High Noon Rotary Club of
Durango
District 5470
Club 1161
Meet at Doubletree Hotel
Time: 12:00 Noon
Thursdays
Newsletter:
April 9, 2009, 2009
Program
March 26, 2009: Rose Chilcoat – Great Old Broads
Fellow Rotarians:
- Tami led the pledge and Don Freemeyer led off with an award winning
guest introduction for Stan Madhoff from the San Joaquin Valley of
California. The introduction
included StanÕs lineage back to the 19th century and references
to his ranch which had been homesteaded and held in the family for several
generations. Dick Sullivan introduced Executive Director of the Adaptive Sports
Association, Tim Kroes. High
Noon Rotarian in abstentia, Tom Galbraith, introduced himself after a
hiatus of six months that included stays in Honduras and Florida amongst
others locales. Tom posts our
newsletter to the HNR web site and keeps the site updated while here and
on the road. Thanks Tom. Rick Routh introduced our program
speaker Larry Weise from Mesa Verde.
Tami introduced Jim Dukes from the morning club.
- Announcements: BoomÕs update included activities from her Spring Break
which consisted of a trip to Pagosa Springs for a few days and another ski
trip to Glenwood Springs where she did a lot of eating, sleeping, partying
and other activities with fellow exchange students. Boom also established a personal
best record for the longest car ride of her life while on this trip. Tami announced the next Fireside
Chat to be held 5:30 PM, Wednesday, May 13th in the Oak Room at
the Strater. New members,
board members and anyone else in the club is invited to the meeting. Contact Jill Wark if you are
coming. Also, there will be a
Board meeting on Tuesday, 4/14/2009, at 2:30 PM (note time change) at the
Bank of the San Juans. Tami
announced that the Homeless Shelter needed two more Easter baskets and
Samantha Gallant and Justin Osborne quickly volunteered to bring the
baskets to the Homeless Shelter.
Ted Weirather reported on the March 28th Monte Carlo
night which was deemed successful even though attendance was down
20%. Only 33% of membership
attended which is a disappointment and the reasons are many. Ted asked for feedback on why
folks couldnÕt attend so that if it was for reasons that could be tweaked
for next year then adjustments will be made to assure success for future
events. In some instances
adjustments may not be made such as for the current state of the economy. Ted
is interested in reasons not names of non attendees. Tami reported on the
Òchanging of the guardÓ to be held on June 25th at the Public
Library to celebrate the event.
It will be a plated meal and bringing guests is encouraged. Dick Sullivan introduced Tim Kroes
of Adaptive Sports who thanked Rotary for its support again this year at
the Dave Spencer Races and being the leading service club fund raiser and supporter
of the event. Dick Sullivan deserves much of the credit for the HNR
fundraising effort for this event. Tim also presented the annual ÒBody BeaterÓ award to
Kathy Firestone for having the most spectacular crash on the race course
of any of the skiers.
Although badly bruised, Kathy did not incur any broken bones or
permanent damage to her body.
- Sergeant of Arms, Justin Osborne, fined Tom Crabbe for his front
page Durango Herald picture kibitzing with newly elected City Councilman,
Paul Broderick. Tom demonstrated his usual high level of sophistication
while daintily eating a hot dog and enjoying a late Õ08 cabernet. Dan McCarthy paid a fine for being
late even though it was not required. Phil Bryson had happy dollars because his candidate,
Christina Thompson, was one of the three successful contenders for the
City Council. David Downs was
fined for his work on the United Way Board. Jim Dukes, Tom Brossia and Mark Donohue were fined for
standing around talking in the lobby during the pledge of allegiance. Mark Donohue and Tami paid for
having birthdays. Tami also
contributed the $20 she anticipated losing in Las Vegas during a recent
trip. Walt Nowotny paid a
happy dollar for his daughterÕs upcoming visit to Durango. Tom Galbraith paid happy dollars
for being back in Durango although he is not happy with the weather. Verne Swanson returned from Texas
where he watched soccer, lacrosse, and other grandchildren
activities. Charlie Albert paid
happy $$$ for his new grandchild but wasnÕt so pleased that the baby
looked more like Dick Pearson than Charlie. Jill Carithers is happy that her child has started
playing soccer with the Durango Youth Soccer Association. Tom Brossia is happy his wife
got a day of skiing in and that the Lake Durango Company has been sold to
the La Plata County Water Authority.
Bud Deering is happy to be attending his mother-in-lawÕs 80th
birthday which Bud thinks is no big deal as he passed 80 a long time
ago. Vern Swanson had the
winning ticket and generously donated the winnings back to the club.
- PROGRAM: Rick Routh introduced our program
speaker, Larry Weise, a 38 year veteran of the U.S. Forest who has served
as the Mesa Verde Park Superintendent and Chief Ranger since 1993. Larry is also a Rotarian. LarryÕs
presentation was divided into two parts. The first part was related to the
USS Mesa Verde which is the only Navy ship named for a National Park and
not a state, city, person. Back in the 1990s, our former Congressional
representative, Scott McInnis, suggested the idea to some Navy Admirals
and when they laid the keel for the ship, it was given the USS Mesa Verde
name. Linda Campbell, wife of
former Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, has been the sponsor for the ship since
that time. It is unique with
learning exhibit on board that highlights Mesa Verde and its affiliation
with 24 tribes. The second
part of the presentation describes the ParkÕs efforts of non invasive
techniques for preserving Mesa VerdeÕs heritage. This includes a very innovative method of scanning archaeological
sites with the latest technology.
Not only is it very detailed it is quite fast and will enable them
to bring back virtually the antiquities that were lost in the past to
Sweden, Mexico and others prior to any antiquity legislation being passed.
This was an excellent presentation
aided by a power point that had no technical difficulties. Another great program Rick!
Next
Weeks Program: Rose Chilcoat – Great Old Broads
The Four Way Test in
everything we do and say:
Ÿ
Is it the truth?
Ÿ
Is it fair to all concerned?
Ÿ
Will it build good will and better friendships?
Ÿ
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Yours in Rotary,
Editor
Wayne Bedor