Taos Milagro Rotary Club consists of approximately 50 individuals and is part of the Rotary District 5520 of New Mexico and Southwestern Texas. Our club is actively involved in local community and international causes. Our main focus are education and literacy. The Annual Chile Challenge and Festival of Trees are our primary fundraiser, the proceeds of which go to Rotary Scholarships, Community Projects, International Programs and Literacy. In 2022, the club sponsored the Festival of Trees which brought together the community to celebrate the holidays. The Taos Milagro Rotary Club has been involved in several international humanitarian missions.
Mission - We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.
Vision - Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
Meeting Time
The club meets every week at the Taos Valley Lodge at 8:00 am in the conference room. Contact Chavi Guerra Verastegui at chavi0853@gmail.com for more information (575-999 5171). If the meeting room is contracted out that morning, we will meet through ZOOM - you may check with the President at the email listed above for the link. We have local speakers that represent local businesses, government leaders, non-profits, etc. We happily invite visiting Rotarians or other interested people to join us at our meetings. Come get involved in our Club!
Taos Milagro Scholarship Recipients 2023-2024
Taos Milagro Rotary since its inception in 1998 has given over $200,000 for scholarships to Taos County graduating students. The scholarships include academic, certification, and vocational. Applications for the scholarship program can be found under the Scholarship section on this web site. Over $36,000 in Academic, Certification, and Vocational scholarships were awarded to the following students this year:
Voted "Best Civic Club" in Taos - 2023
Each year our local newspaper Taos News conducts a Best In Taos survey collecting data from the Town of Taos and Taos County. Taos Milagro Rotary has won this award for the last six years in recognition of local and international community service. With its motto Service Above Self the club focuses on scholarships for Taos County students, literacy in elementary schools, managing 15 Little Free Libraries, and international projects in poverty-stricken countries.
For the Love of Reading - Literacy Program
For the Love of Reading provides one-on-one reading sessions to students in 2nd and 3rd grade who are reading below grade level at Arroyos del Norte and Ranchos de Taos Elementary Schools. Volunteers are matched with two students, each student receiving individualized support for 30 minutes once a week. With the intention of building their personal libraries and encouraging home reading, book giveaways are held four times a year allowing students to pick out a book to take home. All of the students enrolled in the school are given books. For the students served, we seek to: improve reading proficiency, develop self-confidence, provide the encouragement and tools to become a life-long learner, and foster a love of reading.
Interact - Youth Program
Interact is a service club for youth ages 12 to 18 who want to connect with other young people and have fun while serving their communities and learning about the world. The Taos High School club is sponsored by the Taos Milagro Rotary. Interact clubs organize two projects every year, one that helps their school or community and one that promotes international understanding. Members mentor Interactors as they carry out the projects and develop leadership skills.
International
The Rotary motto Service Above Self conveys the humanitarian spirit of the organization’s more than 1.2 million members. Strong fellowship among Rotarians and meaningful community and international service projects characterizes Rotary worldwide.
Taos Milagro Rotary International Projects:
- 2024 Bolivia International Project
- 2015 Guatemala - April
- 2012 Peru - November
- A team of six Taos Milagro Rotarians went on a humanitarian mission to Peru.
- The team visited with the Cusco Rotary Club and reviewed a water project in Chumpicancha. The project entailed bringing water to the small farming community outside of Cusco.
- The Taos Milagro Rotarians then acquired supplies and delivered them to three local hospitals in Cusco.
- Supplies were purchased, divided and delivered to schools in Maras and Puno.