Newsletter: February 5, 2009

Program February 12, 2009: Club Committee Reports and Assembly

Fellow Rotarians:

Tami led the pledge and then Wayne Bedor introduced Ed Moreland, Executive Director of the Region 9 Economic Development District and Donna Graves, Region 9’s Independent Contractor that puts together all the economic data for Region 9. Ed and Donna would be today’s program. Melissa Caskey’s guest was Mary Ellen Wishon with Tom Wishon Golf Technology, a local firm. Don Freemyer’s guest was Kathryn Mikelson from Chicago who now likes to ski in Colorado as an avocation. Dan McCarthy introduced Sandy Cooper who is a closer with a new land title firm in town, American Heritage. Boom took the podium to tell us about the last weekend which she spent with all the inbound Rotary Exchange students in their activities in the community. It included running around “like crazy” with the other 24 exchange students in the Snowdown Parade, riding the train, attending the pot luck at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club and taking a four hour nap. Going to a pot luck was an entirely new experience for Boom. Kudos to Boom for only using the word “like” today when it was appropriate.

Announcements: Tami announced that last week’s fund raising for Boom’s USA trip was a success with funds raised $100 more than the $2,450 required. This included the $613 Boom raised on her own and the $500 that Bud Deering generously contributed. Chip Lile announced that last weekend’s Inbound Exchange Students’ visit to Durango went very well. They built a float for the Snowdown Parade, walked in the parade and enjoyed a Great pot luck at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club. Chip thanked the host families and everyone who participated in a very successful event. Tami announced next week’s 3:00 PM Tuesday, February 10^th, Board meeting to be held at the Bank of the San Juan’s. Director or not, everyone is welcome to attend, in particular Red Badgers. Tami also talked up the next week’s meeting which will have our committee reports and club assembly. Jill Wark announced the Fireside Chat coming up on Tuesday, 2/24/2009 which will be hosted at the Strater between 5-7 PM. Please RSVP to Jill. Tami announced that the Morning Club is now sponsoring the Interact Club but would like to enlist some volunteers to help so the burden does not fall on just one person as it did with Angie Beach just a year ago. Not paying attention President Elect Mark Prouty told us there are still volunteer opportunities for the Red Ball Express on Saturday, February 7th at DMR. Also, we should still be pushing tickets otherwise our club fundraising will be only about $1,200 or ½ of what it was in 2008. Apparently, we High Nooners are real slackers this year both in ticket sales and volunteer efforts on the mountain. We can sell tickets both now and on the mountain on Saturday. Scott Mathis announced a “Huge” program for our 2/19/2009 meeting which will be shared with Kiwanians. The program will be presented by two out-of-town Rotarians. Sounds intriguing! Don’t miss it!!

Happy $$$ and Fines: Rookie Sergeant-of-Arms Justin Osborne showed us that one doesn’t need a lot of time in grade to be effective at wringing $$$ out of fellow Rotarians. He called Phil Bryson, Dan Morganstern and Bob Griffith to the front of the room as they were late arrivals to today’s meeting. Then Justin threatened to cut their hair as is the custom at Boom’s school in Thailand when students are late to meetings. Justin didn’t follow through with his threat but fined the miscreants $1 each. Justin overheard Tim Walsworth comment that Boom is now telling us about her week’s activities from the podium. Of course she has been doing this since the beginning of the new year so this just highlighted Tim’s absenteeism so Tim paid a multiple $$$ fine. Tim seemed humbled as much as Tim can appear to be humble. Good to have you back Tim! Melissa Caskey paid a happy $$$ fine because her employer won the best float award in the Snowdown Parade. Dan McCarthy was recognized for a good introduction today but fined for all his marketing in the intro. Dick Sullivan paid $75 for his 75th birthday. Whoa, 3/4s of a century. Congratulations Dick!! Dick also told us that Bud Deering was absent due to having had a medical procedure done recently. Dick also informed us that Bud is a decorated Marine Corps fighter pilot with 100 missions in Korea and 239 missions over Viet Nam. If you’ve seen the movie “The Great Santini” it’s a colorful caricature of Bud. Charlie Albert had a birthday but was absent. Club birthdays included Steve Redding, Verne Swanson and Jill Wark. Jill has 10 years with the club but has done about 20 years of work on behalf of the High Noon Club. Niles Bruno was happy because he got to ski down a black run with his grandson and also because his wife, Carol, is 10 months cancer free. Moni Helling was happy because she just spent a few days in San Francisco with family and friends living the good life. Tim Walsworth was happy because Kathy Firestone had scored him some Follies Tickets. Jan Measles was happy that she hosted some exchange students this weekend which has motivated her to become more involved with Rotary youth programs. About this time Program Chair, Rick Routh, came strolling into the meeting 20 minutes late and with a slight crook to his neck. He had just been rear ended on North Main enroute to today’s meeting yet he still made the meeting. There were no injuries in the accident and it wasn’t Rick’s fault. Let’s hope none of us tops that story the next time we are late. Outstanding commitment Rick!! Rick also paid happy $$$ for surviving unscathed and perhaps enlisting the woman who ran into him as a new club member. Phil Bryson paid fines for his recent absences and garnering some new major contracts for his firm. Jill Carithers was happy that her child skied from top to bottom at Kendall Mountain in Silverton. Moni paid $5 to announce the Durango Foundation for Educational Excellence’s event on 2/16/2009, President’s Day. Cathy Firestone is happy that Snowdown is over for the year. Tom Brossia was happy to announce his anniversary. Chip Lile announced the winners of the Super Bowl pool: Rick Routh $125 and Tami Coddington $115. Chip said the pool still had some squares leftover for those who would like to buy them. The pool raised $300 for the Rotary education fund. Dick Sullivan announced the upcoming Dave Spencer races at DMR which is a fund raiser for Adaptive Sports. Dick is trying to field two Rotary Ski Teams so please contact him if you are interested in racing. “Ringers” are welcome. Mike Kane announced that he had cut some trees on Steve Wheeldon’s property and the stacked wood is ready for delivery to a needy family. Jill Carithers is still pushing Red Ball Express tickets which she must turn in to John Frances for processing.

PROGRAM: Tami introduced Ed Moreland and Donna Graves from Region 9 Economic Development District which is located in Durango but does work for the five counties in southwestern Colorado. Some of their programs include Micro Loan Enterprise Loans, Growth Company Initiatives, Enterprise Zone Administration, Economic Development Strategic Planning, Technical Assistance and Special Projects, and Regional Transportation Planning. If you would like to see the full spectrum of Region 9’s activities, go to: www.scan.org. It was a very informative presentation by Ed Moreland and Donna Graves.

Next Weeks Program: Committee Reports and Club Assembly

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