Pagosa Springs Rotary ClubPresident Kim Moore called the meeting to order, and began with an invocation from Mother Teresa, reckoning life as a myriad of qualities calling for positive responses. Without recreating the full list, the last four were as follows: “Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is life, fight for it.”
The song “America the Beautiful” followed, led by Pat Love.
Then special visitors were introduced by Kim and Dave Smith, the guests in Pagosa Springs from Kyrgyzstan, sponsored by the Open World Program Nazira Makenova, from the village of Jyrgalan, Aman Zhanserkeev, from the city of Karakol, Begimai Mukasheva, from the south shore of Issyk-Kul Lake, Beksultan Abdisalamov, from city of Osh, Talantbek Toksonbaev, from Osh, Zeinep Isakova, from Bishkek, the capital city and Alyona Vladova, who hails from the United States but held the position of language translator for the group.
Also visiting the meeting was local resident Al Myatt, who chronicled the entire visitors stay in photographs. During the meeting, Aman, Beksultan and Begimai provided Rotarians an introduction to their home country (as summarized elsewhere in this report).
Kim reminded Rotarians that a picnic for the visitors was to be held that evening in the Town’s Yamaguchi Park, and all were invited to attend.
Kim then issued a call for volunteers to be stationed at San Juan National Forest trailheads, to warn hikers that fire restrictions had been put into effect forbidding open burning in the Forest, in reaction to the high fire danger resulting from our protracted spell of dry weather.
(Your reporter understands, however, that due to continuing extreme conditions in the region, the open burning ban has been replaced by an outright, complete closure of the Forrest to the general public, effective Tuesday, June 12. Please consult news outlets for more details.)
This year’s July Fourth Parade Grand Marshal was then announced by John Shepard, Teri House, Rotarian, and owner, publisher and editor of the Pagosa Springs Sun. John discouraged any and all Terri teasing over the honor, which he attributed primarily to the public service rendered by the Sun, and your reporter is happy to attest the honor is well deserved.
The meeting was then reminded of two upcoming events, a memorial get-together honoring Joe Donovan at Pagosa Brewing Company, the evening of June 14, and the annual Installation Banquet scheduled for Thursday evening, June 28, at the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association clubhouse with catering by the Buck Stops Here. Tickets for the Banquet are $25 each including dinner, beverages, and the opportunity to help honor (or commiserate with) Shellie Peterson as she takes on the mantle of Rotary President.
Attention then turned to Betty’s Birthdays, the festive monthly observation, presided over by Betty Switzer, of the gradual maturation of Rotarians – not getting older, getting better – who (in this instance) first began in various unspecified years to experience the qualities of life listed by Mother Teresa during the selfsame month of June.
The distinguished honorees were Dave Cammack, Kim Moore, Dave Smith, Codie Wilson, Larry McClintock and Jann Pitcher. In honor of Kim’s fascination with kazoos, the birthday band tooted out a grating rendition “Happy Birthday,” while all meeting attendees sang along lustily. Eyes were possibly wet with tears (of laughter?), but your reporter was busily scribbling and is unable to say.
Betty then turned to announcement of anniversaries. Marriages celebrated in order of longevity (for some reason, wedding anniversaries unlike birthdays are commonly numbered in announcements by years; is the difference in habit perhaps a product of admiration typified by Mother Teresa’s admonition from the invocation, “Life is a challenge, meet it?”), included Betty’s own marriage to Jeff Switzer (55 years), Art and Jonnae Benzel (53 years), Dave and Chris Campbell (48 years), Kim and Walt Moor (46 years) and Dave and Mary Cammack, 37 years.
The distinguished honorees were Dave Cammack, Kim Moore, Dave Smith, Codie Wilson, Larry McClintock and Jann Pitcher. In honor of Kim’s fascination with kazoos, the birthday band tooted out a grating rendition “Happy Birthday,” while all meeting attendees sang along lustily. Eyes were possibly wet with tears (of laughter?), but your reporter was busily scribbling and is unable to say.
Betty then turned to announcement of anniversaries. Marriages celebrated in order of longevity (for some reason, wedding anniversaries unlike birthdays are commonly numbered in announcements by years; is the difference in habit perhaps a product of admiration typified by Mother Teresa’s admonition from the invocation, “Life is a challenge, meet it?”), included Betty’s own marriage to Jeff Switzer (55 years), Art and Jonnae Benzel (53 years), Dave and Chris Campbell (48 years), Kim and Walt Moor (46 years) and Dave and Mary Cammack, 37 years.
Dave Campbell then took the podium, to welcome a new member, Jeanie Bissell, from Alabama. Jeanie was sponsored by Greg and Donna Wynn.
Finally, Dave Richardson WON THE LOTTERY (brother John pulled the winning envelope – now, there’s a stand-in to admire). Dave graciously donated his $324 winnings to Laura Delgado, our exchange student whose stay in Pagosa is drawing to a close, and whose return to home in Brazil approaching. Laura will share with Rotary memories of her year in Pagosa during the June 14 meeting.