Rotary Gram
Durango High Noon Rotary Club
January 22 & 29, 2004
"From there
to here, and here to there, funny things are
everywhere."
In the spirit of
SnowDown, Dr. Seuss
Hello
club! This bulletin combines the two meetings above. Maybe I spent
too much time with SnowDown and Super Bowl these last few days?.....
Chessa
opened the meetings with hearty welcomes, gave the invocation and led us in the
pledge. Guests on the 22nd included: Joe Ward of United Blood
Services; Bob Geffe and Penny Moyle, guests of Scott Mathis; Yuta and Jeanne
O'Dean, guest of Jeff Brown.
Guests
on the 29th were Carol Bronko and Bill Hendron from club #43 and the
speakers for the day; Yuta; Bob Geffee, Scott's guest; Tina Walsworth, Tim's
wife; Pam Bowen, PP Jeff's guest and mother of our outbound exchange student;
Nancy Vanderwal, Bart's guest; Sara Olsen, Steve G.'s guest and Jay Gill,
husband of club President Chessa Gill.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Yuta needs a
Home!!: President Elect Mike
McGuire announced that as of March 15th, Yuta, the Japanese exchange student
sponsored by our club, will need a new home. Please be in touch with Mike
@ 385-5991.
Italian Cooking
Lessons at Guido's: Dr. Susan
Sanders has scheduled a fellowship opportunity for Rotarians, spouses and
guests. 24 luck souls will learn to make risotto, enjoy appropriate
beverages etc. at Guides on February 4th and 11th. The price is $32.00
per person and contact Susan @ 259-6116 to see if there is a spot left.
The events begin at 5:00 PM each night, with owner Sean Devereaux as the
instructor.
Firewood Project: Past President ('87 - '88) Dr. Bob Volger
thanked the Rotarians that have contributed wood, skill and labor to the effort
to help provide firewood to families in need. 5 families are heating
their houses courtesy of these efforts, with another 6 families on the
list. Contact Bob @ 247-0923 to donate wood, provide a truck or trailer,
timbering skills or labor.
Dave Spencer Ski
Classic: Scott Mathis announced
the February 28th Dave Spencer Ski Classic, an annual event for teams of five
locals skiing to match predicted slalom times. Go to their website for
more details. http://www.asadurango.com/events.html#dssc
PE Mike McGuire is an ASA new volunteer instructor and he says the experience
enriches the participants and the volunteers.
Tom Cheatham is
blue: Jill, with the assistance of
Tom's sponsor Ted Robson, presented Tom with his blue membership badges
signifying his completion of all new member requirements. In a surprise,
Jill presented Ted with Rotary cuff links recognizing him for having
recruited the most new members in the last 6 months. Ted, please wear
them on Thursday for all to admire.
Tri-district
Efforts: Ted reported on the
progress made by the group working on tri-district efforts. Total grants have
reached $7k and have so far resulted in assistance with prenatal care and the
drilling of fresh water wells in the district that includes Durango, Mexico.
RedBall Express: Bill Cartwright reported on the 22nd that
planning and ticket sales were going and thanked all participants for their
efforts. On the 29th, Tom B. reported that the event was an unqualified
success, with over $41k going to various participating non-profits and the
coffers of the 3 clubs for their programs. Tom again saluted all who
participated, reserving high praise for Bob C., Bill C., David, Bart and Bob
V. Sorry if I slighted anyone and great job by the club!
Snow Ball: President Elect Nominee Steve Govreau, spoke
of the progress of the Saturday night SnowDown event and invited more Rotarians
to sign up to participate. Peter M. asked for more small Silent auction
items and Jill indicated that she was to lead the decorating committee starting
at 10:00 AM on Saturday.
SwimAthon: Mike Matheson announced the opportunity for the
community to sponsor swimmers in an upcoming event. Call Mike @ 259-8410.
Club Financials: PEN Steve reported that we have a sound,
healthy club. Copies of the current status were circulated and if you
have questions, e-mail Steve: sgovreau@animas.net
Steve also reported that the board had agreed with the scholarship committee's
recommendation to offer some form of sustaining scholarships.
SAA: Tim Walsworth handled the duties, on the 22nd
fining anyone who had not yet skied $1 for failing to support the local economy
and anyone that was not wearing a SnowDown button. Rough day!
Birthdays were recognized, Peter M. and Steve O., and Tom White and Howard
Wilson both failed in the card draw, but each received a free lunch courtesy of
Steve Redding and his Subway store near Wal-Mart.
On the
29th he fined a table with no female presence and, sticking with what worked
the week before, anyone without a SnowDown button. Bud Deering asked
the RI trivia question "How many zones are their in RI?" and more
money was collected. He encouraged us all to read our monthly Rotarian
magazine.
Goddess Gathering: Jeanne O'Dean, guest of Past President ('02 -
'03) Jeff Brown, told us of the Goddess Gathering that was to be held on
January 29th, involving Minks (minx?), Martinis and Leather and that no men
were invited. Learn more about this female-only professional networking
organization at www.goddessgathering.blogspot.com
. Reach Jeanne at 247-1927.
Jay's Back: All were pleased to have Jay with us again
after undergoing successful back (disc) surgery and to learn that he was
undergoing physical therapy at the Durango Sports Club under the watchful eye
of owner and Past President ('86 - '87) David Farmer.
Bud's Toe: Bud told us that his foot is getting better
and told us he had cataract surgery on one eye, with the other to follow soon.
Bob and Bud
Fundraiser: Bob Chaput and Bud Poe
contributed follies tickets for an auction to raise money for the club's
scholarship efforts. A total of $675 was raised by winning bidders Dr.
Susan Sanders, Tom Brossia and Bud Deering. A big thanks to Rotarians Bob
and Bud.
Spellabration: Paulette asked for members to form a team for
the SnowDown Spellabration. The club was well acquitted with the able
spellers (in alphabetical order) Melisa Caskey, Tom Cheatham and Tami
Coddington.
Blood Drive: A United Blood Services blood drive is
scheduled for March 22nd and is a challenge between Rotary and Kiwanians.
If you cannot participate, send a friend and have them designate their quart or
gallon to Rotary!
Thank yous: Chessa read thank you letters from the Council
of Boy Scouts and Project Merry Christmas, recognizing Ward and Russell for
their work.
La Plata Youth
Services: Marv announced a pizza
party at the Rec Center from 4 - 7 PM for mentors, kids and anyone interested
in the mentoring program.
Special Olympics: Bert made a call for volunteers to help with
the upcoming special Olympics. Contact him @ 385-0533.
Bunco Bash: PEN Steve announced a ladies-only event
scheduled for Friday, February 6th. Contact Steve for more details.
John Anderson: High Noon Rotarian and a leading community
humanitarian, John Anderson announced that he now qualifies for Medicare and
senior discounts all over town. To celebrate this milestone, John that he
will become a Paul Harris Fellow. Thanks John!
Diva's Dance
Delights Diners: On the 29th, a
black-clad, pink haired, pink boa flaunting bevy of self-proclaimed
"Divas" strutted and chanted their way through the meeting to remind
us all that SnowDown was in full swing. Your scribe got a peck on the cheek
from one of the as yet unidentified vixen. Yikes!!
PROGRAMS
On the
22nd, Joe Ward, Community Relations Representative of United Blood Services
addressed the club. UBS began in 1947 in Phoenix, AZ and is the 2nd
largest blood banking operation in the country. They have operated in La Plata
County for 20+ years and supply 9,000 units of donated blood a year to the
region.
Joe
indicated that 70% of the population will need blood or blood products at some
time in their lives. We are in the midst of a blood emergency,
with demand outstripping donations. An emergency is defined at
less a two day supply in 50% or more of the blood banks. In some
cases, elective procedures have been cancelled.
Demand in
the region has increased by 30% over last year, so more is needed. The
donation process takes about an hour, including the necessary
comprehensive qualifying interview. Potential donors are frequently
disqualified as a result of travel to regions where malaria, dengue
fever are prevalent and those that have spent a certain amount of
time on a farm.
For more
information, go to their website, http://www.unitedbloodservices.org/.
January
29th brought us an introduction to many and a recap for others of the
program supported by many Rotarians, Rotaplast. The presentation was made
by Colorado Springs (#43) Rotarians and former Rotaplast participants, Carol
Bronko and Bill Hendron. Rotaplast was founded in 1992 by Peter Lagarias
and Dr. Angelo Capozzi in collaboration with the Rotary Club of San Francisco
to facilitate a surgical program in La Serena, Chile to treat children with the
cleft lip and palate anomaly who would otherwise not receive surgical
intervention.
In May of
2002, the 4,00th child received Rotary sponsored curative reconstructive
surgery in Cochambamba, Bolivia.
Starting
in 2001, their club set out to raise $20k to sponsor a program and made
the trip to Venezuela in November, 2003. Carol was the photographer for
the trip and we received a visual history of their efforts, including before
and after photos of many of their young patients.
Bill
indicated that they take absolutely everything they will need for their
surgeries and that one of his duties was acting as quartermaster, getting 30+
large containers of supplies and equipment to Venezuela. The team (4
surgeons, 4 anesthesiologists, 4 nurses, a head nurse, a dentist and 8
non-medical support folks) had help from the military with air and ground
transport and were met by over 200 people waiting to be seen or treated when
they arrived.
They were
hosted by local Rotarians and the local hospital put 4 operating rooms at their
disposal. Three were used for surgery and the fourth as a lunch
room. They did 137 procedures on 97 patients, with patients recovering in
rooms with 4 - 6 beds and their families supplying sheets, pillows and food.
many family members spent nights with their kids.
This
presentation is another example of the emphasis Rotary puts of International
Service, and remember, all the team members were volunteers.
Chessa
thanked presenters from both meetings and awarded them with Rotary Speaker
mugs.
COMING UP
February 5
Durango Postmaster
February
12 Film Festival
February
19 Workshop with President Chessa
February
26 Trails 2000 w/ Bill Manning
March 4
Greg Hoch, County Planning
March 11 Debate
Team
March 18
Mercy Wellness Dietitian
March 25
April 1
April 8
Dr. John Withers, Surgeon
*all programs subject to
change.
John E.
Marshall
3005 County Road 207
Durango, CO 81301
970-259-6248 p
970-259-4498 f