High Noon Rotary Club of Durango

District 5470

Club 1161

Meet at Doubletree Hotel

Time: 12:00 Noon

Thursdays

Newsletter: January 7, 2010

Program: January 14, 2010 - Bill Plested, Former American Medical Association President – Health Care Reform

Fellow Rotarians:

President Mark stepped us through the Pledge of Allegiance and segued into guest introductions. Angie Beach introduced Jen Bartlett, Chief Professional Officer, for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s Girls’ and Boys’ Club and the program for today. Walter Nowotny introduced Rotaractors Katie Dortman and Brittany Hansen. Irreplaceable Dick Pierson’s guest was his replacement at South City Market, Steve Collins, a 23 year veteran of the retail grocery business. Dick graciously complimented Steve on some of the innovations he has already made at the Market during his short tenure.

Announcements: Dan McCarthy reminded us that we will have 22 exchange student guests in town over Snowdown weekend and he is looking for hosts who can get the kids to Snowdown events and provide them with a place to stay. On Saturday evening of that weekend there will be pot luck at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club and they are looking for folks willing to cook a dish for the pot luck. Rich Kolb announced of the upcoming 2/6/2010 Red Ball Express and the fact that we are looking for some door prizes from each club that will amount to $500 for @ Club. Peter Marshall has already stepped up with a free night’s lodging at the Doubletree. Thanks Peter!! Niles Bruno reminded us that last year’s Red Ball raised $5,100 for @ of the four La Plata County Rotary Clubs. Niles also mentioned that the sign up list for the day of the event is circulating and to please sign up for helping out on the mountain. It is a great way to get to know your fellow Rotarians from all four clubs as well as having fun that day. Sherry Taber informed us that the Library Advisory Board is looking for two people to fill vacancies on the Board. Sherry also announced her retirement from her Durango Public Library position. Sherry promises to get involved in the Lima, Peru Rotary Club where she will join husband, John, in February. Good luck Sherry, we will miss your spirit and involvement in our Club!!! Rotaractor, Katie Dortman informed us that her Club will be very involved in the Red Ball Express. The Rotaractors are also heading to Ecuador in two months accompanied by chaperones Dave Famer from our Club, Frank Sitton from the Evening Club and B.J. Boucher from the Morning Club. Nacho reported that his brother visited him recently and that he would circulate letters of appreciation from the students who had been recipients of the dictionaries recently distributed by Rotary in area schools. Nacho is still looking for some work that will enable him to earn money for his end of year trip. Jill Wark informed us that with today’s inductions into the Club that we have run out of red badgers. It is always time to recruit new members but even more important to do so now. Rich Kolb was pinned by his sponsor, Mark Donohue. Rich says he has met most of us and is having a good time with the fellowship of the Club. Dale Machem’s sponsor, Bill Cartwright was unavailable so Mark Prouty did the honors. Dale is also happy with his High Noon experience and looks forward to working with the rest of us in the future.

Sergeant of Arms (SoA) Ted Weirather complained about getting no respect so he is introducing a kinder and gentler Sergeant in January 2010. Ted also reminded us that the 5^th part of the five way test is to raise money for Rotary and its good causes. Non pin badge wearers were fined $1 and wrong badge wearers had to fork over $2. Ted tried to nail Moni on that one as he had her old (Helling) badge in his hand. However, Moni one upped him by revealing her current and correct badge. Birthdays: Howard Wilson 1/7 (today) and Peter Marshall 1/11. Leave of Absence member Justin Osborne celebrated his five year anniversary with the Club. Ted informed us that we have 87 club members and wanted to know if we knew the profile of the membership. What % of membership are women? Samantha Gallant guessed 47% and Emily Spencer guessed 30%, the real number is 25%. While not where it should be, it is better than many clubs. Ted then was curious about how many retired classifications are in the membership and thought he would get a good answer from retiree Bud Poe. After much mincing and parsing over “what is a retiree,” Bud threw out 15%. It is actually 20%. SoA Ted then paid a $5 fine for charter member Dick Pearson’s exemplary community and club service and Dick’s mentioning Rotary in Ann Butler’s Durango Herald social column. However, he fined Dick for not mentioning Rotary in the second column that Ann wrote regarding Dick’s recent wedding anniversary. Dick did pay up $37 for the anniversary in happy $$$ though. Ted then asked all past Club presidents to stand. Charter Member Dick Pearson, Dave Farmer, Ward Holmes, Tami Coddington and Rick O’Block proudly stood and then Ted hosed them with a $1 fine. Happy $$$ began with Leanna Jaworsky’s announcement of her new job which title is way to long to mention here. Client’s tread in fear of her though. Moni had three happy $$ related to her daughter’s visit, departure and securing of a job for next summer. Mike Burns is happy to have hired Jan Measles after the real estate market slowdown resulted in her leaving her former realtor employer. Bob Griffith won the ticket drawing. In closing, Ted showed us a copy of the latest Rotarian magazine with a caricature of Paul Harris on the cover. Ted said the article in the magazine on Mr. Harris is very informative and excellent reading (I agree). The impression Ted left is that he may use that as a source of questions in a future meeting where he is SoA. You are forewarned!! Great job today Ted!!!

Program: Angie Beach introduced Jen Bartlett as the chief professional officer for two years at the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s Boys and Girl’s Club and who is very active in her community as a volunteer. Jen commenced by asking us to respond to two questions 1) who/what gave us a sense of continuity in our early lives (8-18) and 2) who may have been a mentor for us during those year. Mark Donohue said the YMCA was his reference point for consistency and Niles said it was his mother who did all the parenting while his father was away at war. Moni said it was baking cookies for Christmas which she has carried on with her family. Tami went to school with the same classmates for 12 years. Jan’s father was her mentor as were other parents for other Club member. Jen told us that is what the B&G Club’s are attempting to do with today’s youth who don’t always have that consistency and mentoring in their lives. The B&G Club do tracking of their membership to identify their effectiveness. Although they are part of the SUIT department structure, their goal is to become separate and self supporting. Presently they use the Sun Ute Recreation Center as their meeting place but want a separate facility in the future. Jen said they also collaborate with the Aztec, Bloomfield, Farmington, and Durango Club’s. Under Jen’s enthusiastic and caring leadership the SUIT B&G will certainly accomplish those ambitious goals.

Wayne announced that he is looking for someone or three to do the newsletter the meetings of 1/28, 2/4 and 2/11. Also, Wayne will be recruiting for club directors for the 2010-2011 year.

Mark Prouty then led us in “The Four Way Test”: of the things we think, say or do:

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