Bulletin for February 20, 2025
Featured Speaker: Frank Ulrich
The Early Years of the Pikes Peak Club — History, Service, and Tradition Since 1946
OPENING AND CLUB BUSINESS
Upcoming club events included an off-site meeting at Hotel Valeris (sign-up sheet available) and a crypto meeting at a member’s house for interested individuals. Speakers are booked through May 29th. The next board meeting is Tuesday night at 5:30 PM.
Crypto Discussion
Members discussed cryptocurrency, including data mining, security basics, and potential future meetings to explore crypto investments further.
Widows Outreach Program
Members shared experiences visiting widows of former club members — delivering flowers and engaging in conversation to maintain community connections.
KEYNOTE: FRANK ULRICH — THE EARLY YEARS OF THE PIKES PEAK CLUB
Frank Ulrich is an amazing go-getter who has accomplished so much for the Pikes Peak Club. He joined in 1963 and has served in numerous leadership roles, including past governor of the region for Sertoma. His presentation took the club on a journey back to the 1960s and 70s, when the club’s identity was being formed.
The Club’s Origins
The Pikes Peak Club was established in 1946 as a service and social club, focused on fundraising, volunteering, and community tours. Frank detailed the history of the club’s scrapbook tradition, which started around 1968 — preserving history and competing for awards at conventions.
Memorable Programs and Events
-
Freedom Program: 8th graders wrote essays on freedom, culminating in an awards banquet.
-
Ronald McDonald House: The club supported Ronald McDonald House — Frank suggested a future presentation on the topic.
-
Rocky Mountain Greyhound Racing: The club held a raffle for a racing dog, though the dog never won any races.
-
Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind: The club helped students start a company called Defco, which ended due to declining interest.
-
Service Club Olympic Games: Created to boost YMCA membership through athletic competition. Successful for two years before being discontinued due to lack of competition.
Challenges That Shaped the Club
The introduction of a ‘senior active’ classification by Sertoma International allowed members 50+ with 20 years of membership to stop paying dues — which discouraged participation and caused membership to drop from nearly 100 to 40 members. Combined with financial concerns over Sertoma International’s use of institutional funds, the club ultimately chose to drop its affiliation to avoid legal and financial risk.