Each month, we will feature a story highlighting one of Los Gatos Morning Rotary Club's proud members. Get to know a little more about the Club, by hearing about our members.
Chartered in 2003, our mission is to provide funding for the educational support of youth involved in the humanities, sciences, music and the arts in the greater West Valley area of Santa Clara County; to support international projects in coordination with the efforts and purposes of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International; and for other publicly beneficial projects as the trustees of the charitable foundation may determine appropriate.
Members of our club have traveled to India to fight polio, South and Central America to help burn victims and surgeries for those born with cleft lip and cleft palate, Mississippi to rebuild houses devastated by the hurricanes, hiked the Himalayas to help an orphanage, walked in high heels to support sexual assault awareness and we provide warm clothing and food for those in need. We have given scholarships to students interested in studying architecture, art, science and drama, raised funds for the Los Gatos High School Band Boosters, local Boy Scout troops and Sea Explorers. We support Art education through the Los Gatos Art Docents program for K-5. Our members volunteer at the West Valley Community Service Food Bank and other Services. Our Club helped start the Lighting for Literacy Program which has taken off across the Rotary family around the world.
We welcome you to explore what we have to offer and invite you to join us for Breakfast on Wednesday mornings at 7:30 a.m. to meet us and learn more about what we do. If you have an interest in serving your community and having an impact for change – we’re here to help!
Participating in “hands on” community service projects can be some of the most rewarding experiences for any Rotarian. The satisfaction that one receives at the completion of a service project far and away exceeds any time and effort expended. In fact, because the work is done with other Rotarians, the projects prove to be engaging social activities as well.
Music has been an important part of leading an ordinary life for students at the Music School for Children With Disabilities in Honor of Paul Harris in Lublin, Poland. Founded by Rotary members, the school serves 20 students with various disabilities, including Down syndrome, autism, and visual impairments. The Rotary Club of Lublin-Centrum-Maria Curie-Sklodowska has provided funding with help from Rotary Foundation Matching Grants and the Henryk Wieniawski Musical Society, which houses the school.
After their son Mateusz was born with underdeveloped eyes, Mariusz and Joanna Kania looked for ways to help him be active. When he showed an aptitude for music, they looked for a teacher and were thrilled to find the Paul Harris music school.
For years, Angalia Bianca had slept in abandoned buildings throughout Chicago. She stole. She did drugs. She spent time in and out of jail for forgery, theft, trespassing, and possession of narcotics. But after she landed in prison for the seventh time, something changed -- Bianca knew she wanted a better life. She just didn’t know how to make it happen.After serving her time, Bianca sought help from a local homeless organization, A Safe Haven, and moved to its shelter in the Rogers Park neighborhood. Bianca followed the program closely -- she attended all the required meetings, passed drug tests, and volunteered at every opportunity.
Throughout India and around the world, Rotary clubs are celebrating a major milestone: India has gone three years without a new case of polio. The last reported case was a two-year-old girl in West Bengal on 13 January 2011. To mark this historic triumph, Rotary clubs illuminated landmarks and iconic structures throughout the country with four simple but powerful words, "India is polio free."The three-year achievement sets the stage for polio-free certification of the entire Southeast Asia region by the World Health Organization. The Indian government also plans to convene a polio summit in February to commemorate this victory in the global effort to eradicate polio.
What is it like taking a large team to Africa? It has probably been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. In mid February, I began leading Rotary members from all over the East Coast of the United States through Ghana. I’ve tried to give the team a warm Ghanaian welcome like I’ve received on my earlier trips. A large trip is a real blessing because each person sees Ghana and our work in a different way.A highlight for the team was greeting the chief of Sagadugu. The team got excited about buying goats and food for children in the villages where I support eight churches. It was good to see the pastors of most of the eight churches, and I had to explain that we were just passing through on our way to Bolgatanga.
The Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce honored Los Gatos Morning Rotary Club as Service Club of the Year at their Honors Banquet on October 4, 2018.
In addition, we are honored that Ginger Taylor McDonald, a founding member of our Club in 2003, was chosen by the Chamber as Citizen of the Year. Please read more about Ginger and her importance to our Club and the Community in the 