Official Visit # 22, Elephant Butte

August 16, 2012

This is a small club with a huge heart.  There are 12 members of this club.  They are friendly and excited to visit and share who and what they are.  There is a fellowship in this club that is very unique.  This club shows instantly their individual connections to each other.

This year, Elephant Butte is sponsoring their first Rotary Youth Exchange Student, Mariano from Brazil.  They are very excited about Mariano being in their community and sharing time with each other.  The club shares its struggles, but is determined to stay active in the community realizing that there would be such a hole left in their community if they were not active.

I was struck by the determination of the Elephant Butte club.  The economy has not been great to Elephant Butte and all have suffered including this club, but the members are resilient and left me with great faith Rotary.  I have great faith in this club and know that this club will continue to be there for the community and the members as well.  Keep Rotary Alive.

The excitement was high for the Governor's visit.

Fellowship begins everything.

President Alan and Me.

Official Visit # 21, Alamogordo

August 15, 2012

Welcome to the Tularosa Basin again.  This is my third club in this area and what a wonderful group of Rotarians.  This is the Alamogordo club, meeting at Peppers on Wednesday noon.

This club is hugely active in the community, county and also internationally.  With members working with children, not for profits, youth and international matching grants, this club has a broad representation in the community of leadership and grace.  This club is led by one of our more energetic and creative women presidents.  President Connie delights in leading fun and exciting meetings and she does that very well.

The Rotary Club of Alamogordo is highly involved in the community and has great fellowship and energy while they are doing the work of Rotary.  This club is just the lift I needed to get in the car and continue on this journey of Rotary.  Thank you for all you do Alamogordo.

President Connie her spouse Mark.  Check out the shirts.

Past President Mike deeply caught up in thought.

President Connie and Me.  Nice Shirt

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