On a regular basis, our resident photo pros Warren Smith and Ross Andress submit 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 and Ross! Link to Meeting Sightings. The most recent are on the last page!

Additional photos may be found on the SR Sunrise Facebook Page.

Today 1344 eyes are smiling, seeing “mas claro” in 672 very grateful Nicaraguans in the Rio San Juan Region of southern Nicaragua.  Many of the those same people are equipped with both distance and near pair of glasses and protective sunglasses, “gafas” to keep damaging UV rays off their eyes.  In addition, 103 mouths are “mucho mas limpio”, reflecting improved oral health and a shift in treatment from extraction to restoration and prevention.

 
This year, the returning Nicaraguan Couple-Dentists Javier and Ana from the 200 km north capital Managua again worked with a Dental Hygienist from the Sabalos Regional Clinic to treat patients from pre-teen to “viejo”, senior citizens.  Peter Hoberg accepted the crucial role of instrument sterilizer, earning himself the unenviable evidence of chemically stained orange fingers.  Fortunately he did not exhibit any apparent cognitive lapses while on duty.
 
Over the course of three days, Sunrise Rotarians and some of their family focused on improving people’s visual acuity.  Steve “Grandpa” Zwick was the third generation in his family represented and remarkably both his daughter Jennifer and granddaughter Alessa brought valuable Spanish language and organizational skills.  Steve’s español is well known!  Alessa, just 12, quickly established her organizational skills in the eyewear department, and with the village children:  She taught them London Bridges Falling Down, and jumped rope (with the girls), creating a genuine sense of "amistad", aka friendship between our Team and the people of La Azucena.

Completing our Team were first timers Harry “Happy” Coffey,  Paul O'Rear, and Carmen "Señiorita" Gutierrez.  Veterans Peter “Green Fingers” Hoberg, Ezbon “General” Jen, Penny ~ also Spanish proficient Millar (her husband is Paul O'Rear) Steve “Auto-Refractor” Herron, Rich and Señora Habla Español Betsy Randolph, and our District Governor Erin Dunn from Fortuna.  Planning, Leading, Encouraging and Mentoring us all, gladly again was John, "Numero Uno" Jones.  With the assistance of Rafael Preslyn, John assured we all got to our appointed rounds on time, had wonderful accommodations and local places of interest to pique our curiosity in Central American history ~ of which there is a lot involving the United States.
 
Following our formal clinical operations, we visited the town of Sàbalos where Sunrise Rotary is awaiting final approvals to build a surgical center adjacent to the existing Regional Medical and Dental Center.  A visit to a local hotel gave us an opportunity to make and sample fresh chocolate, directly pressed from fresh roasted beans.  Not far, in El Castillo, “The Fort” we could climb atop the sentry outlook for Pirates of the Caribbean.  Further inland we had views of two volcanoes, Mombacho and Masaya.  Currently aglow, Masaya was closed to local viewing as opposed to previous years in which one could peer over a cliff into the steaming caldera.  The city of Granada, pop. 131,000 possesses, some say the best-preserved examples of Spanish architecture dating back to the 1500’s.,
 
Our Team was also fortunate to be accompanied by a brigade of 4 Peace Corp Volunteers:  Ana, Liz, and Chris & Freddy provided linguistic support as well as cultural enrichment.  We learned of their work, ranging from entrepreneurship for high school students, Health Education, Public Health-Nutrition and Gender Equality (alternative role models for male machismo). A perusal of the Peace Corp web site is very informative.  One member’s initiative is featured at: https://donate.peacecorps.gov/donate/project/youth-boys-gender-equality-camp-camp-chaca-2016/
 
The 2016 Sàbalos Team Trip directly served 672 + 103 Nicaraguans in 3 days.  Team members themselves bring back innumerable memories from clinics and excursions.  Are you a bit curious?  Every two years the club plans on a visit.  It is not too early to mark your calendar for 2018. 
 
 

Along the banks of Nicaragua’s Rio San Juan, in the Reception area of his beloved Sabalos Lodge, local Nicaraguan Yaro Preslyn posthumously received his Paul Harris Fellow. Presented by Rotary District 5130 District Governor Erin Dunn and Sunriser John Jones, Yaro’s son Rafael (center) accepted the recognition in his father’s honor. Rafael is also a great supporter of our club’s projects in his native Nicaragua serving as a guide, translator and advocate with MINSA, Nicaragua’s Ministry of Health.
 
Planning an adventure to Nicaragua?  Check out Yaro’s legendary river-front Sabalos Lodge, La Casa de Yaro at www.sabaloslodge.com. 

An even more personal approach would be asking other recently returned Sunriser's: John Jones (Leader), Harrey Coffey, Ezbon Jen, Carmen Gutierrez, Peter Hoberg, Penny Millar, Steve Herron, Rich Randolph,  and Steve Zwick.

K.R. "Ravi" Ravindran

President 2015-16

In life, sometimes the experiences that matter the most are the briefest. They pass in the blink of an eye: a few days, a few hours, a few moments. They are the experiences that illuminate the landscape of our memory, shining brightly even years later. They are the moments in which we see, suddenly, something we had not seen; we understand something we had not understood; we forge a connection we had not expected.

For me, this has been a Rotary year like no other. I have been around the world, traversing countries and continents. I have been to places I had never seen before, and I have returned to familiar places and seen them, as for the first time, through the lens of Rotary.

When you travel for Rotary, you travel with a different sense of perspective and a different sense of purpose. There is an awareness of being part of something larger than yourself. When you board a plane or a train, or leave your home in the dark hours of early morning, you may be leaving for lands unknown – but at your destination, there will be no strangers. There will be Rotarians, waiting and welcoming. There will be work to do, something to learn, and perhaps something to teach.

There will be connections to forge, friendships to build, and memories to carry for a lifetime.

This year, I have been the traveler, and I have been welcomed by Rotarians around the world. A few months from now, from 28 May to 1 June, I invite you to step into my experience: allow me to welcome you to Seoul for our 107th International Convention.

The Koreans have a saying: 사람이 나면 서울로 보내라. In English we would say, "When a person is born, send them to Seoul." For Seoul is a city of opportunities: a wonderful destination with rich traditions, modern conveniences, and a culture unlike any other. But I ask you to join me in Seoul not only for all of this, but also for the experiences you will have there with your fellow Rotarians.

For a brief moment in time, you will experience Rotary as I have experienced it: in all its diversity, all its warmth, and all its potential. You will be greeted as an old friend by people you have never met; you will share your thoughts, even without a shared language. You will learn with wonder of what Rotary has achieved, and leave inspired to achieve even more.

Before this Rotary year comes to its close, I ask you to do what I have done: to leave your homes, to board your flights, to travel toward the unknown with an open heart and an open mind, confident that Rotary will welcome you. Join me, and your fellow Rotarians, as we Connect with Korea – Touch the World.

Ray Klinginsmith

Trustee Chair 2015-16

When I joined Rotary many years ago, the fireside chat was a popular, simple, and effective method of communication among Rotarians. One Rotarian would invite a small number of fellow members to his home (this was before the admission of women in 1987) to talk about the value of Rotary in their lives. The evening would provide fellowship and increase knowledge about Rotary programs, including The Rotary Foundation. In some parts of the world, particularly Down Under, they were called poolside chats, but the concept was the same.

As the 111th anniversary of Rotary on 23 February approaches, I hope you will take the opportunity to spend the evening with some of your Rotary friends, men and women, to talk about Rotary, particularly the Foundation as it prepares for its centennial year in 2016-17. The anniversary falls on a Tuesday this year, and as Tuesday nights are normally not heavily booked for social activities, there are many ways to celebrate.

In today's world, our chats about Rotary may be held online through social media avenues or in person in homes, restaurants, or pubs. I encourage Rotarians around the world to commemorate both the birthday of Rotary and the 100th anniversary of The Rotary Foundation by inviting some Rotary friends to join together in fellowship and service for conversations about the organization. Just as Rotary grew out of the idea of one individual, Paul Harris, the idea of Rotary chats can be revived by individual Rotarians and clubs in a variety of ways.

Who will step forward to try the idea in their respective clubs this year? If it is you, please send me a note at rayklaw@sbcglobal.net to tell me about your chat. By whatever name and method, our chats on 23 February about Rotary's founding and the Foundation's centennial will be good for our Rotary clubs!