Speakers

United Way of the Yampa Valley’s Kindness Kiosk turns a simple donation into an interactive way to support local nonprofits and the workforce that keeps our communities running. Hear the personal story behind the idea, see how two repurposed machines became giving kiosks, and learn how Steamboat Resort, UWYV, and Rotary are bringing it to life. We’ll share the needs facing ALICE households, our $50,000 first-year goal, and how Rotary’s generous $15,000 grant is helping make this new initiative possible.

The Emerald Mountain Project was a Community endeavor that took over 13 years to complete. Emerald Mountain, the "Central Park" of Steamboat Springs, was proposed for sale and development by its owner the Colorado State Land Board. The Emerald Mountain Partnership through the largest Bureau of Land Management land exchange was able to create a multi-use model of land use that ensures the compatibility of agriculture, wildlife, recreation and education for 4,139 acres on Emerald Mountain.

Hear from Louise Batt, Owner of High Country Veterinary Services, & Alyssa Laliberte, Program Director, The Next Page Learning Center on Beyond the Classroom: Why Dyslexia is a Business Conversation.  Dyslexia doesn’t end at graduation, and it matters in the workplace more than most people realize. Understanding how dyslexia shows up in adults at work, and how simple, low-cost adjustments can improve employee performance and deliver a real return on investment, can help businesses prepare for the skills the next decade will demand.  

Dr. Chandra is a member of the Niskayuna Rotary Club and the Director, Haiti Eye Clinic, and President, Global Eye Project.  

I would be honored to share how our volunteer team is restoring sight and preventing blindness in rural Haiti.
Because Rotary has long been committed to improving lives through humanitarian service and sustainable community partnerships, I believe our work closely aligns with your mission of Service Above Self.
Since 2008, our team has worked to expand access to eye care in rural Haiti, where preventable blindness remains common due to limited access to care and a shortage of trained eye care professionals.
In 2015, we established the Haiti Eye Clinic in Fond des Blancs. What began as a modest effort has grown into one of the region's busiest eye care centers. Since opening, we have provided more than 139,000 free eye examinations and now care for over 15,000 patients each year, serving a rural population of approximately 500,000 people. Many patients walk for hours—and sometimes even days—to reach the clinic.
In addition to delivering patient care, we are training Haitian eye care professionals to provide high-quality, internationally aligned services, ensuring this work continues for generations. Our U.S.-based nonprofit is entirely volunteer-run, with no paid staff or administrative overhead.
We recently launched a School-Based Vision Screening Program, bringing vision screening into school systems in Fond des Blancs to help children see clearly and succeed in school.
One of our most urgent priorities is the construction of a permanent eye clinic to ensure sustainable, year-round eye care for the region. This is especially critical because our current facility will no longer be available after 2027. To ensure continuity of care, we have secured land, acquired equipment, trained a Haitian team, and completed architectural plans in partnership with Architects Without Borders.