The Meeting:

Tom ran a nice average meeting.  The Man in Full completed his mission to present the Governor's Visionary Awards by recognizing Joe Harding as a Visionary.  Joe has done more than a yeoman’s work for more than ten years with Ryla, and certainly is deserving of the “Visionary” award for this and many other things he does for Rotary and yes…the world.  That's a big statement Joe.  Many of the kids (now grown ups) that have gone through programs you have touched are way better off than otherwise, and perhaps many in Foreign Country's are even alive because of things you have done.  Big Statement for an important guy...not your average Joe.   Nice going Joe, we are all so proud of you.

The Man in Full then recognized two other Worldly Visionaries, Dick Van Vranken and Gary Wilson.  He awarded Dick for his steadfast work on updating the Club Roster month after month, year after year; never seeking recompense for his efforts, and proceeding with his work silently for a decade or more.  He was made the proud recipient of the “Commodore Award”.  This is a new concept for Tom and no doubt will be a coveted award as the year(s) go by and will be part of Tom’s legacy as a President.  We obviously are seeking things that will be part of Tom’s legacy and this is about it for now.

Gary Wilson, our handsome scribe known as “The Bulletin Editor” also received the “Commodore Award” for turning out a “tome of nothing” each week seeking stories where none exist, and putting it into some sort of framework that is suitable, interesting and important enough to make the reader return the next week for a peek.  Those of you that are reading this…thanks for coming back.

We both received a nice piece of paper that would be suitable for framing and the award had some very nice words inscribed along with an official seal.  It looked like one of those awards Tom had won in his career that almost always had the title:  “Certificate of Participation”, followed by a month or year.   The award that Tom presented to us said July 2012.  Close enough, we do this month after month.  Perhaps he was going to make the award last month and just forgot.  It is the thought that counts, and maybe a little stipend from time to time...nothing much.

Dick and I posed for pictures and received a standing ovation from our fellow Rotarians.  Dick was choked up and Tom chortled.  I had tears in my eyes and waved at the crowd.  Pictures were taken and some wished to pose with the recipients to have their picture taken and put in their personal scrap book for future generations to enjoy.  We were humble and happy to oblige.

However, others told Dick and I that Tom was making fun of us.  It was Tom’s folly.  I attach a copy of the award for you to judge. 

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The Program:

The program amazed me.  Steve Paulson from our own Police Department talked about Drugs, in our School, in our Town, and in the Nation.   He has an office in the High School which I did not know.  That sure sounds like a good idea, and now it must be a necessary one.  He had a nice calm demeanor about himself and proceeded through a detailed power point presentation about all they types of drugs there are.  Many of those products used to get high are simply sold right off the counter and many at our local Liquor Store.  I am such a Pollyanna about things like this and slide after slide amazed me.  You can get high on bath salts and incense.  I use both of those products.  You can get high on balloons filled with a gas that helps you make whipped cream.   You can die from this.  It looks like you can get  high on most anything.  A very interesting but very sad and concerning presentation.

A number of stores in our community sell over the counter items that kids can use to get high.  It is legal.  While that may be so I don't have to shop there and neither do you.  Much of my writing is meant to be fun, funny, irreverent, and silly.  There is nothing funny about drugs.  Nothing and I am stopping the writing right here.  See you next week.

Gary