Your Weekly GU&G has been Updated!

 

     Our meeting was held at the downstairs venue at Odd Fellows building. Breakfast included scrambled eggs, bacon, fruit and homemade breads. President 

Gary Johns rang the bell at 7:03am and Andrew Yang played the piano as members sang Smile and America the Beautiful.  Visiting Guests:  Dave Morse introduced John Morgan, retired law professor, and our guest speaker Julie Harlow, Vanessa Errecarte introduced Aaron Nitzkin with Solar Roof Dynamics,  Ray Kroener introduced nephew Ian Sai-gnaun and wife Nod.  Keith Watenpaugh introduced his son.

 

     We all wish Dick Morrissey a speedy recovery, as he was “telecommuting” from Sutter Davis Hospital. 

 

     On to Announcements: Vanessa Errecarte, reminded members that the Community Service Committee is meeting January 27, 7pm, 707 4^th Street, Suite 200. A flyer was circulated to members courtesy of Meaghan Likes, about Trivia Night.  Keith Watenpaugh reminded folks that the Davis City council will recognize the members of the winning team as the “Smartest People in Davis.” Trivia night will be held March 12, at the Davis Senior Center at 7:00pm, $50/person or $400/table, contact Chuck Snipes 530/220-3014.  Check out event information here or reserve your seats here. Foundation chair Larry Greene distributed Paul Harris Foundation pins to members Bud 

Harmon(+2), George Warner(+4), Bob Agee(+3), Brian Sway (+6), and Bill Kooper(+1).  We thank you each for your generous contributions to the Rotary Foundation.  Jay Gerber Young Community Leader Award, nominees will be accepted up to February 26, 2016, the nomination form may be downloaded from our website here or contact Vanessa Errecarte.  The award will be given at an evening meeting on April 8, details on venue, etc. are forthcoming.  The District 5160 conference is scheduled for April 1-3, our club will is responsible for dessert, details to follow.

 

     Sgt. Susanne Rockwell sadly explained that this would be her last meeting as the Sgt. speaker, since she and Brian will be off to a Peace Corps assignment in Uganda in May.  Chuck Snipes thanked Meaghan Likes for including his input on the Trivia Night Flyer that he delivered to her late last night.  Keith Watenpaugh thanked the Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter organization, his son’s Cub Scout pack 111 participated the previous evening by preparing a meal and visiting with guests which included a large family. Don Winters’ daughter Becky won first place at the Santa Cruz Chocolate contest for her Lemon Truffle. (Samples forthcoming) Lori Raineri thanked Vanessa for introducing her guest.  Kelly Wilkerson brought 

her purse today and settled her fines and also thanked Susanne and Brian for their service.  Andrew Newman is happy for his daughter’s experience with the Rotary Youth Exchange. Carolyn Stiver thanked Bob Poppenga for promptly appearing for his Meals on Wheels assignment last Monday, even 

though the Senior Center was closed and not serving.  Rose Cholewinski is happy that John Youmans is now recovered from his serious setback now one year ago and is cleared for his exercise program.  Rose also cleared the club for giving John a hard time.   John Youmans thanked club 

founding member George Warner for being back:  John pointed out that George spends six months a year in Sweden with his Swedish wife and six 

months in Davis with his American wife.  Sydney Vergis is soon to be officiallycalled “doctor.”  Sgt. Susanne called on all members with Ph.D.’s to 

stand and pay $5.   Ray Policar was recognized for his work with the Davis Citizens Committee, which prompted all members who have served on a City or School Board Committee to stand and be fined $5.

    Dave Morse introduced our speaker Julie Harlow, co-Chair of the Interfaith 

Rotating Winter Shelter (IRWS), she has been with the IRWS since its inception 9 years ago and has been on the Board for 6 years. Julie Harlow became involved with IRWS because “I was afraid of the people on the street, I believed they were dangerous, addicted to drugs or mentally ill.  I found that some of the stereotype is true: there are folks who are mentally ill or have drug addiction or both, but I found that they were not dangerous, but rather they were vulnerable.  They have no place to keep things, no access to showers for weeks at a time.”  Julie circulated a flyer, which provided information about IRWS including contribution suggestions for individuals and groups.   Julie reminded members that the first Jay Gerber service award was given to Bill Habicht in part for his work in organizing the IRWS.

     IRWS operates during the winter, starting the Sunday after Thanksgiving and continuing through the middle of March. IRWS provides a hot meal, a cot and sleeping bag for up to 40 people a night for 105 days or about 2,625 meals and beds for the season.  The IRWS serves about 150 clients during the season, some stay for only one or two nights some come every night.

     The IRWS includes about 1,700 volunteers including 25 county organizations, 14 congregations of which 10 congregations provide on sight accommodations on a rotating basis.   Volunteers range in age from 7 to 80.

    Typical schedule: Guests arrive between 5:15pm – 6:15pm each evening where they go through a check-in process. The first time a guest arrives at the intake center, they go through a comprehensive intake process where IRWS collects information about their previous living situations, and health issues.

  Guests are transported by volunteers to the host site for the evening.  Upon arrival, guests are checked in by volunteers and provided a cot and sleeping bag by the IRWS staff.  They are then invited to set up their sleeping bags/cots.  Men and women are separated and families with young 

children are kept together to ensure safety.

A home cooked meal is provided once all guests have arrived. Volunteers and guests eat together.  Lights out at 10:00pm.

     At 5:00am, lights are turned on and guests are woken up.  The guests perform cleanup duties, pack to go lunches, and are offered take away hygiene products.  Transportation arrives at 6:00am and the guests are driven to designated drop-off locations near the downtown.

     Although IRWS has relied on volunteers for all work, recently they have hired folks for the all night monitoring job.  The Q&A session illustrated 

individual member’s personal involvement with the homeless.  Dick Berry and his wife Judy have worked at IRWS for many years, he noted that volunteers have dinner with clients and that many are very interesting, e.g. college educated and musicians. David Morse (younger) asked about the other months of the year and what is the draw for Davis.   Julie agreed that some folks come to Davis because there is a shelter and noted that most of the clients have campsites somewhere in the Davis area. John McNamara, asked if there is flexibility for folks with jobs duties that conflict with the check in schedule.  Julie explained that they do indeed offer check in flexibility for jobs and other issues such as medical appointments.  She referred to a recent client who had evening duties at a restaurant, which delayed his check in to 10pm. Gretchen Peralta has worked with IRWS for many years.  She explained that many of the homeless grew up within 50 miles of Davis.  She challenged our club to agree to offer one of the meals next year.  Vanessa Errecarte informed us that our Community Service Committee’s needs survey recognizes the need for ongoing and one time individual volunteers, she has created a link on our website where members can sign up for individual volunteer opportunities with organizations in need in our community. She added a link for our website to IRWS that day, check out the link here. (Great job Vanessa!)

     Don Saylor offered his perspective on the homeless issue for Yolo County.  He thanked Julie for a wonderful presentation and the work of the IRWS.  He explained that there are about 500 homeless in Yolo County and 120 to 130 in our city.  The county is focusing on the most needy homeless with an effort to deal with issues such as mental health and special issues such as the lack of shelter in West Sacramento. 

     Julie concluded asking, “What do the homeless need most?   They need showers. ” She is working on finding a solution including use of existing showers at places such as swimming pools, schools and gyms.

     Draws of the day:  Jeff Adamski and Roy’s guest Ian both won a free breakfast.