Tom Nelson and Mike Wier revved us up for Harvest Howl last week by showing a clip of our 2016 Harvest Howl headliner, Don Felder, which explained how the Eagles classic hit, "Hotel California," came to be. It was Felder's distinctive guitar lick that inspired his fellow Eagles, Frey and Henley, to write what is arguably the most popular song from the Eagles' storied playlist.
We'll be hearing plenty of those songs when Don Felder and his band highlight the Harvest Howl on Friday, Sept. 9. Now is the time to reserve your tables for what is certain to be a sell-out crowd. Rotarians have priority reservations throughout June. In addition to the table arrangements we had last year, we'll have "buddy bar" tables of 6 on the mezzanine. Visit Mike Wier or the howl website, Harvesthowl.com, and make your reservations today. Such a lovely date. Such a lovely place.
This Week at Rotary
This week fellow Rotarian Mike Rausch will bring us up to speed on Cruise4Kids, scheduled for next Saturday, June 18, at 10 a.m. in Ulm. A great cause and a good time - a pair to draw to!
Judge Holter drew nothing but red in the 50-50 drawing last week, so the elusive 4 of clubs still awaits a lucky draw. Join us at noon at the country club!
Last Week at Rotary
Last week GFPS Superintendent Tammy Lacey briefed us on the upcoming decision the community faces on our school facilities. With 20 schools in the district, all of them over 50 years old and three of them octogenarians, the school board has concluded that our infrastructure issues can no longer be postponed and is asking voters to approve $98.8 million for facilities improvements on a mail-in ballot in October.
Problems with the aging (and aged) facilities include obsolete boilers and systems, plumbing issues, leaky roofs and buckling foundations. Rotarians were given specific information about each of these, as well as how approval of the measure would affect their taxes, how to get tax relief, and a variety of other issues. Clearly, though, the 30-minute timeframe didn't allow Tammy to go in-depth on all the issues or answer all the questions, so Rotarians are encouraged to avail themselves of two opportunities to learn more:
1. Attend the community forum on the facilities request this Wednesday, June 5, at Longfellow school from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
2. Peruse the school district's online information about the request at http://www.gfps.k12.mt.us/facility. The information is quite detailed and comprehensive and even allows you to compute what your new tax would be if the proposal is approved.
Needed: One Defibrillator
With its distance to the nearest community and the number of people coming and going, Camp Rotary really should have an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator). An AED is a portable device that is used to treat sudden cardiac arrest. Do any of you know of an organization or benefactor who might be willing to donate one? If so, contact Cheryl Crawley at your earliest convenience.
Milestones
Two Rotarian birthdays this week: Douglas Hagen celebrates a new year on Thursday, June 16, and Bruce Davidson lights another candle on Friday, June 17. Best wishes to you both!
Congratulations to fellow Rotarians Fred Anderson and Tom Jacobson, who won their primary elections last week. Fred will run against Amy Rapp for the House seat in District 20. Tom, an incumbent representing House District 21, was unopposed in the primary and is unopposed in the general election.
The children of two fellow Rotarians graduated from high school last week. Amanda Blair, daughter of Sydney and Robert Blair, graduated from CMR and is headed to Montana State University in the fall. Sarah Weissman, daughter of Aaron and Wendy Weissman, graduated from Great Falls High and has chosen the prestigious Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for her next step. It's an exciting, bittersweet milestone for graduates and their parents. Savor it!
Weekly Wisdom
Life has no remote. Get up and change it yourself.
Mark A. Cooper
It doesn't matter that your dream came true if you spent your whole life sleeping.
Jerry Zucker
You will never see a U-haul behind a hearse. You can’t take it with you.
