Pagosa Springs Rotary ClubThe meeting began with an invocation by Cindy Galabota, that your late (i.e., tardy) scribe missed. Sorry Cindy – I’m sure your efforts were thoughtful and interesting, but time is inelastic. (Actually, I believe Einstein’s theory of relativity may suggest time is not as finite as my excuse assumes, but that involves numbers to the power of whatever, and is way out of my league.)
When your scribe entered the meeting, club members were rejoicing in a new and different version of “You Are My Sunshine,” that might have done honor to e.e. cummings. Or maybe everyone just collectively lost track of the lyric, a common experience that may explain the popularity of Karaoke night at Coyote Moon.
Next up: visitors. Among several guests was returning visitor Frank Wylie, of the Sun Lakes, Arizona Rotary Club, who travels with a rollicking sense of humor. Frank told the story of a father trying to share a little conviviality in honor of St. Patrick’s Day with his son. At the Dad’s suggestion, they tried a round of Guinness, but when it proved not to be to the son’s taste, the father quaffed both glasses. Then he tried Harp’s, with the same result, followed by Jameson’s Irish Whiskey and subsequently Redhead, which Frank described as the finest of Irish Whiskeys, but all to no avail, and the father was compelled to drink it all. By that point, Frank observed, the Dad had gotten rather tipsy, and abandoned the celebration. The poor man, he said, could barely push his son’s stroller home.
Other visitors were identified by Pat Love and Lisa Scott as potential members. Pat’s guests were Frank Estes and daughter Kathleen McFadden. Lisa's guests were Pat Tackett from TBK Bank and Julie from Scott Strategic Investments.
An update from Georgette Baumgardner on ticket sales for the April 20 Gary Morris concert at the High School followed. Georgette reported she had sold 22 tickets, and counseled the laggards among us to redouble our efforts to peddle tics by emphasizing the good cause the concert will support, Rotary’s backpack program.
Lassie Olin doubled-down on Georgette’s suggestion, by recommending astonishment in the face of reluctance to buy, such as (e.g., to a Humane Society donor), “What? You support animals, but not kids???” Lassie said she had sold 32 tickets, so apparently her passionate approach works well at overcoming sales resistance.
Georgette reminded all that Sharon Crump will make additional concert tickets available to those whose success selling tickets outstrips their supply.
President Shellie Peterson then reminded us of the Ice Melt Contest deadline, midnight April 8. When the barrel takes the plunge, Shellie said, it will be retrieved from the icy depths to determine the critical time with an exciting flourish, in the form of a “cold-water rescue” by the Pagosa Fire Protection District and the County’s Search and Rescue Team.
Shellie then turned to the Fourth of July Parade, which despite our lingering snow drifts (and ice) is just three months, a mere 91 days, off.
Shellie noted that last year our troops in the figurative line of fire along the Parade route were spread too thin to maintain good order, a potential health and safety issue, as well as generally a hindrance to public enjoyment of the event. So she is asking for commitments by Rotarians to help as Parade marshals along the route early this year, hoping to ensure potential recruits will not be on vacation or otherwise engaged when needed, and that Rotary will not find itself ultimately embarrassed by a forced confession to the Town of inability to continue a quarter-century old tradition of Parade sponsorship. A sign-up sheet was circulated: many volunteered, but more are needed, so strike-up the band, and join the Parade!
(Your scribe begs the reader’s indulgence to add a personal note. The Parade is amazing: It is America, it is Pagosa, it is us, it is a joy. Participation is “Casey at the Bat,” but hitting the homer.)
Cindi Galabota then reminded all of the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA). Nominations for participation in the summer camp as part of the RYLA program are due April 19, she said.
We had no Betty Switzer, but Lisa Scott presided over a brief Sunshine/Showers. Codie Wilson reported that her granddaughter Devin Wilson had been named girls basketball Player of the Year in the Intermountain League, and second-team all state. And Neal Johnson reported that he would be teaching for a development program in Brazil this spring, but was glad to be able to report he would be spending this summer in Pagosa.