Written by: Linda Geery
President John (Knox, Lemmon & Anapolsky, LLP) once again welcomed members to the Rotary Club of Sacramento. President John thanked Ed Melia (Certified Public Accountant) for the wine reception, Paul Stone for providing music and greeters Jon Stone (company), Ted White (Sacramento Delta Property Management) and Kevin Smith-Fagan (KVIE Public Television).
Mik Miklaus (Integrity Mortgage) offered the thought-for-the-day.
Sergeant-At-Arms, Callee Setzer (Setzer Forest Products) introduced guests and prospective members.
Meeting sponsor Marlene Fitzwater of the Health Communication Research Institute shared about the first West Coast hospice home for terminally ill homeless – Joshua House, which will be the 7th facility in the country and have 20 beds.
Announcements:
President John announced the passing of long-time Rotarian Denny Evans. Denny was a member of Rotary for 31 years and had been a member of RCOS for six years.
Rita Gibson (Rita Gibson Insurance & Investment Services) and Laurie Rood (Benefits Done Right Insurance Agency) shared about their trip to Ethiopia. The trip’s primary mission was a water project, but Rita and Laurie showed us that it was also about a beautiful village. In that community, Rotary is beloved because it is bringing water. The nearby reservoir is at 11,500 feet and water conveyance is currently done by hand. Rita and Laurie wrapped President John in a handspun Ethiopian blanket.
Jim Mattesich (Greenberg Traurig), chair of our Club’s Scholarship Committee, shared about recipient Ryan Cox, a student at Folsom Lake College.
Eddie Mulligan and Paul Harris acknowledgements:
President John reminded members of the significance of the recognition. Each milestone represents $1,000 contributed to either our local foundation or Rotary International Foundation.
Len McCandless received his 5th Eddie Mulligan; Ed Melia received his 2nd Paul Harris; Norm Marshall (Headwaters Construction Inc.) received his 4th and 5th Paul Harris; Paul Bystrowski (Hub International) received his 4th Paul Harris; and John Frisch (Newmark Cornish & Carey) received his 4th Paul Harris.
President John thanked Jeanne Reaves (Jeanne Reaves Consulting) and Steve Heath (Capitol Health Network) for their work on behalf of the foundation.
John Swentowsky (Swentowsky photography) reported that our Club volunteers recently prepared and served 4,800 pizza slices at Loaves and Fishes and that those participating had a fun time.
Additionally, he introduced new members of the 2018 RCOS softball team, with the new season kicking off next month.
Rick Osen (Sutter Builders) and Laurie Wright (Tri Counties Bank) provided an update on Sons Day, which will be June 26th. Please bring your sons and grandsons as the taekwondo demonstration is sure to be interesting. Also, we are still in need of young men to assist with the meeting.
President Elect Diane Woodruff encouraged members to complete the new electronic version of the committee preference forms, which were emailed out earlier this week. Paper forms can still be obtained by contacting the Rotary office.
Let’s Build Something:
Steve Shiflett (CA State Parks) congratulated Steve Huffman and Thom Gilbert on an incredible Armed Forces Day. Steve shared that his late father was a highly decorated veteran and added a Paul Harris in honor of his dad.
Eric Solis (Solis Financial Strategies Group of Wells Fargo Advisors) shared that he is proud to be a Rotarian and reported on the great things that are happening with our YIP program and its students. He contributed to his next Eddie Mulligan and encouraged those interested to get involved with YIP, which will have its next meeting on June 12th after our luncheon.
Past President Walter Dahl (Dahl Law) contributed to his Eddie Mulligan in honor of his daughter, who recently obtained her Master’s degree from Tulane.
Michele Amaral (Dick James and Associates) contributed to her next Eddie Mulligan in honor of YIP students and Compassion student / daughter in Ethiopia.
Mike Bullington (Northwestern Mutual Financial Network) contributed to Walter Dahl’s next Eddie Mulligan.
Chair of the Day Tina Reynolds shared that she had been involved since 2008 with homelessness issues. She reflected back on involvement by Greg Bunker of Francis House, which led to 1,000 tents and as a result Safe Ground was founded. Tina introduced Sister Libby Fernandez of Mercy Peddlers.
Sister Libby suggested that “giving beyond yourself, that’s what life’s about.” Mercy Peddlers is bringing mercy to the streets. As an organization, they do bike outreach on the streets and focus on a ministry of presence. By developing relationships they gently persist in coaxing homeless people to get help.
Rivkah Sass reported on the library’s efforts to assist the homeless. “The library is about accidental services,” she said. They didn’t set out to serve any one segment of the population; instead, they serve everyone and all are welcome. Libraries provide resources, clean restrooms, and places to charge a device. The library has a goal to connect using resources.
Emily Halcon of the City of Sacramento shared about the City’s priority to address homelessness purposefully, both within the City and externally with partners. The current focus is administration of federal grants, using Medicaid to connect housing and healthcare needs.
Marlene Fitzwater of Joshua’s House challenged us to think about what we can do to help. Joshua’s House will be the first local hospice for terminally ill homeless. The goal is to provide comfort and care for the terminally ill homeless in a safe and secure environment.
Next week, McGregor Scott, US Attorney, will be our guest speaker.