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Updates from
District Governor Sam Kevan  

Rotary’s area of focus for February: Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution

How we have supported Ukraine locally  

While an ongoing conflict rages in Ukraine, it is difficult to see how we can help to build peace and prevent conflicts from our little corner of the world. While we, as Rotarians, are powerless to deter Putin we can continue to help ease the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

Early on Rotarians contributed $15 million dollars to the Ukrainian Disaster Relief Fund. Over the last year this has funded many projects in collaboration with Ukrainians on the ground:

• Provide ambulances, medical supplies, and medical units for the sick and injured.

• Provide food, shelter supplies, water purification systems, and generators to ease the suffering of the civilian population.

• District 5470 along with District 5440 (Northern CO, WY, and Western NE) District 5390 (Montana), and District 5180 (Central California), has used $200,000 of that money to provide beds, bedding supplies, and water purifiers to a Rotary Club in Kyiv.

As of January 30, Rotary International has reopened the Ukrainian Disaster Relief Fund for more donations. It’s another opportunity for District 5470 Rotary clubs and Rotarians to continue supporting the Ukrainian people. Donations to this Fund through the remainder of 2023 will be used for grants through June, 2024.

You can support THE ROTARY FOUNDATION to build peace and prevent conflicts worldwide 

• Through Peace Scholarships, our 7 World Peace Centers educate young men and women from all over the world in the important work of diplomacy and conflict resolution.

• Funding of other areas of focus include: Disease Treatment and Prevention, Literacy, Water and Sanitation, Maternal and Child Health, Community Development, Supporting our Environment and Empowering Girls initiatives all help to alleviate problems that can ultimately sow the seeds of war and conflict. 

I ask you to continue contributing to the ANNUAL FUND of THE ROTARY FOUNDATION. You can rest assured that you are helping to build peace and prevent future wars in our world.

Clean water is a basic need for human beings. When people, especially children, have access to clean water, they live healthier and more productive lives. However, at least 3,000 children die each day from diseases caused by unsafe water, which is what motivates our members to build wells, install rainwater harvesting systems, and teach community members how to maintain new infrastructure.

While very few people die of thirst, millions die from preventable waterborne diseases, providing the impetus for our members to also improve sanitation facilities in undeveloped countries. Members start by providing toilets and latrines that flush into a sewer or safe enclosure and then add education programs to promote hand-washing and other good hygiene habits.

From the various water projects in which Rotary has participated, we have come to know the obstacles that many people across the globe face when it comes to some of the basic necessities of life. We tend to take for granted the clean and generally safe and plentiful water sources to which we have access. 

Rotary International, through the combined actions of individual Rotarians and Rotary Clubs, seeks to assure that all people have adequate access to clean and safe water. The Rotary theme for March, Water and Sanitation, asks us to focus on the life changing improvements that we can make through these international projects to provide a more readily available and healthy supply of water to all people.

• The Club provides support for classroom needs through teacher mini grants.  Last year, 14 specific teacher’s projects, unfunded through the schools, were able to come to fruition through Rotary.

• 3^rd grade students were provided with hard-back, beautifully illustrated dictionaries of their very own.

• Our Exchange Student, Agustin Periz Leal, from Las Grutas, Argentina arrived in August.  He is enjoying our community and attending High School. We are thrilled to offer him this opportunity.

• Rotary Youth Leadership Awards will be granted to 2 outstanding Sophomores or Juniors.  The RYLA Retreat weekend provides a series of professionally developed presentations and activities that take participants through a process of assessing their personal leadership characteristics and understanding the ethics of leadership and setting personal goals.

• The Club also continues to support the Pagosa Outreach Connection with representation on that review panel and funding for those in need of a one-time or emergency ‘hand-up’.

By Jenny Marsh | Pagosa Springs Rotary Club

World Polio Day this year is Oct. 24. Polio is a contagious viral disease that spreads through person-to-person contact. It was most prevalent in the United States in the 1940s and 1950s. Most people who get infected with poliovirus will not have any visible symptoms. 

About 25 percent (one out of four) individuals with polio will have flu-like symptoms including sore throat, fever, tiredness, nausea, headache and stomach pain. The symptoms typically last two to five days and then go away on their own. A few people will develop more serious symptoms such infection of the covering of the spinal cord or brain (meningitis) or paralysis (weakness or inability to move parts of the body). Paralysis can lead to lung failure, which can be treated with iron lung devices. Of 100 people who develop paralysis, two to 10 may die. 

Polio vaccines protect people against naturally occurring polioviruses and vaccine-derived poliovirus. Unvaccinated and under-vaccinated people are at risk for developing the polio infection. 

There are two kinds of polio infection: wild (from active virus) and vaccine-derived or “variant” (from weakened virus shed by individuals vaccinated with oral polio vaccine). 

In the early 1950s, Dr. Jonas Salk developed the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV). This vaccine has no risk of seeding vaccine-derived (or variant) polio outbreaks because the inactivated/killed virus cannot mutate and cause disease. This is the vaccine currently given in the U.S. 

In the late 1950s, Dr. Albert Sabin developed the oral polio vaccine (OPV). Advantages of the OPV are that it is safe, effective and easy to administer, and so it is often given in the developing world. The live but weakened virus in OPV replicates in the gut and produces strong intestinal immunity. The disadvantage is that persons vaccinated with OPV can shed the weakened vaccine virus in their stool for several weeks. In areas with poor sanitation, the weakened virus can spread to unvaccinated and under-vaccinated individuals. This transmission and resulting disease is called vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV). 

The United States has given only IPV since 2000. Continuing to achieve high IPV vaccination coverage is the best way to keep the U.S. polio-free and prevent the virus from spreading. Access to clean water, good hand hygiene habits, modern sewage systems and wastewater management further prevent germs, including viruses like poliovirus, from spreading around the world. 

Rotary International has been working on polio eradication for more than 30 years and has helped reduce polio cases by 99.9 percent worldwide, immunizing more than 2 billion children across 122 countries. 

In 1985, Rotary launched the Polio Plus initiative.

In 1988, Rotary founded the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. At that time, wild poliovirus paralyzed hundreds of children every day. There were 350,000 cases across more than 125 countries. 

In 2000, children in Haiti and the Dominican Republic were getting sick. From July 2000-July 2001, 21 children were paralyzed on the island. Two died. All but one were either unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated. Their communities had vaccination rates as low as 7 percent. This was an outbreak of the weakened vaccine virus, which had mutated in unvaccinated and under-vaccinated individuals and become virulent. 

In August 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) African region was certified free of wild poliovirus. 

In 2021, more than 370 million children were vaccinated across 30 countries with more than 1 billion doses of OPV. 

• Donating to PolioPlus
• Creating a fundraiser for PolioPlus using Raise for Rotary (in Australian, Canadian, or U.S. dollars) 
• Creating a fundraiser on the End Polio Now Facebook page 
• Raising awareness by sharing content from the World Polio Day Toolkit, which you can find on our World Polio Day webpage

• Peace and conflict prevention/resolution

• Disease prevention and treatment

• Water and sanitation

• Maternal and child health

• Basic education and literacy

• Economic and community development

There are countless ways that Rotary clubs can address these issues both locally and internationally.

For ideas, consult the publication Rotary’s Areas of Focus Brochure (965en) . It s available in a pdf format on rotary.org website.

In March, the Pagosa Springs Rotary Club set a goal to raise $10,000 in two weeks to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and due to your generous response, over $25,000 was raised. Now 100 days later we would like to give you examples of how these funds are being used.

Tjupa, a Ukraine resident and charter president of Rotary Club Kyiv International woke February 24, 2022 to the sound of heavy bombing. Within three days numerous lives were lost and the infrastructure providing access to food and other essential goods was destroyed. Survival was at stake.

In the midst of chaos, Tjupa turned to Rotary for help. The response was immediate.  Using funds from Rotary International, and Rotary networks already in place, local groups began making food and medical supplies available. A lifeline was established and remains in effect today.

In the months following the onset of war, thousands like Tjupa have received aid through Rotary’s resources, which all start locally, just like they did in Pagosa Springs. Safe exit routes and bomb shelters have been identified; orphanages have been subsidized; abandoned pets rehomed; and those with special needs have been safely evacuated. International funds have provided specific essentials like hemostatic tourniquets, sleeping bags, diapers, coats, first-aid kits, battery packs, as well as meals for workers to keep these supplies moving around the clock. One club found an abandoned shopping center for distribution. Another Rotary member provided a barn to store supplies.

While very few people die of thirst, millions die from preventable waterborne diseases, providing the impetus for our members to also improve sanitation facilities in undeveloped countries. Members start by providing toilets and latrines that flush into a sewer or safe enclosure and then add education programs to promote hand-washing and other good hygiene habits

The Rotary Foundation creates channel for direct humanitarian support in Ukraine 

The following is an excerpt from prvrotary.com:  "Becky’s rise to the governorship began in 2006 when she joined the Pine River Valley Rotary Club. She rose to the presidency in 2010 and served in that position for two years. Becky helped increase club membership through recruitment and public events. Today, the club has 27 members and is very active in Bayfield and Ignacio.

During the coming year, Becky will manage a budget in excess of a quarter million dollars and guide 2,000 members. She will visit all 57 clubs within the 52,000 mile boundries of District 5470. Becky sees her goals for the coming year as helping clubs re-energize and encouraging members to continue their “service above self.”

Becky also has a goal of raising funds to help educate girls in third world countries. She hopes to raise $25,000 through donations from each club. District 5470 and Rotary International will match those donations, for a total of $70,000. Becky will be working directly with a Rotary club in Kenya to provide infrastructure and supplies to help young female students complete their education.

Becky’s service during the next year will be taxing but no doubt rewarding for someone who has dedicated her life to public service. PRV is proud to have such a leader! Good luck Becky and thanks for your unwavering dedication!!"

As usual, listening to Becky speak was insightful, encouraging and entertaining!!  Using the example of the Rubik Cube, she encouraged us to 'shake things up' in little ways that the community will notice and appreciate.  She also encouraged us to take care of ourselves as a Club by taking care and being mindful of each of our members.

End Polio

Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years, and we’ve made incredible progress in the fight to rid the world of it forever.

As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we've helped to reduced polio cases by more than 99.9 percent.

It’s crucial to eradicate polio from the last two countries where it remains endemic and to keep other countries polio-free.

If all eradication efforts stopped today, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year.

Be a part of history

Donate your funds

We’re close to eradicating polio, but we’re not done yet. We still need funds to continue immunization and surveillance efforts. Your gift will get us closer to the finish line.

GIVE NOW

Incoming Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta urged members to become more involved in service projects, saying that caring for and serving others is the best way to live because it changes not only other people’s lives, but also our own.

Mehta, a member of the Rotary Club of Calcutta-Mahanagar, West Bengal, India, revealed the 2021-22 presidential theme, Serve to Change Lives, to incoming district governors on 1 February during the Rotary International Assembly. The assembly, a yearly training event for district governors-elect, was originally set to take place in Orlando, Florida, USA, but was held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mehta spoke about how participating in service projects through Rotary changed him as a person and made him empathize more with the needs of others. Soon after joining his club, he helped carry out projects that benefited rural communities in India.

Some of the poor conditions he saw in those communities strengthened his commitment to service. “I truly understood the plight of my brethren,” he said.

Mehta participated in initiatives that brought artificial limbs to children, clean water and sanitation to homes, and better health care facilities to communities.

“Rotary kindled the spark within me to look beyond myself and embrace humanity,” he said. “Service became a way of life for me and I, like many others, adopted the guiding philosophy that ‘Service is the rent I pay for the space I occupy on this earth, and I want to be a good tenant of this earth.’”

Attend the District 5470's

Polio Day Virtual Event

November 1, 2020 from 12:00PM - 1:00PM LIVE with RI President Holger Knaack 

During the COVID pandemic, the Pagosa Springs Rotary Club actively continues to serve our community and those most in need. The Rotary Club’s “Feed Our Children” program was established nine years ago by Rotarians Jo Bridges and Lassie Olin to meet the needs of children in elementary school who frequently came to school on Mondays and reported to their teachers that they were hungry over the weekend.  Often these children utilized the free and reduced food program at the Pagosa Springs Elementary school during the week but were left without food support over the weekend.

When school suddenly switched to on-line this spring due to the pandemic, we had to quickly adapt our food model. For the past nine years, Rotarians have purchased large quantities of food and stored it in a food pantry, and then each week we would pack backpacks for individual families.  On Fridays we would transport the backpacks to the elementary school and at the end of the school day Rotarians would hand out the backpacks to each child.

Fortunately, when the COVID related changes occurred in the local school, the school district decided to continue to provide daily breakfasts and lunches to those families in need.  The Rotary Club has been able to work with the school transportation department, who agreed to deliver our weekend food via the school bus routes, as they were doing for the daily school food delivery.  Rotarians have continued to serve the same families who had been in the program when the school closed.

Our communities’ economic strain continues, so when the school district received funds to be able to deliver food Monday through Friday throughout the summer, the Pagosa Springs Rotary Club jumped on board too. We reduced our volunteers to only three people working each week, two packing and one taking the bags to the bus barn.  By doing this we were able to work in entirely separate areas safely. Currently, the Rotary “Feed Our Children” backpack program is serving 58 children weekly.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on 25 August announced that transmission of the wild poliovirus has officially been stopped in all 47 countries of its African region. This is a historic and vital step toward global eradication of polio, which is Rotary’s top priority.

After decades of hard won gains in the region, Rotary and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) — WHO, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the vaccine alliance — are proclaiming the milestone an achievement in public health. They offer it as proof that strong commitment, coordination, and perseverance can rid the world of polio. 

The certification that the African region is free of wild poliovirus comes after the independent Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) conducted thorough field verifications that confirmed no new cases and analyzed documentation of polio surveillance, immunization, and laboratory capacity by Cameroon, Central African Republic, Nigeria, and South Sudan. The commission had already accepted the documentation of the other 43 countries in the region. 

The last cases of polio caused by the wild virus in the African region were recorded in Nigeria’s northern state of Borno in August 2016, after two years with no cases. Conflict, along with challenges in reaching mobile populations, had hampered efforts to immunize children there.

• The grand prize winner gets $1000 and priceless bragging rights.
• Second place gets $500 and slightly-less-priceless bragging rights.
• Third place gets a cool $250.
• Proceeds will go towards supporting the Rotary Club of Pagosa Springs Graduating High School Senior Scholarship fund.

Where are we in the fight to end polio? What bold steps are we taking to get there? Visit the Rotary International Facebook page to RSVP to the Online Global Update. Endpolio.org

No child should have to suffer from this vaccine-preventable disease. Help us make an impact on World Polio Day. Endpolio.org

Smallpox is the only human disease ever eradicated. Let’s make polio the second. Join the fight on World Polio Day. Endpolio.org

How can you triple your impact? Thanks to a 2-to-1 match from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, every donation made to Rotary to end polio will be tripled. Donate today. endpolio.org/donate

Your reporter notes that Theo told us of the events of his past year in our midst.  Further, he discussed his classes at Pagosa Springs High School (favorites: wilderness skills and global sciences), he shared some observations about differences between life in the US and Denmark (his next level of schooling is referred to as secondary school, which will extend three years and, he expects, be followed by study at a university), and he described his summer travel plans, a thirty day trip around the US beginning next week. 

But it’s well-nigh impossible to do full justice to Theo’s talk.  Words can be recalled, so your reporter can relate that Theo described participating in many area attractions and activities — ranging from a visit to Keyah Grande, to hunting, to hiking, to skiing and snow sports in all forms as both a participant and spectator (at the X-Games), and on nearly without end.  But merely to list events he described is inadequate.  Perhaps what it boils down to is this: to the listener, it seems Theo may have put more into one year than many people put into a life.

But somehow, even that assessment still falls short.  To this reporter, the telling point is that as a student at Pagosa Springs High School, Theo had the curiosity and gumption to participate in two sports (baseball and wrestling, one where they throw a hard object at you and the other where they try to beat you up) that he had never even seen before.  Taking on such adventures was apparently as normal to Theo as tying one’s shoes, but the openness of mind to welcome challenges like these is something not found every day.

Theo told us his year in Pagosa Springs was the “Best year of my life.”  That was gratifying to know, but it would be only fair to say that Theo’s visit was rewarding to our community too.  Visits from young folks like Theo coming to us from around the world exemplify the value of the Rotary Exchange program.

Bill Darling opened with an invocation inspired by the second anniversary of two events, the birth of his granddaughter and the receipt of his cancer diagnosis (happily, the granddaughter now thrives while the cancer regresses).  The concurrence of these contrasting events, Bill said, triggered contemplation since of life and death, redoubling his appreciation of the former.

In that spirit, Bill quoted an excerpt from a Walt Whitman poem, “The Song of the Open Road,” including the lines: “Henceforth I ask not good-fortune . . . Strong and content I travel the open road.”

A stanza of “America the Beautiful” followed, under the figurative baton of Sharon Crump.

Guests included Cody Wilson’s granddaughter, Chanel (a former Rotary scholarship recipient and recent college graduate, now planning a career in criminal justice — my advice?  If that’s your choice, Chanel, seek federal employment after accumulating a few years of experience), and Laura Easterling, a prospective member under the sponsorship of Pat Love.

Bill Hubbard then solicited volunteers for the meal service at Loaves and Fishes on Thursday June 20, and circulated a job sign-up sheet.

President Shellie Peterson followed by observing that because Rotary will be working at Loaves and Fishes on June 20, and the annual Installation Dinner will be held the following Thursday, June 27, there will be no regular meetings those two weeks (nor, presumably, on the Thursday after that, July 4).  Consequently, Shellie pointed out that the only meeting before the July 4 Parade will be next Thursday, June 13. 

Volunteers for the Parade are needed, Shellie reminded.  Although under recently revised plans, Rotary will no longer be “policing” the Parade route, new eligibility requirements for Parade participation have been established, she said, and Rotary will have responsibility for implementation.  Because of the revisions affecting multiple aspects of the Parade (even including the route), Parade-related assignments for which members previously volunteered may have been eliminated, and needs for volunteers to fill new positions created.  Accordingly, a new Parade sign-up sheet was circulated, accompanied by Shellie’s urgent request for members’ help.  (The good news is the jobs for distribution throughout the town of posters announcing the Parade were filled before the meeting adjourned.)

Art Benzel and Bob Eggleston then unveiled the new Rotary Event Banner, intended to stretch over Hot Springs Boulevard near Pagosa Street, downtown.  The Banner will initially be used to announce Casino Night on June 21, but they pointed out it can be readily modified for use to advertise future events, as well.

Art and Bob encouraged members to sell tickets to Casino Night, and reminded that all funds raised should be delivered to Sharon Crump.  The event will offer Texas Hold ‘Em, craps, Wheel of Fortune, and blackjack.  There will be nine tables for the latter game, they said, and training for dealers (a few openings remain) will be provided Tuesday June 18, 5 pm to 7 pm in the back room at Pagosa Brewing. 

In addition to dealers, volunteers are needed to take tickets at the door and staff the “bank” (apparently, the bank will accept money for chips, and then chips for tickets, which can eventually be used by ticket-holders to win prizes, which are guaranteed “for the right tickets,” Bob pointed out, helpfully).

Pat Love added that there will be two more meetings of the Casino Night decorating committee, at 4 pm the next two Mondays (through June 17) — also in the Brewery’s back room.  “Bring scissors,” Pat asked prospective participants, then reassured all that, potential weapons notwithstanding (remember the movie, “Dial M for Murder”), the Committee is rollicking good fun (well, “Enjoyable,” at least).

Kim Moore then presided for Sunshine/Showers.  Among contributors were Carrie Weiss, freshly returned home from weary travels, announcing “Pagosa’s the best,” Neal Johnson, lamenting the passing of a Turkish friend met during concurrent terms as District Governors, and Codie Wilson, celebrating granddaughter Chanel.

Kim then turned to the announcement of Birthdays: her own and Dave Smith’s, both on June 7.  But alas, no hats were worn, nor birthday anthems sung — Kim pressed her thumb on the scale and moved events along before the strategic omissions were noted.  Was Dave in collusion with Kim’s unseemly haste?  No protests over the absence of honors were noted from his corner of the room.  Next month, I hope we’ll have some real Birthday Enthusiasm.  (Bring back Meg Wempe, and her one-person Conga line!)

Carrie finally reclaimed her role as Lottery Czar (as Carrie resumed the mantle, Lisa Scott could be heard muttering words to the effect, “You said it would be only two months,” but that complaint was ignored by all).  Pat Love held the winning ticket, but was denied glory and fortune by drawing a card of mere peasant status.  And the pot grows . . .

1. All of the expenses for the event have been paid for by our sponsors. Their generosity allows us to designate all of the ticket sales proceeds back into our community through  scholarships and other Rotary projects that support our local students.
2. For a great night out with full entertainment, dancing, being with friends, fun games to play, appetizers and desserts, you would spend a similar amount of money.
3. Your ticket is your entry into a drawing for $400 cash, $200 cash and $100 cash prizes.
4. An option would be to make a small donation of $20 to $30 to Pagosa Springs Rotary Club as means of supporting our organization and your community.

5. Surprise your friends with two tickets to this great event! (What a great Anniversary or Birthday present!)
6. Give your tickets to your employees as a “Thank You” to reward them for all of their hard work and efforts towards your company’s success.
7. See above #4. Even if you are unable to attend, purchasing tickets is a donation to benefit Rotary scholarships and Rotary projects helping local students.
8. See above #3. You could win $400, $200 or $100 CASH!

9. No problem. There will dancing with the Retro Cats, a silent auction, socializing with your friends and eating appetizers and desserts. A cash bar is also available.
10. See above #3. Did we mention that you could win $400, $200 or $100 in cash!
11. You will receive $50,000 casino dollars that is worth 5 entry tickets for additional prizes.

Before moving to Pagosa Springs, Dr. Webb worked as the Medical Director of Patient Safety and Quality for the Willis-Knighton Health System. In her previous leadership role, she focused on improvements to the quality of patient care and as a key liaison between administrators and physicians.

Dr. Webb served as PSMC, CMO prior to becoming the CEO. Her focus and commitment are to provide quality, compassionate care for all community members, surrounding communities, and those who visit our majestic area.

• Dave Campbell’s report of a trip with Chris to Moab in a party of 16, which yielded hiking, site-seeing and, by Dave’s report, rollicking dinners;
• Larry McClintock’s weather report for St. George, Utah (80 degrees);
• Shellie’s crossed fingers over the blossoming potential for the well-coordinated  sale of her present home with the purchase of a new one (on Antelope Avenue);
• Kim’s surprising, fun encounter during a dreaded phone call for customer service answered at a call-center in Michigan, with a service agent in the person of a Senegalese immigrant, with whom she shared happy reminiscences of his native country;
• CiCi Stuart’s discovery of the meaning of “Pagosa Time,” through her enforced six-weeks of delay in obtaining repair of a freezer; and
• Pat Love’s congratulations to Betty on her successful implementation of a New Year’s resolution to “be kinder;” (Pat did not elaborate, so it is only a guess that the congratulations may have been triggered in part by a highly favorable review Betty gave of a new hair-do sported by Jo Ann Laird).

1. To perpetuate the common sense use and enjoyment of horses in America’s back country and wilderness.
2. To work to ensure that public lands remain open to recreational stock use.
3. To assist the various government, state and private agencies in their maintenance and management of said resources.
4. To foster and encourage the formation of new state organizations and BCHA.

• The campaign ran 31 days, from November 24 to December 24.
• Volunteers manned pots at City Market all 31 days, but only 15 days at Walmart.  Unfortunately, Andrew explained, the Walmart site is totally shaded in the winter, and cold.  Although he tried to compensate by providing a heater, the discomfort discourages volunteers at Walmart.
• Multiple churches and other community organizations (plus some independent individuals) staffed the collection pots at both City Market and Walmart, each organization taking responsibility for one or two days.  Rotary, however, took responsibility for 10 days.  Additionally, Andrew stated that Rotary was the only organization that took administrative responsibility to send pinch-hitters if its scheduled volunteers were no-shows.
• A total of just short of $30,000 was collected during the campaign, 63% at City Market, 16% at Walmart, and 21% by mailed checks.
• Contributions declined on Sundays, when NFL games were broadcast.  (Visiting Mountain Rotarian Sam Conti offered the observation that Sunday contributions could be boosted by advancing the starting time on those days earlier to 11 am, to coincide with the conclusion of church services.  In her experience, Sam observed, people right out of church are in a giving frame-of-mind.  Your reporter’s query to Sam: a manifestation, perhaps, of the power of positive thinking?)
• Odd items were stashed in collection pots, Andrew reported, mostly of minimal value: washers, a shell-casing, tokens, including a Durango parking token, a flattened penny from the Birch Aquarium, and (of course) coins from multiple foreign countries.  However, one oddity had value: a 1 oz. silver bar.  Andrew said he “bought” the bar from the Salvation Army for its then market value, and since has made a little profit on paper as the value of silver has appreciated.