High Noon Rotary Club of Durango

District 5470

Club 1161

Meet at Doubletree Hotel

Time: 12:00 Noon

Thursdays

Newsletter: January 14, 2010

Program: January 21, 2010 - Gigi Duthie – Fort Lewis College Continuing Education Program

Fellow Rotarians:

President Mark led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and then guests were introduced. Wayne Bedor introduced Evin Alcindor, a recent arrival from Wichita, Kansas who is associated with Wells Group. Rick Routh introduced former High Noon Rotarian, Mike Matheson, and today’s program, Dr. Bill Plested. Tami Coddington’s guest was boyfriend, Jim Duke. Dick Sullivan’s guest was Adaptive Sports Association executive director, Tim Kroes.

Announcements: Mark Prouty announced that Big Brothers and Big sisters has a fund raising bowling tournament on March 20, 2010 and invites Rotary to form teams of four to compete with each other. Mark announced that there is a problem with bar coding of the Red Ball Express tickets which is being corrected. Those who have already sold tickets do not have to worry about it; however, you can’t take your tickets to the mountain on the day of the race and expect to sell them as this would create lines. Ted Weirather announced that the next big fund raiser after Red Ball is Casino Night. Ted is looking for volunteers to help put this great event on and is particularly keen on getting some new blood involved. It takes about 70 volunteers to put this event on. This year’s Casino Night will be on Saturday, April 10^th at the Durango Arts Center. Tim Kroes from ASA reminded us that the Dave Spencer Classic is coming up and we have a title to defend. Traditionally we have sponsored one or two teams from HNR to participate in the event. It will be held the last week of February and the awards banquet will be at Mutu’s on Sunday evening, February 28^th, this year. Niles Bruno asked for volunteers to sign up for the Red Ball Express on the day of the event. It is a great opportunity to meet Rotarians from all four clubs in La Plata County. Rich Kolb is still seeking door prizes although he has received a number already. Angie Beach reports that Tami Osborne, HNR member, Justin Osborne’s, wife just had her first surgery of four that she will undergo in her battle with cancer. Dan McCarthy reports that Nacho is still looking for jobs to earn money for his upcoming Interact trip to Jamaica and his end of school year trip around the U.S. Call Nacho on his cell, 769-8269, if you have some money earning projects for him. Nacho reports he went snowboarding twice last week and this afternoon he would be talking to Jim Duke’s daughter’s Riverview class. Nacho then sold 11 Rocky Mountain Chocolate bars at $2 each as part of his fundraising efforts. Tami reminded us that no one has called about Taking Nacho out for a weekend, dinner, lunch or any other activity. This is a reminder that the entire club is sponsoring Nacho and not just the host families who are committing the most in time and resources to the student exchange program.

Sergeant of Arms (SoA) Ted Weirather stepped to the dais and showed us this month’s Rotarian Magazine which had a caricature of Paul Harris on the front cover. After passing out yellow stickies (pasties in Ted’s vernacular) he then asked us five questions about Paul Harris. The answers to be recorded on the stickies: 1) what state was Mr. Harris born in and what state was he raised in? A: Wisconsin and Vermont respectively 2) Was he ever kicked out of school? A: Yes. 3) What did he do after law school? A: Travelled around the world for five years doing odd jobs to support him. 4) Where was the second Rotary Club? A: San Francisco 5) How many international conferences did Mr. Harris attend between 1913 and 1930? A: 1. Ted then did the traditional $1 fine for those not wearing pins or arrived late. Tom Crabb and Charlie Albert were fined for being late. Peter Marshall was reminded of his 1/11/2010 birthday for which he still owes. Steve Osborne will owe for his 1/18/2010 birthday next week. Newspaper appearances: Jim Burpee’s 70^th birthday was reported by Ann Butler. Vern Swanson, aka Bill Clinton, was part of the birthday party entertainment and had to pay as well for his publicity. Sherry Taber had two appearances in the paper this past week. One prominent article related Sherry’s upcoming retirement and the other was in Mike Smedley’s column regarding an errant conveyor belt in the book returns part of the library. Finally, Ted rapped Sherry with another fine for a grammatical error on the no skate boarding or rollerblading sign outside the library.

Program: The program titled, Health Care Reform, was advertized to be a non-partisan, non-political presentation by Dr. Plested. Unfortunately, it was presented in a very partisan and divisive manner. Accordingly, President Mark Prouty and Program Chair Rick Routh apologize profusely to the membership for it not being so. Every effort is made to properly “vet” speakers before their presentations to ensure the membership is not subjected to rants whatever their ilk. Unfortunately, one slips through occasionally. Although some members may have been offended by this presentation, on the whole HNR’s presentations have been excellent and non-partisan.

Wayne Bedor owes three happy dollars for garnering three volunteers to do the newsletter while he is in Africa: Samantha Gallant - 1/28/2010, Peter Marshall – 2/4/2010 and Dan McCarthy 2/11/2010. Thanks for stepping up!!

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