January 5, 2023 Meeting Summary

Presiding: Jamie Terry

Meeting Room setup/takedown and general problem solving: Tom Mangan & Ron Van Ekeren

Professor’s Quote: Jenny Eisenhauer

Introduction of Guests: Hanna Eslinger

Guests: Keith Downey introduced Shaun Bullock

Junior Rotarians/RYLA/Young RYLA: Amanda Nilsson; Ruby Durell

Rotaract/Interact Students:

Humor: Paul Montoya

Foundation Drawing: Kerry Greaser won $10 from the jackpot.

O’Dwyers Drawing: Kerry Greaser

 

Rotarian of the Week: Tim Sullivan nominated Jamie Terry for hosting the club last week at Mountain West Farm Bureau; Jamie Terry nominated Doug Faus for patient safety at Ivinson Memorial. Hospital.

 

Songs: Auld Lang Syne; Roll Out the Barrell

 

 

Introduction: Pam Dunnuck

 

Longtime member, Don Prehoda, was born in California. His father was transferred to Casper, Wyoming, where Don attended Casper High School.

 

He attended UW for his undergrad degree from 1963-1967. Don was drafted and served in the Vietnam War as part of the U.S. Army. He spent one year in Vietnam handling troop intake and assignments for 250 soldiers per day. His commanding officer was Colin Powell.

 

Don went to law school on the GI Bill. He started at Corthell & King after graduating, and he was there for 21 years before starting his own firm. He left the firm to be a transactional lawyer in 1994. The office has grown to 5 lawyers. It handles estate planning, administration work, business planning, and real estate transactions.

 

Don has spent 50 years practicing law. He also has been an adjunct professor for UW.

 

Don joined Rotary in the late 80s. He has been in our club about 35 years and served as president during that time. Don has served on many other boards as well.

 

He has been married to his wife, Mary Kay, for 54 years, and they have a daughter who works at UW.

 

Don shared some of his top law experiences. He recalled during his early practice days a time where he defended a pigeon thief. Using a motion to suppress the actual pigeons as evidence, his client was able to escape charges.

 

He also tried to help a couple that was having difficulties with the many birds their neighbor’s bird feeder attracted. This caused a lot of uproar about ordinances and the idea that these people were bird haters resulting in vandalism and the couple eventually moving.

 

One time a man passed away with no will. In Wyoming, you have to build a family tree to determine how assets are divided. All the beneficiaries ended up being located in Sweden.

 

After a man’s wife was killed in a car accident, the man asked Don for help settling with the car insurance company for the exact amount that he determined was the value of his late wife’s life.

 

Another time a man passed away who collected quarters. They ended up finding 1 million quarters and needed a dump truck to take it all to the Denver Mint.

 

Don’s favorite situation was when a retired UW professor has a sizeable estate.  He was very charitable and asked Don to manage his donations for him. Upon his death, he left everything to charity with Don’s help. It was a rewarding experience.

Response: Kerry Greaser

 

Of the things we think, say, or do

•Is it the Truth?

•Is it Fair?

•Will it build Good Will and Better Friendships?

•Will it be Beneficial to All Concerned?

 

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

•FIRST. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;

•SECOND. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation as an opportunity to serve society;

•THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian's personal, business, and community life;

•FOURTH. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

 

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Spoke Editor: Caitlin White, 307-630-1965, cwhite@acplwy.org