High Noon Rotary Club of Durango

District 5470

Club 1161

Meet at Doubletree Hotel

Time: 12:00 Noon

Thursdays

Newsletter: October 23, 2008

PROGRAM OCTOBER 30, 2008: Kent Ford - Olympic Kayak Slalom Announcer with Five Ring Highlights

Fellow Rotarians:

• Tami led the pledge and turned to Rick Routh to introduce guests. Rick introduced Steve Pavlik on his second visit to Rotary and then introduced attorney Matt Kenna and his associate Monique DiGiorgial who would be today’s program. Tami asked Boom to give her weekly update which included attending a fun party for exchange students. Boom was resplendent in her jacket with 1001 pins. Tami introduced Angie Beach’s replacement, Daniel, from the morning club who advises the DHS Interact Club. Daniel thanked the club and specifically Frank Valen and Pinnocle for providing seed money for the 2009 calendar project. Daniel also introduced Interact’s VP, Autumn, who reported on some of the Club’s projects: volunteering at organic Boca Farms, attending at the Peace Tent, conducting the fund raiser at DHS which raised $1,337, holding recycling during the class advisory and selling calendars. A contribution from funds raised was made to the SW Safehouse. Another student, Cato, also thanked the club for the calendar seed money. Daniel announced that the Club was already looking for sponsors for the 2010 calendar if any High Noon Club members are interested.

• Announcements: Tami reported that the October 21^st Board meeting was well attended and that the Board had approved the transfer of $5,000 to the Endowment Fund. Tami was having difficulty with the seniors’ table again and called on Bud Deering to quell the noise. The Bud threat in itself quieted what has become a fairly obstreperous table. They indicated they couldn’t hear what was going on. (Hey, turn off the cell phones and turn up the hearing aids) Tami indicated that she is looking for additional Red Ball Express Executive Board members. Ward Holmes proposed that we all bring a veteran to lunch on November 14^th and the Club will pay for it. This will honor veterans during the week of Veterans’ Day. Bill Cartwright announced that he has recruited 20 hard charging High Nooners to work at the Habitat for Humanity’s Rotary build day in Foxfire Farms near Bayfield on October 25^th. Bill also announced that Samantha Gallant is going to provide a home cooked lunch for Build workers that day. Kudos to Bill and Samantha!! Tami announced that the Christmas Party will be on December 4, 2008 in the Pullman Room at the Strater. It will be a plated meal.

• October Sergeant-of-Arms, Jill Carithers, fined Justin Osborne for being the number three agent out of 53 agents in his firm. Justin also announced that Ducks Unlimited is having a fund raiser on November 21^st. There was only one Birthday, Mike Kane. Being in the newspaper fines included: Samantha Gallant for being elected to the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce and Niles Bruno for involvement in Durango Heritage Days. Happy $$$: Ted Robson for being able to vote without oversight of someone holding an AK47. Dan McCarthy paid a fine for the same reason. Bob Chaput paid because the Three Cups of Tea Project was even more successful than he thought with the community contributing $178,917. This was perhaps the most successful event ever for Greg Mortensen’s project. Ted Weirather was happy to have toured the Midwest with his wife and dog. Eric Christiansen paid a fine for going to his class (1962) reunion in Texas where all the women in his class are still good looking and the men above average or something like that. Bud Deering paid because he had six women at his table. Bob Salzer was happy because his daughter had Bob’s first grandchild and his son-in-law is home from Iraq for the event. Jill Carrithers paid a fine for leaving last week’s meeting early because her two year old was restless. She was also happy because of a very nice letter to the editor last week regarding the activities of Rotaract. Jill conducted another rousing contest between winning ticket holders. Jill helped Boom and Dick Pearson was helped by three tables. Dick won 2-1 with his suitable for framing drawings.

• PROGRAM: Rick Routh introduced attorney Matt Kenna and environmental program specialist Monique DiGiorgial who discussed their efforts to protect the environment. This included Matt winning a case in the U.S. Supreme Court against the U.S. Forest Service. Some of their activities include: protecting wildlife corridors, fighting environmentally unfriendly projects like the Village at Wolf Creek and air quality issues caused by programs like the Desert Rock Project. Monique talked of her participation in the Governors of the West working group trying to get ahead of oil and gas development impacts and land use issues. Matt opened it up to questions and true to form, High Nooners had some good ones such as what about alternative energy sources like solar, geothermal and nuclear? A particularly sticky issue raised is the incidence of abuses and sham conservation easements. The I.R.S. has tried to clean those up so the program can be preserved. It was pointed out that alternative energy sources are not without their own problems like solar and wind using a staggering amount of real estate. Another good and provocative program. Great job Rick!

• Remember next week’s Program: Kent Ford - Olympic Kayak Slalom Announcer with Five Ring Highlights.

The Four Way Test in everything we do and say:

ü Is it the truth?

ü Is it fair to all concerned?

ü Will it build good will and better friendships?

ü Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Yours in Rotary,

Editor

Wayne Bedor

waynebedor@yahoo.com