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President's Message
Shellie Peterson
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(970) 507-0500
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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.
Stories
Jennie Green - Town & County Tourism
 
 
Jennie Green, self-described data geek, director of the Town/County Tourism Board, and globe-trotting Pagosa promoter, began by commenting on our lingering winter, and by displaying a snapshot of the welcome sign east of Town, altered recently to boast of the “World’s Deepest Pot Holes,” instead of hot springs.  So, we know for sure Jennie is well-suited for her job: she has the gift of all true promoters of ability to make the best of things.
 
Local tourism is growing, Jennie said, resorting to data on lodging tax collections to back-up her report, which have grown here 110% in ten years.  For partial comparison, she provided recent revenue figures for other regional communities: in the last 5 years, lodging tax collections in Durango, Ouray and Cortez have grown between 25% and 27%.   Consistent with the growth in the lodging tax, Jennie reported that foot traffic in the Pagosa Springs Visitor Center, downtown, has doubled in that period, reaching a total of 84,000 persons through the entrance last year.
 
Jennie discussed some of the current promotional efforts to build local tourism.  Pagosa, plus Chaffee County, Steamboat Springs, Glenwood Springs, and Ouray, together promote the Hot Springs Loop, a route linking several hot springs enjoyed by visitors to their Colorado mountain communities, as well as others.  And the Colorado Tourism office includes our area in the southwest region of the state it promotes in a brochure entitled “Mountains and Mesas.”
 
The state published brochure is of note especially in that it is printed in German as well as English.  Germans typically have six-week annual vacations, Jennie noted, and travel extensively.  There are no fewer than 35 tour operators that book tours to the Rocky Mountains operating in Germany, she said.
 
Hot springs are only one of the local attractions, of course, but the Tourism Board is always looking for promotional ideas.  One described by Jennie is the Bike Planter Scavenger Hunt, utilizing the bicycle sculptures located at businesses around town, which are intended as both planters for flowers, and sites of clues in the scavenger hunt.  Armed with a map indicating the general location of the businesses exhibiting the sculptures, contestants fill out game-cards with letters found on a tag affixed to each bike-planter, and are eligible to win a prize at the Visitors’ Center upon completion.
 
Recommendations recently made by a consultant of means further to enhance Pagosa as a tourist destination are currently under consideration by the Town and County.  Recommendations include new lodging and meeting space.  Jennie also plans to improve wayfinding signage in the community, and to build greater focus into data collection to help more specifically identify promotional opportunities.
 
There will be a local Tourism Conference in Town at the Community Center, South Conference Room from 9 am to 5 pm on April 17.  All are welcome to participate, Jennie said.
 
Jennie was accompanied to the presentation by Pam Hotchkiss, a Visitor Center staffer.  Pam solicited Rotarians to become volunteers to help greet visitors.  She related that currently 20 or so volunteers help staff the Center during the summer, for four hours (or more) each per month.  More volunteers are needed.  Pam indicated rewards for volunteers include the satisfaction of helping visitors enjoy their local stay, plus enjoyable staff parties.
 
News & Happenings
 
The 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.
 
April is Maternal & Child Health Month
 

Our impact on the lives of mothers and children

The Rotary Foundation reaches mothers and children in need by giving communities the help and training they need to take control of their own maternal and infant health care.

Rotary makes amazing things happen, like:

Mobile prenatal clinics

Haiti has the highest maternal and infant mortality rate of any country in the western hemisphere. Rotary provided a fully equipped medical Jeep to volunteers and midwives to reach mothers and children in remote areas.

Cancer screening

Rotarians provided a mobile cancer screening unit and awareness trainings around Chennai, India, where there is a high mortality rate of women with breast and cervical cancer due to late diagnosis.

Preventing injuries and deaths

Rotary members launched a $3 million, five-year pilot to save lives of mothers and children during home deliveries in Nigeria. Since 2005, they’ve also repaired 1,500 obstetric fistulas — 500 more than their initial goal — restoring dignity and hope to vulnerable mothers.

9Health Fair
 
 
The 40th Annual 9Health Fair is coming up!  This is a community service project for this Club and the Mountain Rotary Club.  Its the last Saturday in April, the 27th.  Doors open at 7:00 am and the Fair runs until 11:00.  There are many service available in addition to blood screenings.  Hearing, spinal screening, blood pressure, and so many more!  All of the screenings and health material are free of charge.  The blood screenings are at a very reasonable cost as indicated below.  A volunteer discount is also available.  If you have not volunteered with us in the past and need more information, please contact me!
 
BLOOD CHEMISTRY | $35
• Provides information on your blood glucose, cholesterol, electrolytes, liver, kidneys, thyroid, and more
• This screening can help you and your healthcare provider monitor and identify health issues such as diabetes and heart disease
• Pair with Hemoglobin A1c for a complete diabetes screening

HEMOGLOBIN A1C | $35
• Measures your average blood sugar control for the past 2 to 3 months
• Screens for diabetes/prediabetes, or used to follow existing diabetes treatment
• Pair with Blood Chemistry for a complete diabetes screening

PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA) | $35
• Measures a protein produced by the prostate gland
• After discussion with your healthcare provider, this screening may be recommended for individuals age 69 or younger, or those with
a family history of prostate cancer

BLOOD CELL COUNT | $25
• Measures white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets
• Screens for your body's ability to fight infection, anemia, some clotting disorders and cancers

VITAMIN D | $50
• Provides baseline Vitamin D levels
• Vitamin D is important for bone health and may affect other vital body functions
• Pair with Blood Chemistry for information on your calcium levels, which play an important role in bone health

COLON CANCER SCREENING KIT | $30
• This take-home/mail-in kit checks for human blood in the stool
• Screens for colon cancer and colon polyps, and may indicate hemorrhoids or colon inflammation

TESTOSTERONE, MALE | $45
• Testosterone levels fluctuate throughout the day. Levels are best represented when the screening is performed in the morning
• Low testosterone levels in males can affect energy levels, mood and cognitive function, sexual desire, bone and muscle mass, and fat
distribution
• Low testosterone levels can be caused by many conditions. If out-of-range, seek further evaluation to screen for other underlying issues such
as sleep apnea, depression, opiate and other drug use, liver disease, diabetes, thyroid disorders and others.

VITAMIN B12 | $25
• Provides baseline Vitamin B12 levels
• Plays a key role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, and the formation of red blood cells
• Vitamin B12 deficiency may be a cause of anemia, numbness and other sensory issues, memory and mood impairment

HIGH SENSITIVITY C-REACTIVE PROTEIN | $35
• Can help measure your risk of developing cardiovascular disease along with risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
diabetes, family history and obesity. Pair with Blood Chemistry and Hemoglobin A1c.
• hsCRP measures the amount of inflamation in your body which is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
• This screening is NOT recommended if you have recently had surgery, injury, illness or infection.

BLOOD TYPE | $30
• Blood test to show what type of blood you have. There are four different blood types
• Blood typing is not a medical need, but it will be checked if you get a blood transfusion or donate blood.
Bulletin Editor
Shellie Peterson
Speakers
Apr 11, 2019
Game Warden Report
Apr 18, 2019
Forest Service Trail Maintenance
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Upcoming Events
2019-2020 Installation Banquet
PLPOA Clubhouse
Jun 27, 2019
5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
 
Installation Banquet 2019-2020
PLPOA Club House
Jun 27, 2019
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
 
Be Sure To Thank Our Sponsors
Jack & Katie Threet
  Jim Garrett, Attorney
Mike Vanover
Hair by Kandi
Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
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Pagosa Springs Rotary meets every Thursday at 11:45 !          

Pagosa Brewing & Grill    
118 N. Pagosa Blvd.
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147