President Hudson rang the bell and welcomed everyone to
the Rotary Club of Arden Arcade!
Pledge -
Chris Figueroa
President Hudson asked Chris Figueroa to lead the club in the pledge to our nation's flag.
She then asked Past District Governor Steve Turner to provide the thought of the day.
Both members were gladly did their part.
Thought of the Day -
PDG Steve Turner
President Hudson led the club in the 4-Way Test off without visual aid.
& Visiting Rotarians!
Assistant District Governor, Tim Hayes
Bruce Stimson was pleased to introduce our Assistant District Governor, Tim Hayes. He is here on behalf of the District Governor and will check in occasionally throughout the year.
District Governor, David Veden
PDG Steve Turner was pleased to introduce District Governor, David Veden. Dave is our guest speaker today and will receive a more formal introduction later in the meeting.
A.J. Herlitz
Linda Bigler introduced A.J. Herlitz. Linda met him at our golf tournament on Monday as a member of Tom Goode's golf team. He is here to check out the club. A.J. was asked to provide a bit more about himself. He shared that he first heard about the club through Tom... and he came anyway. He then ran into Linda where he had known her from the 2030 Club. He is still a member of that club but is looking to get more ingrained in the community and help out others when he can. He works in commercial real estate, mostly on industrial and retail products. He thanked the club for having him.
Guest? Dr. Dave Ferrera
Dr. Dave has returned from his annual pilgrimage to Canada to escape the valley heat. He missed a very mild summer here but still found Canada to be a more desirable location for the summer. It is nice to have him back.
Bells, Boasts, and Bitches
"Bell's back"
SHOW ME THE MONEY...
Hey, get a look at the tail
on that German Shepherd!
Al Frumkin - Bell Ringer
Al was quick to offer up a bell ringer. He noted that September has been quite a month. He had an arson at his office in early September, but insists that he is very blessed. "Somehow, when something bad happens, something good and better always happens to me." With the help of Chris Lewis, while Al and Chris are off hunting the elusive elk in Montana, his office staff will be moving into their new headquarters, 590 East Street, in Lincoln. "This is a beautiful Victorian." Al has always wanted to be in a Victorian and now his dreams have come true... if only he could hang an elk's head in it. Unfortunately, based on past adventures, the only thing that will get killed are bottles of scotch... the elk are in no danger of becoming an office ornament.
And now, the rest of the story... Two weeks ago, Al and his beautiful wife, Lisa, went to a party at his friend's, Sam and Ella's, house. At approximately 9:00 PM, Al sat down on the couch and started shivering. It was not a cold night. About 1:00 AM paramedics picked him up off the floor and took him to the hospital. It turns out that he had a very bad case of Salmonella food poisoning. It was not on Al's bucket list, but he almost kicked that bucket anyway. He does not recommend signing up for that experience... "It's the worst thing that can happen." That is quite a statement, as we all know Al is an attorney. The good news is that Al survived, despite his fears he wouldn't.
Linda Bigler - Happy Bucks
Linda was very happy to share that she got a text from RYE Michelle Pakula's mother stating that Michelle is doing a presentation at Rotary in Denmark and showing slides of our club, and the activities she participated in with us. Linda went on to say that when she stayed in Brazil, she made contact with family members of the RYE student and has been invited back next year for a visit. Additionally, her client, who has Underground Golf in Old Sacramento left some coupons and she is making them available to anyone that would like to pick them up. They will be great for the winter when you want to do something with the kids or grandkids.
Rachel Hock - Happy Bucks
Rachel was pleased to share that they installed the Peace Pole last Friday in a beautiful dedication ceremony at Aspire. She thanked everyone that came out to help and enjoy the event. The students loved it. They all participated in creating a beautiful artwork piece that will be installed on the campus. They all talked about what peace meant to them. She again thanked everyone that contributed to the event. "It was fun."
What does peace mean to you?
According to our President "This was the best event she has been to yet!"
Give Peace a Chance!
PDG Steve Turner - Happy Bucks
Steve offered up Happy Bucks as he was glad to see someone (Dr. Dave Ferrera) that has been away for a while. He is looking forward to finding out what Dr. Dave has been doing while being away... and he will, after all, he is a private investigator.
PP Patrick O'Neil - Happy Bucks
Past President Patrick donated Happy Bucks as he had a great time at the golf tournament. He didn't think in a million years that that he would win the contest... "Remember when I said people cheated?"
Please Note: Nothing in the above statement should be construed as an admission of guilt. All people are innocent until proven guilty. Comments made during Rotary meetings are not admissible as evidence. Further inquiries as to the legitimacy of the golf tournament are to be sent to Al Frumkin, attorney of record, for Patrick O'Neil.
PE Chris Lewis - Happy Bucks
President Elect Chris is donating Happy Bucks in order that he can share the fact that his ego got the best of him. His son was collecting donations for his fun run. His son told him that his mother donated a dollar for every lap he ran. Chris, wanting to one-up his mother, promised $5 for every lap. Chris did not do his due diligence before making the offer. He found out that last year his son ran 125 laps... Chris is now looking for a contract law attorney to see if there are any available loopholes in the contract. (The secret word is loophole)
Rotary Golf Tournament
Who new Tequila tasted good,
and tasted even better with every subsequent shot?
The Prez shared that it wasn't until she hosted hole #1 at the golf tournament, where she was pouring tequila shots for all that were interested, that she found out that she liked tequila.
We will not know the profitability of the event for another couple of weeks. Big thanks to everyone that sponsored, played and helped put on the tournament. It was a great time.
The Editor was asked by the Prez not to publish a certain portion of the upcoming events listed above as it may make an ass out of someone... however, the editor does not have the ability to modify the picture and so it remains as presented. My apologies to Ryan Lillis.
News You Can Use!
- **District Conference**
- Dates: October 30 - November 1.
- 5-6 members attending.
- Rotary Foundation Brunch on Sunday morning in Lake Tahoe. We are still not sure if one can register for the breakfast only.
- Million dollar dinner/brunch celebrating district raising $1 million.
- Encouragement to attend for networking, PR, and celebration.
- **Holiday Party**
- Date: December 19th at Hagen Oaks.
Linda Bigler knew
the secret word.
The Secret Word was
Salmonella
Linda Chose
the Starbucks Card
Interact Club Meetings
Christine Jensen reported that the Rio Interact club is now meeting every other week on Tuesdays at 12:30 PM and the Aspire Interact club is meeting weekly at 1:30 PM on Tuesdays. Please let her know if you are able to help with their club meetings.
Running shoes keep on giving.
Bill Hambrick reported that Joe Green received an email from Coach Zach and he forwarded a very nice picture to the editor of the Rugby team with the shoes. The picture was not available to print as the editor could not find it... use your imagination, very big guys holding large, good-looking shoes... you get the picture. The Encina cross country coach reported that he was able to provide shoes for his Varsity and Junior Varsity cross country teams. The teams are now also outfitted with warm-up suits that help them feel like a real team, comparable with the other teams that have always had warm-up uniforms. The domino effect, except with shoes.
This portion of the newsletter has been prepared with the aid of Stenote.AI
District Governor, David Veden
Honduras Water Project
President Hudson introduced Dave Veden and asked him to tell the club a little about himself. Dave shared that his dad, Ty, was a longtime Rotarian and past president of the Rotary Club of Glendale, California. Ty gave Dave his first Paul Harris Fellowship as a Christmas gift. This gift inspired Dave to learn more about Rotary and ultimately join the charter club. Dave served as club president in 1988-89 and again in 2022. He has been active in community service, including:
- Serving on two city council advisory committees.
- Serving on a PBID (Property Business Improvement District) Board of Directors.
- PBID Members pay taxes but often receive limited services.
- Dave advocated for street improvements on Del Paso Boulevard from Arden to 160, which was partially unpaved.
- After 10 years of effort, the city funded the improvements.
- Membership in the SAC State President Circle with his wife, Michael Lee.
- District roles held by Dave:
- AV Team member.
- Assistant Governor.
- Foundation Chair.
- Facilities and Operations Chair for Far West PETS since 2010.
- Supporter of multiple districts and Zone Institutes.
Dave and his wife live in College Greens, Sacramento, with their rescue dog Bella.
## Summary:
The transcript features District Governor Dave discussing his long-standing involvement with Rotary, inspired by his father, a past Rotary Club president. Dave highlights his service roles and community engagement, including city advisory committees and Rotary leadership positions. He shares insights into Rotary's mission, emphasizing the importance of membership and the power of sharing 'why Rotary' rather than just 'what Rotary' is. A significant portion is devoted to describing impactful water projects in Honduras and other countries, showcasing the manual labor and community effort involved in building sustainable water systems. Dave recounts the tangible benefits these projects bring, such as improved health, education, and quality of life for villagers, while also encouraging clubs to support such initiatives financially. He notes the unique achievement of his district having 100% club participation in a global water project twice, underlining Rotary's capacity for lasting impact. The transcript also touches on upcoming district events, including a major fundraising milestone and educational sessions. The overall message is one of dedication, community service, and the transformative effect of Rotary projects worldwide.
- Dave spoke on behalf of Rotary International President Yinka Babaloa, a Nigerian lawyer and former Shell Oil employee.
- Yinka holds prestigious Rotary awards: Service Above Self and Citation for Meritorious Service.
- His work focused on polio eradication in Nigeria.
- Yinka's Rotary theme: "Create Lasting Impact".
### Membership Challenge
- Membership is a critical issue discussed.
- Anecdote: In an elevator with 10 Rotarians, a stranger asked "What's Rotary?" and no one responded immediately.
- Advice: When asked about Rotary, answer "Why Rotary?" instead of "What is Rotary?" to convey passion and purpose.
- Rotary membership engagement is critical; members should respond to 'What's Rotary?' with 'Why Rotary?' emphasizing purpose and impact.
## District Achievements and Calls to Action
- District achieved 100% club participation in a major water project twice, a unique accomplishment worldwide.
- Current focus is on the Betsa, Ethiopia project.
- Clubs encouraged to contribute District Designated Funds (DDF) to water projects.
- Water projects are effective and elevate community well-being.
## Honduras Water Project
- Dave was invited by a Sacramento Club friend to visit water projects in Honduras.
- Honduras is a challenging environment with mountainous terrain and limited infrastructure.
### Project Details
- Construction is manual: villagers dig pads into hillsides by hand.
- Concrete is carried up the mountain in 60-pound sacks, mixed and laid by hand.
- Tanks are built from concrete blocks and stuccoed for protection.
- Plumbing is gravity-fed; no electricity or pumps.
- Village electricity is minimal, with a single 20-amp circuit patched through jungle wiring.
- Previous latrines were destroyed by hurricanes due to poor initial construction.
- Villagers bury waste to protect their water sources.
- Water purification uses Procter & Gamble packets that flocculate contaminants.
- Proper disposal of flocculate is critical to avoid poisoning local chickens and people.
### Impact
- The project serves 2,500 families.
- Initial water flow was muddy but cleared after flushing.
- The project reduced the need for long water-fetching trips, keeping children in school and reducing illness.
- The community showed visible gratitude.
- Dave initially struggled with language barriers during interviews.
- Observing villagers' eyes and expressions conveyed the project's impact more than words.
This is what they used to use to make their water drinkable.
## Other Water Projects and Funding
- Other projects include:
- Sangahi, Indonesia (currently stalled).
- Betsa, Ethiopia: $480,000 project with $240,000 from Rotary and $240,000 from World Vision.
- Hawagea Nagori, Kenya (details pending).
- A small $5,000 well project in Zambia funded privately by district members.
- Rotary Foundation does not fund projects under $30,000.
- Encouragement to consider small-scale projects even if outside foundation guidelines.
## Notes:
- A water project in Honduras was completed by villagers manually building infrastructure, providing clean, gravity-fed water without electricity.
- Proper disposal of water purifier flocculate is essential to prevent health hazards, as improper disposal can poison local food sources.
- The Honduras water project improved health and education by reducing waterborne illness and freeing children from water collection duties.
- District 5180 achieved 100% club participation in a significant water project twice, a unique global accomplishment.
- Current fundraising efforts focus on a $240,000 water project in Ethiopia, with World Vision as a key partner matching Rotary funds.
- Smaller local projects, such as a $5,000 well for a school in Zambia, can be funded privately to bypass foundation restrictions.
- District conference includes sessions on club management tools and celebrates surpassing a $1 million fundraising milestone.
- Firsthand experience with overseas projects enhances understanding of Rotary’s impact beyond financial contributions.
- Encouragement to clubs to allocate District Designated Funds (DDF) to water projects due to their proven effectiveness.
- Rotary projects significantly elevate community well-being by addressing fundamental needs like clean water and sanitation.
## Upcoming Events and Miscellaneous
- District conference planned with sessions including Club Runner software training.
- No foundation dinner this year; instead, a celebration of fundraising success ($1.1 million raised).
- Plans to continue successful fundraising patterns into subsequent Rotary years.
District Governor Veden presented a video that was well produced promoting the upcoming District Conference. The pictures that follow do not do the presentation justice, but they are fun to look at. It looks like the conference will be a frightfully ghoulish time.
## Closing Remarks
- Emphasis on the importance of firsthand experience in overseas projects.
- Gratitude expressed to members for their contributions and participation.
The Prez presented the District Governor with a Paul Haris Donation of $100 made in his name.
The Prez thanked everyone for coming and adjourned the meeting at 1:00 PM.
Dad Joke of the Day
Dedicated to PDG Steve Turner
"I'm sorry" and "I apologize"
usually mean the same thing...
but not at a funeral.
Respectfully (more or less) submitted by,
Mike Grace
Reporter, Photographer, and Editor.
Hellen Weight
Ombudsman and Content Supervisor
DISCLAIMER - Some of the information provided in some of the articles and possibly included in some of the "quotes" from club members, may have been a fabrication of a demented mind. It is up to you to determine fact from fiction. Individuals objecting to all or any parts herein, are encouraged to go to Hellen Weight to lodge a formal complaint.
Club Information
Service Above Self
Tuesdays at 12:00 PM
Piatti
571 Pavilions Lane
Arden-Arcade, CA 95825
United States of America
