Living the Dream

The Texas panhandle is decidedly not known for hockey. However, players from as far away as Sweden quietly converge in Amarillo every August to play hockey while getting an education. A spot on the Amarillo Bulls hockey team allows players to hone their skills in hopes of earning a scholarship to one of several well-known hockey schools such as the Air Force Academy, West Point, Holy Cross, or even Princeton.

Players move in with local host families for about nine months. While in Amarillo, they are expected to win on the ice, excel in school and give back to the community in the form of service. Habitat for Humanity, Children's Miracle Network and the Red Cross are just a few of the organizations that have benefited from this arrangement in recent years.

Program Chair and Amarillo Bulls Head Coach, Rick Matchett, introduced us to his new friend, the Robertson Cup, earned after defeating the Wenatchee Wild 5-0 in the final championship game on May 13^th. The cup is named in honor of junior hockey coach, Chuck Robertson, who won the North American Hockey League (NAHL) Championship eight times. The cup had, until now, proved elusive for the Bulls and Coach Matchett is thrilled to have brought it home.

Assistant Coach, Rocky Russo, also found it difficult to contain his excitement at having finally brought home the trophy after having made eight consecutive trips to the championship as a coach, three of those with the Bulls. He quipped that he kept looking over his shoulder while the singing of the National Anthem at our meeting, expecting someone to begin yelling, screaming or fighting at any moment.

Coach Russo went on to inform us that it really is lonely at the top. The NAHL is comprised of a total of 24 teams divided geographically into 4 divisions. With their win, the Bulls understand that they are a now a prime target and do not expect to have any friends in the division-or the league. He credits the Amarillo community for turning out to support the team and watch the games as never before, with average attendance approaching 4000 per game. Congratulations to the Amarillo Bulls on their Championship win!

Rotarians in Action: Please visit http://tda.org/displayemailforms.cfm?emailformnbr=164644 to sign up to assist with Mission of Mercy, the free dental clinic scheduled to be held on June 28 and June 29.

Hold Up Report: Captain Jeff Lester is set to begin profiling travelers again for the summer! Please let him know if you would like to assist with the actual hold up and/or play host for any available Wednesday evening. This is an incredible opportunity to show off our West Texas hospitality to unsuspecting travelers.

Membership News: We celebrate George Cason's Blue Badge and sadly report that Valerie Fulkerson is moving out of the Amarillo community. We wish her and her family all the best! Please keep David Johnson in your thoughts and prayers as he mourns the loss of his father.

Service Above Self: Many or our members epitomize the Rotary definition of service above self week after week, without expectation, worry or concern of any benefit to themselves. Service above self is not a motto, but a lifestyle. Service above self is not contingent on external recognition. It is a personal commitment and decision. For there is no amount of external recognition can compare to the personal satisfaction of knowing that you did something simply because you could.

Thank You to everyone who contributed to the meeting: Teresa Clemons, Cal Harriman, Mel Darnel and Dale Bippus. David O'Dell, Renee Wilson, John Boyce, Eddie Melin, Rocky Gafford, Rick Matchett. Hereby named, or not, YOU know who you are, and so do we!