ROTARY GRAM

                                                December 18, 2003

    "It's easy to make a buck.  It's a lot tougher to make a difference."

Tom Brokaw

    Chessa opened the last meeting of 2003 by reciting the Rotary Prayer and

leading the club in the Pledge of Allegiance.

    A long list of guests, including the St. Columba School Handbell Choir

and 4 visiting Rotarians were present.  Visiting Rotarians included Joe

Choquette, President of the Durango Daybreak Club, Dolores Maez of the

Durango Rotary Club, Marcel and Bev Theberge from the Grand Junction Rotary

Club.

    Other guests were John Higby, Arvella's husband; Steve Bowen, outbound

exchange student to Sweden; Bob Geffe, guest of Scott Mathis; Jeane O'Dean,

Russell Parker's guest; exchanges students Yuta from Japan and Ammuta from

India; Jay Gill, President Chessa's husband; newest member John Lopez and

his wife Diana.

                                                ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Steve Govreau was elected President Elect Nominee, to serve as club

President following President Elect Mike McGuire's term.  He expressed his

thanks to the club for the honor of serving as a future President.  The club

will again be in good hands.

    Dolores Maez appealed for mentors for youngsters served by the Durango

Latino Coalition.  Get in touch with her through the morning club.

    PEN Steve G. reminded us of the upcoming events, including the Red Ball

Express fund raiser and the Snow Down Snow Ball.  Sell your tickets to the

Red Ball, buy and ticket to the Snow Ball and send invitations to your

friends.

    Ward and Russell spoke of this year's blanket drive.  The board

committed $500 to the effort and Russell indicated that Wal-Mart has made

$3k in donations to the community this holiday season.

    President Chessa summoned the Double Tree wait staff and managers that

serve and prepare our meals to the front of the room and presented them with

gifts of appreciation from the club.

    Walter Novotny has/had a few more ticket sales time slots to fill.

Reach him at 375-2581.

Karen L. indicated that there is good support from the 3 clubs and that

ticket sales are going well.

    Arvella reported that Bess's daughter is in a full body cast.  She said

Bess would appreciate a call.

    Chessa reported that the service club signs at Gateway Park were

finished and due to be reinstalled.  They are up, based on the sharp eye of

your bulletineer.

    There is a Rotary Foundation workshop in Denver on January 24th.  See

Chessa if you would like more info.

    Jeannie reminded us of the musical adaptation of Dickens' 'A Christmas

Carol', playing December 19 - 21 at the Smiley Theatre.

    Chess called Ted Robson, Jill Wark and John Lopez to the podium for the

ceremony to induct John as the club's newest member.  Ted, John's sponsor,

made some brief remarks about his neighbor and gave John the floor.  John

earned an AB in engineering from Princeton, entered law school at UVA, left

for the Army and a post in Paris in 'civilian clothes', returned home to

finish law school and begin a 20 year career in the CIA.

    John and his wife Diana have two children and he is a former member of a

club in Wilmington, DE.  He said that he was delighted to join and to be

part a High Noon Rotarian.  Welcome John and Diana.

    This week's 'this is my life' speaker was Rotarian and attorney, Jack

Cassidy.  He began by saluting Rotarian, Judge Greg Lyman, for winning a

special award from the bar association.

    Jack went to military boarding school, Jesuit high school, was an

Olympic swimmer, went to law school and has been a practicing trial attorney

for 30 years.

    He and Margo have two children.  Jack believes that experiences are a

most important part of life.  By way of example, he told us of visiting a

client named Freddy in a prison in CA.  Observing a short fellow with a dist

inctive gait and a commanding manner, who Freddy called Chuck, he got a look

at him to discover that is was Charles Manson.

    There's more that Jack can tell us and let's hope he get's the chance.

PROGRAM

    The walls were removed and we were joined by the Kiwanians for some

seasonal entertainment by the St. Columba School Handbell Choir.  The

participants are 6th - 8th graders, that, in addition to being talented,

must maintain good grades and conduct to participate.  We were treated to

some great music again this year.

    Concluding the meeting, Chessa wished us all a great holiday season and

reminded us that the next meeting will be Thursday, January 8, 2004.

John E. Marshall

3005 County Road 207

Durango, CO 81301

970-259-6248 p

970-259-4498 f