Rotary Gram

Durango High Noon Rotary Club

February 21, 2002

""What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly." -- Lao Tsu

Our esteemed President, complete with banana necklace, opened the meeting and proceeded with his silent invocation. He asked us to contemplate the Olympian usurpation of our Rotarian ideas of world-wide fellowship, joy and camaraderie.

Whoa Nelly!! It was SRO with many guests, no doubt due to our superb program -- thanks Chessa and Rick'B.! Guests included Mike Sandberg, becoming a regular, and Ryan Borchers, guest of Scott Mathis. Ryan runs "Fire Ready", a Mancos firm specializing in home protection from wildfires. Other guests included Char Bay, Ron (illegible) from Irving Texas, and Donna Williams, who is organizing the United Way Golf Tournament. More guests included about- to- be new member Mark Dold, Ellen Schneider -- wife of new member Kevin same-last-name, and Dale Garland. You remember him -- he is from the DHS and every year seeks Rotary folks to help judge the National History Day contest.

A plethora of Announcements: Jim W. provided an update on Mark Carroll ("some positive developments but still a serious struggle") and passed a card around for all to sign. Steve read a thank-you note from Gov. Bill Tarpley and his wife. He praised the club and she relished her bouquet and chair. Steve Redding shared a note of thanks from La Plata Youth Services for the donation of a computer, while Mike Matheson brought to our attention a Big Brother/Big Sister Bowling fund-raiser and encouraged the formation of a Rotary Team. [Call Mike or BB/BS @ 247.3720] Ward Holmes announced a PR campaign with the Herald and local radio stations promoting "The Faces of Rotary". You will recall from last week ‘She is a Local Banker, He is a State Trooper, and He is a Community Leader'

Tom Brossia presented new awards from the Capital Projects committee. Two hundred bucks here, seven hundred there -- he will provide a complete write-up for a future newsletter.

Our Presidente announced "House Rules" for our weekly meetings, effective maybe until the next administration: They include No Politics nor Religion. Be discrete when announcing fund-raisers for other organizations, jokes should be in good taste (he didn't provide any examples), and the Sgt at Arms is not really a "fine collector" but rather the gentle gatherer of voluntary "Happy Dollar" donations. Birthdays are celebrated with mandatory "Secrets of Life" wisdom, and optional Paul Harris donations. He also asked for ideas for hands-on ("Get your hands dirty") projects, such as the Durango Nature Center event last year.

Membership Maven Jill presented Blue Badges to two new full members: Ms. Jenny Kane, formerly known as Miss July, and Mr. Doug Lashley. Congrats!! Tom Brossia introduced our newest Red Badger: Mr. Kevin Schneider. He owns Durango Electric and is ready to retire after wiring the new Brossia home. His wife of the same last name cheered Kevin on. Welcome Kevin!! We still have around fourteen new member Red Badges, which is fortunate for Mark Prouty and crew -- Mexican Food day is around the corner.

Our multi-talented President also served as Sgt. At Arms and asked three Olympic trivia questions: 1) What shape are the medals? 2) What Greek God graces the medal?, and 3) Which country currently leads in the medal count? Answers below.

We enjoyed a terrific program! Dr. Carl Salka MD from Mercy, assisted by Chris Burnett, was introduced by Rick O'B as one the most respected and nicest staff member of the Hospital (I can confirm the latter!) His presentation was on "Bioterrorism and What You Need to Know Now". Part I focused on medical issues: How likely, what would happen, and how is Biological Terrorism different from Chemical attacks. Bioterrorism through history stretches from Hannibal hurling poisonous snakes in earthern vessels at enemy ships in 190 BC to the 1979 Russian accident and the Iraqi attack on the Kurds. At least 17 nations have biologic weapons while the threat shifts from nations to extremist groups. The October 2001 anthrax attacks numbered 22 in all, eleven of the cutaneous (skin) type and the other half inhalation anthrax. Six inhalation victims died. By comparison, influenza is responsible for some 20,000 deaths per year in the U.S.

Dr. Salka proceeded to discuss the Big Four bio agents: Anthrax (80% mortality), Smallpox (30% mortality), Botulism, and Plague. You had to be there to appreciate this discussion and pictures!

Part II addressed the response measures adopted by Mercy and indeed all hospitals and public health officials. Beyond the expected measures, of interest is that the CDC has eight fully loaded 747s equipped with 800,000 packages of drugs, antidotes and ventilators available for immediate dispatch around the country. At the personal level, be prepared but don't panic. For example, buying face masks won't help you because you will not be aware of your exposure until too late.

Perhaps the best thing we can do is simply stay in beautiful, low density Durango.

Great meeting! Upcoming events:

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

[John, as you may be aware, is in Hawaii...I wasn't invited, darn. So this weeks Newsletter is brought to you, live and in the flesh ...er, text...by your Scribe, the Cub-Subber].

Answers to trivia: 1) The medal is shaped like a smooth river rock. 2) Nike, the Greek God of Victory (or shoes). 3) Everyone knows the answer to this question.