And We're Off and Running
by Lorine Parks
President Will Medina began his new term by promising us that he intends to put Rotary in the public eye, locally. “We’ll show them out there,” he said, “what we do, and then we’ll do even more.”
“We’ll grow our membership,” with new ideas from Public Relations Chair Matt Knox for a new web site and more presence on social networks such as Facebook.
“We’ll relate to what’s going on in Downey,” Will added, “and get our members excited about coming to meetings.” Exciting programs will help, and hint, so will reading the Hubbub. The Hubbub is lovingly written and produced with the sole purpose of building club morale and bringing us together every week in fellowship and cheer.
“We will try new types of fund raisers, and definitely will reach out to the youth of the community by sponsoring the always popular Carnival of Champions, a track meet event which is now for the Middle Schools,” President Will promised.
PROGRAM The Rotary International Convention in Sao Paulo, Brazil and the extension to Rio de Janeiro was “awesome,” according to President Will, who had arranged a slide show of his trip to the big event.
The most exciting moment for Will was the Carnivale, a gigantic show which had been especially arranged out of season just for the 22,000 Rotary conventioneers. Bleachers had been erected so everyone could watch the parade of the competing samba schools from all over the country. The cariocas from Rio try to outdo the Paulistanos from Sao Paulo, said Will, and both know they are best.
These pictures show President Will being greeted by costumed entertainers in green satin and wearing gold slippers. That’s Will with the black tennis shoes.
And wife Kari’s dress and flowers coordinated with the gorgeously appareled dancers.
We were treated to pictures of delicious Brazilian specialties, pastries and seafood, and shown several “adult” drinks. Will said that apparently after several adult drinks, communication becomes very easy, as Spanish and Portuguese begin to sound about the same.