Newsletter: January 29, 2009

Program February 5, 2009: Ed Moreland, Region 9 Economic Development District Overview

Fellow Rotarians:

• Tami led the pledge and then introduced Amy Wasserbach who would be our program and whose family had been a host family for Boom. Jennifer Simon introduced her KSUT colleague, Sheila Anito. Howard Wilson introduced Gary Treeback, formerly a Trane franchisee in Albuquerque. Boom updated us on her activities which included a day of snowboarding with Justin Osborne at Durango Mountain Resort, being freaked out by the weather which included snowing and raining at the same time and joining the key club at DHS.

•  Announcements: Tami announced the next fireside chat to be held on February 24^th from 5 PM until 7 PM at the Strater. Chip Lile reminded us of the week’s activities with all the inbound Interact students. Tami and Jan are hosting some of the students. Friday (tomorrow) night the Interact Students will be walking behind the famed “Rotary Wheel” in the Snowdown Parade. Any Rotarians who would like to join them are invited to walk behind the Wheel as well. Saturday evening there will be a potluck held at the Boys and Girl’s Club and all are invited to that also. Chip is looking for more Red Ball Express ski team members. Also, there are still volunteers needed for the afternoon work shift on Red Ball day, February 7th. Also, please sell your Red Ball tickets and talk it up in the community as we are way behind last year’s ticket sales to date. Although we are behind in ticket sales, Justin Osborne reports that we already have the necessary door prizes. Tami reported that we, High Noon Rotary, are not quite carrying the load we should be as the largest Rotary Club in the community. Volunteers are also needed to sell tickets on the day of the Red Ball Event. Ted Weirather announced the March 28^th Monte Carlo night to be held at the Fort Lewis College ballroom. The Durango Arts Center new rules preclude our operating a bar and keeping the profits so we have to go back to FLC which has already been the site of three very successful Monte Carlo Evenings. Also, the parking is better.  Steve Redding announced that he completed the list of High Noon Rotarians and their various non-profit connections with copies of the list on all the tables. Very good turnaround time on that volunteer job Steve! Membership Chair, Jill Wark, invited Ward Holmes up to introduce our (the whole world’s) newest Rotarian, Mark Tucker, owner of Durango Rafting Company in partnership with his wife Jill. Mark is from Meeker, Colorado but has lived in Durango since 2001. Mark is a Fort Lewis College graduate. Mark and Jill are both outdoor enthusiasts. Rick Routh reported seeing Mark in the back country at 11,000’+. Welcome to HNR Mark!

• Happy $$$ and Fines: Sergeant of Arms, Tom Crabbe, strode to center stage with the challenge to generate enough monies to enable Boom to go on her around the country (USA) trip prior to returning to Thailand. The goal is to raise $2,450 to cover the cost of the trip. Boom has worked to raise $600 herself (good work Boom) and Bud Deering contributed a very generous $500 to the cause. Chip Lile described the trip in Boom’s future as going to the East and West Coast of the USA as well as to Washington DC on July 4th, and Mesa Verde and rafting on the Animas. Tom Crabbe announced that non-donor HNRers would possibly be strapped to the Rotary “Wheel of Pain” to be pulled through the streets of Durango Friday evening in the Snowdown Parade. Although Tom was choking up at this being his last time as Sgt of Arms, he started his squeezing of HNRers for cash. Steve Wheeldon stepped up with $3 happy $$$; one for being late, one for becoming a grandparent and one for being invited to sit at the Old F___s table. Jennifer Simon quickly jumped up with her happy $$$ announcing that she didn’t consider herself an Old F___ even though she was sitting at their table. Dave Downs threw his $10 in because he had just received his gun carrying permit from our local sheriff. Not to be outdone, Howard Wilson and Walter Nowotny both threw in $40 @. Ward Holmes and Wayne Bedor threw in $10 @ for having recently attended the wedding of Durango’s most eligible bachelor. Bud Poe contributed $20 and Rick Routh did as well. Don Freemyer was $10 happy about attending his Mom’s 97^th birthday in Southern California. Emily Spencer was happy at the Starter’s bar more than breaking even when hosting a wedding over the weekend. Verne Swanson gave $10 not because he was happy but because he was impressed with a friend’s determined fight against ovarian cancer. The patient was still working at DMR with Adaptive Sports even though she was within days of death. What courage! Clint Jaworsky donated $20. Jill Wark was $20 happy for her bank hosting another wine tasting to benefit the Open Space Conservancy tomorrow evening at the Bank of Colorado. Dick Pearson contributed his last $6 ($3 for him and $3 for Charlie Albert) in honor of their grandson’s 3d birthday. Charlie also contributed $$$. Bob Chaput contributed $20 in honor of Tom Crabbe’s last day as Sgt of Arms. Tom Crabbe gave $20 in honor of Justin Osborne’s upcoming service as the February Sgt of Arms. Mark Tucker threw in his first happy $$. Good job Tom!! There was a resounding round of applause for Tom’s good work the past three months. Angie Beach won the drawing and gave the money back.

Ø PROGRAM: Interactor and 2007-2008 exchange student, Amy Wasserbach, was introduced by Chip Lile. Chip also reminded us that the Rotary exchange program is the oldest program in existence and as a non-profit is one of the least expensive. Amy then gave us a brief Cook’s tour of her time in Thailand. It is wonderful to experience the travels of young people through their eyes. I’m convinced that the Rotary Exchange Program is one of Rotary’s best investments in World Peace. Amy had some delightful times with her host family and her travels though the rich tapestry that is Thailand’s culture. She even got a bit of insight into some of that country’s political travails. Amy clearly was an articulate and sensitive ambassador from our county and on behalf of Rotary International.

Ø Tami announced that $1,191 was collected today for Boom’s trip and she thanked all the HNRers for their generosity.

Ø Other Notes: Justin Osborne still needs door prizes for the Red Ball Event so please help him out. Four of our members have raised $400 and we need a minimum of $500. Steve Redding volunteered to develop a list of names of our Rotarians with non profit connections.

Next Weeks Program: Ed Moreland and the Region 9 Economic Development District’s Overview

Editor

Wayne Bedor

waynebedor@yahoo.com