Rotary Gram

Durango High Noon Rotary Club

June 6, 2002

"In peace-time, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons"

an old Greek...................

Steve opened the meeting with his trade mark, WELCOME, saying he was glad to see us all and wondered how we liked the banana desert. Indicating that bananas are his secret of life, Steve asked each of us to think of our secret of life and then led us in the pledge.

Guests were introduced, including:

Deb Duncan

Marilee White

Shonda Anderson, scholarship recipient last year.

Arnold Santistevan (speaker)

Gary Wane, visiting Rotarian

Jan Measles

the Honorable Mark Larson

Community Service:

Hummingbird Garden: Wayne Bedor announced that more than 10 members helped with the June 1st effort to construct a garden with plants attractive to humming birds. Lots of people shoveled and had lots of fun in return. A photo of the gang was circulated during the meeting.

Amphitheatre Dedication: The dedication will be June 20th and will be a meeting with the meal catered by Clifton's SubWay store. Sandwiches, chips, cookies, sodas and water will be provided. Left overs will go to the homeless shelter.

Youth Service:

RYLA: HNR sponsored two students to the 10th annual RYLA youth leadership conference. Attendees were Larry Myers, Jr., a student from DHS and our own Puifai. Transportation to Lamar was provided by the parents of the student from the evening club, with gas to be split among the clubs.

Rotary International Youth Exchange Tour hosts: 48 Rotary Exchange students, who have been hosted this school year in the Central U.S. and Canada, will arrive in Durango Tuesday, June 18th. They will stay for two nights, leaving on Thursday morning. Their schedule is:

June 18. Students arrive around 5:00 - 5:30 PM when the train arrives from Silverton.

June 19. Students leave for whitewater rafting at 9:45 AM. When they return, they would like to have shopping time down town. Bud Deering and South City Market will provide box lunches for this day. The group can be picked up at 4:00 PM.

June 20. Students depart at 8:30 AM.

Host family responsibilities:

June 18. Meet students at Rotary Park and bring potluck dish to share with all host families, club members and students. Take students home.

June 19. Provide breakfast for students and bring them to town meeting place by 9:45 AM. Pick up students and take them home for dinner and family evening. Students will probably need to wash and dry rafting clothes and shoes.

June 20. Provide breakfast for students and bring them to meeting place by 8:30 AM.

Club Service:

Walter Parks completed all the requirements of new members and was presented with his Blue badge by Pam Moore.

On the Table:

Champagne Brunch and Silent Auction: Sunday June 16th, 12:00 Noon at Norton's, 3600 Main Ave. Admission is $10, with proceeds going to the Friends of Dyslexic Youth. Call 375- 1971.

E-Business Legal and Security Issues: Call 247-2929 for class time and place.

Announcements:

Mex Fest Dinero: Get your ticket money to Mark ASAP.

Mike Schafer is celebrating 37 years of marriage.

Chessa Gill's son paid her a surprise visit.

Missy Rodey's son just finished his orthopedic residency with the distinction of being named top resident.

Breakfast club: DG Bill Tarpley told Steve that the meeting last week to explore setting up a new Rotary Club was attended by 20+ people. The two current Durango Clubs have agreed to act as co-sponsors.

Updated Member Roster: I (Bob Chaput) am in the planning stages of setting up the roster for the YE 30Jun02. I no longer maintain the database of member information: the Bobbsy Steves, Govreau & Redding, that is, do. Will you please place an announcement in the next three (3) RotaryGrams advising the membership that if any information has changed since the last roster or if they want to modify any information, the should contact Steve Redding, sredding@outerbounds.net, and give him the updated information. Information changes not received by 30Jun02 will (probably) not be in the new roster. Members shouldn't assume that because they are extra special and know Steve Wheeldon that the grunts on the roster staff (me) might have assimilated the information through social osmosis. Many members have told me how important the roster is to them. I would like to make it as accurate as possible.

Proposed Member: Thornton W. Price, III "Terry"

Sponsor: Bud Deering

Classification: Lawyer and Author

Thornton, "Terry Price", was born in Illinois and as a small child lived in

India. He earned a bachelors degree in anthropology from Arizona State

University and a law degree in 1976. He was admitted to practice law in

Arizona and Colorado. He practiced law in Florence, Arizona as a Deputy

County Attorney and later opened his sole practice in Phoenix.

Terry and his wife, Kathleen moved to Durango and Terry maintains a solo

practice and operates Price Llama ranch, an irrigated 80-acre llama

breeding, boarding, training, and sales operation. They have a daughter,

Hilary now in college. He now writes non-fiction books with literary,

entertainment and educational merit upon contemporary

issues of public importance. Terry enjoys llama packing, rock climbing,

golfing and alpine skiing.

He wants to join Rotary to expand his involvement in service of local

community activities. He wants to actively participate in a group that

affirmatively seeks to make life better. His grandfather was a founding

member of the Atlanta Rotary in 1937, and has several relatives that are

active across the US.

(comments to Steve W. or Jill B.)

Program:

Ellen Roberts took the floor to introduce Arnold Santistevan, Director of Public and Private Education for the Southern Ute Tribe, who titled his presentation as a 'state of Southern Ute education.' Arnold told us that many realize how difficult educations is when a parent tries to help a child with their homework.

Arnold told us of all the tasks required of today's teachers, including adjusting to the differences in kids and matching learning styles to teaching styles. In 1980, the Tribe recognized that the battle for Indian children would be fought and won in the classroom. Education was recognized as the new 'weapon.'

Today's tribal education includes a private component in the form of a new academy, a public component that includes tutoring and higher education, with full scholarships through Ph.D., anywhere the student is accepted.

Arnold said that he favors competition in education and that education doesn't change overnight. Counseling is provided to augment the district's efforts, along with after school programs. One point he stressed, was the teaching of school skills to the kids.

He wants the kids to be good citizens and to not be afraid to leave the area to be successful in the big 'blue-eyed world'. The focus today is on the younger students and those that are college-bound.

The current system includes four "Pillars".

Montessori type instruction.

The students.

Dynamic Ute language lessons.

P. E., Art and music.

In order to attend a tribal school, a child must be a tribal member or a direct descendant of a member. As part of their education, kids are encouraged to become parts of other communities.

Arnold stated that teacher salaries in the Ute schools are the 'best in the area'. When kids are younger, there is great parent involvement that Ute schools have the same issues as other schools.

At the end of his remarks, Arnold took several questions and was thanked by Steve and presented with the Rotary speaker's mug.

Steve says don't miss the June 13th meeting, 'it's about us'. June 20th is the dedication of the new park, with lunch provided by Cliff's Subway store. On the 27th, Steve will pass the banana to P.E. Jeff Brown.

Coming Up:

June 13th, "It's about us".

June 19th, next board meeting.

June 20th, dedication of new amphitheatre.

June 27th, last meeting conducted by President Steve.

July 11, Durango School District 9-R Bond Referendum, Dr. Mary Barter and Debra Uroda

July 17, Durango Nature Studies w/ Ann Rilling and E.D. Cheryl Weiscamp.