Weekly News & Views by: Carolyn Stiver
Photographs by: Patsy Inouye
“Rise & Shine!”
Precisely at 7:06 we start the singing of “Smile” & “America” to the recorded tunes of David Morse the Senior.
Rose is showing off the new Microphone collar which brings us just one step closer to CNN!
Visitors:Matt Dolcini brought his three lovely daughters to hear the program this morning.ten Shepherd is visiting for the very last time because she is being inducted as a member today!
Emma Brightbard Rasmussen and Sara Oide are here to give an update on their experiences at Camp Royal.
Keith Watenpaugh introduced several guests presenting on energy efficiency.
John Youmans introduced David Murphy
David Kopp introduced a friend whose name escaped me.
Chris Martin introduced his daughter Diana who is selling Girl Scout cookies to be included in care packages for persons in the service.
Junior Rotarian Ella Errecarte was re-introduced by her mom, Vanessa.
Postcards:
Clay Brandow went to Modesto to see Ben Brandow get sworn in as a police officer.
In Memoria:
It’s been a year since Susanne Rockwell passed away so President Rose encouraged everyone who wanted to take the mic for a moment to share a remembrance. Meaghan put together a wonderful slide show full of photos of Susanne while everyone spoke.
This reporter couldn’t catch all of the wonderful things said, but suffice to say that her service to Rotary and her bright and engaging personality were very, very fondly remembered. Some comments were a little hard to hear as they were spoken through tears. We miss you Susanne.
Induction:
Chuck Cunningham is sponsoring Kristen Shepherd as a new member. She is being inducted formerly by our very John Youmans. It was great to have John back on the stage conducting one of his famously fun inductions! Kristen promised to be “The very best Rotarian she can be” and we welcomed her with our usual receiving line!
Announcements:
Outing to the Kings game is Thursday, April 4. Contact Rose if you want to go. Tickets are also available for the game on April 7 if you are interested.
Brodie Hamilton - tomorrow at 2 p.m. online auction at the Bike Hall of Fame.
Meaghan Likes - Trivia night is March 15, 7 p.m. at the Senior Center. Pricing can be individual or you could sponsor a table and invite a non-profit to come and participate and earn some money.
Sergeant Denis Lindsay fined Meaghan, Chuck S. And Patsy because the announcement wasn’t brief.
Yolo Crisis Nursery’s Krab Feed for Kids is on March 16. There aren’t many seats left but contact Nancy Storm if you want tickets.
There’s an International fund raising dinner for children in Armenia. They want to build a playground for kids near the border. March 14 at I-House.
Tim Daleiden. - we are going to be able to host an exchange student! Details to follow. Please contact Tim if you’re interested in hosting. (Reporter’s note: I’ve hosted exchange students twice over the years and it is an incredibly rewarding experience! Please consider it.)
Fines:
John McNamera: For being here BEFORE 7,Brodie Hamilton: fined $5 for a photo of him conversing with a very tall rabbit.
Jack Latow: fined $5 because Jack was uncharacteristically nice to last week’s psychiatrist.
Nancy Storm, Dave Heard and Rick Stomberg are being fined because Beyond the Garden Gate is closing. Nancy paid the fine, but Dave and Rick gave happy bucks.
Irena Asmundsen - fined because her accordion lessons are going well. March 22 she will bring it and play for the Rotary club.
Engineers: Fined $5 because it is National Engineers Week
Happy Bucks: Vanessa.
Keith was awarded a Centennial medal from the Institute on International Education on his recent trip to NY. The award is for innovation and leadership in "student mobility” - primarily for work he’s been doing since the second year of the Syrian Civil war. The institute cited Watenpaugh for his “friendship, guidance and dedication” in support of its mission, and made specific reference to his Article 26 Backpack project that uses face-to-face counseling and cloud-based technology to help refugees and other displaced people document and share their educational accomplishments. Launched in June 2018, Article 26 Backpack already has about 1,000 people using it. Many congratulations, Keith. We’re proud of you!!!
Dick Bourne - happy bucks for Dick Berry because he made a beautiful sign for their new “Castle” in Tahoe.
Meaghan - happy bucks for Dick Berry for hosting his Black Bear Diner “make up” Rotary meetings. Meaghan was in danger of being fined by Sargeant Denis for some of the late GU & G issues. This reporter stepped in to pay Meaghan’s fine because Meaghan received the December notes in February and posted as soon as she could.
Denis Lindsay - fined himself? Because he’s finally officially retiring on March 18!
Camp Royal report - Overall a great experience for our two young guests!
SPEAKER
Tatiana Kunz is here to share with us some of the ways Rotary can help with youth programs! She’s a third year environmental policy major at UCD.
YRYLA (Young Rotary Youth Leadership Association)
YRYLA is leadership development and personal development primarily focused on 8th graders. Quite unique. There are only 4 programs currently in effect. Tatiana is involved in the “Rocky Mountain” YRYLA based out of Utah. She was a counselor for two years after which she was able to apply to be a head counselor.
Some of the written objectives of YRYLA are:
Push Personal Limits - Getting outside of comfort zones. One of the first activities of camp, is that students are asked to stand heal to toe and sit down in the lap of the person behind them. It pushes their comfort zones.
Synergy
Confidence and Trust - Step out of their comfort zones—be confident and trust.
Courage - a ropes course helps push their own boundaries and also trust their own skills.
Passion to Action - encourage kids to think about how they can turn things they are passionate about into a service project back home.
Empathy and Mindfulness - emphasizing that they are not alone in their troubles and that they should be aware of what may be happening with people who are in their lives. Mindfulness is emphasized through awareness of their body and breathing.
Tatiana feels this has been the most influential thing in her life and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the growth in the kids as a counselor as well as the learning she experienced about herself.
“There’s always more to learn—I learn more every year.”
Why does it matter? Society today requires that young people grow up more quickly than ever, but they are still kids and need to have the tools in order to handle some of the challenges ahead of them and figure out who they are as young adults. They need help and guidance to determine their values.
YRYLA in District 5160 - Tatiana has a dream to try to launch a task force team to look at the pilot of the program she wants to initiate in the summer of 2020. She is looking for support and volunteers from this district if possible.
VIDEO - “How do you become family and BFFs in 5 days?” “What does it feel like to be privileged?” “to be disadvantaged?” “Challenging yourself means to trust yourself and others”. “Challenge stereotypes.” “Song and dance are critical.” “Think, plan, work together.”
“Go out into the world, be your best, authentic self and spread kindness in everything you do.”
Questions:
Clay Brandow - Cell phones? Not allowed, and kids seem pretty ok with it.
Bill Kopper - What kind of assistance is she looking for? Not so much monetary right now, but wanting involvement from Rotary and Rotaract.
Will Portillo - What kind of facility and what time of year is she looking for? Any time of summer would work depending on availability.
Nancy Storm- Does it conflict with Camp Royal? They usually go first week of June right after school is out. Tatiana would like to coordinate with Royal.
Question: Do kids just go one year? Students are allowed to come the summer before 8th grade, or Junior or Senior year. Two years max.
John McNamera: What kind of facility is needed? Permanent? Any facility could be adapted to needs, but permanent facility would be ideal.
Draw of the day: $400. This reporter won a Free Breakfast!!!
That’s it for today. Good night, and good luck!