Rotary Gram

September 15,2005

Inspirational Quote:
Finish each day and be done with it.  You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can.  Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.
 
Guests:
Fausto Rodriquez  La Villa Club
Carmelita Rodriquez  La Villa Club
Rebecca Fuentes  La Villa Club
Claudia Fuentes  La Villa Club
Mary Fuentes  La Villa Club
Fidel Fuentes   La Villa Club
Jim Reser   Evening Club
Brad Bartel  Honorary   Pres.  Fort Lewis College
Deb Schultz  Daybreak Club
Dirk Patterson  Tami Coddington
Carol McGuire  Mike McGuire
Ann Redding    Steve Redding
Elvia Dyer   Mark Prouty
Sara Olsen   
Marcella    Foreign Exchange Student
 
Announcements:
Board Meeting - Tuesday, Sept. 20th  5:00  @ Durango Office Suites
 
New Member inductions...
Judy Heasley -  Sponsor  Chandler Jackson
Niles Bruno -  Sponsor  Bud Poe
Welcome to our club, we are lucky to have such wonderful gracious people involved in our club.
 
We still need a few drivers for this Sunday for the return trip to ABQ. to drive the La Villa group back down. 
 
Sgt. of Arms:
 
Our "Who's Who" continues with the Tkt drawing this week....Remember the 5th Dimensions Big Yellow Balloon album cover from the 60's?  Well our Bill Cartwright  not only owned the balloon but FLEW it as well.  He has his Hot Air Balloon Pilots licence.
 
Double Tree paid a fine for placing us in "THE PIT" during one of our important guest visits from our beloved La Villa Club.
 
Birthdays:
Ted Robson   Sept. 11
Brian Kimmel  Sept 14   (Rotary 5 years)
Frank Valen  Sept. 13  (Rotary 4 years)
 
Sept. 23 & 24 are the two days designated to drop off items at the Durango Armory for Katrina Relief Van.  We have 3 families identified and want "gently" used or new items.  We are still looking for anyone that can lend a hand and help out.  You can contact Tami Coddington or Jim Reser with the Evening Club.
 
Program:  The La Villa Club
 
Goal -  Give a daily breakfast to poor children because many times this is the only meal many of these children will have all day.  They serve up to 300 children a day.
                    ham, milk, yogurt, fruits, eggs, bread and more.
 
                                300 kids  =  $180 per day
                                5 days a week  =  $900
                                52 weeks  = $46,800
 
It is financed through several events and activities.
Also we give several presents during the year to these kids.
 
The wheelchair program is one we are very proud of.  There are other Rotary Clubs that share the wheelchair efforts.  We still need around 10,000 wheelchairs. 
 
Everyone who receives a wheelchair is found through a program similar to your social services or through a church program.  We want to thank everyone here for all that you do and have done over the years.  Know that you are always welcome to come back anytime to visit.  Thank you so much!!!!!
 
At the end of the presentation Steve presented them with a check for $5,000 to continue the selfless work that they do.  This is what Rotary is ALL about.  It is what makes us all proud to call ourselves Rotarians.  Other gifts were exchanged but something bigger happened in that room that day...something that will continue for many years here and in a country far away.