At our Virtual Meeting last week, Marilyn Sanderson, president of Rancho Mirage Rotary (and Jack Cottrell’s significant other), gave us impromptu insight into how her club picked up eight new members last year. Thanks Marilyn! Also last week, Pres. Kelli Cox asked each member to come up with a local charity which our club could help. To help, we need funds so Kelli also asked members to research various online fundraising activities our club could pursue. Finally, we’re also looking for some fun online games our members could enjoy each Wednesday morning.

We held our first attempt at a Virtual Meeting last Wednesday and nine members joined us. Winning the most distant award was member Martin Kubelik checking in from Prague and Sojourner Anita Ratchinsky was second. It was wonderful to see fellow members and Sojourners. Kay Van Zandt was unable to be with us because Jerry De La Cruz, her significant other, suffered a severe heart attack last Sunday and is hospitalized in ICU. Our last report indicates his condition is improving but please continue to keep Jerry and Kay in your thoughts and prayers. We’re still feeling our way with Virtual Meetings but we plan to eventually incorporate regular meeting segments like Happy Dollar collection and speaker presentations into our Virtual Meetings. Please take an hour out of your busy day to join us at this week’s meeting. You never know who will join us!

With us last week was PDG Helene Kalfuss of Palm Springs Rotary. Helene is our District Global Grants Chair and has years of experience with the workings of the Rotary Foundation. When a donation is made to the Rotary Foundation, the funds are invested and the investment interest is what is used to fund Foundation projects around the world. The original principal is returned to the Rotary district after three years and that money comes back to local Rotary clubs as district designated funds. Those funds can then be contributed to additional Rotary projects to get even more mileage from a donation. Helene told us about international projects she has visited where Foundation money is used to provide low cost artificial limbs to people who could otherwise never afford them. Artificial arms cost as little as $50 and, although low tech, allow disabled people to function. Helene also talked about a project in India which trains the blind to work in call centers. This is one of several projects our Palms To Pines Foundation is considering helping to fund. Also last week, we learned we’re still waiting for an accounting of how the Tour de Palm Springs Beer Garden went and our Happy Dollars this month will go to the Rotary Foundation in memory of former P2P member and District 5330 Governor Ken Roberts. Jerry Kress had a 50-50 chance to pull an Ace and take home $83 but he only managed a $7 win. If we pull your ticket this week you’re an automatic winner!

Last week we heard from Arthur Kimbell with the Riverside County Department of Education. Arthur heads up a number of alternative education programs for students who have been expelled or who are incarcerated in the Juvenile Hall in Indio. The goal of all of the programs is to get students back into regular classrooms or to provide them with skills so they can become productive in society. Several of the community schools he oversees offer hospitality industry training. Also last week, Martin Kubelik was honored with his sixth Paul Harris Fellow and we had the pleasure of inducting our newest Rotarian, Kamryn Hafer. Kamryn is a client services associate for Anchor Wealth Management. Welcome to Palms To Pines, Kamryn!

With us last week was Angela Allen, Development Manager for Olive Crest. This organization has helped families for 47 years and has been active here in the Coachella Valley since 2001. Olive Crest offers an alternative to the foster care system. Also last week, we introduced our new and improved Rotary Raffle. Not only will we have our usual 50-50 raffle but we’ll also have a second raffle item for another lucky winner. Prospective member Kamryn Hafer won a Rotary coffee mug filled with candy and Pres. Margaret Claggett drew a queen in the 50-50 raffle and took home $20. Our Rotarian of the Week (Jerry Kress this week) is responsible for providing the second raffle prize.

Last week we heard from Alexis Ortega, director of community engagement for the LGBT Community Center of the Desert. The Center is located in Palm Springs and had a modest beginning in the early 2000s. It has since grown into a full service center with a variety of activities, classes, social events and a weekly food bank for the LGBT community. It currently has a $2 million annual budget. Alexis is a Palm Springs native and has worked in LGBT causes for over 10 years. Also last week, we held our annual meeting and elected officers for the 2020-21 Rotary year. Congratulations to Kelli Cox, President-Elect, and to Dana Tarnow, President-Elect Nominee. The club also approved updates to our club Bylaws. Finally, Lillian Roberts, who faithfully purchases $5 worth of raffle tickets each week, was the lucky Rotary Raffle winner and took home $6.