High Noon Rotary Club of Durango

District 5470

Club 1161

Meet at Doubletree Hotel

Time: 12:00 Noon

Thursdays

Newsletter: September 3, 2009

Program September 10, 2009 Ron Le Blanc, Durango City Manager on budgets and ongoing projects including Florida Road.

Fellow Rotarians:

• President Understudy, Wayne Bedor, led the pledge of allegiance followed by Chip Lile’s introduction of 2008-2009 Rotaract President, Katie Zortman, who would be the program. Mark Tucker introduced two other Rotaractors, Kila and Jason. Marc from the Farmington Rotary was also introduced and as was Dale Machen former Temecula Rotary president. Ward Holmes introduced Rob Ptolemy, 5470, District Governor. Tami Coddington introduced guest, Jim Dukes and Mike Burns introduced Jim Hoffman, partner of Phil Bryson, in the Crossroads building at 1099 Main.

• Announcements: Cathy Crum reported on the Australian GSE visit and pot luck which turned out to be a success. More than 90 people attended from three of the La Plata County Rotary Clubs. Unfortunately, Tom Galbraith reported that High Noon Rotary came in 3d on attendance at the pot luck. Cathy thanked Emily Spencer and Peter Marshall for support the pot luck dinner with table settings and decorations. Cathy also thanked Tom and Stanna Galbraith for hosting one of the GSE visitors. Steve Redding announced the September 21^st “Cancer Below the Belt” panel presentation to be held at the Durango Public Library meeting room. Our own Dr. Jim Burpee is a panelist along with Cissy Anderson, Dr. Paula Dionisio, Dr. Steve Bush and Dr. Cynthia Cathcart. Scott Mathis reported on Bud Deering’s recent battery of heart tests to determine 1) if he had a heart (of course we know he has a big one especially when it comes to Rotary projects) and 2) if he does, what shape is it in? Apparently, the news was good and Bud will be with us for years to come while sporting a new pacemaker.

• Meet a Rotarian: Burt Coleman did the interview of Sherry Taber regarding her life’s story which, not surprisingly, has been both colorful and exciting. Sherry has been the Durango public librarian since 1999 but had been the Fort Lewis College library director and the University of Alaska librarian in Juneau. Sherry took a six month leave of absence to be with husband, John, in both Africa and Georgia. Her secret pleasure is to be reading a book when she knows she should be doing something else. The thing she is most proud of is her family not the successful completion of the new Durango Public Library which she was instrumental in getting built. Although an academic librarian by education and training, Sherry has excelled as a public librarian (our words, not hers) here in Durango since 1999. she is now on the Music in the Mountains Board and someday plans to actually “quilt” rather than just buying materials to “quilt.” Sherry’s Dad was her most important mentor and taught her how to multi-task. It was good getting to know Sherry better and thanks to Burt Coleman we did so.

• Sergeant of Arms stand-in for Frank Valen, Emily Spencer, did an exemplary job eliciting fines from Mark Donahue, Bud Poe, Ken Fusco and Tom Crabb for failing to step up to the plate as a volunteer newsletter scribe for today. Worse yet, they suggested the task be done by any one of our many distinguished female members. Cathy Crum, High Noon’s first female president, was asked by Emily to determine the severity of the fine. Cathy deferred to the club membership to set the fine which turned out to be quite hefty based on the moan meter’s red line reading. Emily stated that Tom Galbraith, Cathy Crum and Steve Redding would be fine free for all their recent efforts on behalf of Rotary. Mike Burns was fined for being in the Herald and Justin Osborn was fined for a silly picture of him in a chef’s hat. Dan McCarthy was also fined for being in the Herald. Bud Poe wrote a very large check for his 55^th wedding anniversary and 75^th birthday. Peter Marshall had happy $$$ for his anniversary and Angie Beach for her Club anniversary. Moni Helling was happy to pay for her daughter’s 18^th birthday and arrival into adulthood and self sufficiency (get real Moni). Justin Osborn was happy that his wife was able to get an early appointment for a physician for her breast cancer. Jill Carithers is happy to have received two As from courses in what she termed was her most difficult semester ever. Jill says “one more to go and then she will be a master.” Niles Bruno is happy to announce his wife’s birthday and the 17^th month of her being cancer free. Walter Nowotny happily announced his upcoming one month absence for a trip to France. Jeanne Wheeldon wrote a check for a recent birthday. Dick Sullivan paid happy $$$ for daughter, Molly’s, debut singing with her mother Gemma Cavanaugh. Tami Coddington announced her and Jim Dukes acquisition of a home which Jim says they will move into. Wayne was happy to announce that he and a classmate that he had not seen in 47 years hiked up Perins Peak and Engineer Mountain. Rotaractor, Britney Hansen paid a happy $$$ for Katie Zortman’s successful completion of an extended term as Rotaract President. Steve Pavlik won the drawing.

PROGRAM: Chip Lile introduced Katie Zortman, past Rotaract president whose next step in life is to attend medical school.

Katie had a PowerPoint presentation of all of Rotaract’s accomplishments this past year which included: DSNGRR trash pick-up, a Habitat for Humanity Build Project, a canned food drive, Manna Soup Kitchen service, Big Brother and Big Sister involvement, and a trip to Ecuador, Mano Amiga Foundation orphanage support, orphanage rehabilitation and purchase of a tractor. Rotaract had 9 fund raisers in the past year in some instances participating with the local Rotary Clubs. Katie said they need a Rotary Advisor by 3/5/2010 to accompany them on a trip to Ecuador. Katie then presented citations to her fellow Rotaractors: Kayla Story, most ambitious fund raiser; Acey Patterson, member recruitment; Brandon Walters, best attendance and graphic design; Michelle Kenney, Rotaractor of the Year; and Britney Hansen for her six years of Rotaract service. It was a wonderfully inspired presentation by Katie and her colleagues. They have done an admirable job of making our community better and advancing the cause of Rotary in the world. Katie is a real leader and “firecracker.”

Thanks to Tom Galbraith for the scribing of today’s newsletter notes.

Wayne 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