Meeting Recap for December 2, 2013
QUESTION: What do water projects in Cambodia and Ethiopia, Soil Born Farms in Sacramento, the Sacramento Salvation Army Toy Drive, the B Street Theatre, and the youth sports character-building program Positive Coaching Alliance have in common? ANSWER: Each of these projects, as Past President Ken Noack, Jr., our keynote speaker for December 2nd explained, were funded through the generosity and good works of the Rotary Club of Sacramento Foundation (RCOSF).
The RCOSF was founded in 1971 by Rotarians, including Past President George Basye and Mead Kibbey, who were seated at the head table at Monday’s meeting. The purpose of the Foundation is to support extraordinary accomplishments through a self-sustaining fund. The original $1,500 Foundation corpus established in 1971 has today grown to more than $2.8 million in accumulated assets, distributing $231,201 in 2012-13 to more than 30 plus causes, charities, and community beneficiaries. Included in these recipients is the Cambodian Water Wells Project ($8,000 in 2012-13) that built 27 new wells in Cambodia, improving basic hygiene for more than 14,000 Cambodian children, many with access to clean water for the first time in their lives.
In addition to the Cambodian Water Wells Project, the Sacramento Rotary Foundation funded a number of World Community Service Projects including a Guatemalan Rotaplast Project that provided 119 patients with life-changing surgeries to remove facial abnormalities, a Water Wells Project in Ethiopia, medical equipment and supplies in Papau, New Guinea, and orphanages in Malaysia (with the Rotary Club of Laguna).
Closer to home, the Sacramento Rotary Foundation funded Soil Born Farms, the B Street Theatre, the Teen Biotech Challenge, Women’s Empowerment, Sierra Forever Families, Rotary Literacy Projects (dictionaries for 3rd graders), the Youth Incentive Program (YIP) Scholarships, and numerous other causes. Past President Peter Dannenfelser II presented a Sacramento Rotary Foundation 2013 Bids for Kids check for $47,265 to the Relationship Skill Center in Sacramento to support the work they do in the community to teach crucial parenting and life skills to people in our region.
Inspirational stuff, and here’s how you can help to ensure that the good work of the Sacramento Rotary Foundation continues going forward. Contribute $100 or more to your next Eddie Mulligan, or contact the Rotary Club of Sacramento to make a charitable or corporate match contribution to the Foundation, or remember the Foundation in your will and planned giving, perhaps by setting up a bequest and joining the Legacy Circle.
Bruce Hester and Elfrena Ford celebrated their recent trip to 10 Pacific Rim countries with a $1,000 contribution toward their next Paul Harris Awards and in recognition of RCOS members that have participated in international service projects over the last couple of years.
Eddie Mulligan Awards were presented at this meeting to Randy Friedman (his 1st), Susan Drack (her 2nd), James McColm (his 5th), and Past President Tim Pickney (incredibly, his 14th). Finally, David Higdon was named a Sacramento Rotary Fellow for his more than 10 years as a Rotarian, his leadership in the business and civic life in our region, and his numerous actions - from Golf 4 Kids to Dictionaries for 3rd graders – truly living “Service Above Self”.
Committee announcements included: Steve Ruland and John Frisch announced the Salvation Army Toy Drive, Luann Richardson announced the New Member Reception (12/3), Diane Schachterle talked up the the Senior Gleaners Work Day (more than 100 volunteers) (12/7), and Pres. Thom announced Daughter’s Day (12/16), reminding everyone to RSVP today!
Win Westfall sponsored the pre-meeting wine reception. After the Pledge Dick Osen led the club in singing “God Bless America” to help open the meeting and Jim Craig provided the “FINAL THOUGHT”.