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Drinks with Rotarians
Oct. 22, 2026 4:00 p.m.

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Not Your Average Civic Service Club

The Downtown Billings Rotary Club has been a part of the community for nearly 100 years, having measurable impact not just locally but internationally as well. Rotary offers you the chance to make friends, make memories, and make a difference.

Kent Haslam on the Future of College Athletics - Sept 21, 2026

Grizzly Athletics and Beyond

An update on the current state and future challenges of Division I college athletics from the perspective of Kent, Athletic Director at the University of Montana. Kent leads a department of nearly 90 full-time staff and coaches. College athletics is undergoing transformative change due to Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights, revenue sharing, conference realignment, and proposed federal regulation. Despite changes the Director, emphasizes the unique value of college athletics as the only system worldwide that integrates Despite changes, Tazewell emphasizes the unique value of college athletics as the only system worldwide that integrates high-level academics with high-level competition. He believes athletics teaches lessons not found in classrooms: how to win, lose, collaborate, lead, and show humility.. He believes athletics teaches lessons not found in classrooms: how to win, lose, collaborate, lead, and show humility.

Allies in Aging - Aug 31, 2026

Allies in Aging Presentation

Tyler Amundson, Director of Admissions and Development at Allies in Aging, delivered a presentation on aging well and the organization’s role. Allies in Aging was formed through the merger of two longstanding organizations to create a one-stop resource for aging-related questions and services. The goal is to shift perceptions of aging from decline to a vibrant, fulfilling life stage. Key programs and services include Meals on Wheels: Delivers 300+ meals daily across Yellowstone County to those over 60 who are homebound. Services are income-neutral, and the primary benefit is often social connection. Senior Lunch Sites: 11 locations countywide offering meals for $6 (cost to produce: $15), with subsidies from federal, state, and fundraising efforts. In-Home Care: Offered on a sliding scale, with rates as low as $2–3/hour for those in need. Transportation: Provided through partnerships with Met Transit and volunteer drivers. Resource & Education: Includes monthly Medicare guidance, home modification advice, and support for intergenerational living arrangements. Caregiver Support: Care Partners groups, memory cafes, and an upcoming care partner retreat address the needs of the "sandwich generation." Dementia Training: Offered to businesses, law enforcement, and financial institutions to improve community engagement with aging adults. Volunteers are essential, especially for Meals on Wheels, rides, and shopping. Flexible scheduling, including substitute roles, is available.

Sibanye-Stillwater Mine - Aug 24, 2026

Sibanye-Stillwater's Montana operations with Heather McDowell

Heather McDonald, General Counsel and head of Legal and External Affairs for Sibanye-Stillwater’s Montana operations, delivers a comprehensive update to the Rotary Club on the company’s role as the sole primary producer of platinum and palladium in the United States, its sustainable mining practices, economic impact, challenges in the global market, and efforts to differentiate its ethically sourced metals. Sibanye-Stillwater operates the only primary platinum and palladium mines in the U.S., located in Montana, with the highest-grade deposit (JM Reef) in the world. This geological formation contains the highest known concentration of platinum group metals (PGMs) globally. The company began operations at Stillwater in 1886, though the current mining methods are modern. Mining follows a narrow, seven-foot-wide ore body akin to "the frosting in a layer cake," necessitating precise underground navigation through complex terrain. The ore is extracted using drilling and dynamite, then crushed into fine powder at on-site concentrators. The material is transported to a metallurgical complex in Columbus, MT, where it is dried and smelted. A key environmental advantage is that the ore naturally binds with sulfides, reducing acid leaching risks in tailings, unlike many other mining operations. Sibanye-Stillwater integrates recycled catalytic converters with mined ore in its smelting process. For the past 12 years, the company has recycled more material than it has mined. Spent catalytic converters—decanned and powdered—are sourced primarily from the U.S. and mixed with mine ore in the smelter. The process produces a concentrate that is 68% platinum and palladium, with trace rhodium.

Honoring Navy Service and Strengthening Montana's Role - Aug 17, 2026

United States Senator Tim Sheehy opened with a lighthearted tone as he joked about the impeachment of our Rotary President and welcomed attendees. After a Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer for U.S. Navy personnel and Montana, numerous guests were personally acknowledged, including local leaders, veterans, and the speaker’s father-in-law, Mike Clancy. Tim promoted the Billings Air Show, featuring the Golden Knights, Red Bull Air Team, and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. He also honored Jory Thomas, a 14-year-old Montanan, who saved a man from drowning in the Yellowstone River using a lasso during a camping trip—earning him a senatorial service award. He then introduced Assistant Secretary Ben, a former Navy fighter pilot (F-18) and veteran of the USS Nimitz, now responsible for manpower and reserve affairs. His emotional recount of seeing a U.S. supercarrier during a flight to Hawaii reignited his pride in naval service.

The Honorable Benjamin C. Kohlmann, the 20th Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs discuss the current state and future of the U.S. Navy, its recruitment, shipbuilding challenges, and workforce development—particularly in Montana. The Navy’s mission extends beyond combat: it ensures global maritime dominance, enabling free trade, navigation, and American prosperity, and despite operating $15 billion carriers and $3 billion destroyers, the speaker emphasized that “without the people, nothing happens.” The U.S. Navy is experiencing strong recruitment and retention, driven by renewed national purpose and leadership. There is a critical shortage in naval shipbuilding capacity exists, with China outpacing the U.S. by a factor of 232 times in ship production. Workforce development for skilled trades—welding, pipefitting, electrical work—is essential to rebuild the naval industrial base. At this time, Montana has a high rate of veteran participation but low representation in service academies, indicating a need for greater awareness and outreach. The Assistant Secretary believes the reserves offer a pathway for skilled professionals to serve part-time while maintaining civilian careers. This model supports mission-driven service without sacrificing income, particularly appealing to veterans who miss the purpose of military life. Currently, AR/VR simulations are being used to engage high school students, allowing them to virtually experience shipyard work.

Mondays

Food service starts at 11:30 AM

The program starts at noon

Northern Hotel

19 N Broadway

Second Floor

Billings, MT 59101

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Any person may attend a luncheon meeting for the price of the meal. Lunch is served buffet-style, and there are choices for those who are sensitive to lactose and gluten.