Our final article of five describes the organizations that are the lifeblood of our resilient communities.   The Red Lodge Area Chamber of Commerce, Red Lodge Lions Club, Rotary Club of Red Lodge, Beta Sigma Phi, and the Roberts Community Foundation work to promote business and to serve the needs of all community members.  The Chamber promotes the economic health of the community by developing a business climate consistent with the assets and values of the area and it serves as a central information resource marketing locally, regionally, and nationally.

The Red Lodge Lions volunteer in service to our community, our nation, and the world by promoting international understanding and meeting humanitarian needs.  Red Lodge Rotarians place ‘Service above Self’.  They sponsor the high school Interact service club, Rotary Park and distribute dictionaries to all third graders in Carbon County.  Beta Sigma Phi fosters friendship and a network of women in the community who raise money for many different causes including scholarships to high school graduates.    The Roberts Community Foundation works to safeguard and enhance the integrity of the Roberts area community and its school system.

When a community faces a problem or a new challenge it is important for the people to hold discussions and debate the issues.  The Beartooth Front Community Forum hosts one annual large community discussions to fulfill its mission of preserving and enhancing the quality of life along the Beartooth Front through community engagement.  Beartooth Industries and Homes helps adults with disabilities develop vocational, educational and living skills to become integral members of the Red Lodge Community.

Community Pride is often visible on its main street.  The flags and flowers on Broadway catch the attention of everyone who passes through.  Red Lodge Proud and Beautiful maintains and enhances the beauty of Red Lodge by providing flower baskets, street garlands and snow flakes and garbage cans to help keep the city clean.    Citizens and visitors to Red Lodge see and appreciate the flags on Broadway, purchased and maintained by the Red Lodge Broadway Flag Committee.

Volunteer driven public facilities say a lot about what residents want to share with one another and with visitors.  Red Lodge Ice provides outdoor winter family entertainment for residents and visitors through an improved skating rink.   Red Lodge Skate Board advocates for a safe, positive and enriching community skate park.  The mission of Finnish Kaleva Park is to provide for use of the park consistent with Finnish values as well as offering educational scholarships to our youth.

The organization that brings everyone together and sponsors the Fun Run is the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation (RLACF).  The Community Foundation serves the community with a mission that says it all.  They connect people and build community by catalyzing change and sharing resources to build a strong, vibrant, resilient and inclusive community.

To register for the Fun Run or donate to your favorite charities go the RLACF office at 122 Hauser Avenue South, call 446-2820 or go on-line to the Fun Run website http://www.red lodgefunrun.org/

See you on August 30th –  Your support of Fun Run 11 exemplifies the vibrant and resilient communities we call home!