Newsletter

  September 7, 2006 Meeting

Opening

Ward Holmes led us in the Pledge of Allegiance of Allegiance and thanked Chip Lile for substituting for him last week.  Steve Osborn reported that Jan Measles’ surgery went well and she is successfully recovering.  Steve took on the motivation “chore” and posed a question.  In the early 1990’s there was a banner from the Lake Powell Club in the form of a bathing suit…where did the banner go?

Guests

Guest Representing Sponsor/Host
Joseph Laurent                                     Exchange Student/France                                             Justin Osborne
(Joseph said he had a good time over Labor Day weekend with Angie Beach and Tami Codington!)
Tom Lorenzen                                                                                                                          Niles Bruno


Visiting Rotarians

Jim & Ruth Jackson                              Mt. Vernon IL
John Daly                                             Bank of Colorado                                                         Melissa Caskey


Announcements

Ward Holmes announced that there was a get well card circulating for Jan Measles.

Ward reminded everyone about the United Way Radio-Thon on September 8^th in the Durango Mall.  He had sent a non-fineable email to Club members yesterday.  

Steve Redding reminded Club members that the Highway Trash Pick-Up day is this Saturday, September 9^th at 9 AM at the entrance to Durango West II.  Rotarians can meet for breakfast at the Wal-Mart Subway at 8 AM.   Remember to bring gloves, sunscreen (or rain gear?), a hat and water!

Melissa Caskey announced that she is taking some Interact students to the District conference September 22-24 in Grand Junction.  She needs transportation.  Please contact her as soon as possible if you are able to help.

Dick Sullivan announced the Adaptive Sports auction on September 21^st.  Contact Dick if you have items to donate.

Cathy Crum announced the Group Study Exchange is Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, September 27-29.  On September 28 the group is hosted by the Delores/Cortez Club and they will be going to Mesa Verde.  Friday, September 29^th they will be in Durango.  Cathy needs drivers as well, contact her if you are able to help.  The schedule is to be determined but there will be a potluck with all of the clubs.  Details to follow. 

Cathy Crum announced the date for the Habitat for Humanity build – Saturday, October 7.  Wells Fargo Bank will match what is raised to $2500.  A sign up sheet was passed around.  If you have signed up, please bring your own tools.

Sgt. at Arms

Chandler Jackson pointed out a newspaper thank you Tim Walsworth wrote to First National Bank of Durango.  Tim was not in attendance and Moni Bjorlin was hit with the fine.  The Telegraph had an article about relief for El Rancho and Angie Beach was mentioned.  She was not present so Chandler threatened to “get her” at next week’s meeting.  Club birthdays included Bud Deering, who presented a check for $1000 for the vocational scholarship fund (and he read his fortune cookie fortune).  A Happy Birthday to Ted Robson as well.  Wedding anniversaries:  Bob Chaput, Burt Coleman, Howard Poe, Bob Salzer and Howard Wilson.    This week Happy Dollars were not forgotten and were plentiful:  Cartwright threw in a buck – his total poker winnings from last night and a happy dollar that he survived his first mountain bike outing after his knew surgery.  Dan Morgenstern was happy to be back in Durango after sailing in Maine all summer (!).  Ken Fusco threw in for finishing a timer frame barn and Mark Dold gave a report on the crashes and mishaps that occurred during the motorcycle onslaught – better than last year.  Sara Olsen threw in dollars for her 2 son’s birthdays and the fact that she hasn’t killed them by now, plus for successful kayak excursions.  Vern Swanson was happy that happy that he didn’t win “physical deterioration prizes at his 50^th high school reunion.  Bob Chapman reported that he also attended his 50^th high school reunion, but they had no bionic contests.  He was happy that he chose his wife well after he saw some of his old girlfriends!  Steve Redding tossed a buck in the pot in celebration of a new grandchild on the way.  The nerf ball golf ticket was Judge Greg Lyman who missed all 3 tries (proving he works for a living!  

Program

Rick Routh introduced John Taber, Sherry Taber’s husband and a world traveler.  He is a native of Washington State and a member of the Washington DC bar.  He has given extensive service to the government around the world.  John did begin his talk in a goodhearted way telling the Club members that it is not easy being married to Sherry but they made it work for 43 years.  His topic gave an overview of US Government programs through the US International Development agency (USID) on their projects in central Asia.  Central Asia is comprised of 5 republics that were states in the former Soviet Union.  The governments range from dictatorships to democracies (no measure on how fair the democracies are.  The republics have close ties to Russia still through Olympic training efforts and missile production.  The per capita income is $2850 and below so there is a lot of work to do.  The USID program offers conversion efforts through assistance in:

• Advancing the market well being
• Quality assurance
• International accounting systems/standards
• Developing a financial sector
• Professional certification programs
• Human Resource procedures
• Business planning
• Looking for markets
• Advocacy groups to lobby their own governments (e.g., wadding through the permit system which can require 100’s of permits needed)

The countries are predominately Muslim so protocol, advocacy and a military presence and good relationships are needed at times.

Next week’s program is Peter Tregilles on Drug Prevention.

Closing

Here’s Bud" – This week Bud told a very short story about relations and marriage counselors – a good one!  Ward wished everyone a great day and rang the bell to release us.


Respectfully Submitted,

Judy Heasley