Snowball

(03-29-07 Meeting)

Opening

Past President Jeff Brown pinch hit for Ward Holmes and opened the meeting at the Community Recreation Center by appointing Jim Mulkey to lead the pledge. Jeff has not lost his touch.

Jan Measles was out so Ted Robson filled in by asking for all of us to observe a moment of silence for one of our former members, Bill Wright, who passed away a couple of weeks ago and to keep Bill’s wife, Sue, in our thoughts and prayers. Bill was a great member who always kept us amused with his singular sense of humor. He was also our beloved Santa Claus at several High Noon Rotary Christmas parties. He had a gift for making both adults and children laugh at his banter, antics and jokes. He will be sorely missed by all. His memorial service was today at Christ the King Lutheran Church at 1:00 PM.

Guests

Guest (s) Sponsor/Host

Molly Sullivan Dick Sullivan

Craig Larson Scott Mathis

Nancy Starr Cathy Crum

Jill Carrithers Mark Donohue

Visiting Rotarians

Visiting from the Upcountry Maui Rotary Club was four year member Bob Kooy who was introduced by Rick O’Block.

New Member Inductions - None

Announcements

Mark Prouty announced the upcoming job fair and that he is still looking for participants. Bill Cartwright is still seeking volunteers to help out at Casino Night on April 14^th. Volunteers will receive training and work two hour shifts so you will have time to gamble as well. It’s a lot of fun so give Bill a call now. Jill Wark announced the Fireside Chat of April 5^th at the Strater starting at 5:30 with hors d’ouveres and adult beverages.

Sgt. of Arms

Chandler Jackson announced: member birthdays – Kent Curtis, not present. Wedding Anniversaries - Brad Bartel, not present. Club Anniversaries – Robin Jackman (11) and Mike Matheson – (16). Neither was present. Chandler then drew the ticket and Dan Morganstern won. Given the opportunity to name HNR’s first female president he instead named the fifth, Chessa Gill, leapfrogging over Cathy Crum the first, Karen Largent the second, Patty Burkholder the third, and Petra Lyon the fourth. Jeff Brown recently saw a picture of the HNR’s first president, Chuck Lile, taken in 1979/1980. Chuck bears a striking resemblance to his son Chip Lile who is our next year’s (2007/2008) president. Must be a genetic thing. Jeff also commented on two of our “senior” members of HNR, Jim Mulkey and David Farmer who have 25 years of membership.

Program

Professor Duane Smith, with 43 years of teaching and writing about history at Fort Lewis College, gave us a lesson on the origins of Fort Lewis, the original “Fort.” The original Fort Lewis was actually in Pagosa Springs in Archuleta County and not in La Plata County. The Army officer it was named after had not even been posted to Fort Lewis but had been killed in some minor skirmish with the Indians elsewhere and his name was advanced to name the new facility. Its location in Pagosa Springs was alleged to have been so the assigned Army officers could have access to the hot springs. Later it was moved to just across the Animas River from the Recreation Center but then had to be relocated south and west of Durango because the Army had a policy of not having their forts near towns, at that time Animas City had a population of about 250. The Professor had some wonderful pictures of the old post with all its facilities that included everything from the commandant’s house to a really interesting building called the “Hog Ranch.” The Fort was intended to protect settlers from the Indians which included the Utes, Navajos and Piutes. Professor Smith had some wonderful anecdotes about activities at the Fort and its environs but you’ll have to buy the book to read about them. They were to numerous to mentions here. Smith also mentioned that the Fort became a Boarding School from 1911-1927, then in 1933 became a 2 year college, moved to its present location in 1956 and became a four year college in 1962.

Closing

Bud was asked to give the closing joke and proceeded to tell us all about corporate shareholder relations and how full disclosure to the shareholders may preclude future risky exposure. The groan meter did not register this week.