Rotary Gram

High Noon Rotary Club

October 16, 2003

President Elect, Mike McGuire, opened the meeting, asking Tom Brossia to

give the invocation and to lead us in the pledge. Tom read a passage

entitled 'What it means to be a Rotarian'.

Among our guests was Kathy Metz, Director of Parks and Recreation. She

thanked the club for it's financial and design assistance (Dean and Brian!!)

for the amphitheatre at the Rec Center. She showed us the Columbine Award

won by the city for excellence in design, stating that it would not have

been possible without the efforts and contributions of High Noon Rotary.

This week's guest list included:

*Dr. Andrew Gulliford, Director and Professor of Southwest Studies and

History.

*Ruth Cross, Bart's wife and editor of Dr. Gulliford's book.

*Visiting Rotarians Beverly Penta of Geneva, NY and B.J. Boucher of the

Durango Daybreak Club.

*John Windsor and John Lopez, guests of Ted Robson.

*Dr. Standal, guest and new associate of Dr. Robin Jackman.

*Drew Pinnell, guest of Past President (86-87) David Farmer.

Announcements

*Wheelchair Drive: Jeff and Ted were to be interviewed the following day on

local radio to generate interest in the community for the Rotary effort to

provide wheelchairs to those in need.

*Fireside Chat: It was scheduled for the following week, with all newer

members (red badge), committee chairs and board members invited.

*Board Meeting: Scheduled for 7:00 AM, October 21st.

*Hot Rod Rally Fund Raiser: Frank V. spoke about early planning and fact

finding relating to a 3-4 day event in Durango. Want to get involved, see

Frank.

*Winter Train Ride: Fellowship is planned for December 6th, with 3 cars

reserved/available for High Noon Rotarians and guests. Tix are $10, with

beverages, snacks etc. to be enjoyed while aboard.

*Oktoberfest: Preparation for the Oktoberfest fund raiser are nearing and

end. Be sure to have an assignment and to get your tickets sold.

Sergeant at Arms duties including a salute to Mike Matheson and John

Marshall for having birthdays and anniversaries in the same month. A table

with no female members was fined $1 per member, with Karen L'Argent and Vern

Swanson failing to draw the queen of hearts. The pot continues to grow.

Bart introduced the program for the day, including Dr. Andrew Gulliford

and Bart's wife Ruth. Dr. Gulliford heads the Center for Southwest Studies

and was present to discuss his new book, 'Letters from a Weminuche

Homestead'. More information can be found at

http://swcenter.fortlewis.edu/Sale.htm.

The book is based upon letters and diary excerpts written 100 years ago

by the wife and mother of a homestead family, living at 8,000' elevation and

about 5 days wagon ride from Durango. The woman was Edith Taylor Shaw, who

moved with her husband and brother-in-law from Boston.

The book is a bit of history of the times from a woman's perspective and

how she is the spirit and fabric of the pioneer woman. On December 3,

1902, she wrote her last letter home, saying that she was pregnant, that it

was 14 degrees, with 3' of snow on the ground. Not long after this letter,

she and her family moved to 3rd avenue in Durango.

Her husband became the first supervisor of the SJNF and they later moved

to Montana. Her letters were catalogued and kept for nearly 100 years and

we are able to see the world through her eyes as it was then.

Mike presented Ruth and Dr. G. with speaker's mugs and closed the

meeting.

VERY IMPORTANT

Our exchange student from Thailand, Yuta, needs a new home. Please get

in touch with Chip for the details. 749-1816.