High Noon Rotary Club

August 29, 2002

Quote: "Time is a great healer. That's why they make you wait so long in a doctor's office."

President Brown led a wonderful meeting dedicating the Rotary Amphitheater at the Fair Grounds. The celebratory event was studded with local dignitaries and community leaders. Funded in part with a $50,000 grant from our Club, this gorgeous amphitheater is our largest single commitment to the community.

The Hon. Scott McInnis inserted into the Congressional Record of June 18, 2002 warm remarks entitled "Paying Tribute to the Durango High Noon Rotary Club. He wrote, in part, "Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the HNRC, an organization that has selflessly worked toward the creation of the new Rotary Amphitheater in Durango, Colorado. The work of individual members and the Board of Directors of HNRC is responsible for many welcomed additions to the Durango community."

Past President Tom Galbraith, noting "the best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago, the next best time is today", reflected upon the seeds for this project. He recalled how seven years ago the Board of HNRC embarked upon a revolutionary new policy of multi-year budgets spanning several annual presidencies.

Immediate Past President Steve Wheeldon spoke of the many monthly meetings held just across the street at Aroma's by the Capital Projects/Endowment Committee. They were the foot soldiers for this project and current members included: Mike Matheson, Wayne Bedor, Jim Jessings, Jim Mulkey, Jeff Brown, Bob Griffith, Bob Foster, Laurie Forbes, Dean Brookie, Tom Galbraith, Sam Stites, Petra Lyon and himself. The next major project facing today's Committee is the Buckley Park effort.

Past District Gov. Bill Tarpley reflected with pride that fact that Rotary has been an active participant in our community for 73 years.

(Nigh Noon was founded May 1, 1979, twenty-three years ago, upon the 50th anniversary of the original Rotary club)

Durango City Councilwoman Virginia Castro presented HNRC with a plaque on behalf of the city acknowledging our contributions to the community.

She was joined by Joe Colgan and Amos Cordova.

Rep. Mark Larson, noting that the State had absolutely nothing to do with the amphitheater, praised the partnership aspect of this project.

Sen. Jim Isgar also had very kind words about Rotary in general and our club in particular. He spoke about RI's efforts to eradicate polio worldwide and our beautification projects such as the original Rotary Park in downtown and the Durango Animas River Trail. The Senator recalled how Roy Crow once invited him to participate in a Rotary-sponsored foreign exchange program, and how to this date he regrets not availing himself of that opportunity.

County Commissioner Fred Klatt, his emotions apparent, declared "This Place Rocks". He spoke of the ten-year Fair Grounds renovation plan and how well the amphitheater is a perfect piece of the whole complex. He calls the nearly completed project a jewel of Durango and La Plata County. He praised the sense of volunterism in our part of the world, culminating with three Rotary Clubs. He received a standing ovation at the conclusion of his heart-felt remarks -- of course being a charter member of our club and a Past President (1985-86) had nothing to do with our respect for Fred.

The meeting concluded with draftee Bob Volger reading "To Be a Rotarian":

To be young is to swim in pools

you did not dig.

To be a Rotarian is to dig pools

in which you will not swim.

To be young is to dance to music

you did not write

To be a Rotarian is to write music

to which you will not dance.

To be young is to sit under trees

you did not plant.

To be a Rotarian is to plant trees

under which you will not sit.

To be young is to seek benefits

from a city you did not build.

To be a Rotarian is to build a city and a community

from which you will not benefit.

This is what Rotary is about..."Service Above Self".

We all enjoyed an excellent meeting. All the speakers were kind, sincere, and brief. The food was fine. And the amphitheater is really something else. It is beautiful. Jill Bruce tells me it has already served as a wedding site just last week.

Next week 9/6: The Honorable District Governor Chuck Tutor. Be on good behavior!

Spencer, Cub-Sub