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Right at 12:15, President Ross Ramsey rang the bell to begin the meeting.  After he led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, he introduced Jim Maxon’s invocation, which included asking us to think of the life of past president Rich Gregory who passed in the previous week.  John Pickett led the singing of Johnny Cash’s “I Walk the Line”; as usual, John added a few lyrics of his own. 

After we got a few minutes for meeting and greeting, President Ross introduced a couple of visiting Rotarians and Keith Houser’s guest, attorney Matt Watson.  President-elect Eddie Groth added some Aggie baseball tickets to the 50/50 drawing, and had the sergeants-at-arms hawking some extra drawing tickets.  Henry Broekhoff reminded us that next week was the deadline for turning in Taste of Las Cruces money and unsold tickets; Jim Maxon asked for our help with silent auction items for that event.  Mel Parish reported that several Don’t Meth With Us presentations had been completed, and that there were just a few to go this spring. 

At 12:12 p.m., Pres. Ross Ramsey rang the bell to open the meeting. He then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Bill Wheeler gave the invocation.  John Pickett led the club in singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”  After greeting one another, we learned that the mystery greeter was Earl Phillips.

We sang “Happy Birthday” to our cohorts in the club who have May birthdays.  There were five visiting Rotarians, and five guests of Rotarians.

At 12:10 p.m., Pres. Ross Ramsey rang the bell to open the meeting. He then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Jim Bullock gave the invocation.  Paul Comeau led the club in singing “April Showers.” We moved immediately into the Paul Harris Program.

The Program – Paul Harris Fellows

President-elect Eddie Groth rang the bell to begin the meeting and told us that President Ross Ramsey’s surgery last week had gone well, but he was not “well enough to face this group.”  Eddie then led the Pledge of Allegiance and introduced Ivan Stubbs, who introduced Sandanee Turner, the student of the month from Mesilla Valley Christian, who gave the invocation; nice job!    Paul Comeau then led the singing of the colonial version of “God Save the Queen,” known to us as “America,” before we got the chance to meet and greet. 

At 12:12 p.m. Eddie Groth (subbing for Ross) rang the bell to open the meeting. He then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Ivan Stubbs gave the invocation.  Paul Comeau led the club in singing “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning.”  We were then turned loose to greet one another.  The mystery greeter was Don Dresp. Visiting Rotarians were introduced as were guests of Rotarians.

At 12:15 p.m., Ross Ramsey rang the bell to open the meeting. He then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Barbara Rose Farber gave the invocation.  Paul Comeau led the club in singing “America, the Beautiful.” We were then turned loose to greet one another.  The mystery greeter was Gary Lenzo.  Next, we sang "Happy Birthday" to 8 of our colleagues in the club.

At 12:13 p.m. our chief bell ringer and only President, Ross Ramsey, struck the bell to get the meeting underway.  He then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.  John Pickett gave the prayer in the absence of Jim Maxon.  Upon conclusion of the prayer, Pastor John noted that God is a Rotarian.  President Ross immediately proposed him/her for membership in our club.  Bob McPherson was in a patriotic mood so led us in God Bless America. 

At 12:10 p.m., our chief bell ringer, President Ross Ramsey, rang the bell about 5 minutes earlier than usual to get the meeting underway.  He then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Bill Wheeler gave the prayer in the absence of Jim Maxon who is off in Central America on a Rotary mission and Bob McPherson served as choir master for "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." 

At 12:15 p.m., our chief bell ringer, President Ross Ramsey, hit the bell twice and announced the meeting would come to order.  After leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance, Ross introduced Jim Maxon who gave the invocation after noting to our many guests that Rotary is an international organization with clubs in 200 countries whose members have many different religions.  Thus while we pray to a Supreme Being, each member is free to pray in their own way.  He then led us in a couple of songs full of Irish spirit, “My Wild Irish Rose” and “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.”  The songs fit right in with our lunch of corned beef and cabbage.  Following a shortened meet and greet, it was announced that Jim Parks was the mystery greeter.

At 12:11 our President, Ross Ramsey, binged the bong and called the meeting to order.  After his cheerful welcome, Ross led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.  Jim Maxon did double duty by leading us in both prayer and song.   But first, Jim noted that he would be leaving on a return trip to Guatemala on March 17.  He reminded members that before he went last year, the club passed the hat to help pay for the construction of a school in a Guatemalan village.  That construction is now complete and this time he will be installing a plaque on the school recognizing the Club’s support.  The prayer was followed with President Ross and President-elect Eddie Groth doing their best to ham up the opening day of baseball.  Jim then led us in “Take Me Out To The Ballgame”.