DURANGO HIGH NOON ROTARY
Newsletter
(02-22-07 Meeting)
Opening
Ward Holmes rang the bell and led us in the pledge
2 Guest Announcements:
1. Al Spungen,
Executive Director, Manna Soup Kitchen, is asking for volunteers to assist with
the Taste of Durango, Sunday, May 20th.
2. Dean Richard Sax, Fort
Lewis College, is the host for the national History Day’s statewide regional
competition with local school students on Wednesday, February 28th
from 9-12. He needs judges. The only criteria are a high school
diploma. Comes with a free breakfast and lunch.
He left the sign-up sheet with Chandler Jackson. The theme is “What it
means to be an American”.
Jan Measles inspired us with thoughts from George Washington
Carver.
Guests
– None
Joseph Report: Said he didn’t do much this week but is
leaving for a trip to the East Coast on Saturday.
Announcements
Jeanne
Wheeldon
gave a thank you for Steve Wheeldon for those
who attended the La Plata Open Space Wine Tasting during Snowdown
week. Steve has a broken femur (kicked by a horse). Sympathy went
to Jeanne.
Ward
Holmes said that during the Board meeting
on Tuesday they had sent in an application for a Rotary grant to pay for the
Community Report insert. Tami Codington gave the financial report
for John Beekman. Statements were on
each table. Good news is that in common is up and expenses are
down. If you have questions direct them to John.
Program – CLUB ASSEMBLY
Club Services: Chandler Jackson reported for Justin
Osborn. He thanked all Program Committee members for the excellent
programs this year. He announced that Judy Heasley
is leaving at the end of March for Kansas and they need someone to do the
Newsletter. Please see Justin if interested. Club Services
on the whole is going along well. If you have questions, see Justin.
Wearing his Sgt. at Arms hat, Chandler proceeded:
All former Rotary presidents (High
Noon or other clubs) were asked to stand and then they were fined (woo woo). Chandler mentioned that cell phones were
going off in meetings. If yours goes off throw some money on the
table. He did fine Jan Measles for the ring at last week’s
meeting. All were fined for not wearing their pin. Rick O’Block was fined for a photo in the paper (DHS
basketball game). Rick then added that his son had been accepted
to CU (where his daughter is currently a Dean’s List student) and he expounded
on points of pride regarding is son. Birthdays: Bob Chaput, Jay Hwang, Kevin Schneider; Club
Anniversaries: John Beekmann, Steve Govreau, Bud Poe and Kevin Schneider. HAPPY
DOLLARS: Mike McGuire for a visit from a 2002 exchange
student from Thailand and her amazing credentials. John Anderson
happy to be alive – learned that a snowboard is harder than the back of his
head. Recovery slower than he would like. Tom Crabb a “Sympathy Dollar” to Rick
O’Block
that his kids are going to CU. Dick Sullivan
happy that we are sponsoring 2 teams in the Dave Spencer Classic.
The ticket winner was Bill Cartwright who played the new card game
(draw) in honor of the upcoming Monte Carlo night. He lost – more money
for the Club.
Membership: Jill Wark provided
an update. We have stayed steady at 96 members (4 honorary, 5 on
leave-of-absence, and 87 active). There is one proposed member and one
ready for induction (Jim Duke), minus Judy leaving in March; we will be
sitting at 96. Jill asked Steve Govreau
to show how NOT to introduce a guest (Jeanne Wheeldon
role-played as the stand-in guest). Then Tami Codington showed a
proper way to introduce a guest using Joseph. Please do not use
the term “prospective member” when making an introduction. Use the term
“guest.” Jill also said there would be a Fireside Chat in March at
the Strater (thanks to Emily Spencer).
Date TBD. She then shared a piece on the 20 reasons why one would join
Rotary. Please think of friends, neighbors and community members who you
feel would make great Rotarians and bring them to a meeting.
International Programs: Charlie Albert said the International Program
purpose is to promote world peace and international friendships. He gave
a summary of High Noon projects:
Youth Exchange (Chip Lile, who must retire as incoming President, see Chip
if you can fill this chair position). Chip thanked all who have
hosted the 8+ students over the past 4-5 years.
Group Friendship Exchange (Cathy
Crum). Wayne Bedor described the
upcoming Russian Accountant/Auditor visit and thanked the committee.
International Projects
include: Water filters project in Honduras and 3 Mexican projects:
Clef palate operations in Juarez, school buses for a town in central Mexico,
and trucks for a Mexican food bank. All Mexican projects are under review
by the foundation. It costs $2000 each for each project.
Community Service/Fundraising: Bill Cartwright. “We raise it and
spend it!” Bill called on Wayne Bedor
who heads up the mini-grant program. Grants approved this year
include: music in the Mountains ($1000); Women’s Resource Center, Girls
to Women Program ($1000), Interact trip to Honduras ($1000), Dave Spencer
classic ($1500), Discovery Museum’s traveling exhibit ($1000), DHS Spellabration ($175) and make a Wish Foundation
($125).
Fundraising program includes three
major fundraisers: 1. Red Ball (Niles Bruno is next year’s chair);
2. Monte Carlo Night (the football pool went into this fund), $50 per
person, black-tie, Fort Lewis College Ballroom, April 14th.
First sponsor is in: First National Bank, $1000 (thanks to Moni Helling); and
3. Golf Tournament (Tim Walsworth).
Bill said that he would be challenging Tim to have Monte Carlo
raise more than Golf.
Vocational Service: Rick O’Block for Mark
Prouty. Rick asked if there was any
interest in the Club having a Job Fair on June 9th at the
Fairgrounds, which would include mini-seminars to help students. The
$300-$500 rental fee could be absorbed by charging an exhibitor/participant
fee.
Youth Service: Chip Lile for Angie
Beach. Chip called on Chandler to report on Rotaract and RYLA. We think of Rotaract
as only a college club but it is open to ages 18-30. They need assistance
with website development. Contact chandler. RYLA (Rotary Youth
Leadership Award) is an intensive 4-day leadership training program that is
currently held in La Junta. Chandler asks for someone to assume
the chair role.
Chip announced that the Fall 2007 District Conference will be in Durango with a
focus on youth.
Scholarship Committee: Peter Marshall. Gave
$23,000 last year. Application forms are out to all of the schools
and a review of applicants will begin in the spring. This committee also
produces the Community Report, which is scheduled for March. David
Downs is the “sales guy” for sponsorships and needs more sponsors by
Monday, February 26th. The $2500 spot is open. All ad
proceeds benefit the Scholarship Fund and donations are tax deductible.
See David if you can help.
Ward had all current Board members stand for applause in
recognition of their hard work. Please consider joining a
committee. Ward called on Chip to address what is coming up
for his term. Chip said with strong recommendations from RI, the
By-Laws will be revised. There will also be a restructure of the Board of
Directors.
Closing
Bud came up and thanked the Doubletree for the patriotic table
decorations and then told a tale of why parents drink. Ward then
rang the bell to release us.
Respectfully Submitted,
Judy Heasley