“May is the most beautiful month of the year, a month alive with warm color. The flowers and trees are in full bloom, and even the sun joins this rhapsody be emitting warmer rays.”
— Lillian Berliner, And The Month Was May: A Memoir
Coming Up | Looking Ahead
May 22: The Reggie Stephens Foundation
The Reggie Stephens Foundation was created to help the youth and student-athletes in Santa Cruz County seek, believe, and achieve their goals in sports, arts, education, and culture. Reggie has enlisted the help of mentors, teachers, and coaches to better students’ mindsets in school, training, and life. Reggie coaches young student-athletes to reach college. RSF has an arts division led by Jason
Williams (Art by Willz), a local artist who shares his techniques and experiences as an artist. Both Reggie and Jason have backgrounds in the music industry and help educate and further kids’ dreams in the music business. The RSF helps the youth in Santa Cruz, the Central Coast, and beyond to realize that a strong work ethic, hard work, good grades,
May 29 – 5th Thursday, NO MEETING
Social at Woodhouse Blending & Brewing - details below
The 5th Thursday is a Thursday that is the 5th Thursday in the month. For this Rotary year, our esteemed president has decided to give us all back the gift of time (which is a statement I never understood since the time was always ours to give and not theirs to give but I digress....) and so there is no meeting.
Recent Meetings
May 8: New Members Red Badge Bio
We met two new-ish Rotarians, Carol Ann Flint and Kalani Stone, who presented their Red Badge Bios.
May 15: X Academy Robotics
The X Academy provides STEAM enrichment programs to kids in the Santa Cruz County region.
Our ROTM for May is Dr. Farris Sabbah! Thank you Farris for all your work on the speech contest. And for just being an outstanding guy and community leader.
Member Birthdays
Tom Crahen 5/6
Chris Piro 5/7
Kara Capaldo 5/13
Peggy Pollard 5/14
Romney Dunbar 5/16
John Gaallagher 5/22
Sharon Hoffman-Manning 5/22
Janet Russell Keller 5/23
Wedding Anniversaries
Peggy and Bob Pollard 38 yrs
Penny and Chris Leonard 16 yrs
Member Anniversaries
Roger Swenson 27 yrs
Faris Sabbah 8 yrs
Heidi Luckenbach 1 yr
Kalani Stone 1 yr
Club Happenings and Other News
Upcoming Community Service Events
-- Tiffany Wise-West --
Sat, May 17: Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary's EPIC Day of service included 35 club members young satellite club members and community members supporting local nonprofit Groundswell Coastal Ecology to complete coastal restoration work on Santa Cruz' iconic West Cliff Drive. Club members removed over 2 tons of invasive ice plant along the coastal bluffs and planted watered mulched and fenced native plants. This EPIC Day of service event was the 2nd of 4 coastal restoration workdays over an 8 month overall project timeframe. The Club also donated $1000 and will dedicate a $500 District Earth Day grant to defray the cost of the native plants.
Sat June 14, 10-12 pm; 10 volunteers needed. During River Health Days, we will be removing invasive plant species and weeding and watering native plants along the lower San Lorenzo River. During the rainy season, we will also be planting new native plant seedlings. Please wear comfortable gardening clothes, including sturdy closed-toe shoes and long pants. Bring sun protection and a reusable water bottle. Equipment, gloves and light refreshments will be provided. Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. We will meet on the east riverbank between the Soquel Ave and Laurel Street bridges. Free parking is available in the CWC parking lot at 107 Dakota Ave. Paid parking is also available on Dakota Avenue or across the river in downtown Santa Cruz. The closest parking garage is at 601 Front Street.
Sat, Jul 12: Coastal Restoration Workday 3 of 4 and TBD August Farm Workday with Common Roots Farm
Deep Thoughts from President Ari
