RotaryGram
Durango High Noon Rotary Club
November 15, 2001
President Elect, Jeff Brown, opened the
meeting in Steve’s absence, asking Emil to offer a prayer. In the spirit of our international
challenges, Emil’s prayer was in Hungarian.
Jeff led us in the pledge and gave us news of Steve and Jennie on their
way to Tobago.
Jeff announced that ‘official’
congressional calendars were available for the taking. It seems that there was an extra day in one
of the months. Perhaps we can expect
more from our elected officials!?
Guests were introduced and yours
truly forgot to get the sign-in sheet.
We did have in our midst, Marvin from San Bernardino, CA, a PDG, with 45
years of perfect attendance. I’ll
update you all on the guests another time.
Missy Rodey spoke to us about the
United Way and how it benefits some 44 local charities. She introduced Jim Williams and Ward Holmes
who told us of this year’s goal of $575k, with current fund raising efforts suggesting
that UW may fall about 10% short.
Payroll deductions account for about 70% of the money raised for United
Way. It’s not too late to make your
contribution count, especially with the local and national economies
struggling. With no snow, there is a
chance that Durango will suffer at least a poor start to the ski season,
putting greater demand on the efforts of agencies such as the United Way.
Marv C. told us about the mentor
program. Rotarians work with La Plata
Youth Service, ‘adopting’ at risk kids as part of the diversion program. It is a 6-month commitment and each of us
can make a big difference in the life of a youngster that has had a brush with
the law.
Jill told us of her experience with
two young ladies and the difference her investment was able to make. The next Mentoring meeting is December 13th,
after our regular Rotary meeting, for those interested. Following is an outline of the Rotary Mentor
Program for Kids handout that Marv prepared:
We need a few good men and
women! This is an opportunity to get
involved with a hands-on activity, which will help a few troubled youth in
Durango.
The Mentor Program for Kids is a
volunteer activity of community members from service clubs in Durango. The community volunteers assist the Juvenile
Diversion Program and Advocacy Program for the La Plata County Youth
Services. This Mentor Program for Kids
is intended to encourage and to help monitor the activities of the young people
who have problems with the legal justice system. Members of service clubs, assisting and augmenting the Juvenile
Diversion Program and Advocacy Program, staff this volunteer program.
The program includes one on one
contact with a community volunteer and a youth assigned by the Juvenile
Diversion and Advocacy Program. The
volunteer meets with the youth at least once a week to check on his or her
activities and his or her status with the Diversion and Advocacy Program. The volunteer submits a weekly report or
places a phone call to the Diversion and Advocacy coordinator for approximately
6 months.
This role is not meant to be a
buddy-buddy relationship, but more of an authority figure or ‘grandfather’
figure that shows interest in the youngster.
The volunteer can give some sound advice on everyday activities and be a
role model to the youngster.
The activities of the volunteers
include:
· Investing 30-60 minutes each week for approximately
6 months.
· A professional at La Plata Youth Service to assist
and advise the volunteer is always available.
· Your effort could be a major boost in the attempt
to solve early problems when kids are in trouble with the law.
· Showing some ‘tender loving care’ to improve the
moral and self esteem of a trouble youth.
· Creating a win-win situation for all concerned and
a positive benefit to all.
Give
Marv a call at 259-9782 or send an e-note to collentine@frontier.net
A reminder about sustaining projects,
including highway clean-up and at-risk youth mentoring took place. Chessa told us why she is a Rotarian and
Cathy Crum spoke about herself and her experience as a Rotarian for the benefit
of newer members. She was one of the
first female GSE team members, the first of her gender to join our club and,
proudly, our first female President.
Jeff asked Carl to handle birthday and
special announcements, with Steve Osborne serving well, snapping and honking
the fines box. It was a banner day,
with ‘big bucks’ from members for milestone birthdays.
Jeff introduced Russell Parker, head of
the Vocational Service Committee. He
told us that the committee provided the wallet-sized 4-Way Test cards that were
at each person’s seat. Thanks, Russell.
Russell challenged us to rethink and
renew our commitments, putting service above self. We all have experience and expertise to share with the community,
he said. The club has $7,500.00 in
scholarship money and the committee is considering including FLC and adult
education students, as well as Durango High School.
Rotary International awards some
substantial scholarships, including a $25k Ambassadorial Scholarship, a $12k
social scholarship and another to work on world peace.
Russell asked Frank Valen to the podium.
Frank said that he will run the Interact program at DHS. He has met with the
new Principal and will be working with Robert Logan. There are currently 15 members and Frank will meet with them
every other Tuesday. A scholarship will
be awarded to one of the Interact Club members, after review of their bios and
academic accomplishments. Thanks,
Frank. Here’s a red-badger taking service
to heart!
Russell said he hopes that, with Kendall
Blanchard now a member of the club or a Rotarian with ‘connections’ at the
Fort, we can identify a professor that will work with us to get an Interact
group going. There is the possibility
of a scholarship.
A vocational and ethics program is being
reviewed for use in local schools. It
is based on the 4-Way Test to help kids make the right decisions and the
consensus of the club is that is should find it’s way into the Middle School,
rather than waiting until High School.
Tami was recognized for her efforts with
the DHS incubator program and there may be an opportunity for the club to act
as a venture fund, to finance a young entrepreneur from Chuck Owens’ business
class. Like the real world, we would
expect the money back, but unlike the real world, not including the 35% minimum
return per year.
The Vocational Service Committee is
sponsoring the High Noon Rotary Vocational Services Hero of the Month. Ballots
were at each table and should be returned to a member of the committee
(Russell, Tami, Frank, Sherry). We
would like to get the person selected mentioned each month in the Herald.
As a final note, Russell indicated that
the monument at the new amphitheatre, part of the fairgrounds re-birth, will
include the 4-Way Test. Thanks Russell for a great presentation and recap of
the Vocational Service Committee’s efforts.
Announcements included a request to drop
off items for the silent auction at the December 9th Christmas party
at Pride Insurance (by December 7th?), a reminder that the next
board meeting is November 28th, a
pitch from Emil about the San Juan Symphony and that the evening club is
holding a spaghetti dinner on December 15th.
Jeff ran a great meeting, closing with
good wishes for Thanksgiving and a reminder that the next club meting will be
November 29th.
Cub
Coming
Up!
11/22 NO MEETING
11/28 Board Meeting
11/29
Ken Fusco... youth exchange
12/6 NO MEETING
12/9 Christmas Party and
Silent Auction
12/13 Senator Isgar
12/20 ????
12/27 NO MEETING
1/3 Peace Corps
1/31 Dr. Mary Fuka, Quetzal Biomedical