President Carlos presided.  He led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, gave an Invocation and led us in a recitation of the Four Way Test.  He thanked Dan Otero for his generous hospitality, offering the HMS Conference Room and providing lunch.

Guests: Wendy Raven Phillips, Gary Latson, and our speaker, Sharla Lefkowitz from the Silver City Main Street Project

 

Kathy Eaton reminded us of our Rotary yard sale from 7AM to 2PM on Saturday, June 1, with proceeds to benefit the High Desert Humane Society in honor of Peter Herzberg’s corgi Teddy. She shared photos of Teddy and urged everyone to bring sale items to her house at 3713 Christian Flury Dr.  She requested assistance in pricing items (especially items like tools that require a men’s perspective).  Brief discussion followed regarding publicizing this event through newspaper and social media.

Art Thorn announced confirmed program speakers for the next few weeks and asked for support in finding a speaker for June 11.  He also invited Rotarians to assist on a team to confirm speakers for the coming months.

Peter Falley announced that our recent Piano Concert netted $779 for the Rotary club and an equal amount for our co-beneficiary, the Gila Regional Medical Center Hospital Foundation.  We all agreed that the concert was outstanding and well-attended.

Peter also stated that a Silver City Rotary Foundation Board meeting would be held immediately following this meeting.

Annacaite Caperton is seeking possible speakers from the Sunrise Movement.

Jim Callender suggested that we request speaker programs from the Silver High School National History Team and from the Culinary Arts group who recently traveled to Italy.

 

Sunny Kellerman celebrated Jim Callender’s 19-year club anniversary (Jim joined our club on May 17, 2005).

 

The Silver City Main Street Project is an accredited Main Street program and one of the five oldest such programs in New Mexico.  With the objectives of fostering economic revitalization and downtown development, the Main Street Project has a long list of accomplishments – both in terms of programs and infrastructure/beautification.  The Project embraces the entire downtown area, bounded by College Avenue, the Big Ditch Park, Cooper Street and St. Vincente Street (and is also accountable for the Visitors’ Center).

Among the upcoming projects, Ms. Lefkowitz highlighted “Great Blocks on Main Street” – a recently funded grant to improve lighting and pedestrian safety in the downtown area – and expanded programming at the Silco Theater, which is also operated by the Main Street Project.

She fielded a number of questions from engaged Rotarians, addressing activities to reduce the number of vacant storefronts, increase available housing units in the downtown area, and encourage support for local businesses.

Check out the Main Street Project web site and Facebook page – and take a look at the Silco’s web site too!