R O T A R Y G R A M
May
22, 2003
"Character
is what you are in the dark."
D. L. Moody
Why? Is the steak next to the sirloin called a
"Porterhouse steak"
Jim Mulkey opened
the meeting with a graceful Innovocation and Pledge.
Guests:
President Jeff noted
we enjoyed a plethora of guests.
Visiting Rotarians included Bill Cartwright from Fredericksburg MD and
Dick Bartlett from Redlands CA, both introduced by Laurie Forbes. Rotarian Cartwright recently moved to the
Ranch and is Regional Marketing Manager for Somerset Capital Group -- and more
importantly is a Paul Harris Fellow!
Also Rotarian Roy Gust from Phoenix AZ took time out visiting his kids
in Bayfield to join us for lunch. Ted
Robson introduced his golf buddy Tom Cheatham and Tami shared lunch with
Richard Biegel, a parent of one of the many High School students joining us
today. Bill H. welcomed David Downs and
Ward H. bought lunch for Tim Walsworth of United Way.
Announcements
& Happenings:
Chip Lile announced
hosts are being sought for a visiting Japanese student. Details TBA.
The Board directed
$7,500 raised by our Mexican Food production to be dedicated for
scholarships. The Club honored Mark P
for his wonderful efforts making this event the success it is. Did you know we served 1,900 meals? (Wow!!)
Bess again promoted
the Relay for Life benefit June 13-14 sponsored by the American Cancer
Society. New this year one can purchase
a Luminaria in memory or in honor of
those whose lives have been touched by cancer. Call her or Mary Dowler at the ACS at 385-7977.
Melissa reminded us
of our largest single fund-raiser the
Golf Tournament Aug 9 at Dalton.
Rotarians, this is a major undertaking -- so please call her with your
offer of help! We are always proud of our Chiefs, but they do need many, many
Indians.
Our own Mike
Saunders auctioned off a box of Lomi Linda cookies to benefit those same Cancer
folks -- won by Jeff Brown's Table.
Finally, Dr. Bob
held forth as Sgt.at Arms and only gently fined those for the usual offenses:
Special days, not wearing their Rotary pins, and those folks with Mexican
Tickets yet to be returned. Maybe he
was gentle because he himself is tardy with his tickets? Scott and Marv blew their chances to win the
$325 jackpot.
Program:
Sherry Taber, our
Director of Vocation Services, introduced Tami Coddington who again spearheaded
our involvement with the DHS Business Incubator Program. Directed by Chuck Owens at DHS, the program
introduces students to business by asking them to conceive and draft Business
Plans. Of more than 20 Business Plans
submitted, we enjoyed hearing from the top three submissions.
A proposed
"Daydream Cafe' was analyzed by Christie Johnson and Kelsey Hendrix. They developed the What, the Why, the Where,
the Equipment needs, Marketing Strategy, Board of Directors, Competition
survey, Employee policies, Financial projections, and other key elements to a business plan. They landed in 3rd place and won $50 from
HNR.
Student Keanan
Stoner followed with a proposed business called "Rampage Rails &
Ramps". He would manufacture with
the help of a welder friend various rails and ramps used by skate-boarders and
then market them to public and private providers of access to such
facilities. He also wisely chose to be
a Sole Proprietorship. He too provided
a comprehensive business plan and for his efforts won 2nd place and $100 for
his efforts.
The winning business
plan was created by Brendon Biegel. His
idea is to open an Internet cafe called "Fiber-Wire Cafe". His very imaginative business plan included
many features not common in Business Plans.
He had researched and priced a specific location (742 Main Ave), he
conduced a 20-question survey to determine user needs, developed a specific
time-staged marketing plan, and promised Community Service ("at least
twice a year I will work with Rotary on community projects." Did he know
his audience!). Finally, he provided a
26-page handout for your appreciative
correspondent. For going above and
beyond, Brendon won 1st place and $150 from NHR.
Chuck Owens then
introduced DHS students Alfie Umbhau, Austin Nickell and Erin Corwin who are
leaders of the DHS Future Business Leaders of America. These students prevailed at a District
conference in Alamosa, another competition in Denver and finally to the State
Leadership Conference in Vail. They all
placed within the top ten and are traveling to Dallas June 22nd for the
Regional Competition. This is a first
for DHS and we are proud of our students.
They need a bit of dinero for travel/hotel expenses -- you may support
this excellent adventure by contacting Chuck Owens at DHS.
As a former
Professor at a graduate-level MBA program and an entrepreneur who has gone
through at least three Business Plans for real, I must tell you these kids are
terrific! And you will not believe
this: Of the 20-odd business plans Tami and her crew reviewed, the three top
winners were all -- get this -- first-year Freshman students! We thank Chief Tami and her Indians Russell
Parker, John Marshall, Laurie Forbes, Ellen Roberts, Emil Nagy, Jim Watkins,
and probably others.
Mark
your Calendars:
Program
Our Legislators are
on Spring Break!
/29 Program Wow! Congressman (Governor?) Scott McInnis. Not to be missed!
6/05 Program Wow! Our Senate and House
representatives. Not to be missed!
Why? In
olde England no distinction was made between the sirloin and the
porterhouse. In 1814 an American named
Martin Morrison opened his Porterhouse tavern in New York City and specialized
in this cut of beef. A
"porterhouse" was a tavern that served dark beer and ale called
porter because it was a favorite drink of laborers and porters. Wonder if these blue-collar workers could
afford to eat a porterhouse steak?. Bet
beef-man Vern Swanson and porter-man Chip Lile knew this one!
Yours in Rotary,
Spencer Pearse,
Cub-sub
FYI
Newer members: For many
years Rotarian Joe Thompson wrote this newsletter. He was a really, really
big guy, and signed off with "Bear". When John Marshall volunteered for this duty upon Joe's transfer
to Denver, he assumed the title of "Cub" , and as his substitute I
guess I am the "Cub-sub". Now
you know!