Author Gretchen Peralta
Except for our usual Friday morning handshakes and hugs, there was much chittle, chattle and laughs before President Vanessa called us to “order”. There was a rather slow shaky state to musical rendition or Smile and America the Beautiful.
Being the Reporter, while usually is fun, it’s a bit difficult to get names of visitors and visiting Rotarians. Yeah, I’m trying to cover myself for any following mistakes. Nancy Storm introduced Lynn Sullivan a Rotarian from So. Pasadena, while Lori Raneri introduced her neighbors Terry and Chris Jacobson and Sharon. Sharon who? Why Brodie’s much better half! I’m not sure as that was all I caught.
There was a postcard from Clay Brandow who seems to be getting out in a socially responsible manner.
Announcements were kicked off by Brodie with a message from the Oktoberfest committee including on-line ticket sales to start (pass the message to friends, family and neighbors). Thanks to Justina for snagging 2 sponsors; and a press release is going out lickety split. Jim Smith made note of the Pence Galley Annual Auction which is, oh surprise, being held on-line; no registration fee, just go to pencegallery.cbo.io to bid often. President Vanessa reminded us of the Luna Vista Brew Fest THIS Saturday the 12th from 4-6:30 pm; tickets are $80 for 2; food is prepared by Mojo’s-Kitchen428 and includes ½ rack baby back ribs, tri-tip, potatoes and 3 types of salads and 6 x 16oz beers from 3 breweries.
Past President Tim Daleiden popped-up on his 1st shift as Sergeant and immediately badgered us for Happy Bucks in the Apocalyptic time. Andrew Yang has returned from a 2000 mike road trio taking his daughter to Northwestern. Dave Heard is happy with his 2nd ginger-haired granddaughter. Nancy Storm is awaiting her net great nephew sometime this weekend. Carolyn Stiver is happy about having flown in an ½ full plane to Mackinaw Island where it was 68 degree and raining. Meaghan Likes is thrilled to announce that our Pads Program has been taken on by the Chico Rotary Club for the girls in Mexico. So our little idea is beginning to travel the world. John Youmans was happy, but nothing new as that man is always happy about most everything. Our Sergeant Tim is happy for his upcoming 50th birthday next Tuesday the 15th. We also joined with the Woodland Sunrise Rotary and received $3500 from RI to support fresh milk and produce to MOW….yup that’s our money being returned to our community! Don Winters is busy moving his daughter home from Santa Cruz after a fire evacuation order. Tom Hale is pleased that 1800 students were off on a smooth start to learning. Manny Carbahal furiously tried to deny any family association to the burglar with the same last name who was arrested for throwing rocks at a Cadillac. This Reporter then got lost in the baseball stats being thrown around like fly balls but I did note that Larry Greene knows nothing about the Giants; Rose pegged the Chicago Cubs; Kristen Shepard and David Copp are both connected to Steve Nash; and Ken Firestone guessed something about a 1882 parade (gosh, he doesn’t look that old). Recognizing Labor Day, Duncan Hay guessed that Oregon was first to recognize Labor Day as a holiday in 1887 and Jim Smith reached, unsuccessfully into the recesses of his brain to guess that it was Grover Cleveland who signed the Labor Day into Federal Law in 1894.
As a reminder…..all fines are to go to Tom Read via Venmo and/or by check. 4 Way Test applies here.
Program of the day was by our Nancy Storm and Sharon Schauer Co-Chairs -Friends of the Yolo Crisis Nursery and Becky Heard Director of Development and Community Relations enlightening us on the Yolo Crisis Nursery. Beginning in 2001 the Nursey has grown and developed. As a side note, not surprisingly, Judi Berry was an original member of the Friends of the Crisis Nursery. Here are some of the highlights.
- The Crisis Nursery is open 24-7 all 365 days of the year; licensed for 6 infants and 6 toddlers; it’s free and voluntary for parents.
- Crisis Respite Day Care and Overnight Program is available to newborns through 5 yr olds whenever their parents face a challenge in providing safe care.
- Primary goals are to help prevent child abuse and neglect in providing respite for stressed parents and nurturing healthy and resilient children and families
- Special focus is trauma-informed care by trained staff as one of the only four crisis nurseries in California
- They have maintained care and operation through a developed COVID-19 response plan
- Highlights and statistics for 2019-2020 are many and involve an impressive 2,682safe stays with 692 children served; domestic violence is present in 86% of cases; 72% of families were at risk of homelessness; 99% of families avoided Child Welfare and 98% of families completed wrap-around services
- Preschool goals are aimed at promoting physical and emotional health; addresses developmental deficiencies so that entering kindergarten is a smoother process through trauma-informed care with lower staff to child ratios. Our Crisis Nursesry is the only program in California combining crisis care with specialized day care and preschool.
- Wrap-around services designed to leverage community resources and keep families intact and moving toward long-term stability. This gives parents real hope and future empowerment.
- There is a partnership with Yolo County Foster and Kinship program
- There are over 30 modules from Food/meal planning to budgeting to personal health in the Family Life Skills Program
- There is an evidenced based ABC (Attachment & Biobehavorial Catch-up) 10 week Program designed to promote healthier emotional expression, more secure attachments and normative cortisol production. The activity involves weekly videos for parents in the child’s main residence
- 2019-2020 Financials show that Income is 29% Foundation Support, 41% Government Grants and Program Contracts and 30% Fundraising. Expenses are 17% Management, 20% Development and Community Outreach and 66% Programs
Talking about fundraising, they remind us of a $20k Matching Gift Opportunity by Travis Credit Union Foundations with only $7500 left to the match goal! They are hoping to be able to have the Annual Crab Feed on March 13, 2021 so Save the Date.
Excuse the Reporter’s significant delay in getting this to you. That’s all for now Folks!