President Nancy thanked our Greeters, NLIPP* Dave Maxwell and PP Gary Frisch, as well as our Invocator, PP Jeff Kaes who went on and on and on about Polio Plus, Stupid things to say when you get pulled over, and why he loves being a Smoky Hill Rotarian.  Also thanked was Secretary Bev Edwards for the new Duty Roster and Membership Roster that was sent out to all by President Nancy.

 

*No Longer Immediate Past President.  In other IPP news, IPP Denny Passantino did NOT make an announcement today, the first time in just over 63 Smoky Hill Rotary Meetings in a row.  Now we will never know what happened (or didn't really happen) on this date in history!

 

Foundation Chair PP Hugh Radke noted we came in 2nd in District 5450 RI donations at $416 per member, just losing out on yet another plaque showing our dedication to the RI Foundation to Lakewood RC.  If you designate your Foundation donations for Polio Plus this year the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match the donation 2 to 1 and you will still get Paul Harris Fellow credit toward your next level!  Rotarians have done such a good job on Polio Eradication that only 8 cases of wild polio infections in Afghanistan and Pakistan have been reported.  

 

Golf Committee Chair PP Gary Frisch noted the printing deadline is this Wednesday and the golfer deadline is next Wednesday, August 2nd.  Get your printing to Gary and your Golfers to PP Mark Johnson! PEv (past everything) Talee Crowe passed out job assignments for the Day of Event!  All hands are needed!  

 

Membership Chair PP Clay Fell said there is a free lunch, and it is on Mondays at Rotary.  Bring a friend/prospective member and SHRC will buy their lunch. Membership is everyone's priority this year!

 

PP Darryl Harvey reminded the club of our favorite hands-on event, Special Things for Special Kids Century Elementary Walmart Shopping Trip (ST4SKCEWST) is at the 14000 E. Exposition Walmart on Saturday, August 12th!  Rotarians should arrive at 8:45 to assist families in making their purchases!  

Paul Parker entertained Smoky Hill Rotarians with his baseball stories.  He started with the Rockies as a volunteer even before the Rockies were awarded the franchise and became an employee one week before "Pitchers and Catchers report" in 1993.  While he has held a number of positions for the Rockies, he has always been on the lookout to preserve the Rockies history.  His work collecting thousands of artifacts has resulted in managing 28 Coors Field Display cases.  Paul was thrilled to find that during the first home stand at Mile High Stadium someone collected all the game worn jerseys, with autographs, for the first week of Rockies home baseball so the Rockies have Eric Young, Sr.'s jersey from Opening Day and his Leadoff Home Run just over the Left Field fence which several SHRotarians witnessed.  

 

One little-known baseball fact:  2017 was the first year in Baseball that neither Connie Mack (player and 50 year manager of the Phillies) or announcer Vin Scully have not been involved in Major League Baseball.  Cornelius McGillicuddy's last year and Vin Scully's first year was 1950.  That should win a few bar bets.

 

While the history is fascinating Paul is very proud of The Rockies and MLB's RBI program, providing baseball and softball to inner city boys and girls aged 13-18 at no cost to the family.  

 

As of today's meeting the Rox had played 100 games and  were 16 games over .500, their best record after100 games.  Go Rox.

 

Photo Clipping from the Denver Post, 1993