year. Here’s just a few coming up in the next few weeks.

Wednesday April 23, we’ll be cleaning up the PEEC Treehouse at 5:30 in preparation for their Earth Day Festival. Bring your work gloves, a rake, and let’s get it done! April 24-26 is the District 5520 Conference. You can still sign up if you want to see what’s going on around the district and help me start getting buy-in for the Navajo Water Project. Sunday May 4, we have our Pancake Breakfast at Sheriff’s Posse Lodge. We could use volunteers from 7 AM – 10 AM and 9 AM – 12 PM, but if you don’t have time for that, at least spread the word!

Today’s Speaker

District 5520 North Asst. Governor Laura Gonzales will speak about collaborative projects between District 5520 and District 4110. These initiatives, including recent wheelchair distributions in Juárez and Chihuahua, Mexico, exemplify Rotary’s commitment to service across borders.

Don’t Forget About Our April Contest!

We’re collecting plastic bottle caps to build benches. Bring your bottle caps on Tuesday April 29 to enter a drawing to win a prize!

What is ESRAG?

worms eyeview of green trees — Photo by Felix Mittermeier on Pexels.com

In accordance with Rotary International’s guidance for Action Groups, the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group, ESRAG, gathers individuals, experts and partners whose goal is to provide awareness, dialogue, resources, and best practices for the environment. ESRAG, assists the Rotary family to plan, run, and evaluate projects, programs, and practices that support actions in the Environment Area of Focus and address the triple planetary crisis.

April Is Earth Month

From https://www.rotary.org/en/rotary-and-earth-day

Fifty years ago, the first Earth Day was held on 22 April, 1970, launching a wave of action to protect our environment, including the passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States. Other countries soon followed suit. Every year since, the day has been set aside to focus on mobilizing for action to protect our planet.

As people of action, Rotarians have been shaping the conversation on the environment for years, from addressing climate change that threatens entire food systems to fighting pollution that clogs our air and water. Rotarians are well-suited for the challenge. They use their connections to find creative solutions and take action to safeguard our vital resources.

The Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) assists Rotary clubs, districts and multi-districts in building awareness, inspiring action, and planning service projects that focus on environmental sustainability, awareness of climate change, and actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Don’t forget we’re having a friendly competition to see who can collect the most bottle caps for benches this month. Bring your caps for counting to the April 29 meeting.

No Speaker This Week

We are having a general assembly this week. Here’s a recording of last week’s meeting with County Emergency Manager Beverley Simpson in case you missed it.

Governor’s Project Delivers Wheelchairs To Chihuahua

This past weekend, Laura Gonzales joined other Rotarians from District 5520 and 4110 to deliver wheelchairs to people in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Apr 23: PEEC Treehouse Cleanup

Let’s clean up the treehouse on April 23 at 5:30 PM to make it look good for PEEC’s Earth Day Festival on April 26. Please brink work gloves, a rake, and trash bags.

Apr 24-26: District Conference

Registration is still open for the annual District Conference in El Paso, TX April 24-26. This year’s District Conference celebrates The Magic of Rotary—the power we have when we come together to serve, lead, and connect. Join in for a blend of Rotary updates, hands-on service, youth program showcases, and evening festivities.

May 4: Pancake Breakfast

May the Fourth be with you this year as we serve pancakes at the Sheriff’s Posse. The event starts at 6:00 AM and goes until 12:00 PM and we need people to cook, serve, bus tables, and promote the event. Contact Linda Bullock to sign up for volunteer duties.

May 17: Rotary Epic Day Of Service

On Saturday, May 17, 2025, more than 800 Rotary clubs and 30,000 Rotarians across the world will volunteer in their communities for an Epic Day of Service, collecting clothes for homeless, refurbishing parks, and more. Save the date and roll up your sleeves for a day dedicated to service, community, and connection.

Feb 25: Dropinski on Working Man’s Work in the Construction Industry

Greetings Rotarians and Friends,

Thank you to everyone who helped make this weekend’s Crab Fest such a tremendous success. From our dedicated Interact volunteers and generous sponsors to our hardworking organizers and everyone who attended, this event would not have been possible without your support.

It was truly wonderful to see so many members of our community come together—not just to enjoy great food and company, but to help make a difference in the world. Your generosity and enthusiasm give us those opportunities to make a positive impact. Thank you again for being a part of this event, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish next!

Yours in Rotary,

James Wernicke, President-Elect

This Week’s Speaker

Today’s speaker is David Dropinski, a person who understands the grit, skill, and dedication required in the construction industry—an industry that quite literally builds the foundations of our communities. David has spent years in the trenches of the working man’s world, tackling the challenges of construction, from early-morning job sites to the precision and teamwork required to turn blueprints into reality. Whether it’s laying the groundwork for a new development, ensuring safety on-site, or keeping up with the evolving demands of modern infrastructure, this work is not just about hard labor—it’s about craftsmanship, resilience, and pride.

Last Week’s Speaker

In case you missed it, here’s Martin Cooper on Tanzania. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel. If we get 50 subscribers, we can start posting live videos!

Please Save Your Bottle Caps

The Rotary Club of Santa Fe Centro is partnering with Tierra Nueva Counseling Center and Green Tree Plastics LLC on an upcycling project. The Rotary Club of Los Alamos, who is jointly collaborating on the Peace Project with Rotary Club of Santa Fe Centro, is supporting them with these efforts described below.

The Rotary Club of Santa Fe Centro’s District Grant this year is to continue supporting Tierra Nueva and the development of their surrounding area, creating much-needed benches for the walking path currently under construction

For this year’s project, their focus is on recycling plastic bottle caps that Green Tree Plastic will transform into benches. We invite you to participate by saving your plastic bottle caps—this includes caps from water bottles, yogurt containers, prescription bottles, detergent bottles, and any other plastic container caps and lids listed below with recycling codes #2, #4, or #5. By upcycling these items, we can keep them out of our Santa Fe landfills and turn them into benches that will serve our therapists, clients, and the entire community. Every cap counts!

Drop-off is available at Tierra Nueva Counseling Center, or feel free to contact Claudia Gerst directly for pick-up at 505-231-2240, or give them to Alison.

Tierra Nueva Counseling Center address: 3952 San Felipe Road, Santa Fe

Thank you for helping us create something lasting for our community while helping to take the trash out of our landfills!

Feel free to share the information at your workplace, Neighbours and everyone