Rotary Gram

March 6, 2003

"May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house."

--George Carlin

 

Jeff was back in the drivers seat.  After thanking Chessa for taking over for him last week, a prayer and pledge that included a special word of care for our own Mark Dold who has been recalled to active duty in the U.S. Navy we introduced guests.

 

Kenneth Walker

Tom Cheatam

Our Exchange students:

            Tanner Serbel

            Bonny Mc Cann

            Kelsea Ferrato

Visiting their exchange student from Sweden, visiting Rotarians

Anita Andler

Sten Andler

Visiting Rotarian from Pagosa Springs

            Bill Nobles

Wife of the Boss (?)

            Charlotte Brown

And From the Adaptive Sports Organization

            Tim Kroes

Jeff asked Tim to make a special presentation to the club.  First Tim thanked the club and the organizers of the Red Ball Express for the opportunity to raise funds.  He then asked our "ski team" of Steve Osborne, Steve Wheeldon, Chip Lile, Bob Chaput and Scott Mathis to come forward and accept the Slip Sliden Award for service clubs.  This was given to them as they raised the most funds of any service organization in the Dave Spencer Classic fundraiser this past weekend. 

 

Mark Proudy gave us a reminder that the last fundraiser for the Rotary year is May 1 at the LaPlata County fairgrounds.  It is of course the annual Mexican Feeding frenzy.

 

Officer  (Friendly) Mike Mc Guire was promoted to Sergeant (at arms) and sited Sherry Tabor for her recent appeal to all Scofflaws with outstanding library books in the Herald.   Bud Deering for wearing sunglasses and talking on a cell phone prior to the meeting.  This would have been acceptable had the phone actually had a battery in it.  Rick O'block for going to Texas.  Steve Osborne for his impending trip to Iowa.  Bob Volger for his upcoming trip to Hawaii.  Mike got help from Rick O'clock and others sighting Steve Redding for distributing free Subway sandwich coupons to all and Steve Wheeldon for changing tables during lunch.  Others where sited for anniversaries and birthdays highlighted by Nancy Hammond for her 41 anniversary, Jennifer Simon for there 5th.  Others were mentioned, however your scribe never finished that shorthand course and missed them.  Steve Govreau paid to celebrate his transfer of power (Secretarial and money duties) to Steve Redding for the next few months.

 

Jeff then mentioned that it is always great to have some members that always step forward when needed.  He described a member of the club that has stepped up numerous times when we have needed help.  He sponsors one of our vocational scholarships every year, shows up at functions and helps, has made the difference in several of our fund raisers by donating time and money and is a good guy.  Our own Bud Deering.  Jeff asked Bud to give a "short" history of his life.  Well that didn't happen.  For obvious reasons Bud's life has several meetings in value. After offering earplugs to those he felt may not want to hear this, he gave us the first of what is threatened to be a three to four part series.  From his highlights each better and more interesting than the one before.  Born in Durango but banished to Silverton at one day old, Bud went on to cover his life in this area growing up in the 30's and 40's until the mines started going south.  He did time in a Presperterian school dominated by Mormons.  He dated  Jeannie Wheeldon's mother.  After graduating CU in Boulder and being in the Navel Officer Reserve Training Corp there he set out on his 20 plus year military career in the U.S. Marines. Highlights of this were his work with training Marine Cop officers in the proper care and feeding of nuclear weapons, working in the Pentagon with the late General Chappie Jones and flight duty in Viet Nam. "The best flying I ever did."  Thank you Bud. This also covers his strong desire to pay back for what he is today.  "The military didn't cost me a dime."  Returning to Durango to work in industry, law enforcement, the federal judicial system and eventually raising (?) to county commissioner.  This explains his member designation as "deposed dictator" on his name badge.   This is only the Readers Digest version of Buds life and one can only hope that we hear more.

 

The Program:  Yes there was one!

Dean Brookie and Brian Kimmel brought us up to date on the Buckley Park Project.  After the 9R school board gave their okay to proceed with the conceptual planning of the park.  Brain, Dean and a "host of others" have developed what appears to be a beautiful plan for a showpiece for Durango.  Stating that the area of the park is the gateway to the downtown the designers envision a passive park-civic center that contains a flat water fountain, wide walkways leading to a children's play area on the north end.   The goal of the park would be to improve on the existing growth of trees without losing to many.  Brian Kimel also stated that it would be an opportunity to what should be planted in this climate.  While the current estimate for completion is not yet completely settled it is in the area of $500,000.oo plus.  With the use of value engineering and sweat labor it is a possibility this figure will be less.  Questions included, what would it be used for?  A nice place for lunch in the summer.  A place for more outside events.  How will it be done?  In phases, depending on the location of the new library, the needs of the Excel School and financing.  What if the 9R school district decides it needs the land?  There would be a long-term lease agreement before moving forward.

 

With that said Jeff thanked everyone for coming and adjourned.

 

Thrice removed sub-cub;

Ward Holmes

 

Any corrections should be directed to our editor in Chief Ms. Helen Waite.  Again if you have corrections go to Helen Waite.