Snowball

(11-09-06 Meeting)

Opening

Ward Holmes snapped us to attention for the pledge and thanked Chip Lile for masterfully running the previous meeting, 11/02/2006, on Ward’s behalf.

Guests

Guest (s) Sponsor/Host

Lisa, Brian, Jason, Jacqueline, & Tristan Govreau Steve Govreau

Terry Senter Bill Cartwright

Joseph (French Exchange Student) Steve Govreau

Visiting Rotarians - None

New Member Inductions -

Clint Jaworsky converted his Red Badge to blue with the help of his sponsor, Frank Valen.

Announcements

Ward Holmes announced the November Board meeting: 5:30 PM, November 21^st 2006 at Durango Office Suite’s conference room (Phil Bryson’s Place). Ward also mentioned that he is recommending that the monies earned for the “Sitting with Santa Project” next month go to the Boys and Girl’s Club. No objections were raised. John Anderson noted that this year’s “Sweetheart of the Arts” award would be garnered by the Ballentine Family: Morley, Richard and Mary Lynn. Tami Coddington is recruiting bell ringers to support the Salvation Army’s Christmas bell ringing project and sent around the sign-up list. The dictionary project is coming to a close with the Morning Rotary Club doing the gift wrapping and Durango Rotary Club paying for the wrapping supplies. Chip Lile announced that during the next two meetings some time would be devoted to preparing for the election of the Club President who will follow him in 2008. Members who do not want to be considered should make that known and fines would be appreciated.

Sgt. of Arms

Chandler Jackson put the squeeze on for fines for birthdays and collected a belated fine from Wayne Bedor and heard that Rick Routh may be spending his lunch hours at the 55+ Center when not at Rotary meetings. Happy $$$$ were paid by: Sherry Taber and Steve Redding for the Library question passing authorizing the issuance of bonds to be used for construction of a new Durango Public Library. Rick Routh paid a fine for Jim Isgar winning the election and John Anderson did the same for Ellen Roberts winning her race. Ward paid for the 2006 elections being over! Chandler Jackson paid for having his son and grandkids back in town. Bill Cartwright paid because his solicitation of a laptop and pair of snowshoes for Joseph, our French exchange student, was fulfilled with same from Charlie Albert and Frank Valen. Clint Jaworsky won the drawing and demonstrated that short people do have a distinct disadvantage in the game of basketball.

Program

Brian Govreau was our program, delighting us all with his adventures in Lyon, France last year as an exchange student. He did a great job of giving the club the flavor of attending school there, the differences in the education system and culture between France and the US. Brian spent time with four families who were truly quite different giving him a unique slice of the French lifestyle from each family’s very different circumstances. Brian took a mature approach to being a visitor to France by not going there with any stereotypes regarding the French people. Some items of interest that Brian noted were that high school is three years; the public universities are free to students who attend as is the health care system for all the French. Several Rotarians gasped when they discovered that the work week in France is only 35 hours compared to 40 hours in the USA. Interestingly, Brian noted that 11% of the French population is Muslim and the riots there last year, while serious, were not quite as pervasive as the media led us to believe. Brian had some really good pictures of people and places that he enjoyed while there, a number of them revealing many empty champagne and wine bottles. Clearly, the Rotary exchange program is one of the most important programs that Rotary supports. Brian’s experience will be shared many times with many people over the years contributing to better understanding between the peoples of France and the USA. We can be confident that Brian will be a great Rotarian one day.

Closing

Bud was in excellent form explaining how one can get their firewood split and stacked by public safety officers using as a ploy that illegal drugs are hidden in the wood. Bud also made a very useful public service announcement that advises never to use cruise control on rain slick roads of snowy and icy roads. Again he was able to cram a good 2 minute PSA into 7 minutes. Notwithstanding that, it was very useful information.

Ward then rang the bell to release us from the cold, dank, dungeon that is the Durango Arts Center!

Respectfully Submitted,

Wayne M. Bedor

Senior Vice President

Housecleaning Services

246 Fir Drive