banner
President's Message
Nick Tallent
Click to send email.
(970) 731-5100
member photo
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
Casey Crow and Paula Jo Miller - Beyond Words
 
 
Casey Crow is the president of this non-profit Pagosa Springs based organization that is comprised of several talented individuals who share the same goal of helping those who are in post conflict situations using non-verbal arts therapy and creative expression. Casey is also the owner/director of Pagosa Dance Academy.
 
Casey told us that her dream of Beyond Words began seven years ago when she first witnessed the impact of movement-based therapy on young student in Kisumu, Kenya. Most of these children were physically disabled, displaced from their home countries, or survivors of sexual violence yet found a visible transformational release through dance and movement.
 
Casey initiated a dance therapy program in Sounio Refugee Camp in Greece in 2016. Casey  states that art-based nonverbal therapy is an incredible tool for healing in humanitarian context. She has witnessed the transformation that is possible when individuals are empowered to tell their story whether through art, movement or music in a safe supportive environment.
 
Beyond Words staff includes Casey, Paula Jo Miller who was present today. She is a contemporary abstract artist, Kelly Ziemer who is a licensed social worker trained in cognitive behavior therapy. Mary Jo Meerdink who is a clinical psychologist, therapist and executive leadership coach. Leslie Santee who is a video producer that has traveled around the world documenting humanitarian crisis. Lastly Addie Thompson who is a local graduate of Pagosa Springs High school. She is at Colby College in Maine majoring in global studies with emphasis on human rights and art.
 
Casey stated that Beyond Words is planning an Art Camp integrated with some therapy in Pagosa next spring break for local children. Paula Jo and several local artisans will visit a Syrian refugee camp in Greece this summer to offer a variety of healing arts to refugee children. In 2020 Beyond Words plan to visit an immigrant detention center at the US border to offer support to children in crisis.
 
It is remarkable what an impact that this professional group of women based in Pagosa Springs is having in the US and abroad through helping people deal with unimaginable humanitarian crises. You can learn more about Beyond Words International at bwintl.org.
 
District Governor 2019-2020 David Wood
 

District Governor 2019 – 2020 David Wood

David Wood was raised in the state of Maine and graduated from Maine Maritime Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nautical Science, a commission as Ensign in the U. S. Naval Reserve and with a Thirds Mates License issued by the U. S. Coast Guard. Following graduation, he was employed for ten years by Texaco, Inc. marine division with service on over 20 Texaco tankers in all license positions as Third officer to Master. In 1976, he was selected to join the Sabine Pilots Association, a privately-owned company providing pilotage service to ocean going vessels into three ports in southeast Texas. As a Sabine Pilot for 27 years he was responsible for over 2,500 safe vessel transits of the Sabine-Neches Waterway.

Living in Beaumont, Texas for thirty-seven years provided David with numerous opportunities to be involved in the community. His passion has always had a focus on youth so umpiring Little League baseball, junior high youth counselor at his church or Boy Scouts were all natural avenues for him to serve his community. He also served several years as a board member for the Beaumont Housing Authority and chaired a special advisory committee to the Captain of the Port U. S. Coast Guard. During his years in Beaumont was when he started his Rotary tenure joining the Rotary Club of Beaumont in 1988. Because of his community involvement he received several distinguished awards, The Cross and Flame Award from the Methodist Church, the Silver Beaver from the Boy Scouts of America and in 1995 was selected as Maritime Person of the Year in southeast Texas.   

Following retirement David and Cathy decided that they would leave Texas and make their vacation home in Salida, Colorado their residence. This move opened new areas of volunteerism whether it was Meals on Wheels, The Stone Soup Kitchen, or Colorado Farm to Table. The Rotary moto of “Service Above Self” learned as a member of the Rotary Club in Beaumont was a driving force and again the call of the Rotary spirit was there as he joined the Rotary Club of Salida in 2011. As a member of the Salida club he has served on the club’s board of directors, has chaired the Youth Services Committee and is currently the club’s Foundation Chair and is a past president of the Rotary Club of Salida. Additionally, he served as Assistant Governor for Area 6 District 5470. David is a multi-Paul Harris Fellow, a Paul Harris Society Member and a Major Donor of The Rotary Foundation.

David and Cathy celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in July of 2018, they have two children, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. They enjoy travel, skiing and anything that the great outdoors of Colorado has to offer.

dwood.rotary5470@gmail.com or 409-781-5655

Rotary District 5470 Annual Conference

October 11 – 13, 2019

Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort Nathrop, Colorado

. A family fun weekend

          . Service project

                   . Rotarians from across the district             

                            . Inspiring speakers

                                           . Evening entertainment                                   

                                             . Facilitated discussion groups

 A variety of lodging options/all resort facilities

Call Mt. Princeton Resort 719-395-2447 use group code Rotary

Conference registration $185.00 includes 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts, and evening entertainment. Children under 12 are free, teenagers 13-18 $125.00

News and Happenings
This was the first meeting lead by our newly elected president Nick Tallent. Congratulations to him!
 
Invocation: To Be of Use by Marge Piercy was presented by Cindi Galabotha.
 
Pledge of Allegiance was led by John Richardson.
 
Song: The More We Get Together lead by Meg Wempe
 
Visiting Rotarians: Ken Rogers of Pagosa Mountain Rotary Club. Ken asked Rotarians to sign up for the beer garden at the county fair this year scheduled for August 1 to August 4. He stated that profits from this event will be donated to our scholarship fund.
 
Guess of Rotarians: Bridget Moore the granddaughter of Kim Moore was introduced as a junior Rotarian.
 
Announcements: David Smith informed us of an International Service project that he is considering for our club in collaboration with Father Kenny of John Paul II Catholic Church. He scheduled a meeting of the International Service Committee immediately after this meeting to discuss.
 
New Member Frank Estes complimented that planning and the work that was done for our July 4th Parade was extraordinary.
 
Cindy Galabota encouraged member to sign up for doing the invocations at our meeting.
 
Shellie Peterson offered appreciation to Linda Verrips, Joe Bridges and Joann Laird as they were not at the installation banquet.  She thanked Linda for her service on the board of directors and Joe Bridges for serving as executive secretary on the board. She then thanked Joann Laird for her enthusiastic service to our community and to Rotary. There was loud applause and a chorus of “She’s a Jolly Good Fellow” was sang.
 
Shellie also circulated a get-well card for David Campbell who had shoulder surgery yesterday.
 
Bob Eggleston gave a brief report on our recent Casino Night event. He stated that we netted approximately $10,000.00 dollars including $3000.00 from the silent auction.  The winners of the raffle Joe Bridges ($400) and Larry McClintock ($200) donated their winnings back to our Rotary club. He complimented Art Benzel for his assistance with the event. The next Casino Night is already set for June 19, 2020.
 
Joann Laird gave brief wrap up of the July 4th Parade stating that our partnership with the town was a success. There were 28 Rotarians who worked the parade in a variety of ways. 
 
President NIck encouraged support for the up coming Rise Against Violence event this weekend that includes the 13th Annual Pagosa Duathlon and the High Rollers Band performance this Saturday at Town Park to benefit our Pagosa Springs High School wrestling Team.
 
President Nick Tallent announced the Rotary Board Meeting scheduled for tomorrow Morning at 8:00.
 
 
Sunshine and Showers: Betty began with her usual comic routine with party blowouts, kazoos, head dress and party hats. She mourned the lost of her bubble machine at the Installation Banquet. This was her opportunity to pass the job off to someone else as she and Jeff prepare for their move away from Pagosa. She stated that “ It’s going to take a lot of people to replace me”. She also said “It’s been a joy to do this for the past two years”.

She then announced that Pat Love, Meg Wempe and Kathleen McFadden will assuming her job.
 
President Nick then read two letters that he received from Patty Tillerson recently. On a sad note one of the them was a letter she wrote to her deceased husband and Rotarian Bob and the other was a letter thanking our club for choosing her as the Grand Marshal of our July 4th Parade.
 
Pat Love then took the microphone to do Sunshine and Flowers. She offered a sunshine for what our club does for our Backpack Program in comparison to what the Rotary Club in Austin Texas does for the homeless.
 
Shellie Peterson offered a sunshine for joining the “Past Prez Club of Rotary”.
 
Kim Moore also gave a sunshine for being a PP Club member and for having her granddaughter with her, for Joann Laird for “pulling off the parade”, for Nick as our new president and for herself as an Assistant Governor for our Rotary District.
 
Bill Darling offered sunshine that he and his wife are celebrating their 49th wedding anniversary and a shower for their dog that is dying of cancer.
 
Jan Pitcher offered sunshine that one granddaughter is attending Princeton University where she is doing brain surgery on mice and another granddaughter who recently received a letter of acceptance from Harvard University.
 
David Smith offered a sunshine that the Early Childhood Center has recently hired a director.
 
Club raffle was done, and the lucky ticket owner Mike Vanover was not so lucky in picking the 9 of spades! The pot is now at $414.
 
Bulletin Editor
Shellie Peterson
Speakers
Sep 05, 2019
Rotary Serves the Community
View entire list
Be Sure To Thank Our Sponsors
Every Child Deserves Wings
Jack & Katie Threet
  Jim Garrett, Attorney
Mike Vanover
Hair by Kandi
Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
ClubRunner Mobile

Pagosa Springs Rotary meets every Thursday at 11:45 !          

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