Today's Program:
Mr. Tim Nichols, Executive Director of NWA Children’s Shelter

Last Week's Program:

President, Jonathan Moore, led the Club with singing “America " and saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Invocation by Erik Boye. Reese Garner led the singing for “In the Good Old Summertime”.

David Thrasher introduced today’s program, his whitewater rafting experience on the Pacuare River in Costa Rica. His presentation featured both slides and movie clips. Why Costa Rica and why the presentation now? David thought this would be an appropriate time to show the Club Costa Rica and help build excitement about giving wheelchairs to people in Costa Rica on April 24th.

In February of 2007, Ken Ewing, a good friend who had been going to Costa Rica, asked David and his wife, Linda to go to Costa Rica for a week vacation. David jumped at the opportunity to go whitewater rafting, but there were some major challenges for David in arranging for his whitewater rafting trip:

1) No equipment - he had to find equipment.

2) No one would go with him

David contacted his sister, who had some connections and he was able to find an outfitter and guide for this 18 mile trip. It was a 3 hour trip to the launch location with mostly non-English speaking people. There was one couple, Rick and Carol, who spoke English and were on their honeymoon. They were rangers from Yosemite. One of the other people that went on the trip was the man who filmed the trip, he sells the DVD to everyone after the trip.

They flew into San Jose, which was only a 3-4 flight and you don’t change time zones. It was raining and the temperature was 80 degrees, not bad for February. Several people went, but the newlyweds were the only other paying customers, the others were potential guides. They had kayaks, paddle rafts and David’s raft with oars. The trip was 18 miles and filled with waterfalls of all sizes. They passed through some very interesting parts of the river: Roca Bruja (witch’s rock), the “Graveyard”, and the lower Graveyard with bad rapids.

One thing to consider on this trip, was that if anything happened, there was no easy rescue. Luckily David came through the trip, managing his way through portions of the river that the guides were amazed that he was able to take his raft, grinning from ear to ear and having the time of his life. With some of the best rafting in the world, Costa Rica is the place to start and also the place to go if you are a highly experienced rafter.

After the rafting trip, David and Linda met up with Ken Ewing again in Gulfito, along the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica. At 6:00 the next morning, Ken took David deep sea fishing. They caught some sail fish, which some took up to 1-3 hours to battle into the boat. They released all of the fish they caught (catch & release), except for the mahi mahi - they kept those and ate them!

David presented the Club and the Wheelchair Foundation with his personal check to purchase 5 wheelchairs. That puts us over our goal of 100 wheelchairs! Costa Rica really needs our help! If you haven’t made a pledge for a wheelchair donation, you can still do so by contacting Corey Davidson or Wendy Kumpe.

Announcements:

• A big welcome back to Marge Wolfe after her recent back surgery.

• President Jonathan Moore, reporting for Rick McLeod, announced that the Tetrazzini dinner will be April 17th, mark your calendars!

• If you would like to do a memorial to Nita Larimore, please consider the Rotary Foundation or the Wheelchair Foundation.

• Hal reported that the Club has 133 members. This is the 71st day of the year. 35 members have not paid their dues.

• The Club is having Ron Bird (DesignWorks) redo our trading banner, if you have any suggestions, please contact Hal.

• The Club is redoing the front and back of the Rogerote newsletter, let Hal know if you have any design ideas.

• At the Board meeting this morning, they talked about club attendance - several people with 0% are here today. Please remember that you need to maintain a 60% or better attendance rate.

• Bit of trivia from Hal: This is the first time since the Club was chartered in 1917, that there has not been a Larimore as a Club member.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests:

Andy Ballestra introduced his wife, Barbara
Richard Shewmaker introduced Jim Cambell
Brooke Bisbee introduced her mother, Linda Bisbee
Jill Wagar introduced Connie Dunn, Meredith Brunen, and Pam Nash
Brad Bridges introduced his father, Cecil Bridges
Biff Averitt introduced Joe Hines
David Swearingen introduced his son, Scott

There were no visiting Rotarians this week.

Bob’s Student Guests

Bobby Pennington, son of Roger and Roxanne Clement
Logan Jostad, son of Mark and Lisa Jostad

Chad’s Members in the News:

• Linda Phillips

• “Auctioneer” Dick Trammel and his wife, Nancy at the Eureka Springs School of the Arts and at the Mercy Medical Center reception

• Greg Hines, as his captain received award from the Children’s Advocacy Center

• David and Linda Thrasher at the Mercy Hospital reception

Atta Boys and Girls (makeups)

Jeff Rylee 2X

Upcoming Programs

3/25 Casey Croxton
4/1 Dr. Paul Batson/ Camp War Eagle

The Club closed the meeting with reciting the Four-Way test.