Jan 15, 2019-Rotary Forum

Pres. Scott opened the meeting at 12:35 PM by having Rae Breen come forward to receive her permanent blue badge after completing the necessary steps. He also read letters from Grace Bible Church and St. Pat’ s Outreach respectively thanking us for supporting their party for foster children and for the cash and nonperishable food that were given for admission to Linda Osty's sponsored Christmas movie. He then had guest introductions after being reminded to do so.

Pres. Scott was asked spin the wheel and was charged $25 IDs for having to be reminded of guest introductions. Deenie Dotson donated $30 Crappy Bucks for having a day that nothing went right. Erik Mund paid $35 IDs for his and Lindsay’s 22^nd wedding anniversary. Harlan Silver’s birthday cost him a whopping $100 IDs. Connie O’Henley’s 23 years with Rotary cost her $46 IDs. Greg Baker’s 13 years with Rotary cost him $91 IDs. Lee Ann Liscombe’s birthday was recognized without any payment of IDs.

Pres. Scott announced we still need volunteers for the Grover Beach Exploration Station Project work party on Saturday, January 26. He also announced that because of Paul Holden’s knee surgery we are rescheduling the Adopt A Highway cleanup for a date to be announced.

Ashlea Boyer introduced Jan Nichols who is the first Executive Director of the Coalition having served that post since 2012. She has had a long history with nonprofit organizations. Jan began by sharing a story of a homeless family with a 3-year-old child named Isaac who were forced to live all summer camping in the dunes. When she finally was able to provide them with a home in the fall, it was with great joy she heard Isaac exclaim when he entered the home, “It has a bathtub.” Just in the last 4 months rents, have increased by 50% in this area. 25 to 40% of the United States homeless population live in California. Communities all over the country are trying to solve the homeless problem. Illness driven bankruptcies have dramatically increased over the year.

She has moved 100 families into homes in 2018. It is cheaper in the long run to keep the people from losing their home in the first place. She told one story of a family that had been sleeping in their car and heating their meals with a microwave. When she finally provided housing for them, she got a letter from the family that enclosed a picture of their Thanksgiving dinner. She also told the story of a homeless youth that tried again to get into the detox program after 4 failed treatments. She was all set to send him on his way, but her, but she supervisor intervened. A year later he returned, but she did not recognize him because he had been straight for the past year. He came back to say thanks and to try to get a job with the Coalition. She was sorry that there were none available, but she was so thankful to be able to help him. The Coalition does not have any property, but relies on finding partners such as St. Pat’s Outreach to provide homes for the homeless. They now have a Youth Case Manager to assist with the 18-24-year-olds who are their biggest problem today.

Pismo Beach 5 Cities continues to do inspiring things: by supporting International grants, District-wide assistance and local charities while getting dirty doing so and by keeping our eye on the ball and holding up the long traditions of Driving To Inspire!

Pres. Scott opened the meeting at 12:35 PM by having Rae Breen come forward to receive her permanent blue badge after completing the necessary steps. He also read letters from Grace Bible Church and St. Pat’ s Outreach respectively thanking us for supporting their party for foster children and for the cash and nonperishable food that were given for admission to Linda Osty's sponsored Christmas movie. He then had guest introductions after being reminded to do so.

Pres. Scott was asked spin the wheel and was charged $25 IDs for having to be reminded of guest introductions. Deenie Dotson donated $30 Crappy Bucks for having a day that nothing went right. Erik Mund paid $35 IDs for his and Lindsay’s 22^nd wedding anniversary. Harlan Silver’s birthday cost him a whopping $100 IDs. Connie O’Henley’s 23 years with Rotary cost her $46 IDs. Greg Baker’s 13 years with Rotary cost him $91 IDs. Lee Ann Liscombe’s birthday was recognized without any payment of IDs.

Pres. Scott announced we still need volunteers for the Grover Beach Exploration Station Project work party on Saturday, January 26. He also announced that because of Paul Holden’s knee surgery we are rescheduling the Adopt A Highway cleanup for a date to be announced.

Ashlea Boyer introduced Jan Nichols who is the first Executive Director of the Coalition having served that post since 2012. She has had a long history with nonprofit organizations. Jan began by sharing a story of a homeless family with a 3-year-old child named Isaac who were forced to live all summer camping in the dunes. When she finally was able to provide them with a home in the fall, it was with great joy she heard Isaac exclaim when he entered the home, “It has a bathtub.” Just in the last 4 months rents, have increased by 50% in this area. 25 to 40% of the United States homeless population live in California. Communities all over the country are trying to solve the homeless problem. Illness driven bankruptcies have dramatically increased over the year.

She has moved 100 families into homes in 2018. It is cheaper in the long run to keep the people from losing their home in the first place. She told one story of a family that had been sleeping in their car and heating their meals with a microwave. When she finally provided housing for them, she got a letter from the family that enclosed a picture of their Thanksgiving dinner. She also told the story of a homeless youth that tried again to get into the detox program after 4 failed treatments. She was all set to send him on his way, but her, but she supervisor intervened. A year later he returned, but she did not recognize him because he had been straight for the past year. He came back to say thanks and to try to get a job with the Coalition. She was sorry that there were none available, but she was so thankful to be able to help him. The Coalition does not have any property, but relies on finding partners such as St. Pat’s Outreach to provide homes for the homeless. They now have a Youth Case Manager to assist with the 18-24-year-olds who are their biggest problem today.

Pismo Beach 5 Cities continues to do inspiring things: by supporting International grants, District-wide assistance and local charities while getting dirty doing so and by keeping our eye on the ball and holding up the long traditions of Driving To Inspire!