Durango High Noon Rotary
Minutes of Meeting
June 10, 2004

President Chessa Gill led the invocation reminding us of our debts of gratitude to D-Day veterans and the late President Ronald Reagan, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Today's guests were Carol Huser, La Plata County Coroner, today's speaker; Grace James of San Antonio NW Rotary club; Nicole Geffe, Steven Bowen, and Yuta of Rotary Youth Exchange.

A sympathy card was circulated for Arvella Higby, in the hospital with a blood disorder of mysterious etiology.  Walt Parks is absent, visiting his son in hospital in Denver.

Cathy Crum announced the goal to exceed our club's contribution of $2,000 from last year to the American Cancer Society with the warning we are currently below last year's contribution.

Jeff Brown announced that member numbers are available to aid log-in to access information as to the status of each member's Paul Harris Fellowship contributions.

More beds are needed to host Rotary Youth Exchange during June 14 - 17.  Volunteers are needed to collect group tickets at Mesa Verde N.P. in advance.  Contact Chip Lile.

Our annual golf tournament is August 14.  We seek hole sponsors. Contact Chessa Gill or Peter Marshall.

Frank Valen announced $12,500 net profit from the breakfast during Durango Motor Expo.  The morning club's share is $500.

Red Badges converting to blue were presented by sponsor Jeff Brown to Pam Bowen and sponsor Scott Matthis to Bob Duthie.

June 15, 7:00 AM — Last board of directors meeting of the current administration.

Oktober Fest — first organizational meeting after today's conclusion.

July 4 — Evening Rotary Club conducts its Gourmet Pancake Dinner, 7 - 10 AM to benefit kidney dialysis.  Tickets = $7.  Contact Jeannie Wheeldon.

July 13 - 18 — Club trip to Mexico City to deliver our wheelchair distribution.  Contact Charlie Albert or Jeff Brown for information.

"This Is My Life" — John Anderson told of his life in four short stories.
He grew up in Texas.  No one in his family had ever attended college. When John applied to Yale, his father asked, "What's wrong with Texas A & M?"  Attending Yale opened John's eyes "to a world [he] didn't know existed."
After working IBM many years, John got involved in a big way with efforts to get business to improve public education, leading to the creation of "New American Schools," dedicated to creating investments in promising technologies to aid public education.  John raised $130 million to implement its programs.
John and wife Sissy celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary next week.  They have two children.  One child found Fort Lewis College bringing John and Sissy to Durango — which John describes as "the most inclusive and welcoming community he's ever lived in" and Durango High Noon Rotary "a marvelous opportunity to give back to this fine community."  John led the Disaster Recovery Fund to help victims of the Missionary Ridge Fire of 2002.
John promised four short stories but for the life of me I can't demarcate where one ended and the other began, so can only offer a three paragraph rendition of his remarks.  Maybe he ran out of time?

Program — Carol Huser, an accomplished speaker, deftly accomplished an impossibility: she enthralled her audience with a brisk and entertaining explanation of her job as La Plata County Coroner and her long career as a forensic pathologist and medical examiner.  She shared the theme and fascination of her profession, as expressed upon a sign above the entry to the New York City morgue, "This is the place that death delights to teach the living."

Terry Price, reporting