“We’re falling like ten pins,” I said to John Lacey after the meeting. Rich Strayer is the latest to tumble. Mike Pohlen told us that Rich had fallen and broken both his arms – So competitive of him, I broke only one. And he hit his head. A card or call would be appreciated. Get-well wishes, Rich.

The Announcement session showed exactly how Rotarians are involved in day to day service projects. “Have fun doing good,” as Past President Rick Lively used to tell us.

For example, Jazlyn Acebal announced that the Downey Federal Credit Union is holding a Halloween event in their parking lot this Thursday, to keep kids safe and off the street. Candy drop-offs would be appreciated from club members. Jazlyn admitted that “I put the whole thing together.”

Joyce Yasumura’s Desert Reign Church has had the same idea, with a Family Fall Festival scheduled for Monday Oct. 31, Halloween itself. The free event features carnival games, jumpers, and candy.

The weekly presentation of the book for the Downey City Library’s Children’s Room is an instance of everyone one in the club contributing to Childhood Literacy. Via your club dues, over a year, each member will have paid for one of the books, so thank you again.

The impending Rotary Golf Tournament for the Arc brought out Paul Mathys and Raul Lopez to ask for more volunteers to assist Committee members on the big day Friday November 4. Many Club members are involved in the Committee and are playing.

Showing exactly where the money for the Golf Tournament will go, Emilio Sosa, the Arc’s Director, invited everyone in the club to a four-course dinner that the Arc’s Culinary Arts program will prepare. Reservations are needed as the occasion is limited to thirty diners, $30 per person on Thursday November 18 in the Arc’s Banquet Room. This will be a demonstration of how the Arc can help pay for itself, when they cater an occasion. To improve their efforts, they are looking for some new kitchen equipment. So, have fun and do good.

Barbara Lamberth reminded us that the festive Soul Concert that the Rotary Foundation Celebration is putting on will provide both the fun and the good, with a jazz and reggae concert at the Novo at LA Live, formerly the Microsoft Theatre now a private club catered exclusively by Wolfgang Puck. Glittering entertainment and an afternoon of camaraderie, as always.

The money goes to Rotary International’s Foundation for its programs, like the Grants to clubs Not everyone is aware that the club gets back the money it invests in Global projects, after two or three years of operation. The Foundation requires that the grants themselves be self-sustaining because they include pay-back clauses from the groups that have now benefitted to the point where they can do that. Arch Klum would approve. Call Barbara or Joyce for reservations, for the Nov 20 event. Our Downey Club members will sit together.

The RAFFLE brought a surprise- the second ticket called belonged to Paul Mathys, and Paul picked the Joker out of the deck. The pot begins to grow again next week.

Rich Kellogg from Hannah’s Helpers, a support group for foster parents that is part of the ministry of Calvary Chapel in Downey, gave a detailed presentation. There are over 22,000 foster children in Los Angeles County, a number equivalent to all those enrolled in the Downey Unified School District, and there is a great need for more foster parents offering foster homes.

With scarce resources, foster children don’t usually do as well in school as their contemporaries. There are more teen pregnancies, more classroom failures, more incarcerations after being in schools. Many drop out.

To encourage the kids, Hannah’s Helpers put on parties at Easter and helps foster teens at Christmas. They give them something as simple and basic as duffel bags, so the kids don’t have to lug their belongings in plastic garbage bags. To encourage the foster parents, the Helpers send Father’s Day cards and Mother’s Day cards, to tell them they are appreciated.

Hannah’s Helpers partners with Olive Crest in Bellflower, a leader in the prevention of child abuse. Other partners make it possible for Hannah’s Helpers to extend their outreach. Camp Alandale is a summer and winter mountain camp program in Angeles Oaks, Southern California, for neglected and abused children. Helpers have been camp counselors and clean-up workers at the camps. Refuge Casa Ninos Con Fe Hogar is an orphanage in Mexico.

A scholarship is offered that can be applied to a trade school as well as a community college or a university. Fundraisers are Paint Parties and yard sales, plus donations are always welcome. It’s volunteerism like this that makes the world a better place.