Christmas party on Dec. 18

The Roswell Rotary Club Christmas Party will be on Dec. 18 at the Backdraft Barbeque at Third Street Station, 301 N. Railroad Ave., beginning at noon.

Club members are welcome to bring guests to the party, which will feature a White Elephant Gift Exchange. There is a $30 maximum limit on White Elephant gifts.

Entertainment will be by Tom and Marina Blake.

District governor in Roswell

President Nicole Wieser welcomes District 5520 Gov. Tom Simon during his visit to the Roswell Rotary Club on Dec. 4.

Club builds 30th ramp

The Roswell Rotary Club marked the holiday season by building its 30th ramp for a person with special needs.

The 36-foot ramp was built at 809 W. Venus Drive. The project took 4.5 hours to complete.

Five Rotarians worked on the ramp: JP Cheney, Bianca Cheney, Steve Smith, Jason O’Day, and Gordon Patton.

Also helping construct the ramp were Jeff Slayton, a retired carpenter, and Danny Palmer.

Workers stop for a photo during construction of the ramp.

District governor to visit

Rotary District 5520 Gov. Tom Simon will speak to the Roswell Rotary Club on Dec. 4.

During his visit to Roswell, he will be hosted by the club from 5:15-7 p.m. on Dec. 3 at a come-and-go social at the Pasta Cafe Italian Bistro, 1208 N. Main St.

Tom was born and raised in a small town in Connecticut. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Eastern Connecticut State University.

He moved to Santa Fe, where he enjoyed a 35-year career in property management, retiring in April 2025.

Tom and his wife Deborah, a Rotarian since 1994, raised three children who have provided 6 grandchildren.

He joined Rotary in 2011 and has served in most of the club officer positions in the Rotary Club of Santa Fe. On the District level, he has served as Global Grants chair, on the District Membership Committee, and as assistant governor.

CASA official to speak

Doug Parson, family services director with the Chaves County CASA program, will speak at the Nov. 20 Rotary Club meeting.

J.P. Cheney a continuing Fellow

Club President Nicole Wieser honored Rotarian J.P. Cheney with a new pin marking his continuing membership as a Paul Harris Fellow. Also joining in the ceremony were Rotarians Carolyn Mitchell (center right) and Bianca Cheney (right).

Commandant to speak at Rotary

Col. Thomas L. Tate, commandant of cadets/dean of students at New Mexico Military Institute, will speak at the Nov. 13 Roswell Rotary Club meeting.

Before joining NMMI, Tate had more than 30 years of experience in organizational leadership, including 10 years at military colleges and schools.

Tate served in the Army from 1981-2008, obtaining the rank of colonel.