High Noon Rotary Club of Durango

District 5470

Club 1161

Meet at Doubletree Hotel

Time: 12:00 Noon

Thursdays

Newsletter: May 21 2009

Program May 28, 2009: Tom Tudor, former Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Guard. Please bring a veteran to this lunch.

Fellow Rotarians:

• Tami led the pledge and Ted Weirather introduced former banker and High Noon Rotarian, Mike Schaefer, late of Mesa, Arizona. Mike used to do the Paul Harris Foundation for us. Tom Galbraith introduced visiting Rotarian and retired Arizona University Biochemist, Rick Hallick from the Tucson Morning Club. Rick Routh introduced our program presenter, Kevin Britz from the Fort Lewis College Center for Southwest Studies. Steve Wheeldon’s guest was Brad Tafoya, president of the Daybreak Club. After 30+ years of marriage, Scott Mathis still can’t top his line when introducing his wife, “the joy of his life”, Joy Mathis. Joy informed us that the filming that we participated in a few months ago about the “Golden Hour” has been produced and can be purchased from DCAT for $15. Please call 259-2802. Tami reminded us that High Noon Rotary had contributed $1,000 toward the production cost of the film through a mini-grant. Burt Coleman introduced his guest, Becka Clark from Fairbanks, Alaska. Tami also introduced Jay Hwang, former HNRer and Jim Dukes from the Daybreak Club.

• Announcements: Boom told us about her last week in school and her upcoming graduation on Friday, May 22, 2009. Boom also had a great time with the Interact pasta feed at Carvers and thanked club members for their participation. Boom by far was the single largest ticket sales person for this function. Even fund raiser extraordinaire, Tim Walsworth, praised Boom for her fund raising prowess. Brad Tafoya announced the Daybreak Club’s upcoming fund raiser on June 27^th, a barn dance to be held at the County Fairgrounds. The cost is $35 per ticket and $80 for a family of four. The Blue Moon Ramblers will provide the music. Peter Marshall announced that the Doubletree is selling their famous chocolate chip cookies today for $2 each as a fund raiser for the 2009 “Relay for Life” American Cancer Society fund drive. Chip Lile reported on the perfect Rotary fund raiser he has been talking about for a month or so. Chip said they raised $5,200 and netted $4,150 from the beer sales on May 16^th and 17^th at the Moto Cross held at the Fairgrounds. Since not enough Rotarians volunteered, Rotaractors helped with beer sales. Accordingly, $800 of the profits will be shared with them. Chip said that only about four hours of planning went into the project and a good time was had by all. Great job Chip and Chip Helpers! Mike Kane updated us on the upcoming July 17^th High Noon Rotary and United Way Golf Tournament. Mike circulated a sign up sheet for the event. Mark Donohue was recognized for being the first business to pay to sponsor a hole. Jim Dukes announced the Interact changing of the guard with five new board members. Lisa Gervais will be the new president. Lisa is presently in France as an exchange student.

• Standing in for Emily Spencer, Sergeant of Arms, Justin Osborne fined birthday boys, Steve Redding and Jim Burpee who were not present. Those will be very big checks when written. Nancy Bennet had a Club anniversary; however, she was not present either. Finally Justin hit pay dirt fining Mike Burns (3) and Eric Christensen (2) for their club anniversaries. This was also Eric’s first attendance this year after returning from seven months in Tucson. Eric reported that it’s “hot in Tucson.” Justin fined himself for the recent addition to his family, Brookley, at 9 pounds and 8 ounces. Mother and daughter are doing fine. Jan Measles nearly erred and dropped in a $20 bill for being in a picture wearing a tiny dress while at the Moto Cross festivities. She paid, but not $20. Tom Galbraith was happy that wife, Stanna, noticed the RV they rented had a different front license plate number than on the back. Brad Tafoya paid a self imposed fine for overlooking two of the sponsors for the Daybreak Club’s barn dance, Mike Burns of the Alpine Bank and Moni Helling with First National. Steve Wheeldon was happy that his son’s recent surgery was a success and his investment business is up 9%. He was also happy that he sponsored a child from a single parent household with the Boys and Girl’s Club for a summertime camp. Apparently, Steve used Jim Duke’s ticket to win a lot of SWAG at the B&G Club event. Moni Helling is still happy about her daughter graduating from DHS and her recent attendance at the senior ladies formal tea that was held at the Strater a week ago. The Strater donated the room for the seniors’ use. Mark Donohue was happy that his son-in-law won a $350mm lawsuit. Bill Cartwright was happy to have spent some time biking in the canyon lands with his son and daughter. Dick Sullivan was happy that his son arrived safely in Durango from L.A in the ultimate driving machine, a BMW M5. Bud Deering was happy to have gained three pounds while wife Judy was in California gaining four pounds. Dan Morgenstern won the drawing and donated the $$$ to the Club.

PROGRAM: Rick Routh introduced our speaker, Kevin Britz, PhD from the University of Arizona who currently serves as the Director for SW Studies at the Fort. Kevin told us about the new direction for the Center whose first major program will center on cougars. The Center recently devised a new logo which is a spiral with a divot and cross hairs symbolizing the Four Corners. The Center will focus on SW art, history, landscape and culture of the Four Corners. It will define “space” including the “Old Fort” campus in Hesperus. The Center’s first issue to be highlighted will be on cougars. Since 1900 there have been only 21 deaths of humans from cougars. However, there have been 4,000 deaths from bees and dogs. The exhibit will open on August 22, 2009. Other programs for the future will be ranching, the Fort Lewis frontier army, eating history, water and the west, mining, railroads, engineering the “West” and movies and myth. Sounds like these programs will draw a lot of people up to the Center for SW Studies on FLC. Kevin stated that their goal is to bring a lot of programs down into town as well.

Next Weeks Program: Tom Tudor, Former Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guard. This is a good program to bring a veteran to lunch.

Tami led us in “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