Pagosa Springs Rotary Club
“All day I’ve faced,” the song goes, “the barren waste, without the taste of water, cool water. Old Dan and I with throats burned dry, and souls that cry for water, cool, clear water.” This more or less describes the future of not only Dan and Bob Nolan (the song writer; Dan was a mule), but of much of the southwest, as well, indicated former Water Commissioner Val Valentine.
We are currently, and since 2002, said Val, in a protracted drought, citing the low levels throughout recent years of the water stored in Lake Powell and Lake Mead, the major impoundments for water flowing from the western slope of Colorado though the Upper Basin of the Colorado River. Powell, he reported is currently 65% full, and at a water level of 3577 feet, if the lake drops another 100 feet, it will no longer be able to generate electric power that supplies users in a vast area.
But upstream reservoirs are even lower, he said, with Navajo Lake for example at 50% of full, and thus lack ability to replenish Powell. Plus, Lake Mead, downsteam of Powell and the major source of water for urban centers like Los Angeles, Phoenix and Las Vegas, is even lower, at only 40% of capacity.
Simply put, demand on the Basin is acute. For example, Val reported that if Mead lowers only 11 feet more to a water level of 1074 feet, that will shut off water supply to the Central Arizona Project, which supplies water to substantial urban areas in Arizona, including Tucson (through a 300-mile pipeline).
Snow pack is currently relatively good, Val noted. Last year the snow pack reached only 34% of normal, but this year in the Upper San Juan Basin it stands currently at 99% of normal for this time of the season. But, he added, it is no time to breathe a sigh of relief: the current volume of water in the snowpack equals 19.1 inches, whereas the historical norm on the First of April should be 34.7 inches, so there is a long way to go.
Val compared the present to what he called a “mega-drought” in the 12th Century, which he reported has been shown by research to have been a likely cause of the relocation in that era of Native Americans from scattered settlements to pueblos.
The history, Val stated is that we don’t have enough water. So the question is, how do we use what we do have. The state’s answer is the Colorado Water Plan, which includes an assumption that Colorado’s population will double by 2050.
He reported even despite drought conditions, Colorado has continued to meet obligations under its 1922 compact with California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming for downstream water delivery.
But that is not enough, Val explained. The state’s plan for the future sketched in the Water Plan includes demanding components: creating new supplies by building infrastructure to improve efficiency such as new reservoirs, municipal conservation (Pagosa Area Water and Sanitary Distirct has made considerable headway he reported, having reduced average local consumption by nearly 20%), and acquisition of new water rights for population centers from state agricultural users.
Val didn’t mention the possibility of resorting to rain dances. But I guess that didn’t work in the 12th Century, so it probably won’t work now, either.
ADVANCING HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS IN THE WORKPLACE
As leaders in their businesses and professions, Rotarians can advance high ethical standards by setting a positive example among colleagues and in their community. Here are a few specific ways Rotarians integrate ethics into their daily work life:
• Discuss and emphasize honesty, accountability, fairness, integrity, and respect when hiring, training, and supervising employees
• Praise and encourage the exemplary behavior of colleagues
• Demonstrate personal commitment to high ethical standards in relations with customers, vendors, and business associates, treating each business interaction with care and
consideration
• Promote socially and environmentally responsible practices in your businesses and organizations
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE THE ROTARY SERVICE NEWSLETTER
The Rotary Service newsletter, a free bi-monthly e-publication, keeps Rotarians informed about how they can offer
their professional skills to Rotary projects, support the professional development of individuals and communities in
need, and represent and promote Rotary values in the workplace. Subscribe at rotary.org/newsletters.
READ THE ROTARY SERVICE BLOG
The Rotary Service blog features posts on service and engagement, including quarterly ethical dilemma
discussions, resources, best practices, success stories, and lessons learned. Subscribe at rotaryserviceblog.org.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROJECT LIFECYCLE KIT
• Join or start a conversation in a Rotary discussion group on My Rotary. The Vocational Service group discusses project ideas, shares successes, and connects members to better serve their communities.
• Find support for a club vocational service project on Rotary Ideas.
• Share your vocational service project successes on Rotary Showcase to inspire others and promote collective efforts to improve communities around the world.
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SKILLS OR OCCUPATIONS
By including men and women from diverse professions and backgrounds, Rotary recognizes the importance of all skills and occupations. A vibrant Rotary club reflects the businesses, organizations, and professions in its community, embracing diversity in experiences and perspectives. Your professional life and vocational service go together. Rotarians have a dual responsibility: to represent their occupations within their club and to exemplify the ideals of Rotary in their places of work.
VOCATIONAL SERVICE IN ACTION
The Rotary Club of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., USA, launched partnerships with a half-dozen local nonprofits. Members acted as strategic consultants, offering their expertise
to their partners free of charge. The partnerships brought four benefits:
1. Improved service opportunities for club members, which resulted in greater local impact
2. Increased visibility for the club and its partners
3. Attracted new members
4. Strengthened Rotarian/ non-Rotarian service teams
ROTARY NAME
The name “Rotary” came from the practice of rotating meeting sites among members’ places of business. That tradition remains an excellent way for Rotarians to share their
occupations with their club. Invite each member of your club to briefly share about his or her profession, an area of specialty, or a particular skill set during club meetings throughout the year.
TAKE ACTION
Join a Rotarian Action Group, and support service projects around the world. These independent groups include Rotarians, family members, and Rotary program participants and alumni who have expertise in a particular field. Members advise clubs and districts and collaborate with them on service projects. Learn more at rotary.org/actiongroups.
Join or form a Rotary Fellowship that’s related to your vocation. Rotary Fellowships are international groups of Rotarians, family members, and program participants and alumni who share a vocational or recreational interest. Many fellowships are related to professions, such as Editors and Publishers, Health Professionals, Lawyers, Photographers, and Police and Law Enforcement. See more at rotary.org/fellowships.
Volunteer to work on a service project, and use your vocational skills to serve others. Think about the skills that make you successful in your profession: Maybe you have training in some branch of science or medicine, are handy with tools or machinery, know how to start a business, have expertise managing finances, or can influence others through public speaking or writing. Use your unique set of talents to make a difference in your community. Share your expertise through your district resource network. If you have technical expertise in one of Rotary’s six areas of focus — or with project planning and implementation; community assessment, measurement, and evaluation; or other important aspects of large-scale project grants — let your district international service chair know. Lend your skills to local clubs, and help develop projects with greater impact.
TAKE ACTION
Find inspiring examples of ways to take action through vocational service. Consider doing some of the described activities
or introducing similar ones in your club. Alternately, you may want to expand on current efforts.
INTEGRITY AND ETHICS
Rotary emphasizes integrity and high ethical standards. Two standards developed by Rotarians — The Four-Way Test and the Rotarian Code of
Conduct — provide a road map for ethical behavior in the workplace and other areas of life.
Find inspiring examples of ways to take action through vocational service. Consider doing some of the described activities
or introducing similar ones in your club. Alternately, you may want to expand on current efforts.
INTEGRITY AND ETHICS
Rotary emphasizes integrity and high ethical standards. Two standards developed by Rotarians — The Four-Way Test and the Rotarian Code of
Conduct — provide a road map for ethical behavior in the workplace and other areas of life.
THE HISTORY OF THE FOUR-WAY TEST
The Four-Way Test was conceived in 1932 by businessman Herbert J. Taylor, a member of the Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA, who served as Rotary International president in 1954-55. Having taken on the task of saving a company from bankruptcy, Taylor developed the test as an ethical guide to follow in all business matters. The company’s survival was credited to this simple philosophy. Adopted by Rotary International in 1934, The Four-Way Test remains an essential standard against which Rotarians measure ethical behavior.
It has been translated into dozens of languages and promoted by Rotarians worldwide.
THE FOUR-WAY TEST
Of the things we think, say or do:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and
BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all
concerned?
Of the things we think, say or do:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and
BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all
concerned?
ROTARIAN CODE OF CONDUCT
The Rotarian Code of Conduct provides a framework for ethical behavior that all Rotarians can use, together with The Four-Way Test,
in their business and professional activities. As part of Rotary’s guiding principles and the Avenues of Service, Vocational Service calls on Rotarians to empower others by using
their unique skills and expertise to address community needs and help others discover new professional opportunities and interests. This handbook can help you gain a better understanding of vocational service and provide you with ideas to practice it through your service activities, in your personal life, and in your career.
ROTARIAN CODE OF CONDUCT
As a Rotarian, I will
1. Act with integrity and high ethical standards in my personal and professional life
2. Deal fairly with others and treat them and their occupations with respect
3. Use my professional skills through Rotary to mentor young people, help those with special needs, and improve people’s quality of life in my community and in the world
4. Avoid behavior that reflects adversely on Rotary or other Rotarians
Guest Speaker: Dr. Pat Love spoke on the topic “The Biggest Problem That No One Talks About”.
Pat started with saying that this malady #1 is more highly correlated with early morbidity than obesity, smoking and drug abuse. #2 It is also correlated with violence, careless acts and substance abuse. #3 It is not as simple as you might think. This condition is “loneliness”. The greatest predictor of longevity is close social contacts.
She talked about these five questions as an antidote to loneliness.
#1. Who Are You? Specifically, what are your core values, what do you stand for, what are the principals, traits that without which you would not be you. An example is Kindness something that you do daily and can affirm at the end of each day.
#2. Are you connected? Are there at least three people in your life that show up when needed, are tuned in, they understand you and their behavior shows it.
#3. Are you in community? Do you feel good about the community where you live? Do you have a sense of belonging, connected and secure in your community?
#4. Are your talents being utilized in meaningful work? Is your work a job, a career or avocation? An avocation is a calling like who you are. Are your talents utilized in meaningful work? If your work is not meaningful, there is a missing element that contributes to a feeling of loneliness.
#5. Are you living out the purpose of your life as referred to by author Rick Warren in his book “The Purpose Driven Life”? One of his notable quotes is “Being successful and fulfilling your life purpose are not at all the same thing: you can reach all your personal goals, become a raving success by the worlds standards and still miss your purpose in this life.”
In closing, Pat stated that it is “smarter to strive for contentment than happiness”
Sandra Houston, Regional Coordinator for the Three Rivers Foundation for Literacy, was our featured speaker last week. Through Sandra's work and the resources she has available, over 3,000 books were provided to local families during the week of Halloween!
Sandra challenged us in several ways during her presentation. One challenge she presented was to look up Rosemary Wells. From her biography, I found this: "I was a scrawny girl who grew up in the 1940's and 50's on the New Jersey shore. I was lucky. I had really good parents. My mother was a ballet dancer for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. My father, a playwright. They were intelligent and sensitive. They praised what I did well and didn't care much about what I didn't do well. I drew uncannily for a youngster. Every week my mother would choose the best drawing of the week and thumbtack it to the mantle piece. In this way I learned that some of my pictures were better than others and I strove to please."
Rosemary Wells also said, "Reading to your little one is just like putting gold coins in the bank. It will pay you back tenfold. Your daughter will learn, and imagine, and be strong in herself. Your son will thrive, and give your love back forever."
Sandra also suggested that we should read what inspires us and read to our little ones or those that we have an opportunity to influence with our time and talents.
So Read to your Bunny! Children who read succeed!
Rotary Month - Disease Prevention & Treatment
December is Disease Prevention Month
Rotary's top priority is the eradication of polio. Part of the Polio campaign is the vacination of children for a wide range of diseases. This alone has saved thousands of lives.
Clean Water & Sanitation is the single most important way Rotary fights Disease. Our Largest Health activity after Polio.
In Tahiti, Rotary tests thousands for Diabetes each year in Tahiti, Moorea and Taravao- providing advice and education.
Each year Rotary runs a Cataract Project across Fiji. Dental projects are run in Taveuni and Otahuhu.
Rotarians set up health camps and training facilities in undeveloped countries and in communities struggling with HIV/AIDS and malaria. Work in India is in the photo to the left with an integrated health services provider. |
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Work in Africa on eye disease prevention is in the photo above. |
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Speakers: Cindy Galabota and Mozhdeh Bruss, FACE (Foundation for Archuleta County Education)
Cindy and Mozhdeh spoke as members FACE’s board. (One of the founders of the organization in 2012 was Rotarian Jesse Formwalt.) The organization’s website, www.facepagosa.com, describes it as “a non-profit organization that supports programs to enhance academic opportunities for students K–12 in Archuleta County, Colorado.”
Our speakers explained that FACE makes grants supplying “gap funding,” to help support and enhance curricular and extra-curricular activities provided in local schools and related entities. According to the website, “Groups or individuals who have innovative or established educational programs are encouraged to submit proposals to the FACE board of directors for consideration.”
According to data cited by Cindy, 60 awards in the total amount of approximately $36,000 have been made since FACE was established in 2012. Among the purposes have been to provide equipment for student and classroom use, including computer hardware, microscopes, magnetic hardboards, and items needed in the High School’s building trades class, and to give support to innovative teaching opportunities including to date a seventh grade math teaching program built around fantasy baseball, and a science project to develop student’s understanding of collecting and analyzing data, by studying Owl Pellets (droppings) to uncover characteristics of the birds’ diet and lives.
Cindy added that FACE expects to place increased emphasis on “instructional and learning innovations” moving forward.
Mozhdeh then addressed FACE’s new initiative, Enhancing Summer Education, which will operate in cooperation with the Summer Camp based in the Community Center, and run by the Town of Pagosa Springs.
The Summer Camp is a project of the Town to provide constructive and fun activities while schools are closed during the summer to local children from ages 6 – 12. Last year, Mozhdeh said, there were 80 campers.
This year for the first time, she said, during one week of the Camp, FACE will organize a so-called STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) focused program for campers, which is expected to cover 2.5 hours daily for five consecutive days.
Various “content providers” may be involved, Mozhdeh added, mentioning the Weminuche Audubon Society, Archuleta County Extension/4 H, and the Mountain Studies Institute, among others.
The speakers advised that FACE projects needs next year of $5000 for its school-based funding and another $5000 to support the summer enhancement effort. They advised that support for the organization in the past has come from fund-raising events, grants and donations. Donations can easily be made on the organization’s website.
In addition, they solicited volunteers for the board and its subcommittees. The organization has no paid staff, and all funds it receives go to its efforts to support education.
Dave Smith on Polio Plus
Dave undertook to provide some information about the Rotary International Project to eradicate polio in cooperation with the Gates Foundation, and about our individual club’s participation.
He began by recounting that among the 56 Clubs in our Rotary District, Pagosa Rotary last year ranked number six in total value of contributions, at over $3000. But in the two prior years, he said, our contributions had been negligible. The difference he attributed to a determined effort spearheaded by Neal Johnson and Sam Pittmon, begun last year.
Dave explained that the significance of the global effort to eradicate polio lies in a unique characteristic of the virus that transmits the disease: unlike the organisms which transmit other deadly diseases, it lives only in a human host and is not carried by insects or animals. So eradication is a real possibility through universal immunization, but as long as immunization is incomplete anywhere, with modern trade and travel, it could re-emerge everywhere.
The logic behind the eradication effort has sometimes been misunderstood in the few nations where polio still exists, Dave reported. He played a video from Pakistan, reporting that young women working to vaccinate children have been shot dead by tribal extremists in remote areas. So the effort to eradicate polio demands more than health care workers to vaccinate children, he noted, but also education to overcome opposition from community leaders.
Thanks to the substantial funding by Rotary and the Gates Foundation, Dave added, the effort is paying off. Many of the clerics in remote areas who have been roadblocks impeding the immunization effort have been and are being persuaded to change their views. So the goal of universal eradication remains in view despite pockets of resistance.
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Jo Bridges accepted recognition from Justice Ministries for Rotary's efforts to reduce hunger in Pagosa Springs. The Feed Our Children Program has long been recognized as addressing a very real need for our elementary school students and their siblings for providing 'kid friendly' food for the weekend. Jo and Lassie have spearheaded this effort from its inception. New members on this committee supporting the efforts are Melanie Garrett and Ronnie Doctor. Also always faithful for much 'heavy lifting' are David Cammack and Nick Tallent. Our Mountain Rotary Club is also an important contributor to these efforts as well as Pagosa Office and Storage, who donate the packing facilities and Sherpa Realty and the Salvation Army who contribute cash funding.
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