Past President (PP) Olmstead rang the bell to start the meeting and the entire club ignored him. He had to remind the club that the position of presiding president should be honored regardless of who that person may be, even PP Olmstead. With that the club dutifully stood for the pledge.
Pledge:
Chris Lewis
The Past President Olmstead asked Chris Lewis to lead the pledge to our flag.
He then asked Mike Grace to provide the invocation.
Invocation:
Mike Grace
PP Olmstead explained why he is the stand-in President and not Tom Goode, as previously advertised. It seems that Tom was called away to an emergency meeting with his daughter at Fairytale Town and he was asked to do the honors while Tom and Christine were off having fun... not together, separately, Christine in Calgary and Tom in Fairytale Town, but fun, non-the-less.
Matt is ringing the bell to commemorate the last good meeting the club will have for about a year. We are all hoping and praying that he is wrong about his prediction. We are looking forward to supporting him in his term as president... he will need all the support he can get and is in the unenviable position of following President Christine Jensen who knocked it out of the park during her term as president. If Matt is as good a president as he is with grants, we are in for a great year.
Al Frumkin - Happy Bucks
Al shared that he and his bride, Lisa, will be at a Paul Simon Concert on Saturday in New York City. They were also going to see Aladin and visit Central Park. By the looks of the picture below, they had a great time. Lisa purchased Al a special shirt for the concert. It is a black shirt with white letters that read "You can call me Al."
Al & Lisa in Central Park, New York
Todd Eichman - Happy Bucks
Todd noted that he finally had his cracked car windshield replaced by John Price of Point West Rotary fame. According to Todd, John did a great job. Todd highly recommends him for you car glass replacement needs.
Tim Cahill - Happy Bucks
Tim was happier than his picture lets on, to have the opportunity to have lunch with his daughter.
President Elect,
Matt Ross
Disclaimer
This was a fitting win for Matt as it is the last time for a whole year that he is eligible to win the
Secret Word.
Matt did not win wine, he won the admiration of the club for knowing the word.
Memorial Day Memories
Daniel Martin promised to share pictures of the electric truck race he participated in over the Memorial Day weekend... and here they are. According to Daniel "The race went well! 25:01 hours is the longest endurance race in the US, and it took 5 drivers shifting throughout to get us finished. Here are two pictures. One is me sitting in the truck after just setting the series EV distance record which was our primary goal. Previous record was 711 miles, and we did 1094. The other picture is me next to the truck after just swapping out. "
Speaker Ideas and Speakers Needed
PP Olmstead requested the club's help in coming up with speakers to keep us from having to listen to President Matt Ross for an entire hour. Rob has done a great job in coming up with engaging speakers, but could use some help in this endeavor. Send your speaker ideas directly to Rob at rob.olmstead@sen.ca.gov. He will be forever grateful to you... well, at least for a week or two. The secret word is "Speakers." At the end of the year, Rob will put all of the speaker ideas sent in by our club members into a hat and pick one contributor to win an almost all-expenses-paid vacation to Rio Linda, California... taxes and transportation not included.
Macy's Shopping Spree Thank You's
Rolundia shared these Thank You cards, sent to the club by the students that went on the shopping spree at Macy's. She stated that we are planning on doing this again next year.
What's Up?
President Elect Matt Ross felt it was only right to announce, in advance, that circumstances beyond our control have made it necessary to increase our dues and lunch fees. In an effort to balance our Rotary Budget and be fiscally responsible, annual dues will increase by $25 from $275 to $300. Also, our lunch fees will increase by $25 per quarter from $250 to $275. Also, guest lunch prices are going to be $35. While no one likes to pay more for anything... we all can agree that we are blessed to have our meetings at Piatti's, and enjoy the quality facility and lunches... and Matt does not want to leave his successor with no money in the bank.
Blue Books & Golf
John Gabriel asked the club members to review their Blue Book pages and let him know if edits need to be made to them. We have to add several new members to the book, so we need to bring it up to speed in time for the new administration to take over.
He also announced that our Annual Golf Tournament is scheduled for September 29, 2025. This is an important fund raiser. It helps the club's cashflow during the early months of the Rotary year. The golf tournament committee is meeting on Friday. Anyone that would like to help should let John know.
We are looking for sponsors as well as players. Please share the news with your business associates and friends. Remember, Granite Bay is a cosponsor so this might be a great opportunity for savvy business people to make inroads with the Granite Bay movers and shakers. This is a "fun" tournament, so you and your friends do not need to be good golfers. All they need to be is willing to have fun... it helps if they like to drink too... after all... it is a Rotary Event!
This Just In!
If you weren't sure if you wanted to attend Matt's first meeting of the year, thinking you would like him to work out the bugs in his meeting before attending, you might want to reconsider. President Elect Matt Ross announced that there will be an open bar to help kick off his year as Rotary President on July 1st. This way, if he does make a mess of things, you most likely won't be aware, or at least won't care. Good plan Matt!
We support and enjoy our sister clubs.
Together we can get even more good things done for our community and the world... and they can come to see how a really good club runs a meeting.
Point West Rotary Club Grant Presentation
Tim Cahill was asked to introduce his daughter as the Guest Speaker, and so he did, stating he has known her all her life. She is a member of the Point West Rotary Club. She is a marvelous person to work with, she is part of our company. She is also a singer and has sung with her husband at Thunder Valley Casino. She enjoys Rotary and their international projects.
Christine Cahill-Reams thanked the club for inviting Point West Rotary Club to share information pertaining to their impressive international
grant program, Literacy for Life Zambia. Historically, they have participated in grant projects initiated by other clubs. Today, we will be talking about our own grant project. Christine brought two club members with her to give details regarding the education program. Amber Laney and Carol Van Bruggen are here to share the details of the designed to help children learn how to read and write in Africa. She asked Amber Laney to present her portion of the presentation.
Amber Laney
Amber Laney presented their new grant supporting literacy centers in Zambia's South Luangwa Valley. The grant has full financial commitments and is moving forward. Point West plans to engage other local clubs for future funding. Amber played a short video for our members. The following slides are taken from the video and provide a narrative with each.
The picture on the left is a typical classroom. Government classrooms are large (80-100 kids), bare bones, often without desks. The picture on the right is of their learning center. Literacy centers are colorful, equipped with books, games, and puzzles. Our centers improve test scores; top schools in district have these centers. English is taught from grades 4 to 7; passing English exams is required for secondary school. Our centers help children succeed in these exams.
We collaborate with the Mfuwe Rotary Club. Community values are supported by the literacy centers. Some centers offer free library time for all ages on Saturdays.
The total budget is approximately $90,000 for 14 months. Two-to-one district match funding contributed significantly. Initial fundraising was under $20,000, but was matched and supplemented by World Fund.
This is how the funding was broken down.
Carol Van Bruggen
Carol first visited Zambia in 2003 on safari. She met Rachel McRob, director of Conservation South Luangwa. She encountered schools with no government teachers, books, or electricity. The local aid groups considered the schools to be a lost cause.
Carol approached Point West Rotary to fund books (Happy Readers program). The program teaches English and reading with animal-themed books. Through Rotary connections, they secured government commitment of 11 teachers.
To help with this cause they found it necessary to establish a Rotary Club in Zambia. They started it in South Luangwa area in 2013 with about 15 members. With that club's help they wrote and secured a Rotary grant to rebuild a school and create a library.
Libraries serve as reading centers adjacent to schools. Reading assistants are hired to teach fluent English. Children are excelling academically and progressing to secondary education because of this program. one result of this program was that about three years ago Zambia declared free secondary education. Challenge remains to ensure children pass English exams to continue schooling.
Carol shared that annual volunteer trips to Zambia to work with children has combined the safari experiences with educational work. Expand reading centers across Zambia as a model program has strengthen national education and stability through English literacy.
Past President Olmstead thanked Christine, Amber and Carol for the inspiring presentation and indicated that we looked forward to learning more about their future efforts.
Past President Olmstead rang the bell and closed the meeting at 12:57 P.M. He did not ask everyone to go "Share the Magic of Rotary," he just thanked everyone for allowing him to be President one more time, and then told everyone we are dark next week, the meeting is over, that's all folks.
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 part 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
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