High Noon Rotary Club of Durango

District 5470

Club 1161

Meet at Doubletree Hotel

Time: 12:00 Noon

Thursdays

Newsletter: June 4, 2009

Program June 11, 2009: Tome Cheatham – Perseverance: The People of Myanmar

Fellow Rotarians:

• Tami led the pledge and Chip Lile introduced two guests: Michael Carroll with the Wilderness Society and Christy McGrew, realtor. Samantha Gallant introduced her new associate, Dave Peterson who hails from Cave Creek, Arizona. Mike Kane introduced his daughter, Jane, who just turned one year old. Mark Donohue introduced his friend, retired banker, Rich Roth who was visiting us for the 4^th time. Tom Brossia introduced Henry, bankruptcy attorney whose son was recently in a serious bike accident but is recovering well. Steve Wheeldon introduced retired University of Arizona biology professor, Rick Halleck who was visiting for the 4^th or 5^th time. Rick shared with Steve a fund raising event his club in Sunrise, AZ conducted each year that involved riding horses in a circle and earning $50k.

• Announcements: Boom reported that she is officially finished with school this year. Boom spent the last weekend with Chip Lile and Sarah Olsen and had the opportunity to shoot a gun for the first time in her life. Apparently, in Thailand one cannot keep a gun in one’s home so this was a noteworthy event in her life. Tami reported that Boom had two goals when she arrived: to ride a horse and shoot a gun and she has now achieved both those goals. Tami reminded everyone to update their attendance records by ensuring that participating in Rotary projects and attendance at training seminars and board meetings can substitute for missed weekly club meetings. The listing of attendees for the June 25^th, 2009 changing of the guard ceremony at the public library was passed around to be checked off either for attendance or non-attendance. Tami also announced two international travel opportunities to Ecuador and Jamaica for members. Tami recognized Sara Olsen for being the Rotaract coordinator for the past two years. Her replacement Mark Tucker, new Red Badger, is looking for a co-chair/understudy who can shadow him and be ready to step in and replace him when his term is complete. Finally, Tami announced that the hat will be passed next week to help support Boom’s travel with other exchange students within the U.S. Bob Chaput announced that he will be taking pictures after the meeting for the 2009-2010 roster. Tom Galbraith will be taking over the annual roster for next year. Mike Kane, golf tournament chair, announced that he is still looking for sponsors and players for the July 17^th event. Dick Sullivan looked for interest for another Rotary Raft trip down the Animas. He was looking for 16 people for two rafts but only about eight members raised their hands. Chip recruited Rick Routh and Tom Galbraith to make a ticket buying excursion to Mesa Verde on Saturday to purchase 41 tickets for the visiting exchange students’ Mesa Verde visit on Sunday.

• Sergeant of Arms, Chip Lile, was selling club meeting make ups for $5. Samantha Gallant paid for wearing her hockey team’s jersey and ragging on Barb Stine about her team’s performance. Chip paid because Boom is such a good shot with a gun. Birthdays included Clint Jaworsky, Walt Nowotny and Scott Flyte. Wayne Bedor just passed his 19^th anniversary with High Noon Rotary, Tami has eight years, David Downs, Dan McCarthy and Tim Walsworth also had club anniversaries this week. Sherry Tabor is celebrating her 45^th wedding anniversary and also announced the cornerstone laying ceremony at the new library next week. All Rotarians are invited and reminded that our club contributed $25,000 to this important community project. Moni Helling was plugging her daughter’s summertime job at Coldstone Creamery and encourages everyone to frequent the ice cream shop and tip heavily. Moni is also happy to be going to Las Vegas with her best friend from her college days in the 1980s. Bill Cartwright was happy about his recent three day mountain biking event in Moab. Tom Brossia gave a public service announcement that veterans are now authorized to salute the U.S. flag while in their “civvies.” Don Freemeyer just returned from his 50^th high school class reunion and was happy to report that they are all still kids notwithstanding being in their late 60s. Phil Bryson was $3 happy to be present at today’s meeting, and that his son won a cowboy shooting contest and his company just closed on a big contract. Melissa Caskey is happy to be moving into new digs at the Bank of Colorado. Rick O’Block was happy that he had a big picture of Bud Deering as a satisfied client in a prominent place at Mercy, and that he, Howard Wilson and Bud were featured in the new Durango Magazine just out. Samantha was happy with her hockey team’s progress in the fourth game of the tournament. Mark Donohue was happy that his first base woman, 15 year old granddaughter was on the team that won the Washington State Softball Championship. Long time and generous club supporter member, Nancy Hammond, was happy to be back from Elay, Arizona for the summer. Nancy also reported on her family dynasty at a well known printing shop where she can be found working on occasion. Tom Crabbe misheard and thought that Tom Brossia had said veterans could now salute in their “skivvies”, and while he thought this unusual, Tom believed it a good thing and so paid accordingly. Tom wasn’t sure what a cowboy shooting contest is but paid a dollar in support of not shooting cowboys since they are a dying breed.

PROGRAM: Bud Deering, after a long absence from the podium, took the floor for chapter three of his “A Most Interesting Life” autobiography. Bud wrote the book with the assistance of a “memorialist.” There are four or five copies floating around amongst Rotarians. Bud dedicated the book to his sister, wife, and parents and to members of the High Noon Rotary Club who would not allow him back at the podium to orate on his life a few years ago. Bud reports that he had a full life as an engineer, jet pilot in the Marine Corps for 25 years, bag man for a lobbyist of the American Petroleum Institute, manager of Marine officer assignments, La Plata County Public Works Director and County Commissioner. Bud flew in Korea and had 329 missions to his credit while in Viet Nam. He dubbed both those wars as questionable national policy and thinks Iraq may be falling into that category as well. Bud told an interesting story about the current La Plata County Courthouse clock tower. It was impressive in detail especially for those who know how clocks work. It perfectly epitomized the man who tells you how to build a clock when asked what time it is. The clock tower is a wonderful community asset and Bud and his former county commissioner father and master clockmaker, Tony Ferdinando, all played an important part in ensuring its rightful place in the architectural history of the community. Bud’s presentation was very well done and received a standing ovation. He was only two minutes over his allowed time, a feat that courthouse employees would have been very pleased to experience when Bud was a county commissioner. Bud didn’t mention it but he is also a very generous contributor to High Noon Rotary’s many programs in particular our scholarship program. Good program Bud!

Next Week’s Program: Tom Cheatham – Perseverance: The People of Myanmar

Tami closed by leading 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