Community service is a La Plata County value, and there are more and more ways we are showing young people how to make a difference.
One way is the Interact Club, which is Rotary Internationals version for high school students, in this case at Durango High School. Members of the chapter are preparing to go to Guatemala on a service mission, and they are working hard to raise the money to make the trip.
They came up with a clever idea, an International Dinner held March 26 at Durango Discovery Museum. More than 100 guests showed up to partake of a vast array of foods, including a huge antipasto platter from Italy, potato dumplings from Germany, egg rolls, crab rangoon and shrimp toast from China (thanks to Eddie Cheung), pastel de choco from Chile, corned beef and cabbage from Ireland, pad thai from Thailand and bacon-spinach-mushroom crêpes from France.
The food was a delight, and for those curious to inspire more than their palate, the museum always has fun stuff to explore.
A number of adults helped the students make the event a success, including the museum, Durango Party Rentals, which gave them a deal on tables and chairs, and all kinds of businesses that donated to the silent auction.
All of this was to help the eight students pay for the trip, which will take place as soon as school is finished. Theyll be taking toys and spending time with disadvantaged children, donating shoes and stoves to local residents and working at a turtle hatchery. Theyre also hoping to begin building a relationship with the Interact Club in Guatemala, as they want to return next year.
Being of service in their communities and globally is the whole purpose of Interact, and this is the clubs move on the international front. This kind of effort, individuals working with individuals, is a powerful way to make the world a better place.
Thanks to Haley Hudgens for putting together the information about the dinner, and Erin Neale and Roger Ptolemy for passing it on.
HHH
Its time for daffodils to poke up their golden heads for the birthdays of Dana Hoffman, Curt Raulston, Ashley Bertrand, Bryan Bauer, Erika Good, Lee Hanson, Emma Hallin, Lillian Krause, Jonathan Thompson, Elizabeth Whitehurst, Jeffrey Wince, Rebecca Awe, Caroline Kinser, Rachel Overington, Lew Patton, Mary Gilley, Betsy Clark, Connor Collins, Emil Nagy, Tracy Cornutt (welcome to the 50s), Stella Best, David Smith, Cheryle Brandsma, Ian Gordon, Staci Latham, Randy Glenn, Karson Harbison, Patricia Martonera, Tanya Mayberry, George Mayberry, Feather Smith, Ron Stockton, and last, but far from least, Joe T. Silva, who says hes 46 on both legs, which would make him 92 in human years.
And because of my efforts to get off on vacation, I spaced wishing Sandy Max a happy 87th birthday April 7.
HHH
Many happy returns of the day to Margaret Turnbull, who is turning 90 on Sunday.
HHH
Kudos to the many supporters of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado who turned out for Bowl for Kids Sake on March 23 at the Rolling Thunder Lanes in Ignacio. A whopping $59,000 was raised by 86 teams (325 people) from La Plata and Archuleta counties. Thats $8,000 more than last year.
Along the way, a lot of fun was had.
Bank of Colorado, Bank of the San Juans and First National Bank of Durango as well as Wells Fargo, Pine River Valley, Alpine and First Southwest banks were challenging each other to see which could raise the most money. Each bank reached at least the $1,200 mark, which supports one match for a year. All told, the banks raised just more than $18,000.
Bank of Colorado has bragging rights for the next year as the challenge winners, and the top team was Bank of Colorado 1 with Jason Portz, Jonathan Donnaway, Cody Johnston and Sheryl Ealum. Portz, current vice president and past president of the BBBS board, was the top fundraiser of the event.
The teams from Mercury raised more than $3,000. The top team from the company was the Lightning Strikes with Don Cornutt, Elliot Hutchings, Stu Hollister and Fabio Wen. (Cornutt had a double incentive to raise big bucks as his wife, Tracy, is the executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and he wanted to go home that night!)
The top civic organization, Durango Masons, whose team included Jeff Reynolds, Jeff Jaeger, Donald Jeter and Billy Hawkins, raised $1,060.
And because, once again, the community was so generous, Big Brothers Big Sisters had 14 great prize packages to outstanding teams.
Tracy Cornutt says Big Brothers needs money and mentors to help our communitys children thrive. The money helps make sure that no child will be at risk from a mentor, and the mentors, of course, are the ones who can change everything for a child.
To learn more about contributing and mentoring, give them a call at 247-3720 or visit www.bbig.org.
HHH
Ward Lee has had a rough six months, starting with the death of his daughter Virginia Tardy and then a health crisis that has had him in the hospital in Denver and now here at Mercy Regional Medical Center for more than 80 days. He is getting better, but its slow going.
His family thinks it would really brighten his spirits to have visits from former ball players, teammates and friends, but they need to be short 15 minutes or less.
Cards and well wishes may also be sent to Ward Lee, Room 210, Mercy Regional Medical Center, 1010 Three Springs Blvd., Durango, CO 81301.
Of course, prayers and good thoughts are always needed.
HHH
Will it snow or be sunny for their anniversaries? These couples cant wait to find out Alfredo and Nadine Ontiveros, David and Janine Bulen, Paul and Pat Root and George and Melodie San Miguel.
HHH
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