Rotary Gram
Durango High Noon Rotary Club

January 9, 2003

"Mesmerized by the dazzling market gains of the late-1990s, many investors developed a false sense of risk tolerance after watching their holdings zoom ahead at a 20% or more annual clip. But after the bubble burst, some discovered that their pain threshold wasn't as high as they had orginally thought and saw nerves of steel shredded into scrap metal"

Russ Banham, Fidelity Outlook, 8/02........

President Elect Nominee, Trooper Mike McGuire opened the meeting, calling on Len Goebel to give the invocation and lead the pledge. He then shared some words of wisdom, "there they go and I must follow as I am their leader."

Jeff took back the floor before things go out of hand and called for the introduction of guests. Counting on receiving the list of guest registrants so that I didn't have to take names, alas, no list appeared last week. I did note the following and will try to get the list this coming Thursday:

Ellen Hartsfield - FLC

Jennifer Simon - ACS

Dale Garland - DHS

Announcements

Mentor Program: With La Plata Youth Services still receiving funding, the need for mentors continues. Contact Marv in order to make a difference in the lives of young, at-risk kids in the community.

National History Day: Dale Garland, DHS teacher, announced that this year's theme for National History Day is Rights and Responsibilities. Students will create projects around this theme and compete to locally to try for national-level recognition. Dale needs volunteers to judge the kid's projects on Friday, February 7th @ FLC. Breakfast, lunch and training will be provided. Contact Dale through DHS to participate.

SnowDown Follies Ticket Raffle: Bud Poe and Bob Chaput will hold a raffle at the Thursday's meeting for two tickets to the Follies. The proceeds will go to Rotary. The minimum bid will be $100.00, with the winners having the privilege of sitting by our PEN Mc Guire and his bride Carol. Bring your check books and go to the follies and get a charitable deduction in the process.

Community Service

Red Ball Express: Planning continues for the newest fund raiser, the Red Ball Express. The event has been moved to February 15th at Chapman Hill. For a complete review, go to: http://www.durangoherald.com/asp-bin/article_generation.asp?article_type=news&article_path=/news/news030114_5.htm for the article titled "Rotary Clubs Join Forces for 'Red Ball' Fund Raiser. Jeff said the organizing committee is meeting 1 - 2 times a week for the event that will raise funds for many of the areas non-profits as well as a split of monies between the 3 clubs. Tom Brossia called for volunteers to set up and to help during the event. It should be a b...........!

Viva Carnaval!: Planning continues for the event of the winter, Snowdown Snowball 2003. Saturday, February 1st at the Grand Ballroom of the Double Tree Hotel. Two bands, tons of Brazilian-style hor d'oeuvres, deserts so sweet that they'll keep Dr. Volger busy for year, Latin dance instruction with prizes for best dancing and costumes and a silent auction. Proceeds go to Durango's charitable organizations and to provide area scholarships.

Jan Measles made a call for silent auction items. Call her to deliver your special item. Reservations are required, $50.00 per person, so call Jan (375-7036) or Steve G. (382-0703).

I'd rather not drive home: Peter Marshall is making special "Take the elevator Home Rates" available on a first come first served basis for just $59 bucks (+ tax) for those who are really going to partay the night of the SnowBall. Mention the special when you call 259-6580 for reservations.

San Juan Mountains Association: Jenny Newcomer told us how funds from Wal-Mart and the HNRC are being put to work. K-6 kids are getting after school environmental education and this year, Earth Day and Arbor Day will be celebrated, probably with a project. There will be a spring river clean-up, part of the service/learning stewardship mission. By the way, did you know that the San Juan Mtns. Association supports the BLM and Forest Service, to help provide education to all user groups, build trails, man interpretive/cultural sites (and more) and through it's massive volunteer base, makes every $1.00 raised do the work of $9.00!! Thanks Jennifer.

Sergeant at Arms

Mike Matheson had duty this week, starting by having everyone at a table with no guest to ante up a buck each. Special recognition was given to Mike Sandberg, Mike McGuire, Mary Barter and Dick Pearson. Chessa and Jim Wotkyns drew from the deck, to no avail.

Caring Committee

Paulette has thyroid surgery: Chessa told us that Paulette is progressing well after surgery to remove her thyroid. A card was circulated for all to sign. Get well and come back soon!

Club Service

New Menu options: Steve Govreau announced that the Double Tree now offers us the option of Healthy and Alternative Entrees for lunch.

In addition to the normal rotating buffet fare (go to http://www.durangohighnoonrotary.com/regularmenu2003.htm

for a listing of menu items through December 18th, 2003), Healthy Choices including Seasonal Fruit with Cottage Cheese, Vegetarian Lasagna and a Steamed Vegetable Plate are available. To have a Healthy Choice instead of the buffet for the day, call Deb Briel, 382-3912 or Betsy Stephens, 392-3913 by 2:00 PM the day before the meeting.

To have an Alternative Entree (chef's choice) call by the end of business on Monday. Hey, the chef might have lot's of crab legs! Thanks Peter for providing the club with the options and thanks Steve G. for making it happen!

By-Laws: Jeff commended Steve G. and Chessa for their work to revise the club's by-laws. Posted previously on the website for review by all members and with a quorum present, a motion was made to accept the revisions. The vote of the members present was unanimously in favor of the motion. Thanks for the long and dedicated effort!

Jeff asked John Marshall to share a bit of his life with the club and he did.

Presentation

Jeff called Patty to the podium to introduce the day's speaker, Dr. Robert Dolphin, Interim President of Fort Lewis College. She told us that 'Bob' has taught since 1964, coming to FLC in '84 as the Dean of the Business School. Later he was take the responsibility for the business and finance of the school and along the way was Mayor of Durango, served on numerous boards and was recognized as the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the year.

Bob told us that he has been a member of all three Durango Rotary clubs, currently a member of the Daybreak Club. He focused his remarks on 5 subjects, the Budget, Admissions, the new Board, the search for a new President and Vouchers.

Regarding the budget, he said we should not expect a quick recovery at the state level. He projected that FLC would suffer cuts in the $2 million range, quite significant in that 75 - 80% of the budget is spent on salaries. Due to the Tax Payer's Bill of Rights (TABOR amendment), it will be even tougher to receive additional monies in the future.

Standards for admission and a new marketing strategy are underway. Currently, 20% of new students can be admitted without meeting the college's standards. Over the next four years, that number will be reduced until all students will meet the standards. Efforts are underway to create the FLC Brand and students will be tracked to be certain that each receives the services necessary to help assure graduation. Increasing retention rates is a priority.

A national search firm is engaged to help find the next president. Bob expects to have 10 - 12 candidates on January 23rd, with the board reducing that number to 2 or 3 who will then be interviewed in Durango. Bob stressed that FLC needs a president that understands Colorado, including the constraints of the tax system.

A voucher-type system is being developed that, if passed, could mean $800k to the college. I would provide $4k per student to the school. Community College tuitions could be cut by 25% to provide better access to students of limited means and would also take some of the pressure off the 4 year schools. Tuition is likely to grow by 5% in 4 year schools.

Bob says that FLC is a strong and viable college and that he is very optimistic about the future. FLC provides a lot to the community and to non-traditional students. There are 17 lectures planned this winter as part of Life-Long Learning and 45,000 tickets will be sold to events in the Community Concert Hall.

He estimates that the college puts $85 million into the local economy annually. The new board has a goal to double the endowment over the next 5 years, to $22 million and their charter now allows graduate programs.

FLC, through positioning the brand, will become known as the public alternative to private liberal arts colleges.

Finishing his remarks to a round of applause, Jeff presented Bob with the thanks of the club and, the gift of gifts, a Rotary mug.

Commenting on the size of the club, Jeff said that if it gets any bigger we could take over the entire room. With nothing more for the good of Rotary, Jeff rang the meeting to a close.

Coming Up

Jan 15 Board Meeting, 7:00 AM Double Tree Bar

Jan 16 Ellen Roberts

Jan 23 Club Assembly

Jan 30 Either Al Harper from the D&SRR or Bobby Lieb from the Durango Chamber

Feb 6 Charlie Albert, Two years in Chile

Feb 13 Bobby Lieb (if not presenting on Jan 30)

Feb 20 Open

Feb 27 Jay Hwang State Farm Insurance Fraud Unit.

All dates in March are open.

John E. Marshall

3005 County Road 207

Durango, CO 81301

970-259-6248 p

970-259-4498 f