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Are you an established professional who wants to make positive changes in your community and the world? Our club members are dedicated people who share a passion for community service and friendship. Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diverse group who share your drive to give back.

Hatcher Lake Ice Melt Contest

Posted by Shellie Peterson on Jan 15, 2020

3rd Grade Dictionaries Delivered

Posted by Shellie Peterson

Once again, Rotary delivers! Rotarians spent time with the 3rd grade students delivering and discovering their new color illustrated dictionaries. The children are always excited about this book. It is their only book from school that belongs to them, they put their name in and they can take it home to share with their family. Students were instructed about how to look up words, read the definitions and the way the word was used in a sentence. It is always a very fun event for Rotarians.

Jaime Novoa, the club's exchange student from Spain, was very interested in the children's reactions! Five classrooms of students received around 25 Dictionaries for each classroom at a cost of around $2,000. The Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs has been performing this service for 15 years, 14 of which have been under the leadership of JoAnn Laird.

Rotary Rings the Bell for Polio Eradication

Posted by Shellie Peterson

Rotarians were at it again last week! 'Ringing the Bell' to eradicate polio from the face of the earth! Generous folks going in and out of City Market donated $243 to the fight! With the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledge to match every dollar raised with $2 more; that means $730 to continue the effort that we are so close to winning.

But Rotarians are not done yet! So far, Rotarians have contributed $940 and there are two weeks left in the campaign! These funds will be matched by the Gates Foundation as well. That total is then $3,550 so far. Find a Rotarian and get them a check made out to The Rotary Foundation for Polio Plus or go online to endpolionow.org and make a donation.

When Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative , three decades ago, polio paralyzed 1,000 children a day.

Jaime Novoa Participates in Flag Ceremony

Posted by Shellie Peterson

We were so proud of all of the exchange students but especially our own student, Jaime Novoa hailing from Spain. To see the bond that these students from around the world form in their exchange year is truly inspirational. Friendships are formed that will last a lifetime. Rotary offers these students the chance to be ambassadors for peace from their country to ours.

Awarded Presidential Citation with Silver Distinction

Posted by Shellie Peterson

Past Presidents, Kim Moore and Shellie Peterson and President Elect, Mike Vanover and his wife Renee, were thrilled to accept the Presidential Citation Award with Distinction at the District 5470 Conference at the Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort this past weekend.

This prestigious award signifies the dedication of the members of the Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs to support the strategic priorities of Rotary International by being people of action changing the lives of families and communities across the world.

Country Thunder Performing at the Jewels & Jeans Barn Dance

Posted by JoAnn Laird

If you love country music, the Two-Step and line dancing, then you won't want to miss Pagosa Springs Rotary's fifth annual Jeans and Jewels Barn Dance.

Country Thunder, headed up by Clay Campbell, is known to turn the shyest wallflower into a crowd pleasing line dancer. To say nothing of a Two-Stepping fool. Ya got to love get-down, home-town country to relate to any of this. Most in Pagosa do.

Speaking of Clay Campbell, everyone knows him to be a gifted musician, playing around Pagosa for decades but few know the man.

Clay's fascination with Pagosa began as a boy when his grandparents bought a small cabin in the Blanco Basin. Moving here in 1978, Clay obtained an B.A. in Industrial Education and went on to do all jobs necessary to be able to live in the little mountain town he loved. Carpentry became his trick of the trade, with wilderness guiding and outfitting thrown in for good measure.

Clay has been performing for about 35 years, beginning his career in Bluegrass music. He would be, back in the day, playing the upright bass at Frankie's (aka Alley House) with Randall Davis and the Left Hand Band. All members had serious day jobs but their passion was music. Music. The fabric within us. Part of our inhale/exhale we don't even notice. A mood changer.

About five years ago, country music came a-callin and he joined the group, Country Thunder. Made up of four local musicians, they are a familiar band playing at various local venues and sought after for private functions. Like many in their audience, they are the shy, humble types, not wanting to talk about themselves, just show up and play. And play they will at the Jeans and Jewels Barn Dance, held October 19, at the County Fairgrounds, from 7:00 to 10:00. Doors open at 5:30.

Tickets are available at the Chamber of Commerce, the Chokecherry Tree or from any of your friendly Rotarians. Prices are $20 or $25 at the door. Better hurry. There are only so many tickets available and once they are sold, there goes your chance to tell those stories about an autumn night in October, dancing the night away in the County Extension Building, to the music of Country Thunder.

World Polio Day in Pagosa Springs

Posted by Sam Pittmon

Join us at City Market on October 23, 2019 from 10:00 to 6:00! Help us celebrate the progress that has been made, and help us keep up the fight to eradicate Polio from planet earth! Rotarians will be there, with the famous red kettle, collecting funds that will be matched by Bill & Melinda Gates, $2 for every $1 collected!

Where are we in the fight to end polio? What bold steps are we taking to get there? Visit the Rotary International Facebook page to RSVP to the Online Global Update. Endpolio.org

No child should have to suffer from this vaccine-preventable disease. Help us make an impact on World Polio Day. Endpolio.org

Smallpox is the only human disease ever eradicated. Let’s make polio the second. Join the fight on World Polio Day. Endpolio.org

How can you triple your impact? Thanks to a 2-to-1 match from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, every donation made to Rotary to end polio will be tripled. Donate today. endpolio.org/donate

Ally Ashbaugh Reports on her RYLA Experience

Posted by Shellie Peterson

Ally Ashbaugh was one of the students selected to participate in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and she addressed the Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs recently. She had been fortunate enough to attend several high-caliber leadership camps this summer, but one thing stood out to her about RYLA.

She said that the training and practice involving how to make ethical decisions in all manner of things that come 'at you' in life was one of the most valuable things she learned at RYLA. A very well spoken and interesting young lady and we look forward to watching her continue to develop her skills and be a leader in her class!

There are two other young ladies we are looking forward to hearing from, Peyton Burns and Kaia Jones were also recipients and we look forward to hearing from them soon!

District Governor 2019-2020 David Wood

District Governor 2019 – 2020 David Wood

David Wood was raised in the state of Maine and graduated from Maine Maritime Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nautical Science, a commission as Ensign in the U. S. Naval Reserve and with a Thirds Mates License issued by the U. S. Coast Guard. Following graduation, he was employed for ten years by Texaco, Inc. marine division with service on over 20 Texaco tankers in all license positions as Third officer to Master. In 1976, he was selected to join the Sabine Pilots Association, a privately-owned company providing pilotage service to ocean going vessels into three ports in southeast Texas. As a Sabine Pilot for 27 years he was responsible for over 2,500 safe vessel transits of the Sabine-Neches Waterway.

Living in Beaumont, Texas for thirty-seven years provided David with numerous opportunities to be involved in the community. His passion has always had a focus on youth so umpiring Little League baseball, junior high youth counselor at his church or Boy Scouts were all natural avenues for him to serve his community. He also served several years as a board member for the Beaumont Housing Authority and chaired a special advisory committee to the Captain of the Port U. S. Coast Guard. During his years in Beaumont was when he started his Rotary tenure joining the Rotary Club of Beaumont in 1988. Because of his community involvement he received several distinguished awards, The Cross and Flame Award from the Methodist Church, the Silver Beaver from the Boy Scouts of America and in 1995 was selected as Maritime Person of the Year in southeast Texas.

Following retirement David and Cathy decided that they would leave Texas and make their vacation home in Salida, Colorado their residence. This move opened new areas of volunteerism whether it was Meals on Wheels, The Stone Soup Kitchen, or Colorado Farm to Table. The Rotary moto of “Service Above Self” learned as a member of the Rotary Club in Beaumont was a driving force and again the call of the Rotary spirit was there as he joined the Rotary Club of Salida in 2011. As a member of the Salida club he has served on the club’s board of directors, has chaired the Youth Services Committee and is currently the club’s Foundation Chair and is a past president of the Rotary Club of Salida. Additionally, he served as Assistant Governor for Area 6 District 5470. David is a multi-Paul Harris Fellow, a Paul Harris Society Member and a Major Donor of The Rotary Foundation.

David and Cathy celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary in July of 2018, they have two children, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. They enjoy travel, skiing and anything that the great outdoors of Colorado has to offer.

dwood.rotary5470@gmail.com or 409-781-5655

Rotary District 5470 Annual Conference

October 11 – 13, 2019

Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort Nathrop, Colorado

. A family fun weekend

. Service project

. Rotarians from across the district

. Inspiring speakers

. Evening entertainment

. Facilitated discussion groups

A variety of lodging options/all resort facilities

Call Mt. Princeton Resort 719-395-2447 use group code Rotary

Conference registration $185.00 includes 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts, and evening entertainment. Children under 12 are free, teenagers 13-18 $125.00

Las Vegas Casino Night was a BLAST!

Posted by Shellie Peterson

Last Friday presented a great opportunity to get out and gamble, dance, eat, drink and support the Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs! More details of exactly HOW MUCH support will come soon!

Las Vegas Casino Night

Posted by Shellie Peterson

CDC Luncheon - Thinking Outside the Box

Posted by Shellie Peterson

The Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs was happy to collaborate with the CDC on this public information seminar! The guest speaker for the event was Jeff Kraft, Division Director, Business Funding & Initiatives from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. I estimate there were about 70 participants including the presenters.