By Vern Hansen, 2026-27 president Rotary Club of Northglenn-Thornton, Colorado, USA, and member of the Rotary satellite club of Heritage Todd Creek
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how this idea of starting a Rotary satellite club at Heritage Todd Creek, an active retirement community in Thornton, Colorado, actually began. It wasn’t a grand plan or formal initiative — it was more like a quiet nudge that kept tapping me on the shoulder.
I’d look around our community, with its 1,300-plus homes and more than 50 activity clubs, and think: how do we have a club for everything from pickleball to pottery, but not a Rotary club? It felt like a missing piece. And to be honest, my wife said if we formed a satellite club here, she would join — so that added a little extra motivation.
A satellite club is a part of a Rotary or Rotaract club that has its own meetings, projects, bylaws, and board, and is managed in collaboration with its sponsor club. At first, I wasn’t sure anyone else would feel the same way. Starting something new in a 55+ community takes patience, humor, and a willingness to repeat yourself more times than you would expect. But once I started talking with people, I realized the interest was there. Not loud or flashy, but steady. Curious. Hopeful. The kind of interest that grows when you give it a little sunlight.
Our first introductory meeting was announced in the community’s newsletter, and to my surprise, 20-25 people showed up. That alone felt like a small victory. The next few gatherings were smaller — about 10-12 people — but meaningful. We met around tables in the Larkspur Room, asking questions, sharing stories, and trying to imagine what Rotary could look like in our own neighborhood. After that first meeting, I remember thinking, “Okay … this could actually work.”
Then came the Homeowners Association club fair in early March. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would people walk past our table? Would Rotary feel like something for “other people?” We actually had a steady stream of residents stopping by, asking thoughtful questions, flipping through materials, and sharing volunteer experiences from earlier chapters of their lives. By the end of the day, more than 25 people had signed up to learn more. I left that event tired, but energized, thinking, “We’re really doing this.”
Before long, 16 residents expressed firm interest, and 11 completed membership applications. That was the moment it stopped being an idea and started becoming a club.
And now, here we are. We have 11 approved members — six already inducted, with the remaining five waiting until summer travel settles down. We also have a growing list of others still exploring membership; the next step is simply helping them experience a meeting or service project.
And we’ve already begun that work. Our first service project was helping a local senior center plant flowers. We’ve also scheduled a Red Cross emergency preparedness session, especially relevant in a community like ours. We’re exploring partnerships with nearby assisted living centers, considering a comfort pillow or blanket project with Children’s Hospital, and even planning a commemorative patio brick honoring veterans and first responders, marked with our Rotary identity.
We’ve established a meeting rhythm of the first and third Thursdays, still adjusting times to accommodate both retirees and those who are still working. It remains a work in progress, but it is progress.
What has surprised me most is how quickly this effort has rippled outward. Other clubs in District 5450 (Colorado, USA) have started asking questions and exploring whether a satellite model could work in their own communities. What began here is now becoming a broader conversation.
But what stays with me most is the feeling of walking into a meeting and seeing neighbors — people who might never have crossed paths otherwise — laughing, sharing ideas, and imagining what we can build together. It feels like the beginning of something that will outlast all of us. Something rooted in service, friendship, and the belief that even in a community full of activities, there is always room for one more way to make a difference.
And honestly, I’m proud of what we’re building. This small seed is growing. It still needs care and attention, but it already has a life of its own — and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.
Learn more about satellite clubs
https://blog.rotary.org/2026/07/09/satellite-club-takes-root-in-active-retirement-community/