Rotary Gram

Durango High Noon Rotary Club

January 17 2002

"What's important is that one strives to achieve a goal".

--Ronald Reagan

With the absence of President Steve Wheeldon, President Elect Jeff Brown and President Elect Nominee Chessa Gill, Steve Govreau, Chair of the Club Service Committee, ran the meeting. Steve opened by inviting us to reflect on our families, our community, country and the world. We recited the pledge and Steve asked members to introduced their guests.

The guests included:

* Greg Hoch

* Bob Geffee

* Walter Novotny

* Kevin Kahn

* Bart Cross

* Jill Fischer

* Kevin Schneider

* Mark Dold

* Ray Nigil

* Mike Sandberg

* Joe Colgan

was introduced, she took a moment to appeal to the members for support of the Reading Buddy Program at Park Elementary. Get in touch with her at the school to take part.

Susan Sanders, Chair of the Caring Committee, circulated a sympathy card for Jeff and Jane Jaeger. Jane's mother passed away recently.

Laurie Forbes announced that Roy Crow had retinal surgery and must lay face-down for two weeks. Books on tape would be greatly appreciated, as Laurie indicated that Roy was rather impatient with the whole ordeal. Good luck Roy!

Steve asked the newer members to stand and reminded them that attending a fireside chat is a requirement of the new member process. And....... the next opportunity if Saturday January 26, 2002 at the home of Jill and Kevin Bruce. RSVP's are requested. 6:00 PM.

Steve recognized Jack Walls who called our attention to Life-Long Learning, a free lecture series presented by the Professional Associates of Fort Lewis College. It runs from January 16th through May 2nd including topics such as Perspectives on the Arts, Perspectives on the Law, Perspectives on Education Perspectives on the Southwest and Perspectives on Education. If you did not take a leaflet that Jack put at each plate, you can call 247-7400. All the lectures are in the evening.

Paulette congratulated Puifai on her outstanding grades in most recent trimester as well as complemented her on her musical accomplishments, having learned to play a number of instruments.

A volunteer is needed for Sunday, February 3rd to pick up Puifai and Tsubasa (the student sponsored by the evening club) in Buena Vista. See Paulette for details. It's not as far as Lamar!

Paulette has one application for the short term summer exchange, with the deadline being January 31. Frank will take applications to the Roteract Club at DHS.

Sherry told us that more information on the ambassadorial scholarships is available, so see her for information and to submit a candidate.

Russell placed ballots at the front desk for nominations for Hero of the month, a Rotarian and a non-Rotarian. Fax them to Russell. If you didn't take a form, his fax number is 375-6306 or e at <mailto:parker@frontier.net>parker@frontier.net Look around. There are large and small acts worthy of recognition every day.

Tom B. and Steve O. are coordinating the float decoration for out entry in the SnowDown parade. They are in need of a couple of peddlers, maybe just one stout one, to turn the wheel as it is pulled down main on top of a flat bed trailer on loan from Building Specialties. Speaking of trailers, Steve asked the club to if someone has a surplus flatbead, 16' will do, upon which our Rotary Wheel could be permanently mounted. It's tough installing and dismantling the wheel each time it is used.

Estimates are that 10,000 people see the parade, a great opportunity to get Rotary in front of the masses. Oh, did I mention that the theme is rather like a Roman toga party. Peddlers, keep that in mind when planning your cycling attire.

Steve welcomed Jill to the Podium. She presented Tami Coddington with her blue badge, having completed the requirements of new membership. Tami's sponsor is the club's distaff member of the sergeant at arms crew, Pam Moore.

Ward Holmes invited members to send him their business website addresses or e-mail addresses to include as 'hot link' on the club's website. No charge! Reach Ward at <mailto:ward@frontier.net>ward@frontier.net

Pam reported that she and PE Jeff Brown attended the Farmington Club's meeting last week. She encouraged us to visit other clubs and enjoy. She proceeded to conduct her duties as SAA, with choir boy Carl, running the collection plate. Birthdays celebrated included Jim Wotkyns who's SOL (secret of life) is to 'Treat friends wisely"; Wynn Berven, his SOL being to "Keep marrying until you find the right one"; Steve Osborne suggests everything in moderation, John Anderson's secret is to move to Durango and join HNR and Jim White's is to stop having birthdays. I don't make 'em up folks!

Patty B. correctly answered the question of the week and won a prize worthy of the occasion. Paulette contributed in honor of her daughter's 25th and Sherry likewise, as the new grandmother of twins on New Year's Day.

Wrapping up all the club business and announcements, Steve brought Jack Walls to the podium to introduce the day's speaker. Jack welcomed Greg Hoch, Director of the City Planning Department. Greg has been with the city for over 20 years. Currently, much of his time is taken with growth issues and a review of the Durango comprehensive plan.

Greg said that things are exploding here, with more building permits issued recently than in any comparable period. The pace and scale of growth are both on the rise. As an example, Greg noted that SkyRidge holds the record for the largest project to date, but there are 800 and 1,700 unit projects under review right now. Along with the projects comes the potential for the annexation of thousands of acres.

Four elements important to the community are being worked now. They are a new high school, library, VoTech education and a hospital. Where will they be sited? Access to the highway is a key issue in many new projects.

Greg expressed his with to be able to respond to certain editorials in the local paper and wondered aloud if 'Bill' had ever read the Constitution. Property rights, trade?

Right now, his group is in the midst of the 'painful' process of updating the the city's comprehensive plan, which was just adopted in 1997. The current plan took two years to develop and addresses, among other things, the physical environment and changes thereto. Decisions about growth must be made in compliance with the plan.

Some of the challenges the Planning Department faces are the beliefs and biases that residents bring with them as they move into the community. Things here don't work the way they did back home, paraphrasing somewhat. A distinguished gentleman at my table suggested Greyhound therapy for those not happy with the manner in which the community conducts it's business. Greg pointed out that the Durango elected and appointed officials are 'squeaky clean' and of the highest integrity.

A common sense approach characterizes their activities as they move to review the comprehensive plan, revisiting their base assumptions in the process. "It is only natural for a community to change". In that regard, the city formed a Citizen's Review Committee of 20 that meets monthly as an advisory group.

Greg says that the planning department does and has done what the citizens allow. The major foci are:

* The built environment

* The natural environment

* Transportation

* Housing and economy

* Utilities and services

public meetings are held regularly to get things done and to act as forums for community members. Growth is no longer able to be projected, with further impacts cited by Greg, such as riots, floods and earthquakes. Citizen input, according to Greg, is telling the city to impose new design requirements to create quality neighborhoods.

The city cannot grow in all directions, so the question is where to grow first? South along La Posta Road, Ewing Mesa, Kroeger Ranch? The possible new hospital will transform wherever it is located. When the county builds the bridge across the Animas to La Posta Road, it will take water and sewer lines. The city is projected by some to double in size by 2017, so efforts by Greg and his people are critical.

More water storage is necessary, the sewer system is adequate and money is needed for streets. Greg suggested that the State has it's head in the sand with regard to traffic, new roads and road maintenance. Greg indicated an objective of working better with the county, but remarked that the two organizations are different politically in terms of priorities and that they tried it some years back.

In summary comments, Greg said that his planning group is "the administrator of change". He said that wherever we might want to go, we'll find it expensive and that wherever you go, you'll find change. Finally, get involved, attend meetings, talk to your appointed and elected officials.

Greg took questions, was applauded for his work and presentation and then presented with the Rotary Speaker's Mug.

Steve G. deserves a 'well done' from the club for running a great meeting.

Coming Events:

1/23: Board Meeting

1/24: Brad Finch - kids in community

1/26: Fireside Chat, at the home Jill and Kevin Bruce. 6:00 PM

1/31: Scott Mathis and Rick Carlson, Quetzal Biomedical

2/7: Tina Beekman

2/14: District Governor Bill Tarpley (possible Valentine surprise )

2/21: Rick O'Block - Hospital bio-terrorism

2/28: BUSINESS MEETING - No program or program to be arranged

3/7: Scott Stewart - Durango MTN

3/14: Ward Holmes - Web site

3/21: John Gamble and city councilmen

3/28: BUSINESS MEETING - no program or program to be arranged

4/4: Blue grass

4/11: John Piel, Durango Herald columnist

4/18: Hospice / Michelle Appenzeller

4/25: BUSINESS MEETING - or program to be arranged

5/2: no meeting - MEXICAN FOOD FIESTA

5/9:

5/16:

5/23:

5/30: BUSINESS MEETING - or program to be arranged

6/6:

6/13:

6/20

* The next Board meeting is Wednesday January 23rd, 7:00 AM in the lounge at the Double Tree.