Rotary Club of Durango

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Rotary Club of Durango

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Meeting weekly at the Strater Hotel -- Tuesdays at 6:00PM

10/30/2026

On November 3, come listen to Durango Police Chief Brice Current discuss automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras in our community: how they work, how the department uses them, and the safeguards that govern their use. He will cover the department’s decision to discontinue its fixed Flock camera network, what comes next, and why he believes policy decisions about this technology should be led by accountable public officials rather than vendors. His talk will include time for questions.

Brice Current serves as Chief of Police in Durango, Colorado, bringing more than 26 years of law enforcement experience. His career has included patrol, investigations, SWAT, training, undercover narcotics, internal affairs, and leadership roles in New Mexico and Colorado. He holds a master’s degree in public safety leadership and has completed several national executive leadership programs. Brice focuses on preventing crime, supporting his team, and building community trust, with a practical approach to innovation and accountability.

10/28/2026

October 27, 2026. Rotary Club of Durango meeting. At 13:22, watch is Executive Director Nina Lundstrom speak about all the wonderful initiatives well underway in our community by Maria’s Literary Foundation.

10/23/2026

On Tuesday October 27, our speaker is Nina Lundstrom, Executive Director of Maria’s Literary Foundation. She will speak about the history of the organization, current projects, and future goals. Her talk will include information about community partnerships, The Reading Room, and the new bookmobile program.

Nina started the foundation 2024 as the nonprofit arm of Maria’s Bookshop. Her work is driven by the belief that everyone deserves access to books that make them feel seen, transport them to new worlds, and inspire them to change their own. As Executive Director, Nina has created programs like The Reading Room, a free bookshop and community space for youth, and the Book Burro, a community bookmobile for the Four Corners region. Through these programs and others, Maria’s Literary Foundation fosters joy around reading and builds community connection for readers of all ages.

10/20/2026

October 20, 2026. Rotary Club of Durango meeting. At 21:12, watch The Liberty School's Head of School & Executive Director Cari Ray speak to our club.

10/15/2026

On Tuesday October 20, come learn about The Liberty School from Head of School & Executive Director Cari Ray.

She will talk about its mission and the important work they do to support students with dyslexia, giftedness, and twice-exceptionality.

Cari is a nonprofit executive leader with more than 20 years of experience guiding mission-driven organizations and businesses through growth, transition, and increased impact. Her work centers on aligning people, systems, and strategy to strengthen service delivery, financial sustainability, and organizational culture, particularly within place-based, educational, and community-focused nonprofits. She is particularly drawn to organizations where thoughtful leadership, collaboration, and follow-through make a tangible difference in people’s lives.

10/07/2026

October 6, 2026. Rotary Club of Durango meeting. At 35:21, watch Jack Turner share the story behind Colorado Photography Week, November 14–22, and its centerpiece, the Colorado Pro Photographer Showdown. Towards the end, at 52:10 Jack had some wonderful photos to show us from the Showdown held last year.

10/02/2026

On Tuesday October 6, come hear Jack Turner share the story behind Colorado Photography Week, November 14–22, and its centerpiece, the Colorado Pro Photographer Showdown. Through lots of great photography, Jack will explain how a successful live photography competition has grown into a community-wide celebration, and an ambitious effort to create new cultural and economic activity during one of Durango’s traditionally slowest weeks of the year.

Jack Turner is a fifth-generation Durango native, longtime local businessman, photographer, and community volunteer. His career has included leadership roles in the ski industry, sports and event production, marketing, and the Olympic movement. He is the founder and director of Colorado Photography Week and the Colorado Pro Photographer Showdown.

09/29/2026

September 29, 2026. Rotary Club of Durango meeting. At 25:43, watch Al Harper's talk on “Trains, Chocolate, and Horses”. Notably, he spoke about all of the world wide activities of American Heritage Railways based here in Durango providing economic contributions in Durango and other communities and others world wide.

Allen C. Harper is Chairman and Founder of American Heritage Railways (AHR.) AHR owns and operates The Durango and Silverton Railroad (Durango, Colorado}, The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad (Bryson City, North Carolina), The Branson Scenic Railroad (Branson, Missouri), and Rail Events (World Wide Brand Manager of The Polar Express Train Ride, The Harry Potter Hogwarts Express, and Peanuts Snoopy/Charlie Brown Events.)

AHR operates in the US, Canada, The United Kingdom, and Australia with future plans in Spain and Norway. The company had 2,800,000 paid customers from all operations in 2025.

Harper graduated from Principia College (1967) and did post graduate work at the University of Missouri (1972.) He served as a Captain in the United States Air Force completing four years of service in 1971. He has great experience in real estate, transportation, and the entertainment business.

Harper is currently the Interim CEO at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, a public company with over 145 stores located throughout the US. He is also a member of the Fort Lewis College Foundation Board and has assisted numerous organizations in the Durango community.

09/23/2026

September 22, 2026. Rotary Club of Durango meeting. At 12:15, watch leaders of the Durango Neighborhood Coalition (DNC) speak. DNC is a grassroots organization encouraging neighbors to find common ground and forge city-wide alliances for effective communication with the decision makers.

09/18/2026

On Tuesday September 22, come learn about the Durango Neighborhood Coalition (DNC) which is a grassroots organization encouraging neighbors to find common ground and forge city-wide alliances for effective communication with the decision makers. DNC is an umbrella coalition to offer tools to empower all Durango's budding neighborhood associations and to bridge the gap between residents and City officials.

The goal is to identify shared goals and foster community; and that requires transparent communication. They believe the City Council would benefit from adopting a process that calls for both City staff and Council members to meet regularly with neighborhood associations to find out what concerns or solutions residents have for them.

Speaking will be three of our community leaders.

Martha Evers is the founder of the Library Neighborhood Association and also a founding member for the umbrella organization for all Durango neighborhood associations and residents, the Durango Neighborhood Coalition. Her interest in facilitating neighbors to have a stronger voice with our City officials came about when the City was trying to swiftly implement three developments with only one proposal in the library neighborhood without properly contacting the residents, except for a handful of people

Susan Ulery formerly served as Commissioner and vice chair of Durango's Planning Commission (now the Community Development Commission), and prior to that as a member and vice chair of the Natural Lands Board (now defunct). A retired lawyer and regulatory compliance consultant, she's familiar with government processes. She appreciates Durango's small town identity and feels it's nearing a tipping point. Susan hopes that her skills and experience can help preserve those things she loves about Durango.

Karen Anesi chaired the City's Planning Commission for two terms during the 1990s. Presently she is on the Board of Directors of the Boulevard Neighborhood Association (BNA); part of the City's focus group for the 2026-2027 Comp plan update; and a member of its Historic Preservation Board. She was a founding member of the Boulevard Neighborhood Association which is the oldest neighborhood association in Durango that began in 1984, over 40 years ago.

Address

P. O. Box 38, Durango CO
Durango, CO
81302

Opening Hours

5:30pm - 7pm

Telephone

+19707496859

Website

http://www.durangorotary.org/

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