Pagosa Springs Rotary Club
Yes, it was the first of a new month so we celebrated birthdays for; Jessie Formwalt, Greg Booher, Bill Darling, Granton Bartz, Linda Verrips, Mike Vanover, Greg Wynn and Betty Switzer too!
- Ahia Kaiser joined us for the meeting. She recently returned from her out-going student exchange to Italy. She will give a full presentation at an upcoming meeting.
- Dick Babillis shared an interesting story about the history of the Rotary Four Way Test. He explained that it was originally developed by Herbert Tailer in 1930 when he was charged with revitalizing a failing aluminum factory. He started out with 100 words to guide and motivate the employees, but he decided that was just too much. He kept winnowing it down until, finally, he had the Four Way Test. The aluminum company had a net worth of over 2 million by 1937. Rotary International adopted the Four Way Test as its own in 1943. If you eat a polar bear liver, you will die. Humans can't handle that much vitamin A.
- Greg & Donna Wynn joined us for the meeting - as guests of Jeff and Betty Switzer - and as potential new members! Greg shared an interesting story of a rescue he was involved with recently. Two men, both competent in the outdoors, had become lost when the afternoon storms drove them away from a ridge line they had been following. He pointed out how the men had done everything right as far as taking care of themselves until the rescue team arrived but that even seasoned hikers can get disoriented in our mountains.
- New members, Jim and Melanie Garrett had a chance to speak for a few minutes. Jim shared one of the most interesting thoughts I think I have ever heard anyone say about how they feel about Pagosa - he said "Pagosa has always been our home - it just took us 60 years to find it." Having happened upon Pagosa in 2004 during an extended motorcycle trip with friends it appears it was love at first sight. Jim and Melanie met when Jim was in law school and Melanie was a secretary at the university. We are happy to have them join in our efforts here in Pagosa!