Anita Maldonado likes to say she is a woman, Latina, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, mentor teacher, professional and a friend. Anita’s life has been enriched by her upbringing, friends, family and all the kindness and encouragement from her inner circle. Working in the social services field since 1997, Anita Maldonado has extensive experience leading nonprofits of all sizes. She currently holds the position of CEO of Social Advocates for Youth, Anita provides oversight to SAY programs, services, and operations. She holds a Ph.D. in Higher education Administration from Kent State University, where she also taught Latino Studies in the Pan African Department.

Anita brings an understanding of our youth and believes our biggest challenges today is understanding the new set of barriers that youth face layered with the long term effects of trauma associated with the current pandemic and the frequency of reoccurring natural disasters. Anita is a new grandmother and one of the ways she relieves stress is to Facetime with her grandson Masen. She is an explorer at heart and loves seeking out new places and experiences near and far. Anita serves on several local boards in Sonoma County including Sonoma County YMCA, Sonoma County Workforce Investment Board, and Santa Rosa Community Health Board. Anita is also a current member of Leadership Santa Rosa Class #36.

LINK TO VIRTUAL MEETING INFORMATION

Our guest speaker for March 25, 2021, was Cea Higgins. Cea serves as the Executive Director of Coastwalk/California Coast Trail Association (CCTA). She has the credentials or this job, including the Policy and Volunteer Coordinator for the Sonoma Coast Surfrider Foundation, the coastal representative on the Sonoma County Water Coalition, and a founding member of the Bodega Bay Collaborative. She has also worked with NOAA on the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Advisor Council. She received her Masters’ Degree in Science from the University of Wisconsin and her Juris Doctorate from Concord Law School. She’s also a surfer, hiker, and marine mammal and sea bird rescuer!

Coastwalk/California Coastal Trail Association (CCTA) started out as Coastwalk, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1983. The founders were supporters of coastal public access, coastal preservation, and a statewide California Coastal Trail. Over the years, the organization morphed by partnering with local governments, businesses, land owners, state agencies, and other nonprofits to assist in the creation and maintenance of a statewide Coastal Trail. The statewide trail is now 63% complete! Once completed it will cover 1,200 miles from Oregon to Mexico. The core principals of the Coastal Trail are:

The Coastal Trail concept is truly visionary. Walking and hiking has become the most popular form of outdoor recreation! Walking is popular, helps local economies by promoting tourism, and preserves our precious coastal access and resources. The Coastal Trail is also part of a braided network of interconnecting trails! CCTA also sponsors and promotes Coastwalks on trails, and Cea gave us some wonderful examples of groups, including women’s and seniors groups, that have made extended journeys on the trails, some even completing the entire trail! Coastwalks have been delayed because of Covid-19, but they will be starting up again when the time is right.

CCTA has a number of challenges, including:

CCTA also works to develop coastal cleanup strategies, including sponsoring groups to clean debris from the trails and the coastline. In the pre-Covid-19 world, CCTA sponsored an annual California Coastal Cleanup Day. CCTA is now sponsoring a Coastwalk Cleanup Crew program intended to engage its community on multiple cleanups throughout the year.

In case anyone missed this part, you can walk a number of coastal trails in Sonoma County, including Shell Beach, the Coastal Prairie Trail (at The Dunes near Bodega Bay), Bodega Head, the Jenner Headlands, and Salt Point Park, among others. Many thanks to Cea for the wonderful presentation! This is an amazing organization doing real, practical, and effective work to preserve and protect our coastal areas (and provide us with great recreation). Keep up the fantastic work, Cea! Sunrise Rotary thanks you for your service.

You may view a recording of Cea's presentation HERE available for the next week or so.

This week I am forwarding on PDG Bob Rogers’ weekly report on polio eradication.  The numbers continue to be very encouragin!  Here is Bob’s report:

“OK, Now I’m pinching myself, and have my fingers, toes and legs crossed… As you will see from the numbers below, No new cases of the wild polio virus once again this week!

87 - That’s the number of days since the last case of the wild polio virus Type 1 occurred in Afghanistan. 

60 -  That’s the number of days since the last case of the wild polio virus Type 1 occurred in Pakistan. 

2 -  That’s the total number of cases of the wild polio virus Type 1 that occurred in the world since New Years Day. 

32 – That’s the number of cases of the wild polio virus Type 1 that occurred in 2020 as of March 29th.”

Exceptional results!  Lots to do but lots to be very encouraged about as well. Go Rotary!

Closing out St. Patrick’s Day month with a couple of Irish Rotary President jokes:

“Tell me, Patrick, how did you manage to get so very drunk last night?” asked the parish priest.  “Well, you see, Father, it was like this.  I got into very bad company after winning a bottle of whiskey at a raffle.”  “But you were with Mick Mulligan, Sean O’Toole and Peter Ryan and they don’t drink,” said the priest. “Ay, Father, that was the problem.”

Sign in an Irish pub:  “This establishment closes at 11 o’clock sharp.  We are open from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. and if you haven’t had enough to drink at that hour the management feels that you haven’t really been trying hard enough.”