Shellie Peterson

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The Pagosa Springs Rotary Club is a diverse group of engaged individuals participating through friendship and camaraderie in opportunities to serve our community and other communities around the world.

Carol Blechschmidt Trap Neuter & Return

Posted by Jim Garrett

Feral cats are everywhere. Carol Blechschmidt, of downtown Pagosa Springs near Yamagucci Park, loves them all. But Carol agrees with John Locke: life is nasty, brutish and short (certainly, at least, for a feral cat). To show her love, therefore, she avidly traps them, neuters them (courtesy of a veterinarian), and (when recovered) releases them.

Trap, Neuter and Release is the name for a plan to reduce the population of feral and stray, homeless cats without resorting to euthanasia, conceived in Great Britain in the 1970s, Carol says. The program has proven to be not only more humane than the alternative, but also less expensive, she adds. Locally, the Pagosa Springs Humane Society is a supporter. It supplied a trap to Carol to get her started on the progarm, and provides vouchers for the needed veterinarians’ services.

Carol described some of her experiences, including trapping (to date) 12 cats as well as six skunks (which seemingly regard the cat food bait as a delicacy). Skunks are not really a part of the program, so Carol releases them (with great care and trepidation, but so far, without mishap). But the cats get appointments with the veterinarian, for the neutering as well as a standard round of shots.

Carol described feelings of strong affection for at least some of the cats she has trapped. But despite the loving care she provides, they remain very cautious of humans. Based on her stories, it appears that even cats who may be willing over an extended period to take the food she puts out and to use the shelter she provides, will never let her get close to them. (Of their wariness, Locke might say, I told you so!)

Her goal in describing her experiences with the program, Carol explained, is to encourage others to participate too.

Please Thank our Sponsors!

Platinum Sponsors

Gary Morris

Pagosa Sun

Gold Sponsors

A Affordable Storage

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Jack & Katy Threet

Pagosa Springs SUN

TBK Bank

Silver Sponsors

Jann C. Pitcher Real Estate

Bank of Colorado

Pagosa Office and Storage

KWUF Radio

The Choke Cherry Tree

Galles Properties

Kim Moore - Exit Realty

La Plata Electric Association

Mike Vanover

Salvation Army

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Bronze Sponsors

1st Southwest Bank

Brown Insurance Agency Inc.

Colorado Dream Homes

Colorado Title Service

Durango Dermatology & Surgery

Morehart Murphy Regional Auto Center

Rio Grande Savings & Loan

Scott Strategic Investments

Sunetha Property Management

General Sponsors

Jim Garrett, Attorney

Bank San Juans

Davis Engineering Services

Mountain Eye Care

Pagosa Smiles

San Juan Veterinary Hospital

Village Interiors Carpet One

King Campbell DDS

News & Happenings

Posted by Jim Garrett

We began with an invocation offered by Warren Brown entitled “Song of March,” a poetic variation on the theme, in like a lion, out like a lamb – referencing among other characteristics of this month of contrasts, daffodils, clearing skies, and “the whistling song” (presumably, winter gusting back into the mountains with phalanxes of clouds stubbornly to obscure traces of spring).

Sue Walen then led singing of “America the Beautiful.”

Meeting guests were introduced, including Kenny Rogers of morning Rotary, who reported the local club’s Puerto Rican project for installation of solar panels on a school was under construction.

Rotarians from clubs in Evergreen and Salida, Colorado were also present. From Evergreen, we learned that there has been an annual ice-melt contest there for 15 years, and received encouragement on our infant contest. From Salida, we received advance invitations to the 2019 District Conference, scheduled for October 11-13 at Mt. Princeton, near Salida.

Alan Roth followed up by reporting that the ice at the Hatcher Lake site of the local ice-melt contest was still a foot thick. More “bets” on the time of the ice “break through” are being taken, so Alan encouraged all who set their sights too early, or are finally coming to life following winter hibernation, to “take the plunge” and get into the action while also helping the Scholarship Fund.

Larry McClintock then looked up from his calculator to announce that the 2019 Rotary event sponsorship tally stands at $19,350. There is some time remaining, Larry said, so he is hopeful of passing the $20,000 mark.

President Shellie Peterson then reminded all of the Gary Morris Concert to be held at Pagosa Springs High School, Saturday evening April 20, and asked for more efforts by members to sell tickets to friends, neighbors, and music fans everywhere. “Everybody needs to work on sales,” Shellie cajoled.

In addition, Shellie reported that the Casino Night event will be delayed from May to June 21, 2019, explaining that even Rotarians need to catch their breath, so the earlier date formerly set for the gala occasion seemed to come much too close to the concert.

Helen Richardson reported that John was recovering well from his spinal fusion surgery, and was half-way through the expected 6 week convalescence.

Jo Bridges circulated a sign-up sheet for the next three weeks of the Feed Our Children Project.

Gary Morris in Concert April 20th

Gary Morris Biography

Gary Morris is known world-wide for his vocal mastery, able to hold audiences mesmerized and overwhelmed by the pure beauty and inspiration of his voice.

Gary’s new album “Sense of Pride” released on Sept. 14 to all major online retailers including iTunes, Amazon Music, Google Play, Spotify and more. Co-produced by Morris and Michael Bonagura (Baillie & The Boys), the album features nine songs, eight of which are written or co-written by Morris, one song – “The Moment” - was co-written by Kathie Baillie and Michael Bonagura. “Sense of Pride” is Morris’ 13th album.

His recording career garnered five #1 and 16 Top 10 singles, including “Why Lady Why,” “The Love She Found in Me,” “Baby Bye Bye.” Morris’ original rendition of the classic “Wind Beneath My Wings” won both the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music “Song of the Year” awards. Morris was also named Billboard’s “Male Artist of the Year” early in his career.

At the height of his Nashville recording career, the Texas-bred tenor was tapped to play the lead role of Jean Valjean in Broadway’s epic hit “Les Misérables,” to critical acclaim. This role led to a Drama Desk Award nomination. His famous rendition of “Bring Him Home” on the platinum-selling, Grammy Award-winning international cast album resulted in a Command Performance by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Additional Broadway roles include Rodolfo in the production of Puccini’s opera “La bohéme.”

Morris is equally comfortable holding a bow, gun or fishing rod as he is holding a guitar. His love of the great outdoors, combined with this respect and compassion for veterans have resulted in his affiliation with Fly Fishers International and its Abilene Fly Fishers club that is associated with Gary Morris Concert and Fundraising for wounded veterans and Mountain Spirit Ranch as a place where veterans suffering from PTSD can experience the therapeutic properties of the serene sport of fly fishing to treat PTSD and other combat-related conditions.

Whether it is melting hearts with this voice and music, amazing New York City critics with his acting ability, using his outdoor experience to teach others respect for the environment, or using his gifts to help our wounded service men and women through a difficult time in their lives, these is no doubt Gary Morris is impacting the world with his gifts and passion.

AWARDS: Billboards New Male Artist of the Year 1982; ACM Single of the Year 1984 for “Wind Beneath My Wings”