Your Weekly Get Up & Go has been Updated!

     Music, food, conversation, Oktoberfest committee sign-ups, a bell ringing and singing?  Must be Friday morning at Rotary.  Funny how that leap is made. 

After our A-V Guru, Andrew Yang, rushed to save, Gary, our microphone deficient President, we realized there were no visiting Rotarians, that is if you don’t consider Mr. Scandinavian transplant, George Warner , who has returned to our fold.  And Irena Asmundson did bring along her uncle Rod as a visitor. 

     Ma

ke no mistake we ran smack into Announcements as President Gary searched for Dennis Lindsay who was at the table shamelessly hawking Oktoberfest tickets and cajoling members to sign-up for Oktoberfest committees. Followed by Rose Cholewinski graciously reminding us of need to provide raffle items or money. Who was then followed by Patsy Inouye looking for decorating help (no talent needed). Whew, did you follow that?   Remember it takes a village, or at least a whole club, to make our events successful!  Not to be outdone, Roy Kroener, back from vacation in time for an Aggie Tail Gate party at his home on Miller Drive between 3:30-5:30 prior to the Aggie game this Saturday, September 12th.   If you want game tickets, ya best contact Roy! 

     Committee Reports let us know that the International Service Committee is evaluating numerous projects.  Their next meeting is October 14^th if you might be interested in seeing what they are up to.  The Communication Committee is boasting a super Reporter committee for getting the information on our meeting happenings to them rickety split.  I happen to know that the Community Service Committee is also looking at a number of potential projects at their next meeting on Tuesday, September 15^th.  See, just a bit of something for everyone!

     Ever energetic (puts the Energizer Bunny to shame), John Youmans scrambled to the front to help Sponsor, Andrew Newman (read “getting involved”) introduce our newest member Ken Firestein, a retired UCD librarian.  After admitting to being interested in Community Service (see above note), singing, traveling and doing a stint as a cabbie in Manhattan, he repeated after John to “swear to be the Best Rotarian and use the 4 Way Test”. 

     President Gary reminded us of the District-wide Foundation and Membership meeting (open to each and every one of us) on Saturday, September 26^th to be followed by a District-wide Grant Management Seminar on Saturday, October 10^th.   Begin to get involved and see how Rotary runs.   Pres Gary also took a moment to let us know that Larry Olsen, Program Chair extraordinaire has our programs lined up through December.  On a sadder note, our Hawaiian chieftain, Shel Givens, has given notice of need to leave Rotary due family illness. 

     Bah-hum bug….Larry Olsen, Sergeant of the Day (SOD), strolled up to remind us how happy were going be to dispense some of how hard earned greenbacks for a moments recognition.   Dick Berry was sharing a famous date of 9/4 in that 20 years ago he lost his job; later on same date had 4way heart bypass and most recently on same date carved a new sign for the Church at 5^th and C.  Nancy Storm was complimenting the committee on the attractive Oktoberfest tickets.  Gretchen was happy to have had Chuck Snipes bail her out of Meals On Wheels when her work schedule changed.  Newer member, Sean Yao welcomed his new 3^rd child last Tuesday.  Both mom and baby girl doing spiffy.  Sean also shared that the UCD Symphony Conductor has released a record high on the BBC Music choice.  Brian Sway was fined for need to purchase some Simple Green to clean up after vomiting following baseball lead.  Brian, a call to our nurse-in-residence might have been less expensive.   Our SOD then tried to compare Winfred Roberson’s bravery and loyalty to John McCain and Louis Zamperini when in the 4^th grade, as the key monitor, he blamed the “theft of secured lollypops” on his friends….then tried to back pedal stating he didn’t  “know the rules”….shame on you Winfred!  Mama Elf Vanessa had to answer for a lack of an airplane seat for Ella Sophia on their recent trip as rumor has it our littlest Elf was put in the overhead luggage compartment.  Football season is opening and Chuck Snipes got some bragging rights for Georgia’s 35.5 point favorite.   Rumor has it that a few coaches were fired….not our Jim Boy Belenis.  Joanna Padilla had a rude awakening when she totaled her car….no significant physical damage thankfully.  Immediate “concern” caused Will Portello to enquire about her legal needs….such a guy.  Mitch Mysiliwiec, newly employed by the FBI, rented his son a drone to “look into windows”.  Hellooo, can you say misdemeanor and Peeping Tom?  Will, are you still there? Seems we have a new rock star in our midst, Tom Cross has had his base guitar strumming picture floating around.  Seems Rea was caught using her allotment of words as we actually heard her utter 3 at the meeting, “I’m standing up”.  Come on girl, speak up.

     Speaker of the day was another of our own, Winfred Roberson who enlightened us about the trends of our educational system and the goal to eradicate illiteracy.  In case you needed justification, “the prison system determines the number of beds needed based upon 3^rd grade reading scores”!  They are finally embracing the concept the “instruction alone does not ensure learning” and never will without connecting with students and understand learning options.   It is the development of these student and teacher relationships that will restore excellence through equality. 

     We have long learned that instructional pedagogy alone does not lead to optimum learning.  There is a need to address the social, emotional and physical aspects of “student wellness”.  In developing these teacher relationships, the school district has structured wrap around services that include recognizing students in stress as early as possible and providing the mental health and social services necessary for their academic success.

     Winfred then went on to discuss and explain the new STEAM program concept.  STEAM standing for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts/Ag and Mathematics.  This concept is in response to the 2011 study that noted 20% of all jobs required a significant level of knowledge of at least one, often more areas of STEAM.  Classes and courses are to be structured on college and career pathways with an additional importance of redefining success and putting a more positive emphasis on the use of community colleges.  Half of all STEAM jobs are available to workers without a four-year college degree, and these jobs pay $53,000/year on average—a wage 10 percent higher than jobs with similar educational requirements.

     Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, Yolo Counties received a Northern California Pathways Consortium Grant that provided DJUSD $302K over the next two years to develop their STEAM program focusing in Ag Science and Culinary Arts. We are already going forward with areas of focus that include Agriculture and Natural Resources, Information Technology, Engineering and Design, Transportation, Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation, Fashion and Interior Design and the Arts, Media and Entertainment.   Now our greatest 

challenge is to integrate STEAM thinking into school curriculum. And to increase student interest and participation in CTE/STEAM courses, through the design development and expansion of the CTE/STEAM pathways and offerings at DHS.  This will involve building CTE/STEAM community support network for students and teachers as well as seeking CTE/STEAM related internship opportunities for students. 

     It truly takes a village and new pathways to educate and develop careers for better equipped, future communities.

     This reporter didn’t care who won Draw of the Day as it wasn’t her, and they won a Free Breakfast.