Making up for lost blogs!

OK, I am jumping right in, because I am wracked with guilt over my lack of blogging lately. I could make excuses. I have plenty, all Rotary, since I have been going "pedal to the metal" after returning from the International Assembly in late January.

I held my first formal training session with My Presidents Elect on February 4th. It was a big hit, and I had a tremendous turnout, 45 out of 58 clubs represented. Then last weekend I held a leadership training seminar that was a first for the district. It was a home run!

However, no excuses! I have had a great couple of days of recovery, so the rest of this is a "back-blog"!

In Mid December, Kim and I bought a new car! With our Rotary year on the road coming soon, we decided we needed some smoother wheels. I wanted something economical (Ford Fusion at 34 mpg) and she wanted something classy and head turning (Ford Taurus at 27 mpg). Well, we are the proud owners of a new Ford Taurus! I gotta say, it is quite a ride! Smoooooth, quiet, and very comfortable. Maggie says its an "old people car" because you have to be old to afford it! Actually we got a good deal, purchasing it used from a rental agency in Reno through a local Rotarian. We both love the car!

So, we picked up the car and took it for a shake down cruise to visit one of our clubs Tonopah Nevada. This club has been doing some remarkable things, and I wanted to meet the President (who will be repeating in the office during my year) and club members.So, the three and a half hour drive went by quickly as I read the owner's manual to figure out how to operate this high tech road beast!

It was a smooth and effortless ride to
Tonopah in the new car.

Tonopah: a little mining town on a hill.

Not sure what a mining park is, but it seemed interesting

We arrived at our destination.
Nice car, beautiful house.

We arrived in Tonopah in plenty of time for the 12:00 noon event. I say event, because it was the club Christmas party! Tonopah is a mining town that is pretty isolated from the cities of Reno to the north, and Las Vegas to the south. Death Valley National Monument is just an hour or so south. So after driving through open desert for hours, you come upon this small town up on a hill. In some ways it is a little sad, because parts of the area seem a little run down, but really the town is quite charming. It is obvious that the folks there take pride in living a fairly rugged life style. The town has all the amenities, and in addition has so much history right there in front of you..

Following directions, we pulled off the highway, and up a residential side street. Cruising up the street, we passed small lots on either side. Some had quaint little houses obviously cared for and lived in, while others had old weather beaten "shacks" that looked over 100 years old, and unoccupied. At the end of the street, our meeting place was a restored house owned by Joni and Dennis Eastley. Joni is the club Secretary, and also a Nye County Commissioner. What a fabulous place. Built by a banker/mining mogul at the turn of the twentieth century, the Eastley's have restored the place into what can best be described as a residential museum. It is beautiful, and chock ful of antiques, and collector's items.

Our hosts, Joni and Dennis

Antiques in the upstairs room.

More Antiques

Kim Dennis and I discuss the history of the house. If you
look closely, Dennis is wearing camoflauge slippers! So was I!

 Inside we met Amy, the current president who will be doing it again next year, and several other club members. It was a great turnout, with tremendous food prepared primarily by Joni, Amy, and the club Treasurer, Cindy. We visited with all the folks present, shared food and fellowship, and really felt quite at home. This is what is so wonderful about Rotary, we totally felt welcome, and by the end of the afternoon, felt like we were leaving a friends house!

A very nice doll collection graced the Turret room.

Ancient saddle and shotgun

The food was delicious!

Mr and Mrs Santa made an appearance!

President Amy and her foster son.

 Amy has done a great job as president this year. The club is growing, with several new members, and more on the way. It is obvious that her leadership has made a positive difference. Rotary means something a little different to small rural towns like Tonopah, than the clubs in metropolitan areas do. Here in a small town, you really get a sense of the fellowship that was such a big part of why Paul Harris started Rotary to begin with. The service the club renders has a huge effect on the community.

As folks filtered out, and we finally said our goodbyes to our hostesses and new friends, it hit me how very integral a Rotary club can be in a community like Tonopah. Thanks to leaders like Amy, Cindy, Joni, and others, the Rotary Club of Tonopah is thriving! Kim and I just really enjoyed the visit! It was, I think, a taste of things to come!!

That's All!