High Noon Rotary Club of Durango

District 5470

Club 1161

Meet at Doubletree Hotel

Time: 12:00 Noon

Thursdays

Newsletter: February 19, 2009

Program February 26, 2009: Claude Steelman, Local Renowned Photographer

Fellow Rotarians:

• Tami led the pledge and introduced Rick Smith from the Pine River Bayfield Rotary Club who was the 2009 Red Ball Express Chair. Rick presented a check for $5,119 to Tami for HNR’s share of the event’s fundraising. Overall, more than $33,000 was raised for the community which is more than last year. Tami also introduced Durango High School student, Bradley Perkins, who is heading to France for the 2009-2010 school year. Although he doesn’t know where in France he will be assigned yet, Bradley is very excited about the exchange experience that he will experience. Tami also introduced past District 5470 Governor, Jan Williams, who is also a former High Nooner. Due to time constraints of today’s program, none of the other 20-30 guests were introduced.

•  Announcements: Emily Spencer told us about the upcoming Monte Carlo night that will be held 6:00 PM on March 28^th at the FLC Ballroom. Ticket prices are $50 which includes hors d’ oeuvres and play money which can be used to play at the tables. The door prize is a trip to Las Vegas. Also, it is a black tie (encouraged; however, not mandatory) affair. On Tuesday, February 24^th, there will be a Fireside Chat graciously hosted by Emily Spencer and the Strater. All HNR members are welcome but directors and all other club pooh bahs are encouraged to attend. Of course Red Badgers are expected to attend in order to fulfill the requirements for membership in the club. Sara Olsen informed us that the Rotaract Ecuadorian art had been found and to stay tuned for an announcement when the Rotaract fund raiser will be held. Cathy Crum announced the VOA Chocolate Fantasia fund raiser to be held between 5-8 Friday evening at FLC. Tami recognized Jim Resor from Cortez who is attempting to organize the Mesa Verde Daybreak Club and had sought our club’s support last week. Tami announced that the Board had voted to officially support Jim Resor’s efforts to establish a new club in Cortez. Tami also announced that the Pagosa Springs Rotary Club is conducting a fund raiser in our community and to support them if you can. Peter Marshall introduced his new Executive Chef, Ron Sutton, to the club. Ron is from the Northwest and will be seeing to all our future meals at the Doubletree.

• Sergeant-at-Arms: Due to time constraints of the program, there was not a Sgt-of-Arms or ticket drawing today.

Ø PROGRAM: Joy Mathis (the Joy of Scott’s life) set the stage with a disclaimer that the live action we were about to witness would be very real and intense and that we should remain calm or leave the room before the action started. At that very moment, Karen Saler (aka Jill Wark) and her husband, Jack Saler, (aka Tom Brossia) kicked off the action with a simulated heart attack. Karen collapsed (at my feet) on the floor and Jack portrayed the terrified husband very deftly (my pulse rate increased as well). The rest of the “golden hour” played out according to the script with a call to 911 and two members of the community providing CPR within a couple of minutes. Within minutes five members of the DFRA appeared with all their paraphernalia including the defibrillator which was administered. The rest of the action played out and soon Karen was stabilized and she and her distraught husband were heading to the ambulance with the assistance of the EMS team. All of this was filmed live and HNR members and Kiwanis membership were able to watch all the action on two large screens. The story had a happy ending with Karen Saler pictured rehabbing at the Mercy Health Club and Jack and she walking hand–in-hand leaving Mercy. The key to success was immediate CPR by those present, prompt response by the first responders and their professional training and equipment. DFRA indicated that they have 2,800 incidents a year of which 200 are heart related events. Dick Pearson gave a first person testimonial about how important the services provided by DFRA and equipment are to his organization which has hundreds of customers a day and a relatively frequent number of these incidents per year. Important lessons: Everyone should have CPR training. A 6th grader can learn the procedure in 90 second and others take 20 minutes. The availability of defibrillators should be universal and we should all be working to eliminate the potential for cardiovascular events in our lives through improved exercise, diet, etc. This program ranks right at the top of all the pro0grams we’ve ever had. Watch the Oscars this weekend; you may see Jill and Tom as nominees as they did a great job today. Our thanks to Joy Mathis and a cast of hundreds (at least 30-40) who dedicated a lot of their personal time to bring this to High Noon Rotary and Kiwanis. Tami closed with HNR and Kiwanis reciting 4 Way Test and the entire room singing “God Bless America.”

Next Weeks Program: Claude Steelman, Local Renowned Photographer. Leanna Jaworsky has graciously volunteered to do the 2/26/2009 newsletter as I am required to go skiing in Pitkin County that day. Many thanks Leanna!

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