I should have stopped at Starbucks!

I’m not a morning person, so one of the more challenging tasks I’ve faced as District Governor is getting going for the 7:00 am meetings. As I drove into Rio Rancho for my visit to their breakfast club I passed several Starbuck’s and kept thinking that I should stop for my usual Americano - 3 shots of espresso with a little water. But I didn’t. As soon as I drove up to the Chamisa Hills Country Club at 6:30am, I realized that I had made a mistake by not stopping. Before I got out of the car PDG Rick Akins popped out of the club house to greet me! He had already set-up the room for the meeting and immediately started telling me everything about the club and the plans that are being made for the 2010 Zone meeting in Albuquerque. This was just the start of an exhilarating and energy filled meeting.

The Rio Rancho Sunrise is one of the newer clubs in the District, but they have already become an stimulating club. President Mac rang the club to order and introduced the Rotarian of the Day, Karen Delle Site . The Rotarian of the Day offers the invocation, leads the pledge and introduces the speaker. The club was excited that their first Rotary Youth Exchange Student would be arriving in a few days. Membership chair Michael Smith inducted a new member that morning and announced 3 more would be inducted the following week. I had a great visit to the Rio Rancho Rotary Club. My visit was made even more special by a large group from the District Leadership Team that offered their support by attended the meeting…PDG Rick and Roz Akins, DGN Bobby Wallace, LG Bill Lowen and AG Bill Rothweiler.

Note to self…Next visit to Rio Rancho Sunrise STOP at Starbucks first!

Richard Slaton Jones 1921 - 2009

I want to Thank everyone in District 5520 for your thoughts, prayers and support offered to me and my family during the passing of my Dad, Richard Slaton Jones. Sometimes it takes the passing of a loved one to realize how much more love there is our life and Rotary.

Dad had been living in an assisted care facility for the past two years, which improved his health and quality of life. I had been able to visit him frequently. Although he didn’t remember a lot of things, each time I visited he would ask me about getting his driver’s license renewed and “How’s that Rotary job of yours’ going?”

The weekend before he entered the hospital he was able to attend a family reunion in Lubbock, something he always enjoyed. I was able to be with him during his last days in the hospital, for which I am very grateful!

Dad was a Veteran of WWII, a quite and gentle man, and a man who taught me how much service to ones fellow man enriches our own lives.