High Noon
Rotary Club of Durango
District
5470
Club 1161
Meet at
Doubletree Hotel
Time: 12:00 Noon
Thursdays
Newsletter: August 13, 2009
Program August
20, 2009: Chip Lile and Sara Olsen, “A Grand Adventure”
Fellow Rotarians:
- President Mark Prouty led the pledge and
invited Justin Osborne to introduce new to Durango,
Jamie Wall, an educator from Kansas
City. Emily Spencer introduced Rotarian Rick
Hallleck from the Sunrise Club in Tucson.
Dick Sullivan introduced daughter Molly Sullivan. Tami Coddington
introduced former High Nooner, Ralph Martin, from Hawaii where he is past president of
his club. Bill Cartwright introduced Dale Macken from the Temecula,
California Rotary Club and his daughter.
Vern Swanson introduced Serada Leavenworth, Volunteers of America
director for SW Colorado. Angie Beach
introduced Rotaractors; Britney Hansen, Kaula, and AC Patterson and High
Nooner, Mike Sandberg and his nephew, Matt. Wayne Bedor introduced Frank Sipon from
the evening Club. Ted Weirather
introduced Evening Clubber, Paulette Church who introduced Scott Scholl from
Search and Rescue who then introduced Ryan and Tracey from the Bayfield Parks and Rec Department.
- Announcements: President Prouty reported on the
8/11/2009 Board meeting where Scott Flyte’s resignation from the club was
approved. Scott is moving to Denver. Mark reminded us of the Australian GSE
visit on August 31st – September 2d. Mark pointed out that our banners' flag
is getting ratty and he needs someone to fix it. Jan Measles cheerfully volunteered to
make it like new. Thanks Jan for volunteering!! Scott Scholl presented the two
defibulators funded by Rotary to Paulette Church who represented the
Commons and the Adult Education Center
and Ryan and Tracy from the Bayfield Parks and Recreation
Department. Tami Coddington thanked
everyone for supporting her in the American Cancer Society’s hill climb
and asked that pledges be turned in to her. Don Freemyer thanks everyone for
supporting the recent Big Brother and Big Sisters fundraiser. Peter Marshall reported that the trash
got picked up along US Highway 160 West and everyone had a good time. Angie Beach was lucky to spot a snake in
the grass. Rotaract President,
Britney Hansen, talked about their upcoming boys versus girl’s softball
fundraiser. AJ Patterson laid out
the details of the game to be played on Saturday, August 22d, 2009 at Fort Lewis College. Free food will be served from 12:30 on
with the game starting at 1:00 PM.
- Meet a Rotarian: Lee Ann Havens introduced the Club to
Vern Swanson who was born and raised in North Platte Nebraska.
Vern was introduced to Colorado while
floating in the North Platte and bought a
condo here in 1978 then retired to Durango
in 1998. Vern has three sons, two
cats and enjoys hiking, biking, golf, skiing and traveling. Vern and his wife have traveled to 20
countries. Vern is most proud of
starting a business out of his apartment that grew to cover most of Texas. Vern belongs to Rotary and the Hillcrest
Golf Club. He believes in finishing
what you start and loves country and western music. Most people don’t know that Vern has a
private pilot’s license, was invited to work with NASA and was in the 1958
Football Who’s Who. Vern hopes his
golf score will equal his age at some point in his life. Thanks to Lee Ann and Vern!
- Sergeant of Arms, Emily Spencer, again fined
folks for nice things only. This
included Dick Sullivan and Dale Macken for having such lovely daughters
with them today. Bob Griffith, Emily Spencer, Tom Crabbe and Miss Jane
Fogleman all had birthdays. Wedding
anniversaries included honorees: Tom Brossia, Niles Bruno, Doug Lashley,
and Scott Mathis. All seemed
somewhat surprised by Emily’s revelation.
Club anniversaries were announced for Tom Crabbe (3), Clint
Jaworsky (3) and Peter Marshall and Jan Measles (7). Tim Walsworth paid $10 happy dollars to
announce a United Way
fund raiser which involves sampling 20 micro brews for $20 in downtown Durango. Dick Sullivan was happy with his
recuperation progress from injuring himself playing golf on wet grass
wearing tennis shoes instead of golf shoes. (Dick – tennis is the one with
the net, hard court and big ball and golf is the one on grass with the
small, hard ball). He knew that!
Bill Cartwright is happy to have won the dinner for six to be
cooked by Samantha Gallant. Bud
Deering is happy to be surviving taking care of the house, six cats and 40
hummingbirds while wife Judy is in Nebraska
on Kiwanis business. Tom Brossia is
hoping to survive another week so he can celebrate this 45th
anniversary. Cathy Crum and Wayne
Bedor were happy to survive vacations in the east where they could have
melted in the heat and humidity. Wayne
was also happy that Rick Routh and Melisa Caskey did a great job putting
out the newsletter while he was on vacation. Tom Crabbe is happy to
announce that he was the best looking guy at his recent high school 25th
reunion. Mike Sandberg is happy to
have had his seminarian student nephew, Matt, with him for the
summer. Matt has done wonders for
Mike in maintenance on the ranch.
Ralph Martin is happy to be in Durango and will be happier when his
wife retires in three years so they can move here permanently. Bill Cartwright won the drawing and
donated the proceeds to the education foundation.
PROGRAM: Mark Prouty introduced Sarada Leavenworth, VOA
division director of SW Colorado. Sarada replaced John Gamble who had been in
the job since 1985. VOA operates the SW Colorado Safehouse, the Homeless
Shelter and the Thrift Store which just moved.
Sarada told us an uplifting story of a woman named Jane who escaped a
battering husband and found a new violence free home for herself and her children
here in Durango
while also starting a new job and becoming independent. Jane was able to do this when she was referred
to the SW Safehouse and received counseling on how to move forward with her
life. The Safehouse services about 200 women and children annually. The Homeless Shelter provides temporary housing
and “tough love” in an alcohol and drug free environment while clients get back
on their feet. High Noon Rotary recently helped the Shelter purchase new dining
room furniture which enables all the clients to eat together. The Thrift Store
was started in 1999 with the intention of using earnings to support the two
shelters but it has morphed into providing broader services to the community
like providing resources to people who need a hand up. Sarada announced that they have tours of the
facilities for one hour each month. The
VOA facilities are important to helping the less fortunate members of our
community survive here.
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