In a fascinating presentation last week, GFHS science teacher Beth Thomas shared her experience traveling to the continent of Antarctica last December. She was one of 35 teachers out of 2,700 applicants who received the National Geographic Society Grosvenor Fellowship provided by Lindblad Expeditions.
Antarctica is the highest, coldest, dryest (it's a desert!), and windiest continent on the planet. It accounts for 90% of the world's ice and 70% of the world's fresh water. It features penguins, seals, whales, a rapidly depleting population of krill (shrimplike crustaceans found on the plankton) and enough ice to divide into two major categories with several subdivisions.
The photographs in Beth's slideshow were stunning, and she displayed the combination of curiosity, knowledge, and enthusiasm that makes you glad she's teaching young people about science.
Carey Gray once again got to try her hand at the 50-50 pot, this time because Kevin Clark left his ticket in her hands. Once again, it was all for naught. Sorry, Carey. (Sorta.)
This Week at Rotary
This week we'll hear from the first of two candidates for the Montana Supreme Court introducing themselves to us in April. Kristen Juras will be tomorrow's guest speaker. Next week Judge Dirk Sandefur will be our guest.
Also, the monthly meeting of our board of directors will be Tuesday, April 5, at 4:30 p.m. at L'Heureux Page Warner. All Rotarians are welcome to attend.
Camp Rotary Update
At last week's meeting, Ken Munski gave us an update on Camp Rotary. The first phase of construction, involving 4 cabins, is all but complete. Bids for the second phase, involving 4 or 5 cabins, were due on March 31 and a committee is now reviewing them.
Meanwhile, under the oversight of the operations committee, the front page for the camp website has been completed (photo, left) and a contract for a camp caretaker has been crafted. On May 7 and May 14, groups of Rotarians will be engaged in cleaning up the camp for the summer activities. The May 7 group will be working on outdoor issues only. Contact Cheryl Crawley or Ken Munski if you'd like to participate either weekend.
Rotary Events in April
We're looking for volunteers for a service project providing maintenance at the YWCA on Saturday, April 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more details, contact any of our officers.
Now is the time to register for the Rotary District 5390 Conference at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort on April 22-24. To register for the convention, visit the District 5390 website (Montana Rotary) and click on District Conference under Upcoming Events on the right side of the home page. When you reserve your room at Fairmont Hot Springs now, enter the Group ID of 15267 and the Password 268 to get the Rotary room rate.
Milestones
Big birthdays this week! Today Lew Card celebrates; Wednesday it's Kurt Baltrusch's turn; and Saturday, Cari Yturri puts another candle on the cake. How blessed to have these three in our lives!
This Week in History
April 3, 1860 - The Pony Express service began as the first rider departed St. Joseph, Missouri. For $5 an ounce, letters were delivered 2,000 miles to California within ten days. The service lasted less than two years, ending upon the completion of the overland telegraph.
April 4, 1968 - Dr. Martin Luther King was killed by a sniper in Memphis, Tennessee.
April 6, 1896 - After a break of 1500 years, the first Olympics of the modern era was held in Athens, Greece.
April 8, 1990 - Ryan White died at age 18 of complications from AIDS. A hemophiliac, he contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion. Fear of AIDs led to his being banned from attending his school, but he and his mother moved to Cicero, IL, where he was accepted by his fellow students.
April 9, 1865 - The War between the States ended, with General Robert E. Lee's surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant in the Appomattox Court House. Over 500,000 Americans had lost their lives in this terrible conflict.
