Pagosa Springs Rotary ClubThe meeting began with an invocation by Art Benzel featuring the simple observation, “The world is full of nice people. If you can’t find one, be one!”
The normal Pledge of Allegiance followed, but was there a song after that????
Your humble reporter is embarrassed to admit he can’t recall a song, and his notes in this instance are of no help. (Heartfelt apologies to whomever led.) Probably, your reporter was distracted by one of the many sign-up sheets/reports being circulated (tasks rendered, upcoming Loves and Fishes service on Thursday June 21, Fourth of July Parade duty, etc., etc.) At times like the hectic opening moments of last week’s meeting, the mysterious absence of your reporter’s youthful brain capable of retaining multiple concurrent thoughts, is deeply lamented.
Guests to the meeting were then welcomed – principal among them being several friends of Brazilian exchange student Laura Delgado, to help observe the rapidly-approaching end of her visit to our corner of heaven. So many friends there were, your reporter is unable to list them, because his stumbling pen couldn’t keep pace with the introductions. (In this case, he cannot lament the absent youthful brain, and is left as explanation only with the deplorable state of the remaining senior brain.)
Announcements ensued, including the aforementioned Loaves and Fishes lunch this week, and the Fourth of July Parade, coming up in only two weeks. It was pointed out that due to Loaves and Fishes, and next week’s Installation Dinner (more below), there will not be another meeting prior to the Parade.
President Kim Moore noted that with the community being under stress from drought, the San Juan National Forest is closed, and fireworks will be prohibited, so the Parade will be the primary attraction for the Holiday. “Let’s make it the best ever,” she exhorted.
John Shepard added that with the focus on the Parade, and the Pagosa Springs Police short-handed, there will be a maximum need for volunteers for traffic control, as well as other tasks. He urged all Rotarians to volunteer to help in some capacity, with he noted, the numerous open slots filling all of a two-page sign-up roster. John added that volunteers will be equipped with safety vests prior to the Parade, and should assemble at the High School Parking lot before the event.
Art Benzel then reported that there will be a short, free concert of patriotic songs, titled “Let Freedom Ring,” performed by a group of community musicians (60 members strong, Art added) at 7:30 pm the evening of July 3d, at the Methodist Church on Lewis Street. All are welcome, he said.
President Kim followed by reminding all of the annual Installation Dinner, set for Thursday June 28 at the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners clubhouse, with a Happy Hour at 5:30 and dinner catered by the Buck Stops Here at 6 pm. The event will, of course, mark the ascension of Shelly Peterson to the Rotary Presidency. (It’s funny how Kim repeats announcements of the event so often, always with what appears to be a look of restrained glee.)
The meeting was then enlivened by an appearance of two cast members from Thingamajig Theater’s “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” which opened on June 15 and will run on various dates this summer as part of the Theater’s repertory of five shows.
The cast members, Charlie Tingen and Heather McCall, sang an engaging duet from the show, that sets the stage for the story that follows. As residents of Pagosa have come to expect of Thingamajig’s productions, the quality of performing was magnificent. The two talented guests whetted keen appetites among Rotarians for more delights surely to be enjoyed by attending the full performance of “Legally Blonde,” and undoubtedly the other shows as well.