High Noon Rotary Club of Durango

District 5470

Club 1161

Meet at Doubletree Hotel

Time: 12:00 Noon

Thursdays

Newsletter: March 25, 2010

Program: April 1, 2010: Charlie Stenholm – Former Congressman on Oil and Water Issues in Western Colorado.

Fellow Rotarians:

President Mark led the pledge and introduced program Reese Brown from Club 20 in Grand Junction as program chair Rick Routh was busy choking on his lunch. Incoming District Governor, Roger Ptolemy, introduced his guest from the evening club, Jyldyz Djunushbekova (this spelling comes from her Colorado Driver’s License so is correct even though it may not look like it). Jyldyz is from one of the “stans” and works in Information Technology at the Tribe’s Growth fund.

Announcements: Howard Wilson is still looking for folks to volunteer to run the roulette, craps and blackjack tables at our April 10^th High Noon Saloon and Gambling Event. Ted Weirather and Emily Spencer reviewed all the offerings of the evening which includes some awesome gals and photo booths and you can wear anything you want from black tie to western duds. If you plan to be out of town like Bob Chaput and Steve Redding, follow their example and buy tickets and give the tickets to friends. Ted is also looking for folks who can help set up and move tables on the 9^th Friday PM and the 10th Saturday AM. Ted reminded us of our generous sponsors: Liquor World, 4 Corners Broadcasting, Rainbow Printing, Fast Track Communications, La Plata Electric, El Rancho, Alpine Bank, 1^st National Bank, Bank of the San Juans and Wells Fargo. Nancy Bennet also said we need more silent auction items to help us add at last $5,000 to our event revenue. Mike Burns is looking for the payment of pledges for his “Bowl for Kids Sake Team”. The event last week raised $40,000 and is expected to hit $45,000 with the paid pledges. Nacho went to Telluride to ski and received good grades for his academic efforts last trimester. Nacho also said he is looking for work to raise $1,500 by next week for his Exchange Student trip around the US. Bud Deering immediately offered $500 to help Nacho out with his revenue shortfall. As always, Bud is a generous giver to every good cause.

Sergeant of Arms (SoA): Ward Holmes fined the entire table at which incoming District Governor Roger Ptolemy sat for no one introducing him. Ward fined Jan Measles as Steve Osborne saved her a seat and delivered her food to the table. Bill Hobson celebrated his not quite 70th birthday with a $70 check. Ward reported that Tami Osborne is in the 5% group that appears to have beaten the particularly virulent form of cancer that she had. Bud Deering paid for his 19^th anniversary married to Judy. Lee Ann Hoven paid for her 1t year anniversary and absent Bob Geffe had his 6^th anniversary reported. Dick Sullivan had an anecdotal story about him and Moni raising $50 for the Casino night event by just standing around in the 1^st National Bank lobby kibitzing. Roger Ptolemy is happy that his daughter has returned from a two year stint in the Peace Corps in Thailand. Jill Carithers elicited enthusiastic support for our gambling event when she went to the Morning Club to talk the fund raiser up and Club President Brad Tafoya encouraged fellow members to support us. Howard Wilson is happy that his wife who just had a knee replaced is now able to drive. Dan McCarthy announced that the FLC women’s basketball tem is now in the nation finals ad will be seen on ESPN tomorrow night at 6:00 pm. Bill Cartwright survived a car rollover but his car didn’t. Program Reeves Brown was happy to be living in Colorado and had a beautiful drive to Durango from Grand Junction this AM. Tom Crabb learned that one does not want to bet on Kansas team in the NCAA playoffs. Bud is happy about his recent shoulder replacement surgery. Vern Swanson won the drawing and donated the proceeds to Nacho’s trip expenses. Ward introduced a character who needs no introduction: “Carmack”, AKA Rick O’Block who regaled us with his powers of premonition. Although not inclusive, following are some of his gems: Carmack informed us that the Bridge to no where is really to Farmington (duh); Duct tape is red neck chrome and what doe a blonde owl say? What. The others were just as good but space restrictions limit us publishing them.

Program: Program Chair Rick Routh introduced Reeves Brown, Executive Director of Club 20, and a lobbying organization for the counties on the Western Slope. Reeves gave a fast paced summary of what is wrong with our method for developing governmental policies in the 21^st Century. It causes government gridlock and does not encourage cooperation in our two party system notwithstanding the fact that both sides say they want government to move forward with it’s work. Reeves tells us that a group of leaders across the state have been working on a project that has moved the State’s policy development forward and should remove some of the confrontational aspects of the process. It should be rolled out in the next twelve months. This was a great program and kept members interested throughout its presentation.

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