Posted by Jim Garrett
 
The meeting opened with an invocation by Dick Babillis, telling the story of a beach covered with starfish after a storm, and a little girl who was picking up individual starfish and returning them to the sea.  A passer-by told her there were so many on the beach, throwing them back into the sea one-by-one would make no difference.  She threw another back, and responded, “it will make a difference to him.
 
Tickets for the October 21 Jewels and Jeans Barn Dance were distributed to Rotarians during the meeting.  President Kim Moore announced that a special meeting for interested members to discuss decorations for the dance would be held 4:30 pm Wednesday Sept. 20, at the Pagosa Brewing Company restaurant.
  • Guest Dominique Wynn announced the formation of a non-profit business with plans to establish at 136 E. Pagosa Street, in the River Center, an indoor playground to be known as the Romp Room.  The community has 650 children under school age, Ms Wynn said, with no place to play in bad weather other than inside their homes.  The Romp Room will fill that gap, and become a place “to get the wiggles out.”  Plans for the new play space include an “Imagination Cabin,” games and a climbing wall.  It is being prepared for opening, and will operate daily from noon to 6 pm when opened.  Donations are solicited.  A phone number was provided by Ms. Wynn, (970) 400-1278.
     
  • Membership Chair Dave Campbell introduced new member Greg Wynn to the meeting.  Greg told us he grew up in Norman, Ok. and attended the University of Oklahoma there. After working as the credit manager at a Ford dealership (which led to his meeting his wife, Donna, then a banker, and now also a new member), he operated a hardware store for 25 years before he and Donna moved to Pagosa last year. As Membership Chair, Dave also reminded Rotarians to report their voluntary Rotary activities, for attendance credit that can substitute for missed meetings. President Moore added an additional reason for members to report voluntary activities: to support the effort for Pagosa Springs Rotary to be recognized with a Presidential Citation from Rotary International, which requires documentation of a threshold level of volunteer activity.
     
  • Goodbye wishes were expressed by Carrie Weiss to Barry Wheeless, who is moving from Pagosa Springs.  Sharon Crump then led the meeting is singing “Red River Valley,” in Wheeless’ honor.  Barry said he will be present for the meeting next week. Penguins will give their mate a pebble as a way of proposing.
     
  • Sam Pittmon’s ticket was drawn from the basket of raffle tickets that had been sold.  Sam then demonstrated clairvoyance, promptly selecting the winning envelope containing the ace of spades!  Sam, who said “I never win anything” behind a happy grin, took home the pot of $223.