High Noon Rotary Club of Durango

District 5470

Club 1161

Meet at Doubletree Hotel

Time: 12:00 Noon

Thursdays

Newsletter: April 16, 2009

Program March 23, 2009: John Cohen – Executive Director for the Durango Tourism Office (DATO)

Fellow Rotarians:

• Tami led the pledge and then introduced Dave Farmer, renowned coffee grower, bee keeper and High Noon Rotarian. Dave reported that he had been here a couple of weeks ago and then missed a meeting last week when he visited family in Louisiana. Dave he took pictures of signs that read “smokers paradise,” “casino paradise,” and “drive through paradise.” Dave knew he was home when he saw the signs! Rick Routh introduced Rose Chilcoat and Laurie Parkinson of Great Old Broads for Wilderness. Mike Burns introduced Engineer Steve Pavlik of Russell Engineering who has visited us many times before.

• Announcements: Boom’s update highlighted a shopping trip with Samantha Gallant for a prom dress and high heels. Tami reported that Boom can walk elegantly in her new heels. Boom reported that she painted Easter Eggs and hid some, one of which is still missing. Boom also reported that April 16^th is the day of a water festival in Thailand and the beginning of the New Year as well. Boom also reported than even with the political upheavals reported in the paper about Thailand everything is still okay to the extent that her mother is going on a two week vacation. Tami reported that today’s collection would go toward Boom’s dress and heels and excess would roll over to Boom’s end of year trip around the country with other Rotarian Exchange students. Tami reported about the Tuesday, April 14^th Board meeting at which a lot of productive business was conducted. The fireside chat is scheduled for 5:30 PM May 13^th at the Strater with directors, committee members and everyone else invited to welcome new HNR members into the club. Contact Jill Wark if you plan to attend. Tami is also looking for nominations from all club members for the Club’s annual “Rotarian of the Year” award. Tami reported on the planning for the transition to the Mark Prouty administration on June 25^th to be held at the Public Library. Ted Weirather is working on this to make it the special event that is. Peter Marshall is organizing a highway cleanup event for the pickup of trash on our two miles of US Highway 160 west from the DW II water tanks to a few hundred years past the Kennebec Café, CR 124 or the La Plata Canyon road. Peter is trying to set it up for sometime in May when we are less likely (but not guaranteed) to experience snow. This is a great opportunity to get to better know your fellow Rotarians Dan McCarthy reported that he needs nominations for the annual RYLA award for which high school students with leadership potential can be nominated. Bill Cartwright announced a weekly golf gathering with him and John Francis of the Morning Club each Thursday at 5:12 and 5:20 PM at Hillcrest. They have eight (8) tee times so if you would like to be on the e mail list please contact Bill by phone or e mail. Bill then segued into his role as Sgt of Arms.

• Sgt of Arms Bill Cartwright fined Mike Kane for a birthday somewhere south of 30. Melissa Caskey paid for her 8^th wedding anniversary and reported that she had passed the infamous seven year itch for married folks. Leanna and Clint Jaworsky were absent but would be having a wedding anniversary on April 19^th according to Leanna or April 20^th according to Clint. The consensus was that Leanna is the better source on the date. Chip Lile had a club anniversary but was not present. Dave Farmer self reported (the Rotarian thing to do) that he is having the 19^th anniversary of his ownership of the Durango Sports Club and his 23^rd anniversary of being president of the High Noon Rotary Club at the ripe old age of 26 and he has 27 years with the club now. You do the math. Dave tried hard to give away a $100 bill but Bill Cartwright insisted on giving Dave change for the $100. Happy $$$: Lee Ann Havens is happy that her middle school daughter won a science project award from the Colorado Medical Society. Ted Weirather was happy that his dog is happy for the fresh snow. Does he ski? Bill Cartwright is happy to be going camping in the Escalante Wilderness area of Utah. Tom Brossia is happy to be here and to be able to contribute to Boom’s dress and shoe fund. Jan Measles was sad she couldn’t go shopping with Boom for her dress and happy to have a teenage daughter at her house. Mark Tucker is happy that his CPA helped him escape the IRS relatively unscathed on the 15^th. Rick O’Block is quiet and happy very unlike his year as president when he was happy but quite noisy. Barb Stine is happy that Boom is going to the prom. Dan McCarthy was concerned about the snow’s affect on his apple tree blossoms and happy that his daughter is competing in an <12 soccer tournament. Bill Cartwright is happy that High Noon is contributing $500 to the Senior Prom Night and is loaning the Prom Committee our casino equipment which will be part of their activities that night. Tom Galbreath is happy with his son’s investment advice. Al Harper anted up for being in the Herald regarding the conference center and is happy that they should be turning dirt by July. Tom Crabbe came in with his hat on and doubled his fine to keep his hat on while he ate lunch. Walt Nowotny won the drawing and contributed his winnings to Boom’s prom dress and heels fund. Tami reported that we had enough money in today’s fines to cover the dress and heels as well as some excess for Boom’s trip.

• PROGRAM: Rick Routh introduced our program speaker, Rose Chilcoat of Great Old Broads for Wilderness (GOBW) and Laurie Parkinson the local leader of this most interesting group. GOBW is a nationally recognized nonprofit headquartered in Durango that advocates for our wilderness on a national basis and was founded in 1989. Membership in GOBW is broad based (no pun intended) admitting older women, younger women, and men of all ages. The principal requirement is to have a love for wilderness and the desire to protect the wilderness for future generations. Members do all things wilderness oriented including: enjoying it, advocating for it, demonstrating for it, being political activists for it and protecting it. Some of the main entities that they fight are: unlimited motorized recreational users, unsupervised public grazing, and unlimited oil and gas development. They are in it for fellowship and for fun not just advocacy. They recently got a lot of publicity in the AARP national publication and clearly are a force to be reckoned with in any venue that threatens our wilderness lands. Darn good program Rick!

Next Weeks Program: John Cohen – Durango Tourism Office (DATO) Executive Director

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