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.

GSE Team Leader Selected

Lisa Witt, Rotary Club of Albuquerque, was selected to lead District 5520’s GSE Team to District 3870 in the Philippines next spring.

Lisa moved to New Mexico in 1995 and started her business, Avista Video Histories, in 1996. Avista Video began by creating family history videos, but has expanded to include documentaries and commercial video productions. Lisa is on the list of New Mexico Women Owned Business and Avista has won 17 National Telly Awards for its video work.

Prior to moving to New Mexico, Lisa earned a BA in International Relations from the University of Michigan, an MS in Foreign Service from the Georgetown School of Foreign Service. She worked for the Office of Management and Budget, and was appointed by President Clinton as Chief Economist, Policy Planning Staff, for the U.S. State Department.

Chavi Peter from the Rotary Club of Taos was selected as alternate Team Leader and will play a vital role in developing the District 5520 outbound team.

Now it is a critical that all Club and District leaders concentrate their efforts on identifying potential candidates to participate in the GSE program. Candidates must be 25-40 years old, with three years in their profession and not a directly related to a Rotarian. Additional information is available at http://rotary5520.org/GSE/index.html or by e-mailing GSE Chair Donna Pedace at pedaceabq@aol.com.

Rotary Club of Carrizozo Has Big Impact in Community

A small club in a small town, the Rotary Club of Carrizozo realizes, better than any other club I’ve visited, the impact it has on the community. A club of 18 members in a town of 1036 gives the Rotary Club of Carrizozo one of the highest per capita memberships in the district. It also has a very strong representation from local government. The magistrate is the club president; the sheriff, deputy sheriff, county manager and county treasurer are all members of the club.

Focused on local service it’s hard for the Rotary club to draw clear lines around which projects are its and which projects it’s partnering with an organization. Everyone participates in the projects, they just wear different hats. During my visit we had a round table discussion of the club’s involvement in the community, before we were finished everyone had spoken up to add another project to the list.

I had had the opportunity to visit the club in April for their 50th Anniversary and meet two of the chartering members, but it was wonderful opportunity to be able to visit again. I’m looking forward to the next time I’m able to meet with the Rotary Club of Carrizozo.

Pictured above is the Rotary Club of Carrizozo during their 50th Anniversary Celebration. Two of the original charter members Johnson Sterns and Fred English were presented with special recognition plaques during the ceremony. The Rotary Club of Carrizozo was chartered on March 17 1949 as the 43 club in then District 552.

Flashing Lights Greet Governor in Alamogordo!

Arriving at the Eagles Hall in Alamogordo for my meeting with the Club, I was meeting with flashing lights from several trucks and a large group of men. Recognizing Ed Cole, backbone of the Alamogordo club I got excited that he had planned some special greeting. My excitement was quickly dashed as Ed walked over and explained that earlier in the week the water main had broken swallowing a small car and cutting off service to the Hall. Ed had explained the importance of getting the main fixed as the Governor was arriving shortly for a noon meeting. The city crew worked hard all morning restoring service to the building, only to have their excitement dashed just as quickly as mine when Ed realized they were expecting Bill Richardson and not Dick Jones.

My excitement was not dashed when I meet with the club. It was easy to see why Immediate Past District Governor Tom Lindsay had chosen the Rotary Club of Alamogordo as District 5520’s Club of the Year. The club places a great emphasis membership, having already inducted several new members by the 3rd week of July. The club conducts a new member orientation and their “Rotarian in Need” program sends cards and flowers to members that are ill.

The club is a long time supporter of a Juarez orphanage. Each week Al and Charlene Wood bring bags of rice and beans to the meeting. Club members take the bags home, cook them and bring them back to the next meeting. Al and Charlene load the food into their truck and transport them to Juarez.

The Club also sponsor’s a Rotary Little League, this year they were getting ready to play in the State final tournament.

The club is also a sponsor, along with the Tularosa and White Sands Rotary Clubs, of the annual Wine and Music Fest. This event showcasing New Mexico wines, local artist and featuring live music all day is held in conjunction with the White Sands Balloon Invitational.