Official Visit # 20, Las Cruces Rio Grande

August 14, 2012

This week I sleep in my own bed.  It really doesn’t get any better than this.  Today was a meeting with old and longtime friends.  This was somewhat of a reunion and time to rekindle relations.

This club is wonderfully organized and greatly effective in all that they do.  The club is very active in the community and hugely active on and international front.  They are a joy to work with and a wonder to visit.  This club truly makes a difference in the community.

I had an incredibly fun time at this meeting and will make it a point to revisit once this year of adventure is complete and I have some time to sit and enjoy Rotary in the Mesilla Valley.  Super Duper Rio Grande.

Rotary in action in Las Cruces

One looked up and the other looked down.  Huh!

President Wendy and Me

Addressing my friends

Official Visit # 19, Santa Fe
August 9, 2012

This was the last meeting of an incredible week.  The Rotary Club of Santa Fe spells ROTARY in capital letters.  The side of Rotary I saw in this club is wondrous.

There are so many things going on with this club that I began to be overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of what this club does.  I cannot find an area of the community that the members of this club touch in way or another.  Friendly, oh yes, but not more friendly than another, but this club is as friendly as the small clubs we have visited.  The Santa Fe club is wonderful.

I drove four hours on my way home thinking of the greatness of Rotary in Northern District 5520.  As I left I had only three clubs left to visit in the north and Rotary is strongly represented.  I am proud to be the Governor of and incredible District.  Wow!

Santa Fe tailgating.

Fine dining with fine friends

Praising Rotary in Santa Fe

President Allen and Me

 

Official Visit # 19, Santa Fe Del Sur

August 8, 2012

This was a beautiful day in Santa Fe.  At noon, I met with the club and found another pocket of old friends and relations that I have known for years.  All were glad to see me and the visit was so well received.

This club is working at rebuilding itself and retooling who they are and what they do.  The members in this club are all very active in the community and in the world through Rotary.  Although they are rebuilding, they still work at supporting the needs of the community.

My visit to this club was truly fun and wonderful.  This club is stretching the boundaries of what they have always done and looking for new ways to exist.  Keep looking, we are all anxious to see what you find.  You are doing great.  This evening, off to the Opera!

The meeting of Santa Fe Del Sur

Fellowship, Food, Information - Must Be Rotary

President Lou and Me

Official Visit # 18, Los Alamos

August 7, 2012

Well what I can say about Los Alamos?  This club is probably the club with the highest collective IQ of any club in the Rotary world.  The conversations that are overheard are incredible and the actions of the individuals are wonderful to watch.

This was the second time I have been in the fellowship of this club in the past year.  The welcome is always overwhelming.  This year we gave so many awards that it left me in awe of this club.  Their work for the community is amazing.  This Rotary year, since July 1, this club is responsible for successfully providing 199 units of blood to the community, and they were all still standing.  The projects were incredible and the attitude of assistance is infectious.

Time spent in Los Alamos is never a waste.  This air is fresh and still, but the attitude of Rotary in Los Alamos take the freshness of the air and combines it with the energy if the club making it anything but still.  Lead on Los Alamos, we can all learn from you.  Thank you for your work.

The fellowship begins.

Rotarians eager to share.

What in the world could Rob be so proud of?

Oh, right!  The district's newest Honorary Member, of course.

President Linda and Me.  Huh, a lot of pink shirts
in the meeting, wonder where President Linda's is?

Official Visit # 16, Santa Fe Centro

August 7, 2012

Another morning with old friends and Rotary; how could it get better than this?  Santa Fe is in great hands with the members of this club.  These members are very active in the community.

The projects and the enthusiasm of this club are very exciting to be a part around.  I fully enjoyed my time with this club.  They are all very dedicated to making a real difference in the world and in this community.

Time spent with the Centro club was really too short.  My schedule meant that I had to hit the road to Los Alamos quickly.  Too many places, too little time; thank you Centro club, you make Rotary  shine in Santa Fe.

Members gathering for their meeting

A real meeting of the minds?

Me and President Silas

Official Visit # 15, Anthony

August 2, 2012

This is the club that brought me into Rotary in 1998.  It was great to go back and visit with the family that started me on this path.  The club that started me is trying to grow just like all of us.

I enjoyed the board meeting and the time spent on looking to the future.  This club is beginning to look at the future as a place that this club can grow and continue to make sure that those that depend on them will never want.  The members of this club see that the community depends on them to assist and make their life better.

To be in the presence of this club was wonderful.  The current members are all looking to improve the community that they serve.  Together this club is now more committed to “Service Above Self” than ever.

Anthony board meeting

Ideas exchanged and supported.

Rotarians at their best, eating

Me, Past President Loren and PE Robert