Tom's talk is about the origins and development of the game of golf and includes some little known but major contributions made by women. You’ll learn why you can’t use a "mashie" or a "niblick", why the golf hole is the size it is, and why there is no standard number of holes on a golf course! You’ll learn that the game is far older than the USA, and why today’s long distance hitters aren’t necessarily as good as we might think they are. As has been said on many an 18th green - “You’d better not miss it!”.
Tom Laurenson is a Scot and a golfer. By his own admission, not a good one, but one who has enjoyed the game since his teenage years. Tom grew up in a town in the Scottish Highlands with two excellent golf courses, and a few years later, he helped to build a 9-hole course for another Highland community. He had a hole-in-one as a teenager and had the first in-competition hole-in-one on the 9-hole course he helped to build!
Social Advocates for Youth's CEO, Anita Maldonado, Updates Sunrise on SAY's Recent Developments
Our guest speaker for April 1, 2021, was Anita Maldonado, CEO of Social Advocates for Youth (SAY). Anita has a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Kent State University, where she also taught Latino Studies. She has extensive experience leading nonprofit organizations of all sizes. She is also a member of the current class of Leadership Santa Rosa! Anita started as CEO of SAY on March 1, 2020, and worked for one and one-half weeks before they had to evacuate the kids because of Covid-19.
Anita showed us a video of the voices of some of Sonoma County’s vulnerable youth. The video included youth who had to leave their families because of gun violence, eviction, and parental rejection. These kids pointed out how wonderful it is to have a place to stay with people who care about them and provide them with emotional support. As one young man said: ‘My entire life is looking up’ as a result of SAY.
SAY is having its 50th anniversary! It was founded by legendary Sonoma County leaders who concluded that the high incarceration rate of runaway youth was unacceptable. In those days, running away from home was a crime and the children were taken to juvenile hall. Since 1971, SAY has worked every year with 3,000 children, youth, and families. It has served 60,000 children and youth! SAY’s core/pillar areas are crisis stabilization, counseling, housing, and careers. Its annual budget is $7,000,000! 78% of that budget is from contracts with local and state governments. The rest is earned through SAY’s relationships with local leaders and donors. SAY houses about 100 youth each night in four separate facilities; the SAY Finley Center, Tamayo Village, Coffeehouse Teen Shelter, and the newest addition, the Sky Family Cottage.
The 2020 (pre-Covid) Sonoma County point-in-time study showed that there are about 304 unaccompanied homeless youth between ages 12-24 each night. 37% of these homeless youth reported that physical, emotional, or sexual abuse led to their homelessness. 33% report trading drugs or sex for a place to stay, 31% say their safety was threatened in the past 30 days, and 33% identify as being LGBTQ. SAY also works with sex trafficking victims. We know there is a thoroughfare of trafficking from people outside Sonoma County along the 101/580 corridor.
Anita covered SAY’s involvement in all of the four pillar areas; Crises Stabilization (including street outreach, sex trafficking outreach, and community basic housing), counseling (therapy, grief services, and school-based mental health), housing, and careers (John Jordan Career Hub, college and career readiness, and tattoo removal). The Pandemic has changed SAY’s delivery of services, but it continues to service Sonoma County’s youth in other ways, teaching and utilizing social distancing, improved hygiene, telehealth services, and new methods of raising money. SAY will be holding a 50th Birthday Cavalcade, including a drive-through of the main facility with entertainment from the Ladies of Perpetual Indulgence and Burning Man, and refreshments from Wicked Slush! SAY also raised $360,000 in its “340 Campaign,” proving that Sonoma County continues its strong support of this great organization.
Anita offered special thanks to Sunrise member and past president Steve Worthen, who is an honorary board member and former Chairman of the Board of SAY during its critical period of construction of the Dream Center. And, of course, Leroy Carlenzoli introduced himself as the Dream Center’s civil engineer and the Coffeehouse’s chief handyman! Leroy and Steve pointed out that Sunrise is a long-term supporter of SAY. Thank you so much, Anita, for the wonderful and fact-filled presentation. We know you will keep SAY working hard to fill this very important role in Sonoma County. Keep up the good work and let us know what we can do for you!
On a regular basis, our resident photo pro Warren Smith, submits pictures of what is going on at the weekly meetings. You can always find the most recent pictures at the websites photo journal called "Meeting Sighting" Please note that all the meeting photos for the entire Rotary year are at this location with the most recent on the last page.
Thanks for all the great pictures Warren!Link to Meeting Sightings. The most recent are on the last page!
“How can we help?” Just about everyone joined Rotary to serve the community, whether it’s Sonoma County, an international community like Sabalos, Nicaragua or a wildlife community like Bouverie Preserve. We probably all have pet projects or service interests that we enjoy helping out on, and what non-profit or community project couldn’t use a few more hands or hours? The concept of the leverage of people power is one of the great aspects of being part of Rotary. Have you noticed what a difference it makes when it’s not just you doing a job but a group of 5, or 10 or 25? In a short time you look at the progress and it can make your head spin. The first time I saw this in Rotary was at a 2017 Lake County tree-plant project after Valley fire- several hundred Rotarians, Interactors and other community groups gathered to plant pine and fir seedlings obtained from the Forest Service. By noon 4,000 trees had been planted- holy smokes (oops, bad pun), instant parkland. Organizer DG Elect Jennifer Strong had a vision and put it to work through Rotary. Sunrise Rotary has donated dozens and dozens of jackets to those without this winter- Stacy Drucker-Andress had a mission and called on Rotary, and now people have jackets. Last month South Ukiah Rotary wanted a clean Russian River- who ya gonna call? Call Rotary- multiple clubs answered the call and long sections of the River are now clear of trash. How often does the Golden Hammer put out the call for volunteers to make a difference at the Women’s Recovery Services homes? Get five Rotarians together and a project is done in no time. What is your pet project or community interest? Why not call on Sunrise Rotary to leverage your efforts? “How can we help?”
Join a One-of-a-Kind Drive-Thru SAY Birthday Cavalcade on Saturday, April 17
Get your tickets now at says.org
At our April 1st meeting, guest speaker Anita Maldonado, CEO of Social Advocates for Youth, invited all sunrises to join the organization's Golden Anniversary Celebration.
Performance artists, classic cars and take away treats will be offered from the comforts of your car.
The organization provides an exemplary array of services for at-risk youth and is enthusiastically supported by Sunrise Rotarians. Steve Worthen is a prominent SAY board member. And Leroy Carlenzoli regularly offers his handyman services to keep SAY facilities in good working order.
CONGRATULATIONS S.A.Y. ON 50 YEARS OF SUPPORT SERVICES FOR OUR YOUTH!
Great Grandmother, Educator and Art Student -- Mary Banks brings unique talents to Sunrise
Besides missing their five sons, 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren Mary Banks’ life under Covid conditions has not changed much. The companies she and her Sunrise Rotary husband Peter work for had transitioned to online, Zoom and Skype working conditions nearly 15 years before the pandemic hit. (And, if you find it difficult to believe that fair-haired, free-spirited Mary could be a great-grandmother. It is rumored that the littlest ones are Peter's contribution to their large shared family.) Travel, for business and pleasure also is safely and easily managed in the familiar comfort of their trailer and boat — free of pandemic lockdown restrictions.
Having just returned from a trailer-trip to a desert location near Anza-Borrego, California; the Banks’ are already planning a return trip to enjoy spectacular desert sunrises and sunsets that can only be seen when far from the lights and distraction of the city. Mary looks forward to more hiking and painting on their next trip.
As a special education teacher -- just one of several career paths that also include biological field research and higher education administration -- Mary experimented with watercolors and acrylics as a resource for developing her students' low verbal skills. However, she currently destroys completed paintings because "It is the process," not the product, that she values.
Mary has learned to live by a wise and valuable approach to life, with which that many of us currently struggle with. She has chosen to not be "tied down by things." Mary has developed this life lesson over many years dating back to a time when everything she owned was kept in the car where she lived. She actively chooses to surround herself with all that is precious to her, without the excesses that often imprisons our lives. We can only hope that Sunrise Rotary will continue to be as precious to Mary as her membership is to our club.
M.J. Girard is currently an on air personality on KOWSfm.com His “Roots of Rock” is broadcast every Sunday morning at 7
Hope that your Easter celebration was memorable and safe.
As we continue our musical reminiscing of the Fab Four from their humble beginnings in the late 1950’s as the Quarrymen, the Silver Beatles and finally the Beatles, touring the United Kingdom and Germany. This weeks edition will bring us to the “colonies” as they appeared on the Ed Sullivan’s television show.
“ Beatlemania “ broke out like as rash after a hike through a poison ivy patch
Everyone knew of the band from England who shook the world ...turned it up side down...becoming the leading musical group of all time.
We will hear the progression of their talents as a group, becoming polished yet remaining remarkably innovative establishing the “LP” as the means of listening to music, heretofore dominated by the “45” records of the fifties and early sixties.
We will also hear the groups that began the “British Invasion” such as The Rolling Stones, The Who, Chad and Jeremy, Donavan, Dusty Springfield, The Animals, Gerry and the Pacemakers, just to mention a few.
Join in the celebration as Rock ‘n’ Roll became the hottest thing going since a loaf of bread was sliced.
A doctor, lawyer, and a Rotarian in charge of fundraising all die and arrive at the Pearly Gates about the same time. St. Peter tells them they may each have one thing to take with them to Heaven. The doctor is first, and asks for $1 million. This is given and proceeds to enter Heaven. The lawyer, not to be outdone, asks for $2 million. "Very well," say St. Peter and opens the gate to Heaven for the lawyer. Finally it is time for the Rotarian, who had just finished a fundraising project for The Rotary Foundation. St. Peter asks him what he would like to take to Heaven. The fundraiser moves up very close to St. Peter, and in a soft voice asks, "It it's not too much trouble, could I just have the names of those two people who were ahead of me in line?"
Rotary and the U.S. Government support Italy’s fight against COVID-19
US$5 million for pandemic response, recovery, and preparation for future outbreaks
ROME, Italy (December 4, 2020) — In the face of surging infections in Italy, Rotary and the U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), are taking action to support the country’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.
As part of an 18-month partnership, USAID will provide US$5 million to The Rotary Foundation – Rotary’s philanthropic arm, to support Italy’s pandemic response, prepare communities for future outbreaks and address the long-term social and economic impacts of COVID-19.
This partnership is one element of America’s commitment to Italy to help save lives and build resilience for the future. To date, the United States has provided $60 million in assistance to Italy, through USAID and the U.S. military. USAID's work is one part of the overall U.S. Government response to the pandemic in Italy.
“With Rotary’s knowledge of local needs, we’re now able to target our support to help those most affected by this pandemic, while building stronger and more resilient communities, said USAID Assistant Administrator Brock Bierman. “I am proud to support Rotary because of the organization’s enduring commitment to community-led development.”
USAID-Rotary in Italy: Communities Against COVID-19 partnership, Italy’s 13 regional Rotary districts can each apply for a minimum of three, $100,000 grants to support health, education and community development. Eligible activities include providing equipment for medical facilities, educational supplies and equipment to schools, students and families; and resources to help businesses remain open safely during the pandemic.
“As we are part of the communities we serve, Rotary is dedicated to helping Italy and the world recover from this pandemic,” said Rotary project lead Giulio Koch. “Our collaboration with USAID will provide us with valuable resources and expertise to help make our initiatives more impactful and sustainable.”
About USAID
USAID is the U.S. Government’s premiere development agency. USAID works in over 100 countries to promote global health, support global stability, provide humanitarian assistance, catalyze innovation and partnership, and empower women and girls.
About Rotary
Rotary unites a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges and creating lasting change. Rotary connects 1.2 million people of action from more than 36,000 Rotary clubs in almost every country in the world. Their service improves lives both locally and internationally, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.org.
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