High Noon Rotary

May 24, 2001

Tom opened the meeting with his usual flair. He mentioned that today was a beautiful day. He also stated that this was a great day for allergies. Tom announced that the highway to Silverton would be closed Saturday morning. The reason is the Iron Horse Classic. Tom asked Miss Jane to open the meeting with Prayer and Pledge.

Tom then asked for a report from the caring committee. Jeannie said she had no report so that is good news. Tom asked Joe Thompson about the events occurring this weekend. Joe said he would celebrate his birthday, not yet sixty, his wife's birthday and their anniversary this weekend.

We introduced our guests for the day. Ted Robson returned, as did Tami Coddington and Tonya Kahler. Kenneth Walker from Ardmore Oklahoma has returned for the summer. Nora Jacquez joined us for lunch as did John Garderino. The spotlight fell on Petra and her son Joey who has a resume larger than most.

Jeff Jaeger has agreed to help host an exchange student from Thailand this next year. Jeff is on a leave of absence but still wants to help the club. Mike McGuire will also host this student.

David Brooks has bid farewell to Durango. He is off to Santa Fe where he will work for an Oil and Gas company. He did say that this was the best Rotary Club he has ever had the privilege to be a member of.

Scott Mathis announced a one-mile walk for the Heart Association to be held on Monday at Fort Lewis College. The donation is fifteen bucks and the walk takes fifteen minutes. Oh, you also get a tee shirt for your entry fee.

Tom announced that our club has gotten older and we now, those over 50, can take a driver's defense course sponsored by AARP. Mike McGuire said a discount on your insurance could be gotten for taking the course.

John Beekman and John Marshal will put up the GSE team from Israel over the weekend. Bob Volger is standing in reserve, if needed. Tom mentioned that Joe Colgin and his team is back in town.

John Anderson and Sherry Taber were given their Blue Badges in a solemn occasion.

Russell Parker then read an email we received about our business incubator project from last week. The boys on Bikes with Cream want to work on their business plan and we, as a group, gave unanimous support by loaning them five hundred bucks.

Kevin was a laid back Sargent at Arms this day. He looked for those who had dressed in drag and were seen wearing pink. No takers on that one. He fined Marv for his run to get his badge. He fined Wayne Bedor for his introduction of a guest. Officer Friendly clamped the irons on Len Goebel and caused him to be fined. We had many voluntary fines. Pam Moore announced that she will be going to Evanston Wyoming for an Easy Riders rally and the Hardly Angels will be the headliners there. Pam also announced that she has left the Bank of Colorado and is joining the Wells Fargo Mortgage Bank. Jon Marshal volunteered to brag about the great graduation at Durango Senior High School and thanked Mary Barter for her part in that. He also complimented Mike McGuire for his great presentation in Bayfield. Last but not least, he complimented Petra on her great singing voice. Jill Bruce volunteered as the girl she mentored has ended her time with La Plata Youth Services. Steve Wheeldon volunteered for the fortieth anniversary of the Diamond Circle Theater. Kevin volunteered as his shop has become a Dell authorized dealer.

We then meet Deb Pace from La Plata Youth Services. Marv Collentine had the honor of the introduction. The purpose of La Plata Youth Services is to work with youth and their families who are in the juvenile justice system to reduce recidivism, or entry in to the system and provide supportive services to meet the specific needs of these youth and their families. The agency provides diversion services that are intend to keep youth from entering the system. They also provide advocate service that help the youth in areas of getting to school, talking or focusing on what is occurring in their lives. They do have placement services where kids will be taken out of their homes by the court and placed in a Proctor Home where they are supervised and managed. Deb talked about the importance of the clubs mentoring program and how that has affected the lives of kids involved in the program. Thanks, Deb.

ONE FINAL NOTE: "Success is not forever and failure is not fatal."