Apr 10, 2018-Rotary Forum

By Dick Dannells

Pres. Jeff King opened the meeting at 12:33 PM with the induction of a new member. Steve Curry came forward and invited perspective member Cale Kunkle and his girlfriend Sarah to come forward along with Cale’s sponsor Erik Mund,  whereupon he inducted Cale forthwith. Soon after Cale graduated from Cal Poly in 2015, he became a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch

Paul Holden asked for volunteers for this Saturday’s Highway cleanup beginning at 9 AM in Coco’s restaurant. Connie O’Henley announced that Interact is holding a fundraiser at Chipolte restaurant tomorrow, Wednesday, April 11 from 5 to 9 p.m. to raise money for foreign projects. Karen Zappia circulated a sign-up sheet for this Saturday’s soccer tournament from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM at the Mesa Middle School. Jenny Dierek reported on the major sponsors for the golf tournament. Linda Osty still needs items for the goodie bags. Erik Mund reported that we have 80 tee sponsors and urges all members to sign sponsor board if they have not done so already. Connie O’Henley reported that we have 32 teams that have signed up but not all have signed the necessary registration forms. There is still room for 4 more teams. Ashlea Boyer is looking for double the amount of raffle prizes that she has so far. Erik Mund reported that the softball polio fundraiser will be held from 1 to 5 PM on April 22 at the Pismo Beach ball diamond. Jack Hardy announced that the Summer Sizzle will be held at the usual time on Saturday, July 21. Pres. Jeff King announced that as part of the RI's tree planting project for the year, our club will be planning 1 tree per member during the period after the golf tournament from May 8 to June 1. Steve Curry has 60 oak seedlings that will be ready for planting during that period. Don Weber as sponsor presented a check to Tom, the representative from Coastal Christian School in Arroyo Grande. The check be used to purchase IPads for junior high schoolers.

The Five Cities Men’s Club was formed in 1996 and has engaged in a number of improvements to Five Cities. When they received a recent financial settlement, they used the funds to enter into a memo of understanding with the city to convert the Methodist camp located on Launa Lane just north of the Arroyo Grande Women’s Club into Camp Arroyo Grande. They were able to reach an agreement for purchasing this property for only $2 .5 million, which if the land had been turned over real estate developers it would’ve gone for many millions of dollars. The existing camp, while run down and will require a tremendous amount of work, it has a swimming pool, a tabernacle and 11 cabins, many of which are badly in need of repair. The Methodist church had been losing money on this camp for many years and was willing to sell camp because Men’s Club's proposed use of the property fell within the purpose for which the land was intended. As Mike said, sometimes it is good to be lucky than to be smart. The  Men’s Club will provide such organizations as the Boy Scouts of America and Kern Environmental Education Program environmental education program (KEEP), which have already signed up, with camping facilities. Consequently, for the next year and ½ of the summer thereafter, Camp Arroyo Grande will be filled up. This will enable them to breakeven.

By Dick Dannells

Pres. Jeff King opened the meeting at 12:33 PM with the induction of a new member. Steve Curry came forward and invited perspective member Cale Kunkle and his girlfriend Sarah to come forward along with Cale’s sponsor Erik Mund,  whereupon he conducted Cale forthwith. Soon after Cale graduated from Cal Poly in 2015, he became a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch

Paul Holden asked for volunteers for this Saturday’s Highway cleanup beginning at 9 AM in Coco’s restaurant. Connie O’Henley announced that Interact is holding a fundraiser at Chipolte restaurant tomorrow Wednesday, April 11 from 5 to 9 PM to raise money for foreign projects. Karen Zappia circulated a sign-up sheet for this Saturday’s soccer tournament from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM at the Mesa Middle School. Jenny Dierek reported on the major sponsors for the golf tournament. Linda Osty still needs items for the goodie bags. Erik Mund reported that we have 80 tee sponsors and urges all members to sign sponsor board if they have not done so already. Connie O’Henley reported that we have 32 teams that have signed up but not all have necessarily signed the necessary registration forms. There is still room for four more teams. Ashlea Boyer is looking for double the amount of raffle prizes that she has so far. Erik Mund reported that the softball polio fundraiser will be held from 1 to 5 PM on April 22 at the Pismo Beach ball diamond. Jack Hardy announced that the Summer Sizzle will be held on Saturday, July 21. Pres. Jeff King announced that as part of this year’s RI tree planting project, our club will be planning one tree per member during the period after the golf tournament from May 8 to June 1. Steve Curry has 60 oak seedlings that will be ready for planting during that period. Don Weber as sponsor presented a check to Tom, the representative from Coastal Christian School in Arroyo Grande. The check be used to purchase IPads for junior high students.

The 5-Cities Men’s Club was formed in 1996 and has engaged in a number of improvements to Five Cities. When they received a recent financial settlement, they used the funds to enter into a memo of understanding with the city to convert the Methodist camp located on Launa Lane just north of the Arroyo Grande Women’s Club into Camp Arroyo Grande. They were able to reach an agreement for purchasing this property for only $2 .5 million, which if land had been turned over real estate developers it would’ve gone for many millions of dollars. The existing camp, while run down and will require tremendous amount of work, it has a swimming pool, a tabernacle and 11 cabins, many of which are badly in need of repair. The Methodist church had been losing money on this camp for many years and was willing to sell camp because their Club’s proposed use of the property fell within the purpose for which the land was intended. As Mike said, sometimes it is good to be lucky than to be smart. The Men’s Club will provide such organizations as the Boy Scouts of America and Kern Environmental Education Program environmental education program (KEEP), which have already signed up, with camping facilities. Consequently, for the next year and ½ of the summer thereafter, Camp Arroyo Grande will be filled up. This will enable them to breakeven.