Posted by Jim Garrett
 
Announcements and Happenings
 
After the meeting was gonged to order and ceremonies completed (including a rendition of “Don’t Fence Me In”), new treasurer Larry McClintock, taking over for the departing Jimmy Munozscano, alerted us that invoices for dues payments had been sent.  Larry added gracious thanks to Jimmy for his help in smoothing the transition of the treasurer’s responsibilities.
 
Shelly Peterson then reported that tickets for the Barn Dance were selling well, with payment already received for 25% of the total available.  As well, Shelly reminded Rotarians to keep track of their community volunteer hours, and noted that members had recorded 591 total hours of activity so far this year through September, a great start on the effort to qualify for the coveted Presidential Citation.
 
Dave Smith then took the floor to announce he was seeking volunteers for an international service opportunity, involving a program sponsored by Rotary International with support of funds appropriated by the U.S. Congress.  The program hosts visits to the US by delegations from former Soviet bloc countries. Dave proposed that our club apply to host a group from Kyrgyzstan, a mountainous, central Asian country astride ancient caravan routes, bordering China about 1000 miles east of the Caspian Sea, and sitting north of the Indian sub-continent about 800 miles from New Delhi. If the application is successful, Dave said that six visitors would spend about eight days in Pagosa, to learn about building tourism.  The visit would be intended to help Krygyzstan build its own tourism industry by capitalizing on the country’s natural and historic attractions.  Dave is looking for host families for the prospective visitors, in order to be able to submit a completed application.  The visit will be scheduled for early June, 2018, he added.
 
President Kim Moore told the meeting that the Halloween candy collection to help residents respond to the flood of trick-or-treaters in the Mesa Heights neighborhood will begin at next week’s meeting, continuing until the meeting before the holiday.  She urged members to start bringing in packages of candy to contribute.
 
In addition, Kim said that during Rotary’s “costume party” meeting on Thursday, November 2, immediately after Halloween, there will be a collection of food items for Rotary’s Feed our Kids project, conducted through the Elementary School.  Project Chair Jo Bridges reported that there is a need for canned goods like soup and tuna, as well as, granola bars and juice boxes.  She added that more volunteers are needed, and circulated a sign-up sheet with slots for volunteers running into December.
 
Conifer oils (think pine trees) actually contain an anti-inflammatory compound called Alpha-Pinene.  This has been used to treat bronchial issues such as asthma and is being studied for other inflammatory diseases.
 
In Betty Switzer’s absence, Sunshine and Showers was conducted by Dave Cammack, whose winning manner elicited a number of contributions despite his glaring lack of either sunglasses or an umbrella, not even a tiny one.
 
Perhaps the most memorable “shower” was from Nick Tallent, who related the cautionary tale that leaving a package of pancake mix in your car may be taken by raccoons as an invitation to party – messily, to boot. A word to the wise is sufficient, they say, so unless you like the interior of your car furnished with a coating of flour, remember to take edibles inside.  (At least it wasn’t the three bears, Nick, otherwise we’d be calling you Goldilocks.)