President
Art Thorn presided.
Art led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Tom Bates gave the invocation.
Maggie Callaway led the recitation of the Four-Way Test.
Guests: Jeff Johnson and our speaker Michael Metcalf.
Announcements:
Jim Callender said that would be a quick board huddle after the meeting to approve Maggie’s financial report. Mark Richard asked if the California fire victims needed clothing. Art said they just wanted cash. Art said we needed to vote on the Board approval to give $1,000 to the Rotary Club in Los Angeles to be used to help fire victims. Ray Goellner made a motion to approve; Kathy Eaton seconded. Motion passed.
The Board also voted to award Taylor McWhorter $250 for her charity and a plaque. Jim said this award would be going to any youth who put service above self. Ray made the motion to
approve; Kathy seconded. Motion passed
Happy Dollars:
Art said he was happy to be back in New Mexico after having been in Washington, D.C. during the inauguration.
Program:
Art introduced Michael Metcalf, sculptor par excellence and retired
faculty professor from WNMU.
Michael’s presentation was on the design and building of the “Collaboration “ sculpture which
was recently placed and dedicated at WNMU. He walked us through the design stage, applying for a sabbatical to create the sculpture. He first had to find the boulders used in the sculpture: granite Burro Mountain boulders over 1.4 billion years old. Then he had to move them out of the forest without using big equipment, which would have a negative impact on the forest. The boulders weighed 5,000 and 8,000 pounds. The boulders sat for two years waiting to be placed in the rest of the sculpture, which was made of stainless steel and consisted of three giant spires weighing over 1,000 pounds apiece. Through a series of slides, he explained the procedure he used to weld the various pieces together. It took eighteen months for him and student volunteers to assemble the sculpture. Then it had to be moved to the campus for installation. Using a truck with a big crane, the sculpture was carefully moved. It took several days for the installation to be completed. Now it is lighted at night and there is a place for sitting to view and enjoy.
After a question and answer period, Art thanked Michael and presented him with a small gift
.png)
