District Governor Ricardo Loretta was with us last week and provided us with an update on district activities and Rotary in general. The Rotary emblem is the most recognized symbol in the world, according to Ricardo, and Rotary is helping people every minute of every day. On the district level, three RYLA camps are planned next year to accommodate the huge number of interested students. Also last week, we welcomed Chicago Sojourner Roland Catenacci back to Palms to Pines. Roland holds the record for most consecutive raffle wins. Great to see you again, Roland! Jim Eggers is working on breaking Roland’s record as he made it two wins in a row and collected $2 last week.

No speaker last week so we enjoyed Rotary Fellowship and discussed our Holiday Party. Consensus was to plan a Holiday Breakfast on Wednesday, December 19….our last meeting of the year. We’ll arrange an expanded menu and we’re currently seeking some Holiday entertainment….maybe we can even talk Santa into taking a break from his busy schedule and joining us for breakfast! Also last week, we continued to pledge our Happy Dollars to support victims of the recent wildfires in both Northern and Southern California.  

With us last week was Lexi Ward, Fund Development Coordinator for The First Tee of the Coachella Valley. The First Tee program teaches young people life lessons through golf. It provides a safe, healthy and positive environment to teach students golf skills through the program’s nine core values: Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance, Courtesy and Judgment. The First Tee operates at the Palm Desert Golf Center on Cook Street as well as in Indio and will soon expand to Palm Springs. The First Tee accepts students as young as four and the cost is just $140 per year. The program currently has over 100 active volunteers. The First Tee’s ninth annual golf tournament is coming up March 29. Also last week, we celebrated the return of Sojourner Jim Eggers. Sojourner Anita Ratchinsky was our lucky Raffle winner and took home $20 American!

Last week we heard from Sojourner Rick Gross who told us about his cancer treatment in Germany using low voltage DC current. Damaged cancerous cells have diminished ohms resistance and the direct current seeks them out and destroys them. Rick had two areas of melanoma and both were successfully treated with the therapy. According to Rick, the treatment can replace chemotherapy and surgery and works on most malignant and semi-malignant tumors as well as damaged cells in arthritic joints. It is also much less expensive than conventional treatments. Also last week, we welcomed back Sojourners Anita Ratchinsky, Ray Leaycraft and Bruce Christensen. It’s great to have you back with us! Lillian Roberts made it three raffle wins in a row last week but only managed to draw a three to take home $3 in the Rotary Raffle. This week’s pot should be over $50 so buy tickets!

With us last week was Jennifer Jank of the Coachella Valley Women Leaders Forum. Jennifer is a financial planner whose business is helping divorcing couples with their finances but she also knows a thing or two about financial scams and their warning signs. Jennifer started out with some of the more common scam attempts including phone calls from the “IRS” with threats of arrest unless taxes are paid immediately and phone calls from “grandchildren” seeking financial help because of an emergency. Common red flags include guaranteed return and any return higher than 6-8%. Good program! Also last week, we learned that Kay Van Zandt and Jerry Kress will be volunteering with the Read With Me program and Palms To Pines is getting a group together for the Foundation Gala. Lillian Roberts was a $7 winner in the Rotary Raffle.

District Governor Ricardo Loretta made his official visit to our club last week. DG Ricardo was joined by his wife Jennifer and he told us his Rotary story. He was a member in the 80s but never really became a Rotarian until he moved to the desert and joined the Palm Desert club and began volunteering for projects at Galilee Center in Mecca. While you don’t need to be in Rotary to volunteer, according to Ricardo, Rotary provides the volunteer opportunities. This Rotary year, Ricardo wants clubs to focus on improvement and growth. More than half of the 62 clubs in our Rotary district lost members last year and Ricardo wants to turn that around this year. Ricardo also told us that our own Charley Riggs is one of his Assistant Governors this year and he told us about a planned Holiday Fiesta in Palm Desert’s Civic Center Park on December 8 and a planned multi-district project in Mexicali in January. His Rotary Foundation Gala is planned for November 3. District Governor Ricardo recognized members Jim Brock and Margaret Claggett for their service to P2P and he presented Pres. Richard Karp with a replica of the Rotary Foundation's 100th anniversary bell provided by a 1,000 year old Italian company.