President's Message

Rotary Club of Santa Clara

Message From President Steve Rainbolt

Weekly Club News Update!

1/15/2015

We will get back to our "normal" type of meeting following last week’s Club Assembly.

Lizzy Barron received her Blue Badge at last week’s meeting after completing, in possible record time, her Red Badge Requirements. Congratulations Lizzy!

The BBQ committee kicked off the 2015 Silicon Valley BBQ Championship Competition event with detailed presentations on what will be new and different for this year’s event. Miles Barber described the new "Garden of BBQ" where tables will be available for purchase and patrons will not pay for food or drink. Miles is spearheading the campaign to sell the tables. This has the potential to significantly increase event revenue. More information will be coming out about the table sales.

Other changes and additions for this year’s BBQ:

- Longer hours on Friday night

- Larger stage

- More areas with Pop-Ups

- Incentives for the Pro Teams to offer more people’s choice

- Increased prize money

- Space for more Pro Teams

- One large ten where beer, margaritas (over ice no machine this year) & wine served

- No watermelon this year but we will have BBQ corn and lemonade

- It is planned that non-food Venders will be managed by a third party

This year’s event, our fourth, will be the biggest yet and we will need all hands on deck to help in the planning and execution. Please see committee members for areas where you can help. Expect at least monthly progress updates.

Phil Dolan gave us an ELC 2015 update. This year we are taking 60 students (10 teams) to Asilomar. Applications have been turned it and team selection will start soon. We have a critical need for Rotary Teaching Assistants (RTA’s). There are 2 RTA’s per team so we need 20 Rotarians from the three clubs to help. There will be a RTA training session on 1/21 and 1/22 from 6:00-7:00 PM at Saint Lawrence Academy. Please plan to attend one of the sessions if you are a new RTA and if you have done it before. Talk to Phil if you have questions.

Steve Fisher of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority will be this week speaker. This is your chance to get the latest news on transportation programs and projects taking place in the valley. Maybe we will hear plans for reducing commute times for Valley residents. This will be an interesting and informative meeting.

See you all on Thursday.

COMING UP….

Club events:

 TRF Campaign – on going

 Blood Drive at John Mlnarik office- Jan 14 10:00 AM-2:00 PM

 Feb. 14, 2015—Valentine Dinner at Justins hosted by President Elect Andy Ratermann

 ELC RTA Training Jan 21 & Jan 22 6-7:00 PM at St Lawrence Academy- Check with Phil Dolan

 ELC – March 11-13, 2015

District Events:

 TRF Campaign – on going

 District Conference- April 17-19, 2015

 Far West PETS- March 6-8, 2015

Rotary International Events