On July 8th, the Rotary Club of Albuquerque Del Norte put a fresh spin on Club Assembly with Rotary Jeopardy—a fun, interactive way to explore why we're Rotarians, where our club is headed, and the impact we want to make together.

As President Monica Padilla reminded us, "Today wasn't about having all the right answers. It was about asking the right questions."

Here's to a year filled with service, friendship, leadership, community, and experiences worth remembering.

Satellite Meeting Features Capt. Chris Goodwin

The Rotary Del Norte Satellite Meeting welcomed Capt. Chris Goodwin of Albuquerque Fire Rescue, who shared an informative look at the department’s operations, training, and service to our community.

Capt. Goodwin explained that Station 5, located at Central and Pennsylvania, is the city’s busiest fire station. He also highlighted the opening of a new station at Central and 98th Street, improving response times on Albuquerque’s west side. Members learned about AFR’s expansion of Advanced Life Support coverage, with one paramedic assigned to each apparatus to increase the number of emergency responses staffed with advanced medical care.

He also described the demanding 18-week fire academy, where all recruits earn EMT Basic certification and must meet rigorous physical standards. The current academy began with eighty recruits, with only eighteen graduating. Cadets earn approximately $16 per hour during training, and firefighters may work a second job after completing their probationary period.

Capt. Goodwin discussed the department’s efforts to reduce firefighters’ cancer risks through enhanced decontamination procedures and reassured members that AFR’s radio system has backup capabilities to maintain communication during internet outages.

When asked what he enjoys most about being a firefighter, Capt. Goodwin spoke about serving the community and the gratitude shown by those they help. He also shared that the most difficult part of the profession is knowing there are times when, despite every effort, a life cannot be saved.

We thank Capt. Chris Goodwin for an engaging presentation and for his dedication to serving the Albuquerque community.

Originally from Minnesota and now calling New Mexico home, Barbara has earned recognition for writing books described as encouraging and thought-provoking. She presented us with an interesting discussion on overcoming internal obstacles by identifying              “can't” voices rooted in fear, shame and anger. She showed us how we can transform this negative internal dialogue into positive personal growth by the application of compassion and honesty.

Our club was pleased to welcome Jacob Grobecker as Officer of the Month. We are always glad to recognize the good guys working for our safety.