Rotary Gram

Durango High Noon Rotary Club

October 2, 2002

"The most egregious failing of U.S. boards: Allowing astronomical pay for head honchos"

Business Week, October 7, 2002

Jeff Brown opened the meeting by presenting a bouquet of flowers and a gift certificate to Melisa Caskey for her work on the Rotary/United Way golf tournament. She took the opportunity to thank others that helped, including Steve G., John Beekmann, Mike S., Chip, Terri, Missy and Walter Parks. Rotary's share of the proceeds so far are over $11,000.00!!!!!!!

Jeff asked Ron Holligan to give the invocation and to lead us in the pledge. Guests numbered only two, Sara Jacobson, employed by La Plata County and the Honorable Fred Klatt.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Durango Marathon needs Volunteers: Missy Rodey told us of the need for 50 - 60 volunteers to work the Durango Marathon Sunday, October 13th. A variety of tasks and locations are available. Call Missy and take a look at their web site, www.durangomarathon.com . For more news, including the Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering, visit www.durango.org.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Trash Pick Up: Join Pam Moore and other High Noon Rotarians on Saturday, October 19th at Kennebec Cafe, 8:00 AM, for a no-host breakfast, followed by highway trash pickup at 9:00 AM. You should be done by 11:30 AM.

Wetlands Initiative: Tom Brossia announced that a family wants to donate $100k to help restore areas destroyed in the recent fires. He and John Anderson are the contacts if you have input regarding sites, public and private.

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

Argentine GSE Team: The team arrives in Durango on October 12th and after being collected by their host families, will make a presentation to a joint assembly of the three Durango Clubs. It is being held at the train museum, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM, no cost to Rotarians and only $16 for guests. Heavy hors d'oeuvres and a no-host bar will complete the evening. Remember, the event is instead of the October 10th meeting!

CLUB SERVICE

This week's Sergeant at Arms was Steve Govreau. With two presenters on the schedule, the was no time to solicit donations. After the ticket drawing, Chessa and Steve O. drew a card from the deck, but again, the pot rolled over. It now amounts to about $350!! The winning ticket will get 1/2 the pot.

District Conference: Jeff Brown, Paulette, John M. and others will attend this weekend.

Steve Redding on the mend: Jeff asked Bob Chaput for an update on Steve. He had surgery last Tuesday in California and should be back home by the weekend. Please send your best to Steve via e-mail or phone.

Spellership Committee: See Sherry Taber for details.

Fireside Chat: The next Fireside Chat will be held Tuesday evening, October 15th, 6:00 PM at the home of President Elect, Chessa Gil. If you are a newer member with a red badge, attendance is a must to meet new member requirements. Please RSVP to Chessa, 259-7133. Below are directions to her home from the handout at the meeting:

Take Florida Road past Edgemont.

50 yards beyond the intersection of Florida and CR 234, turn left on Sortais. The road curves to the right after 2/10ths of a mile.

Take next left - this is CR 249 or Forest Service Road 071 (brown and oval sign)

Go 1.8 miles from the turn off of Sortais to the top. Do not take any roads to the left, stay on the main road.

At top of hill (after 1.8 miles) make a right turn onto Saddle Trail (sign will also say "to Clearview")

Second driveway on the left. Address is 109 Saddle Trail. Call if you get lost, 259-7133.

ON THE TABLE

Durango Fire and Rescue Authority fund raisers:

John Maclean, author of Fire on the Mountain. October 3, 2002, 6:30 PM 130 Noble Hall, FLC.

History Channel Documentary movie, Fire on the Mountain, October 14th, 7:00 PM, Abbey Theatre.

Missionary Ridge and Valley Fire Slide Show, October 16th, 7:00 PM, Abbey Theatre.

Admission to all events is free, with donations accepted by the Durango Fire and Rescue Authority.

PROGRAM

Jeff introduced the club's own Wayne Bedor, Director Finance and Central Services for La Plata County. Wayne presented an overview of county spending and the sources of funding. Further, he addressed the upcoming ballot question regarding the continuation TABOR and C.R.S. 29-1-301 Exemption.

La Plata county continues to have one of the lowest mill levys (8.5) in the state. The ballot question is the same as those that passed in 1994 and 1997, with no increase in mill levy or in sales tax rates. It authorizes the county to collect and spend or reserve all revenues of the county from existing property and sales taxes, non-federal grants and other revenue sources in the year 2003 and thereafter......... in spite of limitations set forth in the Colorado Constitution or revised statutes.

Bottom line, the assessed value for oil and gas has increased 475% in the last six years. The county can use the additional tax revenue for capital projects, road and bridge maintenance, public safety, human services and other county services. The county needs you vote to extend the exemption that allows the collection of excess available taxes from the increase valuation of oil and gas. See you at the polls!

Jeff thanked Wayne and Sara Jacobson, who handled graphics, and gave the stage to Paulette, another High Nooner deeply committed to the community. She is the Executive Director of Adult Education in Durango. Colorado, unfortunately, is the only state that does not fund adult education. However, through grants from the CO Department of Education, 35 centers across the state receive about 15% on their funding.

Funds from United Way help with the cost of the programs and staff, especially important if you are 21 or older, as the cost of GED education is the responsibility of the student. Paulette indicated that 15% of the population suffers from dyslexia, a learning disorder marked by the impairment of the ability to read. 80 - 90% of those seeking adult education are either unable to read or are very poor readers.

To qualify for a GED, the student must be able to read and write. 1 out of 7 HS diplomas are GED's and there are about 12 million recipients in the United States. There were 90 GED's awarded in Durango last year!

The GED is not an easy accomplishment, in fact, 40% of high school seniors do not pass the new GED. There are lots of students between 27 and 53 years of age, but the largest group is those 16 - 19. Adult education fills educational gaps in the community, looking for need and providing the help, one on one and in small groups.

Family literacy programs are offered, where kids and parents improve their skills. It has been determined that a mother's educational level is the best predictor of a child's achievement. 54% of students that earn their GED within a year, suggesting a high level of motivation, and a high percentage of those go on to post secondary education.

Know someone that could benefit from adult education? Put them in touch with Paulette. Want to make a contribution to the Family Literacy Education Grant Program? Send them to:

Colorado Dept. of Education, Accounting office, 201 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO 80203.

Gifts received will be deposited with the state treasurer who will credit it to the Family Literacy Education Fund. The deadline is December 1, 2002.

Supporting education raises incomes, reduces incarcerations and benefits us all. Jeff thanked Paulette for her presentation and her commitment to community adult education.

COMING UP

Oct 10 NO MEETING ON THURSDAY.

Oct 12 Argentine GSE Team Arrives

Oct 12 Reception for GSE Team Members and the presentation of their program. Train museum, 6:30 PM

Oct 15 Fireside Chat, 6:00 PM at the home of Chessa Gil

Oct 15 GSE Mid-Tour Break begins

Oct 17 American Cancer Society. Denise Maurer

Oct 19 Trash pick up, Kennebec Cafe, 8:00 AM

Oct 24 Octoberfest Dinner at Fairgrounds

Oct 31 Mercy Medical Center

John E. Marshall

3005 County Road 207

Durango, CO 81301

970-259-6248 p

970-259-4498 f