Durango High Noon Rotary
Minutes of Meeting
May 20, 2004

President Chessa Gill lead the invocation to the universal power for all to be one in Rotary and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Today's guests were Steve Bowen, Cynthia Pearse and Felicity Broennan.

A sympathy card was circulated for signature to Ward Holmes upon the unexpected loss of his mother.

Frank Valen reported the Durango Car Expo is well-set for volunteers, but some vacancies need filling for breakfast and the poker run.  The schedule of events can be viewed online at www.DurangoMotorExpo.com. More signup sheets for volunteers will be circulated next week.

Ted Robson presented a signed game ball to Chessa Gil in honor of her fine performance as a pitcher at the Rotary-Kiwanis softball game. Those who had not seen Chessa's performance suspected from the tenor of Robson's presentation that the honor was bestowed facetiously; those who had seen her performance knew this to be so.  Robson commented as well upon the Kiwanian's lack of integrity for having proposed the contest at which they fielded so few of themselves while inserting so many youthful ringers in their stead.  Some care in negotiation of the terms of the next challenge will be in order.

Chip Lile announced the need for housing for Rotary Exchange students during the second week of June.

Bob Chaput will take new pictures of members for the Directory. Submit address and other contact information corrections to Bob Beckman by the deadline of JULY 1.  Chaput is also seeking Rotary historic memorabilia for a project otherwise undescribed.

During Take a Kid Fishing, one youngster caught 15 fish in 10 minutes.  The Flip, Pitch and Cast competition (akin to Pass, Punt and Kick) will occur this Saturday at Lake Durango.  Kids must be accompanied by an adult.

Jill Wark announced her change of job to Bank of Colorado in marketing and her upcoming trip to California to see her two-year old grandson.

Spencer Pearse gave the weekly "This Is My Life" presentation. Spencer suggested we rename this item to "Person of the Week."  He began his remarks by telling us, "I am a proud, happy, content person at this point in my life and here is why."  We learned Spencer's father served with the Forest Service, then the Foreign Service in Egypt.  In high school Spencer traveled to Guatemalea.  He graduated from Georgetown and obtained employment with the Central Intelligence Agency.  He worked for the agency during two tours in Vietnam with the Phoenix Program and got shot down over Laos, spending 3 days MIA, leading to the end of his fieldwork and return to Washington D.C. where he found himself unexpectedly single and broke.  He served as the CIA representative to the National Security Council and worked on the Paris Peace talks.  Dr. Kissinger opened the doors for Spencer to spend one year at the Rand Corporation where he worked with Daniel Ellsburg on the Pentagon Papers.  A bug bit Spencer leading to his obtaining a faculty position teaching economics at Fort Lewis College in 1973.  Transferring to the University of New Mexico, Spencer noticed an attentive, lovely blond student in his Econ 101 class who became his wife of the last 21-years, Cynthia, who "respects, admirs and loves" Spencer "in that order."  Spencer's next employment took him to Los Alamos National Laboratories for five years, followed by self-employment running a book store in Grand Junction.  Today Spencer and Cynthia pride themselves upon their "blue collar" status respectively as a postal carrier and an associate at Walmart.  Spencer enjoys his companionship with two grandchildren.

Departing our normal program format, we conducted a business meeting, breaking first into four groups: Community, International, Club, and Vocational service, with each to review their activity and report back to the meeting as a whole with summaries.

Vocational reported an active incubator program at the high school, the award of a $10,500 scholarship, a reinvorgorated Interact Club at the high school,  Greater involvement in this sphere is desired from more club members.

International reported the activities of the Wheelchair Foundation, with raising of donations for two containers of chairs to be delivered in Mexico City in July, a water project with the Durango, Mexico Rotary, the hosting of Youth Exchange groups and orientations, Paul Harris Fellowship participation.

Club services reported upon our club's bike ride, hike, other fun events, the Italian dinner, wine tasting, Fireside chats, weekly programs, This Is My Life, the 25h anniversary meeting, our golf tournament raised $32,000. the Xmas train ride, Red Ball express, etc.

Community service reported upon work days at Durango Nature Study, highway cleanup, Red Ball Express, Oktoberfest, Habitat for Humanity workdays, Durango Motor Expo,. science and history day judging, Buckley Park project (with full details on this exciting partnership to be upcoming soon).

Terry Price, reporting

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