High Noon Rotary Club of Durango

District 5470

Club 1161

Meet at Doubletree Hotel

Time: 12:00 Noon

Thursdays

Newsletter: July 9, 2009

Program July 16, 2009: Sally Suther, Executive Director, Durango

Nature Studies

Fellow Rotarians:

• President Mark Prouty kicked off his inaugural meeting with the announcement that he is on a diet with the goal to eventually look like Tami. After some members’ ugly visions of Mark mincing around in a skirt had passed, Rick Routh was asked to introduce his guests and today’s program Nadine Orantes, Jen Nail and Michelle Uhl with Habitat for Humanity. Rick Routh also introduced (sort of) Assistant District Governor, Clyde Church who explained his position as the guy who digs up answers for the local clubs. Jim Burpee introduced (sort of) Rick Halleck a retired biology professor from the Phoenix Sunrise Club. Rick has been with us 5-6 times already. Ted Weirather introduced Dan McCarthy’s guest, Abbi May, a concierge of long standing who just got married and recently moved to Durango. Mark Donohue introduced his wife, Sharon, and soon to be inducted and retired banker, Rich Kolb, and his wife, Sandy a retired CPA. Barb Stine introduced 2009-2010 Rotary scholarship winners, Lila Mahoney. Bud Deering introduced another guest from Habitat for Humanity, Susan Jonas.

• Announcements: Mark Prouty informed us that future meetings will include High Noon members introducing each other so we can learn more about our colleagues. The interviewer and interviewee will be randomly chosen and be given set questions. Mark announced that Rotaract is in need of a weekly meeting place after August when they will lose the one they have now. Also, everyone is asked to help Rick Routh with programs so we don’t always end up with a program on nonprofits. Assistant Governor Clyde Church presented a certificate from past RI President G.K. Lee to our past president, Tami Coddington. Mark Prouty was presented with a certificate from current RI President, Mark Kenney, with the statement that “the Future of Rotary is in Your Hands”. Tami and Mark also received their requisite pins. Tami announced Vern Swanson, Greg Lyman, Miss Jane Fogleman, Jim Whitley, Bob Foster and Bill Hobson as being Paul Harris fellows by having contributed $1,000 to the Paul Harris Foundation. Jim Whitely was the only one present. Tami also presented Rick Routh with the Distinguished Service Award for his exceptional work in bringing us interesting programs. Tom Galbreath announced that members could pick up their 2009-2010 membership rosters and apologized to Nancy Vanderwal for not updating her new business in the roster. Tom Brossia informed us that Dick Sullivan was injured on the golf course when he slipped wearing tennis shoes and not golf shoes. Mark Donohue will have copies of applications for continuing scholarships ready for us at next week’s meeting. Mike Kane and Tim Walsworth, the Friday, July 17^th golf tournament czars asked members to thank all the sponsors for the Tournament. Today’s happy $$$ are directed to the Tournament’s cause. We still need 11 more golf teams to flesh out the roster so please sign up post haste. Don’t forget there are a free breakfast and lunch as well as free beer with the lunch. Bill Cartwright announced the Habitat for Humanity Rotary Build Day on Saturday July 11^th at Foxfire Farms in Bayfield. Lunch will be catered by our very own Samantha Gallant. Rick Routh announced a Durango Nature Studies rafting trip that will feature educational insights from naturalist. Cathy Crum told us our bills will be by e mail unless she is told otherwise. Jill Wark, Mark Donohue and Mark Prouty teamed to present us with our newest Rotarian, retired banker Rich Kolb. Rich’s wife of 35 years, Sandy, is a retired CPA and they have twin daughters. Our on-the-ball “Rasta Man” Tom Galbreath was able to include Rich in the 2009-2010 rosters already. Jill Wark and Rick Routh also announced Steve Pavlik’s matriculation from “red badger” to “blue badger”. Mark announced the next Board meeting is on Bastille Day, July 14^th at the library at 5:30 PM in the Rotary Room.

• Sergeant of Arms, Rick O’Block, resident of Durango for 33 years was elated to be back as the Sgt of Arms. Rick gave us some insight into the personality of one of our members, Phil Bryson, who has been banned from a well know retailer for doing such things as hiding in clothes racks and whispering to passers by to “pick me, pick me” and the best (worst) incident was his lurking in a dressing booth for several minutes and then shouting out “there’s no toilet paper in here.” Who would have guessed that such a well mannered and well spoken Rotarian would exhibit such aberrant behavior in a shopping mall? It was all caught on video camera and presented to Phil’s wife. Birthdays included Charlie Albert, John Beekman and Steve Pavlik. Happy $$$ included $20 from Mark Donohue for offering to buy Rotaractors a drink at the Changing of the Guard function and then forgetting to pay for it. Bud Poe paid $100 to not play golf this year. Niles Bruno is happy that wife, Carol, is free of cancer after one year. Moni Helling is happy that her outside wedding ceremony was not marred by foul weather. Tim Walsworth paid $10 to recognize all the work that Mike Kane has done on the golf tournament this year. Dan McCarthy was happy to hear that his son had safely scaled a 14 teener in Morocco. Ted Weirather was happy that the Changing of the Guard function went off so well and was so well attended. Jill Wark is happy that her daughter is pregnant with a little girl since Jill already has two grandsons. Tami is happy that she is a Past President. Bud is happy to sponsor a hole for the golf tournament but wasn’t so pleased that he was not allowed to have signs at the hole touting his expertise in marriage and divorce counseling. Ever the generous Rotarian, Bud offered any business person the opportunity to place a sign at his hole. Phil Bryson is happy that he has been banned from shopping at Target and that his son won the “world cowboy action shooting contest.”

PROGRAM: Rick Routh introduced Nadine Orantes, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanities (HH), who had previously spoken to us a year ago. HH was established in 1976 but has only been in La Plata County since 1994. Since then they have built 28 homes and are working on the 29^th and 30^th. We have a chance to work on those two homes in Foxfire Farms near Bayfield on July 11^th from 8:30 to 2:30. The need locally is great because the price of homes is so high and salaries are typically so low. This is not a giveaway since each homeowner must invest 300-500 hours in the actual construction of a home. Also, they must attend classes in financing, maintenance, and insulation so they can become responsible homeowners. In 2008 more than 5,760 hours were donated to the construction of HH homes in La Plata County. Nadine then introduced Michelle Uhl, who is one of the people who will benefit from this program. Michelle told us her story and how appreciative she is to have the opportunity as it has literally turned her life around. It’s a great program that helps people in need and also requires the recipients’ contribution as well.

In closing, Tom Brossia, told us a joke about golfing lessons having to do with “LOFT”, lack of talent. Clyde Church had to top it with a joke about holes in one that brought even greater groans from the membership.

Mark 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