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LLP adds new grads to alumni network

In general, the lead for this column comes to me pretty quickly. But for this story, I find myself pondering a word choice – a group of owls is called a parliament, a bunch of ravens is an unkindness, and beware of a gang of crows, because they’re a murder.

But what do you call a group of skilled, trained, newly minted Leadership La Plata graduates? Alumni or network seems like such tepid or business-style words for the energy and commitment these folks are bringing to our community. I shall continue to ponder and see if I come up with a better term by the end of the column. If not, I’ll have to refer the challenge to Mr. Action Line.

In any case, the graduation took place May 15 at the Edgemont Highlands Community Center. It was an alumni production all the way.

Kris Oyler of Steamworks Brewing Co. donated the beer, and Stan Crapo of Star Liquors provided the wine.

Indiana Reed “catered it,” recruiting alumni to help put on a spread that included everything from shrimp to stuffed peppers and pulled pork. Earlier in the day, during the visioning session, the class had asked Co-Curriculum Chairwoman Tracy Cornutt if they should eat before going to the graduation.

“No, no, Indiana will have arranged for plenty of food, and she will want you to eat it all,” Cornutt advised.

Other alumni who pitched in were Tara Kiene, Mary Havran, Julie Cooley, Steve Barkley, Charley Kier, Pam Glasco, Eric Pierson, Karen Thompson, Shanna Sasser, Charles Leslie and Joanne Spina.

Cornutt, Kier and Thompson – who will be stepping down as the chairwoman of the Steering Committee in a couple of weeks – handled the “formal” part of the graduation. Incoming Chairman Mark Thompson was introduced but won’t be in the hot seat until next year.

The graduates, 16 in all, were Karen Barger (graduating just in time to use what she learned on the La Plata Electric Association board), Ginny Chambers, Beth Drum, Sherry Exum-Peterson, Isaac Fleener, Deahna Geehan, Moni Grushkin, Joseph Huntsinger, Christine Imming, Brigid Korce, John Moore, Dana Mullins, Kerby Jo Rogers, Paul Roithmayr, Elise Savastano and David Steele.

Rogers had a scheduling conflict and couldn’t be there, while Imming made a Herculean effort to make it, driving in from Colorado Springs after taking a group of her students from Animas High School on a tour of Colorado colleges.

Much hilarity ensued as the graduates introduced each other, but it was one of those “you-had-to-be-there” moments.

About 70 people attended, with alumni from many of the previous classes there to welcome them into the fold. Next year, these graduates will be organizing the sessions for the Class of 2015-16.

And speaking of next year’s class, the applications and two letters of recommendation, with at least one of the letters preferably from an alumnus, need to be addressed to Ernie Lau (ernielau7@gmail.com), chairman of the Selection Committee, by June 1. I am naming quite a few alumni in this column, but to see all of us, visit www.llp.org. And yes, I am an alumna, despite having graduated from LLP a century ago. I was a member of the Class of 1991-92. It was one of the great experiences of my adult life, and if you’re considering it, I say, “Go for it.”

And I had that “eureka” moment. Maybe we could call a class of LLP graduates a dynamo! What do you think?

HHH

Happy Gemini birthday greetings go out to Janet May, Margery Runyon, Kristi Ramsey, Joan Spicer (a bittersweet one without her dear George, but still), Rose Bartol, Carol Simmons, Elsa Caudle, Robert Manning, Jan Emmanuel, Josh Van Blarcum, Patty Hain, Diane Shaline, Chris Serwe, Michael LaVerghetta, Tom Breed, Eileen Albrecht, Erin Casey, Hank Walker, Marilyn Baker, Marcy Jung, Christine Wright, Leigh Nielsen, Kip Boyd, Patty Isensee, Kenneth Jungerberg, Jessica Steele, Barbara Edmanson, Jon Lupia, Kevin Schank, Stephen Stout, Will Kolb, Linda Radisovich, Olivia Reynolds, Caroline Todd, Craig Dabovich, Marsha Porter-Norton, Jade Ranasinghe, Leslie Lynch, Anna Lucie Matilda Kidd, Charlie Halverstadt, Sue Evans, Max Patton, Judy Olson and Ann St. John.

HHH

It’s time to volunteer for one of the best gigs in town. The Adaptive Sports Association of Durango is getting ready for its summer season, when volunteers, who need not have previous experience, get to whitewater raft, bike, go camping, climb rocks, water ski, flat-water canoe and kayak with people who have disabilities.

Volunteer raft training will run Wednesday and June 2. Canoe and kayak training will run Tuesday and June 4. And cycling training will run Thursday.

Call 259-0374 or visit www.asadurango.com to RSVP and for more information. There’s a volunteer application that needs to be filled out on the website.

HHH

Enjoying the last of the May anniversaries are Phil and Ellen Patterson, Robert and Marion Wengler, Lee and Bethany Bieth, Jack and Barbara Morrison, Ron and Essie Williams, David and Shelly Burke, Ben and Mindy Breed, Todd and Kati Sieger, Clark and Caroline Kinser, Charlie Siegele and Deborah Uroda, Hayes and Esther Crapo, Doug and Debbie Wolfe and Jeff and Donny Thulson.

HHH

I’m off for a much-needed rest until June 2, and when I return, Neighbors will be a little different. No, I’m not changing the tone or the types of things I cover, but it will only run in print on Wednesdays, so this is the last Saturday print column. But rather than making readers wait a whole week between Neighbors info in this hopping town, I will be posting online every time I have a story. That means I’m going to need photos for every item, my dear readers, but it also means a lot more fun photos from events. Your help in getting those photos will be much appreciated.

I have missed several columns this month as my workload as a general assignment reporter expands, so this should allow me to cover the Neighbors beat well while not having to carve out big chunks of time twice a week to write a full column, which has been increasingly difficult to do.

Wednesday’s columns will be a compilation of those posts, with some extras added for fun. So online starts Tuesday, we go only to Wednesdays on June 3.

HHH

Here’s how to reach me: neighbors@durangoherald.com; phone 375-4584; mail items to the Herald; or drop them off at the front desk. Please include contact names and phone numbers for all items. Follow me on Twitter @Ann_Neighbors.

I am happy to consider photos for Neighbors, but they must be high-quality, high-resolution photos (at least 1 MB of memory) and include no more than three to five people. I need to know who’s who, left to right, and who to credit with the photo. Candid photos are better than posed, and photos should be submitted as JPG or TIF attachments.



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