FOR ROTARIANS WHO MISSED THE MEETING - February 9, 2016

 

GREETERS:  Thanks to Alice Klauzer and John Holloway for serving as greeters and to Alice for doing our introduction of guests.

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:  Karl Bunker did a perfect “Thought for the Day” – as our Agua Prieta program was all about speaking the language of smiles.  Thanks Karl!

 

SIGN UP FOR ANOTHER SOCIAL DINNER: ORE HOUSE, WED. FEBRUARY 24^TH.   Details:  Hot apps for Happy Hour, choice of 4 entrees, dessert. $45 per person tax and tip included.   Begin social at 5:30.  Sit down about 6:15.  Be sure to reserve your spot by email to Steve Hitchcock:  steve-hitchcock@comcast.net  Invite guests – spouses, partners, prospective members! 

 

POLIO PLUS UPDATE:  Mike Forney reported that last year only 72 cases of polio were recorded worldwide; 53 in Pakistan and 19 in Afghanistan.  India has been polio free for 5 years; Nigeria and Africa for one year.   Although some 86 MILLION doses of the vaccine will be administered in Pakistan this year, a Taliban suicide bomber killed 15 and injured 25 others in January at a polio eradication center in southwest Pakistan.

 

Rotary has already distributed $35 million this year to help fund eradication efforts in nine countries, but our contributions are still sorely needed.  The Gates Foundation will continue to match our individual dollars 2-to-1 this year.  While we are “this close.” Mike reminded us to keep the polio eradication effort top of mind until we complete what we started and eradicate polio from our globe!

 

FEB. BOARD MEETING:  Guests were:  Susie Wilkinson, Meg Morse, Randy Looper, Paul Hebert and Scott Marr.   We accepted with regret the resignation of Diane Johnson, Yampa Valley Electric.  Diane’s work and travel schedule don’t work for her to be a member, but she made a valiant effort!  And accepted Marion Kahn’s Leave of Absence for 6 months.  She is going back and forth to Little Rock, AK, where her daughter had triplets!  A happy reason to be absent!.

 

STEAMBOAT MINUTE:  Kristal Eckley:  Retired from marketing position at the Sheraton.  Now what does she do?  The club in unison replied “Nothing!”  Only true in theory!   And Brad Price, General Manager and COO at Catamount Ranch and Club.  He has 2 daughters, Lilly (9) and Sassy (11) and he did mention “Roll Tide!”  

 

 

PROGRAM:  “Why we went to Agua Prieta, what we did and how it impacted us.”

 

Kris Hammond led off with the history of our relationship with the Agua Prieta Rotary and our yearly trips over the past 10 years. 

 

Next we heard from our Agua Prieta Interact students  - Amanda Walker, Amanda Perlman, Fena Metzler, Anna Heidler, Jordyn Hetrick  Keelan Vargas, and Temsup Techarukpong (Mike Forney’s granddaughter, Haley Stanley also joined us on the trip)  The students described their many service activities and how their experiences impacted them.  This was followed by an “Interact in Action” video!  These students were extraordinary with their enthusiastic willingness to give, to learn and to make a difference to so many lives in just a few days!  Thank you, our wonderful Interact ambassadors!

 

Then another video with both the students and our Rotary 10 (Kris Hammond, Mike Forney, Steve Sehnert, Julie Taulman, Tara Weaver, Ellen Kendall, John Centner, Jim Moylan, Dan Callahan and Raymond Martinez)  -  After which, our Rotarians shared some personal reflections. 

 

Hopefully, we conveyed, not only the impact of our community service, water tanks and gifts upon the people of Agua Prieta, but also how rewarding the experience was for all of us.   We were and continue to be inspired by the Club Rosario Agua Prieta in Sonora, Mexico, a club with only 13 members, who are exemplary Rotarians in every way.  How fortunate we are to build lifelong relationships with this amazing club and their families.  Our gratitude to our entire club for the support of this worthy project.  

 

And a special thank you for the stellar video and photo work by Steve Sehnert (and that’s an understatement!)  To see the videos shared at the meeting (and more) go to www.steamboatrotary.com  

 

 

ROTARIAN OF THE MONTH OF JANUARY – KRIS HAMMOND, for his amazing team leadership for our trip and his ever passionate commitment to this project.   Thank you Kris for all you do to create our successful service, ensure our safety (safety meetings?) and for always making the trip both fun and meaningful!

 

GOOD NEWS ($245)   Thanks to Jim Moylan for doing Good News this week.

Si?

 

NEXT WEEK’S PROGRAM:   February 16 -  Classical Air Medical – Chad Bowdre   And reminder - Week of Feb. 23 meeting at Sheraton..   And Happy Blues Break!

 

Respectfully submitted,

Ellen Kendall, Club President