16

2011-2012 SERVICE COMMITTEES & SPECIAL PROJECTS

CLUB SERVICE …………...……… Sue Gardner, Director Attendance ………………………………...Kam Breitenbach Change of Command Party Sue Gardner, Cathy Groves, Jo Stone Club History …………………………………...…..Paul Elder Club Photographer ……………………….………..Jim Boyd Dinner for 8 …………………………….……...Cathy Groves Holiday Party ……..Sue Gardner, Cathy Groves, Jo Stone Inspiration/Invocations, Pledge, 4-Way Test, Greeters Ken Claiborne Liaison to Cherry Creek Valley Club ….Kam Breitenbach Music Jim Muir, Doug Young, Steve Gilbert Newsletter Editarian ………………………..…...Bill Fernow Newsletter Editarian Assistant ……………..Steve Gilbert Programs ……………….………...Ken Claiborne, John Gile Summer Picnic Sue Gardner, Michele Duncan, Cathy Groves Webmaster ……………………………………….Bob Forbes COMMUNITY SERVICE …….......Carl Finamore, Director American Indian Center Andy Becher, Pius Schenker, Mike Oldham, Carl Finamore Castlewood Canyon State Park Carl Finamore, Jim Boyd, Bill Kelly, Santa’s Clothes ……………………...…………..Al Johnson Continental Divide Trail ………………….....Ken Claiborne Firefly Autism Center ………………..Kevin Roth, Irv Buck Flower Power ………………………………...Larree Morgan Freedom Dogs ………………...Larry Brutlag, Sue Gardner MS 150 ………Bill Shriver, Ken Claiborne, Michele Duncan Parker Task Force Jim Boyd, Carol Hein, Bob Kramer, Bill Gripman, Dean Weaver, Nancy Gripman Praying Hands Ranch ………………..Jim Muir, Jim Pettett Project Sanctuary …..Jane Johnson, Bill Shriver, Bill Kelly Rotary Community Corps Kam Breitenbach, Michele Duncan Rotary Reads Dick Gordon, Ted Sweeney, Bob Kramer, Bill Gripman, Nancy Gripman Second Wind Fund of DC ….Jane Johnson, Larry Brutlag Women’s Crisis and Family Outreach Center Sharon Nemechek Douglas County Rotarians Wounded Veterans Project Lindy Blackburn, Andy Becher, Carl Finamore, Al Johnson, Jane Johnson VOCATIONAL SERVICE …………... Jack Braly, Director Four Way Test David Selden, Doug Young, All Johnson, Jane Johnson Vocational Talks ……………………………..Ken Claiborne District Club Ethics Award …...Cathy Groves, Bill Shriver Ethics in Business ……………..…………..Dan Rodriguez

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ….. Director Ambassadorial & World Peace Scholars Bob Forbes, Mike Oldham Ghana ………………………………Jo Stone, Amy Erickson Global Children’s Organization…...Irv Buck, Bill Gripman Group Study Exchange …………………………....Irv Buck India Water & Related Irv Buck, Joel Engelstad, Frank Gibbs Mongolia (Commerce City Rotary Club) ……...Rick Laub Open World ..Tony Barnard, Irv Buck, John Gile, Al Johnson Polio Plus………………………….Lew Million, Tom Duncan Project C.U.R.E. ………………..Bob Haeflein, Don Clasen Nigeria Project C.U.R.E. (Fort Collins Rotary Club) Larry Brutlag ShelterBox ………………………..Al Johnson, Bob Kramer Socially Conscious Coffee (Westminster 7:10) .Irv Buck Walk for Life …………………….…....Bob Forbes, Irv Buck Zimbabwe …………………………………………....Irv Buck NEW GENERATIONS ……..... Michele Duncan , Director Interact, Ponderosa Bill Fernow, Dave Selden Rotaract Dave Gurule, Dave Selden, Dan Rodriguez Rotary Youth Exchange Liz Volz, Michele Duncan RYLA/Young RYLA Mike Oldham, Cathy Groves Scholarships, Chaparral Tom VanderHeiden, Tom Duncan, Lindy Blackburn Scholarships, Ponderosa Larree Morgan, Bill Kelly, Gene Felgenhauer Student of the Month, Chaparral ………….Ken Claiborne Student of the Month, Ponderosa ……………...John Gile FUND RAISING ……………....…..… Cathy Groves, Chair Annual Golf Tournament

Chairman: Carl Finamore Site: Steve Small Tom VanderHeiden, Bill Kelly, Gene Felgenhauer Peaches Dave Gurule, Bill Shriver, Carl Finamore, Jane Johnson, Cathy Groves State of the Town ……………..………...…..Cathy Groves Finance: Dick Gordon Logistics: Steve Trevino Public Relations: Kevin Roth Parker Impact Award: Lindy Blackburn Sponsorship: Larry Brutlag, Dan Rodriguez Registrations: Bill Shriver Publications: Bob Forbes Irv Buck, Larree Morgan, Eydie Hoeppner, Sue Gard-

ner PUBLIC RELATIONS ……….……....Kevin Roth, Director Steve Gilbert, Harold McCloud

THE ROTARY CLUB OF PARKER Chartered August 18, 1993

Rotary Foundation Month

November 17, 2011

TODAY’S PROGRAM

Todd Mydler/Morre Dean, Parker Adventist Hospital

Thursday, Nov 24—No Meeting, Thanksgiving

Thursday, Dec 1—RCC Presentation, Kam/Jane

Thursday, Dec 8—No Meeting, Christmas Party

Tuesday, Dec 13—Board Meeting, The Warhorse, 6:45 am

DISTRICT 5450

Jim Halderman

Governor

2011-2012 Theme

Kalyan Banerjee

RI President

The Lamplighter A Multiple Bemis Award Winning Publication of

The Rotary Club of Parker P.O. Box #473, Parker, CO 80134

Breakfast Meeting each Thursday 6:45-8:15 a.m.

The Club at Pradera 5225 Raintree Drive

Parker, Colorado 80134 The Parker Rotary Centennial Gift to

the Town of Parker - 2005

2

November 17, 2011 VOLUME 19, NUMBER 19

Bill Fernow, Editarian (303) 805-5039

FAX: (303) 805-5039 wfernow@comcast.net

Ponderosa High School Update

by Principal Chuck Puga and Assistant Principal Tim Ottman When Chuck Puga came to Ponderosa to take over

as the Principal in 2006, Tim Ottman had already been

there for thirteen years as the Assistant Principal and the

Athletic Director. Together they have combined as a dy-

namic team committed to make Ponderosa the best high

school in the state. Years before, Chuck had been Tim’s

assistant wrestling coach at Ponderosa, which was known

as a wrestling powerhouse. Together, they are now com-

mitted to achieve even higher goals for their school.

Although Ponderosa is the smallest high school in

Douglas County with the opening of Legend High School,

both Chuck and Tim agree that the school has a more per-

sonal environment, no crowded halls, but the same com-

mitment to excellence that it has always had. The opportunity for students to choose the

high school they attend under the open enrollment poli-

cy creates competition between the schools to attract

the brightest and the best students. As a team, Chuck

and Tim have been engaged in actively “rebranding”

Ponderosa so that it can compete for the best students

in every area. It sounds as though they are succeeding

because Ponderosa has a 94% graduation rate and its

students are receiving approximately $4.5 million in

scholarships for college.

(Continued on Page 3)

Chuck Puga

Tim Ottman

15

2011-2012 CLUB OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jane Johnson ..…………..….…….President Jo Stone ……...……………..President-Elect Kam Breitenbach ……..........…….Secretary Bob Satrom ..…….….……………..Treasurer Frank Gibbs ………....…..Sergeant-at-Arms Larry Brutlag …..Immediate Past President Tony Barnard ………………….Foundations

Carl Finamore ….....…..Community Service Joel Engelstad …....…International Service Sue Gardner …….….....……….Club Service Jack Braly ……………....Vocational Service Michele Duncan .New Generations Service Dave Gurule …..…..…..……....Fund Raising Kevin Roth ...……….……...Public Relations

PARKER ROTARIANS WITH DISTRICT RESPONSIBILITIES PDG Mike Oldham - Executive Committee, Strategic Planning, Literacy and Education,

American Indian Committee Chair, Rotary Peace Corps Alliance, Ambassadorial Scholar-

ships; Nominating Committee, PDG Advisory Group, Extension Committee, Health &

Hunger Concerns, Polio Eradication, World Peace Fellowship; Bill Fernow - Executive

Committee, Rotary Awareness Chair; Al Johnson - Assistant Governor Area 12; Doug

Young - 4-Way Test Chair; Dave Gurule - Rotaract; Irv Buck - Water Management and

Sanitation; Larry Brutlag - Grants Area 4&5; Bob Forbes - Ambassadorial Scholar-

ships; Carl Finamore – American Indian

MEMBERSHIP …………………........... Jo Stone, Director Past Chair ………………………………….….Jane Johnson Classifications ………………………………..….Bill Shriver Club Roster …………………………..…...Kam Breitenbach Fireside Chats …………………………….…...Mike Oldham Inductions ………………………………………..….Jo Stone Internal Communications ……………………...Al Johnson Mentor Program …………………………….....Bob Haeflein New Member Information ………..…..Jo Stone, Jim Boyd Recruitment Program Jim Boyd, Tom Hankenson, Joel Engelstad Red Badge, Blue Badge ……………………...Bob Haeflein Remembrance, Rewards, Recognition …...Cathy Groves Retention Program ………………..……….…..Bill Gripman

FOUNDATIONS Tony Barnard, Director

Trustees Steve Small, Jane Johnson, Bob Martin, Dean Weaver, Hank Coll, Tom Duncan, Lew Million, Bob Satrom

2012 RI Convention

Every Rotarian Every

Year

14

UPCOMING EVENTS

December 2,3,4 Exchange Student Interviews

December 8 Club Christmas Party, 6:30 pm, The Club at Pradera

December 9 3rd Annual State of the State, Governor Hickenlooper

January 7, 2012 Mid-Year Presidents Meeting

January 13-14 High Country Foundation Dinner/Seminar, Denver Tech Center

Marriott Hotel

February 4 Rotary Leadership Institute

February 9 State of the Town

February 24-26 High Country PETS, Denver Tech Center Marriott Hotel

March 1 District Awards Applications Due

April 7 Rotary Leadership Institute

April 27-29 District Conference, Ameristar Casino, Black Hawk

May 6-9 RI Convention, Bangkok, Thailand

June 2 District Training Assembly

2012 District Conference April 27-29 Update It’s time to be making plans to attend the District 5450 Conference, to be held

at the Ameristar Resort hotel in Black Hawk. Even through all the confer-

ence details aren’t yet finalized, you should consider reserving your room at

the hotel now.

The conference begins at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, April 27, and ends at 12:00

noon on Sunday, April 29. To reserved your room, contact Ameristar at

(720) 946-4100. Indicate that you are attending the Rotary District 5450 conference. If

asked, our group code is GCRCD12.

3

(Continued from Page 2)

Another impressive fact is that 75% of the teachers at Ponderosa have master’s degrees.

Even more important, the students from Ponderosa have an extremely low remediation rate,

or need to take remedial courses when they enter colleges and universities. “When Pondero-

sa students are ready to graduate, they are ready for college!” Mr. Puga told us with under-

standable pride.

In the area of athletics, Ponderosa has won 22 state championships in various sports, espe-

cially in wrestling, where Tim Ottman has coached the team to 14 straight Continental

League Championships, and was named Continental League Coach of the Year 13 times,

NFHS National Wrestling Coach of the Year in 2008 and was recently inducted into the Na-

tional Wrestling Hall of Fame. Humbly, they both assert, “athletics plus academics makes

good kids!”

However, Ponderosa has also made great strides in providing an excellent education for stu-

dents who are not college bound. Ponderosa boasts the only auto shop program which can

put graduates directly into the workforce. The high school also has an Apple Award winning

business teacher, who is proud of a program that produces students ready to enter the busi-

ness world, as well.

“Moving forward,” Chuck Puga told our club “we are committed to excellence, but we need

the community leaders to help us”. Mr. Puga invited all of our members to visit Ponderosa

High School at any time and reminded us all that “None of us are as smart as all of us.”

LAST WEEK’S GUESTS AND VISITORS

Craig Fidler

Randy Hill—guest of Bill Gripman

Laurie Portman—Ponderosa H.S. counselor

Josh Medina—Student of the Month

Cynthia Medina—Josh’s Mom

4

Steve Brown congratulates Student of

the Month Josh Medina

Joshua Medina is the Ponderosa Student

of the Month for October. A true scholar-

athlete, Josh has a 3.88 GPA, stands

44/312 in his class and is the captain of

both the varsity football and track teams.

He is a member of the National Honor So-

ciety, the Spanish Honor Society, and the

Athletic Council. He volunteers at his

church’s children’s ministry and weekly

assists a 4th grade teacher at Northeast El-

ementary. He has applied to several col-

leges and hopes to study aerospace engi-

neering at CU. Assistant Principal Tim

Ottman praised Josh’s attitude and friendli-

ness. Josh was accompanied by his moth-

er, Cynthia, and his baby sister, Harlow.

The club will not be giving Christmas gifts

through the Salvation Army this year. In-

stead we will be working with the Parker

Task Force food bank and provide gift certif-

icates from King Soopers, Safeway, and

Walmart. Purchase gift certificates of an

amount that you are comfortable with and

bring to our meetings, with the latest being

the club Christmas Party on December 8th.

Thanks, Lindy, for a great inspirational

presentation on Veteran’s Day and the

reading from the Book of Common Pray-

er!

Homes for Our Troops

Carl Finamore reports that until Novem-

ber 30th, Texas Roadhouse donate 10%

of the purchase amount of military design

gift cards for their restaurants. These mili-

tary design gift cards are available online

only at www.homesforourtroops.org.

13

THE FOUR-WAY TEST

Of the things we think, say or do:

Is it the TRUTH?

Is it FAIR to all concerned?

Will it build GOODWILL and

BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

Will it be BENEFICIAL to all con-

cerned?

ROTARY INFO ON THE WEB

Rotary International www.rotary.org

District 5450

www.rotary5450.org

District Polio www.endpolio.com

CLUB WEBSITE -

www.parkerrotary.org

CLUB LINKED-IN SITE http://www.linkedin.com/

groups?gid=1813524

Eclub One Meeting on the web www.rotaryeclubone.org

Rotary on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/

rotaryinternational

Rotary on Twitter http://twitter.com/rotary

Rotary on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/

Rotary-International/7268844551

Rotary on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/groups?

gid=858557&trk=hb_side_g

MAKE-UP OPPORTUNITIES

Monday—Smoky Hill Rotary Club

12:10 pm

Double Tree Hotel

Iliff Avenue at I-225

Tuesday – Centennial

7:10 am

Embassy Suites

10250 E. Costilla Avenue

(near corner of Arapahoe Road and South

Havana Street)

Tuesday – DTC

12:00 noon

Glenmoor CC

110 Glenmoor Drive

(just off Belleview)

Don’t forget that you can make-up meetings

by participating in projects and committee

meetings of the club or district.

12

ROTARY MINUTE

Nov 17 Bill Gripman

Dec 1 Steve Gilbert

Dec 15

Dec 22

GREETER PLEDGE INSPIRATION/ 4-WAY TEST

INVOCATION

Nov 17 Steve Brown Pius Schenker Ben Martin Wayne Wagener

Thank you note from Fire Chief TJ Steck

5

CHRISTMAS PARTY

DECEMBER 8 CLUB AT PRADERA

SOCIAL TIME, CASH BAR 6:00—7:00 PM

DINNER IS SERVED: 7:00 PM sharp

GUEST’S DINNER: $35.00

A signup sheet will be available on the appropriate table. Please clearly

record your name and the name of your guest(s) for the name and place

cards.

Menu choices: filet mignon, pork chop, salmon, or vegetarian pasta.

Thanks to our

Parker State of the Town 2012

Thursday, February 9, 2012 3:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Registration/Networking - 3:00-3:45 Featured Program - 3:45 - 4:45

Live Auction - 4:45 - 5:15

6

TODAY’S PROGRAM

Morre Dean: President and Chief Executive Officer, Parker Adventist Hospital

Morre Dean joined Parker Adventist Hospital in August 2011. He works closely with the

hospital’s board to ensure that the hospital is serving its mission and with the senior team to

recruit talented physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Before joining the Parker hospital, Mr. Dean served as president and chief executive officer

of Glendale Adventist Medical Center in northern Los Angeles, where one of his proudest

accomplishments was the introduction of the “I’m Here for You” customer service program

that resulted in a 20 percent increase in patient satisfaction and “likely to recommend” scores.

Previously, Mr. Dean served as president and chief executive office of Walla Walla General

Hospital in Washington. And prior to that he was vice president of operations at Porter and

Little Adventist Hospitals, along with holding multiple roles at Porter, Littleton and Avista

Adventist Hospitals.

Mr. Dean holds an MBA from the University of Central Florida and a bachelor’s degree in

business administration from Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. He also is a certified pub-

lic accountant. He and his wife, Katrina, have two children. In his spare time, he enjoys ski-

ing, football, basketball, running and golf.

Todd Mydler, MD: Chief Medical Officer

Parker Adventist Hospital welcomed Todd Mydler as its chief medical officer in July 2008.

Dr. Mydler is responsible for facilitating the hospital’s relationships with physicians and ex-

panding efforts to support the physician community to ensure patients have access to excel-

lent care.

With more than 20 years of experience in pediatrics and emergency medicine a a board

certified physician and five years experience in pharmaceutical research, Dr. Mydler brings

a wealth of experience to Parker Adventist Hospital. Prior to joining the hospital, he was an

acting medical director and medical science liaison for Schering-Plough Corporation and

was a regional medical scientist for Abbot Laboratories, two global pharmaceutical research

companies.

Dr. Mydler received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from College of the Holy Cross in

Worcester, Mass. And his medical degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia. He

is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a Fellow of the American

Academy of Pediatrics.

He volunteered as a refugee camp physician in Macedonia and is a member of the Global

Health Council. He takes great pride in his family and community and enjoys running, bik-

ing, skiing, fly fishing, travel and collecting art.

11

WHAT PAUL HARRIS SAID

Simple Principles

The brilliance of Rotary is its simplicity. The 4-Way Test only takes 25 words. Paul Harris summarized the equivalent principles in just 17 words. “The best way to win the esteem of others is by observing the simple rules of decency. If they won’t accomplish the desired result, nothing will.” This Rotarian Age, page 62 Reprinted by permission of the Rotary Global History from the Newsletter Nuggets Section of “What Paul Harris Wrote” (www.whatpaulharriswrote.org).

Editarian - Bill Fernow

Asst. Editarian - Steve Gilbert

Head Photographer - Jim Boyd

Backup Photographer - Michele Duncan

Feature Editor - Jo Stone

Special Features - Steve Gilbert

Lamplighter Staff Today in History

1800 Congress convenes for the first

time in Washington, D.C., in the par-

tially completed Capitol building.

1881 In Pittsburgh, Samuel Gompers

helps found the Federation of Orga-

nized Trades and Labor Unions,

forerunner of the American Federa-

tion of Labor.

1882 In Orlando, President Richard

Nixon famously declares that “people

have got to know whether or not

their president is a crook. Well, I’m

not a crook.”

10

THE ROTARY FOUNDATION AT WORK With program awards totaling more than $200 million in 2009-10, The Rotary Foundation

provides financial support for a wide range of humanitarian and educational programs initiat-

ed by local clubs and districts around the world. The Foundation has earned a grade of A+

from the American Institute of Philanthropy, a top rating of four stars from Charity Naviga-

tor, and full accreditation from the Wise Giving Alliance of the Better Business Bureau.

Only 2.3 percent of Foundation funding goes to administrative expenses, and 7.3 percent

goes to fundraising. The Foundation focuses more than 90 percent of its spending on pro-

grams, far exceeding the threshold of 75 percent that independent charity-rating service view

as a measure of high efficiency. That comes as no surprise to Foundation Trustee Steve

Brown, who expresses confidence that the organization’s grant application and review pro-

cess contains the safeguards necessary to ensure that funds are used wisely.

Typically, Brown explains, international projects funded by the Foundation involve a spon-

sor club or district, which partners with an on-site club or district. Funding may go through

the sponsor or host. To implement a project, clubs must spell out what they plan on doing,

how they plan on doing it, and what Rotarians’ involvement will be. All projects require a

detailed budget and often additional supporting documentation before receiving Foundation

approval.

Once an approved project is funded, Brown says, a detailed progress report must be pre-

sented within one year. The reporting includes verification of what has happened (usually

with photos) and requires copies of bank statements showing the flow of funds. The presi-

dents of either the host or sponsor club must sign off on the report.

For more information see page 41 of the November issue of the Rotarian

Mike Oldham Nov 27

Kam & Steve Breitenbach Nov 11

Tom & Leslie Duncan Nov 11

Lindy & Tanne Blackburn Nov 12

Katheryn & Rick D’Amico Nov 22

Carl & Beverly Finamore Nov 28

Members are encouraged to bring your

spouse to breakfast as a guest of the club

on your anniversary.

7

2012 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

Make plans now to visit Thailand . . . the “Land of a Thousand Smiles”. The RI Board se-

lected Bangkok, the vibrant capital of Thailand, as the site for the 2012 Rotary Internation-

al Convention. Known as the “City of Angels”, Bangkok’s culture, cuisine and traditions

attract millions of international visitors annually and have earned it the top rating of

“World’s #1 Best City” for the past three years by Travel + Leisure magazine.

Thailand is ready and waiting to welcome you to their amazing country. The Thai govern-

ment has rolled out the welcome mat for Rotarians worldwide by providing Rotary Interna-

tional with a $9.4 million grant to help underwrite convention expense resulting in the low-

est convention registration fee in 25+ years ($160) if you register by Dec. 1, 2011.

Districts 5440 • 5450 • 5470 • 5630 Present

The 2012 Foundation Dinner

A Celebration of The Rotary Foundation and Its Contributors FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012

LIMITED SEATING - Only Full Tables will be assigned on a first registered/ first served basis.TICKETS REQUIRED

Keynote Speaker, Rotary International President

Kalyan Banerjee

REGISTER NOW

Annual Regional Rotary Foundation Seminar Saturday, January 14, 2012

Denver Tech Center Marriott

7:30 am Plated Breakfast 8:30 am Seminars

$25 per person Two Separate Seminar Tracts

REGISTRATION REQUIRED

8

Rotary, UN celebrate special relationship

More than 1,000 Rotarians, UN officials, Rotary youth program participants, and guests cele-

brated the special relationship between Rotary and the United Nations on 5 November.

Rotary-UN Day, held annually at United Nations headquarters in New York City, included

panels on health, water, and literacy, highlighting Rotarian projects that advance the goals of

the UN and improve lives around the world.

Kiyo Akasaka, UN undersecretary-general for communications and public information, com-

mended Rotary for its ongoing collaboration with the United Nations to improve the health of

children worldwide, and for its contribution to polio eradication.

"Our shared vision for a safer and better world is what brings us together here today," Akasa-

ka said. "It's your model of Service Above Self and your sterling results in improving health

that makes Rotary one of the most important partners of the UN."

Peace and justice Both organizations are striving to create a more peaceful and just world, noted RI President-

elect Sakuji Tanaka.

"If you were to seek the one idea, the one goal that is at the core of Rotary, you would find

the same goal that you find in the charter of the UN: to practice tolerance and live together in

peace with one another as good neighbors," Tanaka said.

Timothy E. Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation and Better World Fund,

stressed the importance of partnerships.

"Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recognizes that every problem the UN faces cannot be

[solved] by the UN alone," he said, adding that Rotary's "understanding and commitment to

partnerships will make so many of these goals we share possible."

Partnerships Rotary is committed to partnering with organizations like the UN, said John Hewko, RI gen-

eral secretary.

"Rotary is learning by experience that it can accomplish more in concert with others than it

might on its own. Working together multiplies our success: one plus one equals three,"

Hewko said. "This new formula provides a unique opportunity to enhance humanitarian ser-

vice, which is what Rotary is all about. It helps build understanding and peace -- the mission

of Rotary and the UN."

9

CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF ROTARY IN COLORADO

The Sixth Annual Governor’s State of the State Luncheon

will be held from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm on Friday, December

9th at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center. This year is the

100th anniversary of the chartering of the Rotary Club of Den-

ver, Club 31. In addition to the address by Governor John

Hickenlooper (a member of the Rotary Club of Denver Lo-

do), Ron Burton (Rotary International President Nominee)

and John Hewko (the new General Secretary and CEO of Rotary Internation-

al) will make presentations. Ticket prices are $45, but a significant savings

can be realized for each table of ten that the club reserves. Sign up.

A GARY MERAZ TRUE STORY

Mrs. Klapisch brought her cat to the veterinarian.

The doctor had her hold the animal on the examin-

ing table as he touched and gently squeezed it. He

then walked slowly around the table, all the while

looking back and forth, back and forth. When he

was done, he gave out some medication and presented Mrs. Klapisch with

the bill.

“What?” she cried. “One hundred fifty dollars for two pills?”

“Not just for pills,” said the vet. “I gave her a cat scan, too.”

Stupid History

During the debate over the Missouri Compromise of 1820, Felix Walker, congressman

from Buncombe County, North Carolina, stood up in the House and said he wanted

“to make a speech for Buncombe” even though the matter up for debate was irrele-

vant to Walker’s district. His rant was so long-winded and disjointed that a new

word, ‘buncombe” (later respelled “bunkum”), was coined. It was defined as

“Speechmaking for the gratification of constituents, or to gain public applause” or

“nonsense,” and from that word we get the more modern derivative, “bunk.”