Newsletter
 
October 26, 2006
Opening
 
Ward Holmes hit a very loud bell (!) and then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance of Allegiance.  Steve Osborne substituted for Jan Measles (she is fine).  He gave a few quotes/quips on politics and kept it bipartisan
Guests
 
Guest                                                    Representing                                                    Sponsor/Host

Terry Senters                                                                                                                Bill Cartwright
Rex and Bill Musgrave                          Vancouver WA (gave a banner)                        Mark Prouty

Dr. Suzanna Standal                             Lions Club & Advanced EyeCare                     Robin Jackman

*Dr. Standal gave a plug for the Durango lions Club (with a comment of what a young club we are!)  Invited Rotarians to participate in the lions Club’s Chili Supper & Silent Auction, Saturday, October 28, 11-7, Fairgrounds. 

Exchange Student Report:

(Joseph worked at the Manna Soup Kitchen as part of an Interact outing; made homemade apple juice and ‘tried” to teach a neighbor how to make crepes.)
                                               
Announcements
 
Ward announced that the Interact Bake Sale is Saturday, October 28 from 8-4 at Durango High School.  He urged Rotarians to stop by, make a purchase or deliver a baked good for them to sell.  Interact currently has approx. 40 members. 

Jill Wark announced that we have 2 more babies!  Jennifer Simon delivered twin girls 6 weeks early.  She is doing fine and the babies are healthy preemies, still at Mercy Hospital. 

Ward Mathis (Scott’s wife) is quite ill and he asked all to keep her in our prayers.

 

Justin Osborne announced the Rotary Holiday party is being held December 7th at the Diamond Circle Theatre.  Heather Sullivan is the entertainment (jazz).  Justin will circulate RSVP sign-up sheets at the next meeting. 

Justin also announced that Tim Sullivan is doing a concert for New Years Eve at the Diamond Circle Theater.  All proceeds will benefit High Noon Rotary. 

Ward reported on Tuesday’s (October 24) Board meeting.  We received a matching grant fro the district, which the Board designated to the new Boys and Girls Club:  $1500; We are looking at a water project in Honduras; and Interact will be hosting a live auction at the Holiday party to earn funds for a trip to either Honduras or Mexico.  

Sgt. at Arms 
Chandler Jackson was a gentle Sgt. Today.  Birthdays were announced for Wayne Bedor (but he wants it celebrated next week) and Mike Matheson.  Club Anniversaries were Mike Kane (2 yrs) and Howard Wilson (4 yrs).  Happy Dollars were in good supply:  Mike McGuire threw in a buck and reported on his activities after spending 10 days in Mexico with members of the LaVilla Club.  No “Montezuma’s Revenge” to report – the answer?  Tequila and limes.  Mike Kane added to the pot in recognition of one month of marriage and that the Giants beat the Cowboys.  Tom Brossia is happy his wife is coming home this afternoon and added he sure appreciates what she does around the house.  Justin Osborne had a few dollars:  (1) A “screw-up dollar for not taking notes at the last meeting – hence no Newsletter; and (2) a couple of bucks for getting and elk and then getting it off the mountain without killing himself.  Steve Govreau was beaming with pride that his son played on a grand champion soccer team.    Leanna Jaworsky announced Habitat’s Wine Tasting and Auction event, being held November 3 at the FLC Ballroom from 5:30-8:30 on November 3.  $30 now, $40 at the door).  Mark Donahue tossed in a Happy Dollar that Chandler didn’t get him for being in the paper several times (he is the new President of the Durango Association of Realtors) -- Chandler, are you slipping?  Dick Sullivan was happy that he made it through a hike/climb of the La Platas.  Chandler nailed everyone who wasn’t wearing a pin and also fined his table for having no women sitting there. 

The winning ticket #898 was Jim Mulkey.  Even with the new configuration of the roll-out green (switched the hold location to the right)…he didn’t make the putts.  Chandler announced this is the last time for golf (applause) and next week the ticket contest is basketball. 

Program 

Rick Routh introduced (his boss) Richard Reynolds, Regional Transportation Director for CDOT.  R. Reynolds has been in the position for 9 years.  His program consisted of “slides and talk.”  He presented an overview of current CDOT projects and described the service engineering region in which Durango resides.  Trivia:  The smallest town in our region is Bonanza City (off of Hwy 285).  Population 9.  Our region also boasts 14 high mountain passes; the highest is Monarch Pass, Elev. 11,312.

 

Last year’s projects:  Ignacio bridge; Farmington Hill; Hwy 141 (large number of fatalities and when repairing uncovered uranium stemming off of the Manhattan Project – located in the western part of the state near the Utah border); Placerville overlay; Norwood ADA ramps; Hwy 140 at the NM line, overlay; Hesperus Hill; Wolf Creek tunnel; Chip seals on Poncha Pass and Hwy 160 in Durango; various rock fall projects and other projects to include working with high school students on building snow fences , conservation and deer ramp projects. 

Funding is dire:  A chart showed that currently the road condition is 65% good/fair and 35% poor.  In the next 20 years the estimates are that poor roads will be 65%.  Colorado has major funding issues for transportation and depends on gas tax for funding (other states have numerous sources) and we will be operating in negative dollars soon, with no funding predictability.   
Closing 
Ward announced that Rotarians could leave prior to allowing for Q&A.  And, no Bud, he’s still out due to his recent surgery!
 
Respectfully Submitted by,

 

Judy Heasley

 

Judith Heasley

Vice President, Institutional Advancement

FORT LEWIS COLLEGE

1000 Rim Drive

Durango CO 81301

(970) 247-7253

Fax:  (970) 382-6948

Cell:  (970) 426-8777

heasley_j@fortlewis.edu