Pagosa Springs Rotary ClubThe invocation was a reading from the extraordinary book of essays by 20th Century naturalist, Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac. The chosen excerpt reminded of the awesome splendor of our surroundings in the mountains of the Southwest.
Sharon Crump then lead the group in singing “God Bless America,” in honor of the impending Election Day.
Meeting visitors of note included District Governor-elect, David Wood, of Salida, a cheerful man who suggested Rotarians should join him in regularly displaying their Rotary pins on their garments.
Carrie Weiss then kicked off the Holidays with an announcement of the annual Salvation Army “Bell Ringing” campaign. Rotary will wield the bells and man the pot at City Market for a total of 10 days this year, Carrie announced, and began circulation of the sign-up sheet for volunteers to choose their slots. Unexpectedly, Carrie sprinkled her announcement with a series of “Y’alls.” Do Christmas bells remind Y’uns guys of Dixie? (All right, it’s a Pittsburgh equivalent. As soon as I heard the Y’alls, I’m thinking, Y’uns.)
The vast majority of the benefits of the bell-ringing campaign are enjoyed locally, Carrie stressed. Adding tangible emphasis to the point, Larry McClintock reported that Rotary had just received a $1000 check from the Salvation Army, to support the Feed our Children project.
Providing an update on another Rotary project that benefits local children, Jo Ann Laird reported that the Free Dictionary Distribution to Elementary School 3rd Graders would occur this year next Thursday, which will be November 8, in the afternoon following the Rotary meeting.
Reporting on the Polio Plus campaign, President Shellie Peterson advised that $510.28 had been collected in cash by volunteers from members of the public outside City Market on October 24. She advised that donations by check to the Rotary Foundation can be delivered between now and year’s end to Larry. Shellie said the goal is total local contributions of $3500, and with checks already received, added that we are about half-way there.
Shellie also announced that the Rotary Holiday Party will be on December 13 this year. As it happens, Rotary is also serving a Loaves and Fishes lunch that day, she added.
Betty Switzer then took the floor, gesturing with bubble-wand and hefting her newly-renamed “Thanksgiving Pumpkin,” (formerly her Halloween Pumpkin, but recycling of plastics is a good thing).
First Betty disclosed the welcome news that only a single $1 fine had been assessed for “pin default” this week. I assume that was good news to Governor-elect Wood, but he was too busy tucking into lunch to comment.
Then Betty turned to Sunshine/Showers.
First up was Dave Richardson, whose Sunshine was “I’m eating!” (Or was that a protest of Betty’s interruption? The entrees did look quite appetizing, and Dave was following the example of the Governor-elect.) Then Dave Cammack took the floor. He was far more garrulous than Dave R; Dave C reported that his son got a job as a game warden and built a house; he added that the Cammack family bagged two bull elks this year. (Dave’s cup, evidently, “runneth over.”) Kim Moore extolled the “best Barn Dance ever,” and celebrated her most recent exotic trip, to Tibet, where she discovered the delights of Yak Yogurt. (Ah ha, there’s an idea for next year’s Barn Dance. Then Kim can enjoy exotica without missing the Dance.) Codie Wilson reported that the girls and boys cross-country teams both qualified for the state championship meet. And your intrepid scribe set down his pen for a moment to rejoice in the planting of 15 aspen trees with the aid of a team of generous neighbors. Betty concluded by announcing that Y’all was the word of the day. (Some time, I want Y’uns to be the word of the day. Then we can all by “Y’nzers.”)
Shellie then turned off the bubble machine, and added two more announcements: that the second installment of the Rotary Leadership Institute would soon be held in Bayfield (the installments are independent, she explained, so interested Rotarians will benefit from attending even if they were not able to make the first installment), and that there will be no meeting on November 22, which is Thanksgiving Day this year.