Tamara Stanley, Executive Director and Kathy Hayes, Homeowner Services Manager provided a description of what their organization accomplishes globally as well as what the local chapter is doing to address the need for affordable housing in Sonoma County.
They discussed the local housing needs and the process that is required to become a homeowner including the details encountered by a specific want to be homeowner who is being terminated from a subsidized rental.
Habitat For Humanity has had a great deal of local success in providing affordable housing and has a goal of providing 152 new homes in the next 6 years and with increased staff and partnering with developers, government agencies and others hopes to provide 600 homes in 10 years.
In order to accomplish their local goals, Habitat For Humanity will be looking toward higher density housing to reduce cost and provide green energy efficient homes. They will, however, need to provide additional funding to fill the current funding gap.
They also need more volunteers to assist with their efforts.
On a regular basis, our resident photo pros Warren Smith and Jack Strange 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!
Randy Seeley, thought he hit a beautiful tee shot. But he could not see where the ball went...??? He went towards the green and by chance looked in the cup. And...yes! A HOLE IN ONE. Congratulations Randy!
Steve Olsen and his wife Lynn celebrate their 55th Wedding Anniversary in August, along with many other Sunrise couples. When asked if he could share the secret of such a successful marriage, Steve said, "I was a divorce attorney and I knew it was Cheaper to Keep Her."
Michael Riel, just back from visiting his parents in Munich, Germany, confessed to President Doug that he had brought back some German beer for him. However, during a six-hour airport delay, Michael just had to drink it.
Harry Coffee and his wife judith began their vacation at an Irish Bed and Breakfast, where they made some cordial, new, long lost cousins of the hosts. The highlight of the trip was a week-long festival presided over by a king who was actually a goat
Scott Holder reports visiting a volcanic beach, a year-old sea lion, turtles and other exotic species on his vacation to the Galapagos Islands. (Perhaps he has pictures to present and share...???)
One of the best parts of any Rotary convention is the sheer diversity of the people you see there. Whether you're heading into a breakout session, exploring the House of Friendship, or sitting down for a bite to eat, you'll meet people from every corner of the world, in all kinds of national attire, speaking just about every language. It's a lot of fun, and it's a big part of what makes Rotary great: that we can be so different and still find ourselves so at home together.
That spirit of warm community that is so central to Rotary also defines Toronto, our host city for the 2018 Rotary International Convention. Toronto is one of my favorite cities. It's a place where half the population is from another country, where over 140 languages are spoken by 2.8 million residents, and where no one ever seems to be too busy to be helpful. In addition to being clean, safe, and friendly, Toronto is a wonderful place to visit, with its attractive Lake Ontario waterfront, great restaurants, one-of-a-kind museums, and interesting neighborhoods to explore.
The 2018 convention already promises to be one of our best ever. Our Convention Committee and Host Organization Committee are hard at work lining up inspiring speakers, great entertainment, fascinating breakout sessions, and a wide variety of activities across the city. There will be something for everyone in Toronto, and Juliet and I encourage you to do what we'll be doing – bring your families along for the fun. If you plan early, your convention experience will be even more affordable: The deadline for discounted early registration (there is an additional discount for registering online) is 15 December.
As much as Toronto offers to Rotarians, the true draw is, of course, the convention itself. It's a once-a-year opportunity to recharge your Rotary batteries, to see what the rest of the Rotary world is up to, and to find inspiration for the year ahead. Find out more at riconvention.org – and find Inspiration Around Every Corner at the 2018 Rotary Convention in Toronto.
"Countdown to history" is a phrase I especially like. Those three words express not just how momentous Rotary's polio endeavor is – something achieved only once before in the human experience – but also that the finish line is within sight.
Rotary and our strategic partners are united behind eradicating polio. Our 2016 Council on Legislation voted to reaffirm polio eradication as a goal "of the highest order." At the recent 70th World Health Assembly in Geneva, global health leaders reiterated their commitment to polio eradication. News coverage of our efforts pops up everywhere. Projects continue worldwide – such as District 6930's annual World's Greatest Meal – that focus on Rotarians' primary responsibilities of fundraising, advocacy, and volunteer recruitment.
Just think: The next case of polio could be the last case. But we must be careful, because that "last case" will not be the end of our task. In fact, that's when the job gets even harder. The World Health Organization will require at least three years with zero cases reported before certifying the world polio free.
During that time, intensive vaccination and observation operations will need to continue. On the vaccination side, children will continue to receive the polio vaccine. On the surveillance side, watching for signs of resurgence is vitally important. As the number of cases and patients with visible symptoms drops, this observation grows increasingly more expensive.
This is why Rotary has increased its commitment to fighting polio to $50 million per year and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has extended its 2-for-1 match of Rotary donations for another three years. To achieve this goal, we need you more than ever. If Rotarians hit the fundraising goal each year, the total will be $450 million. At the convention in Atlanta, nations from around the world and key donors pledged more than $1 billion to energize the global fight to end this paralyzing disease, including Rotary's $50 million per year. Now we all have the important job of making good on those pledges.
All of this is why I ask you to contribute something to the polio campaign – whether it is a direct donation, fundraising in your community, or telling the polio story using the multiple platforms of today's media. Also, be an advocate by writing your government officials to ensure that they fulfill their pledges and maintain commitment, and reaching out to corporate leaders asking for their continued support of polio eradication. Write to me at Paul.Netzel@rotary.org to share what you are doing or your ideas for keeping polio at the top of our agenda. We need you as never before in our "countdown to history."
This World Polio Day, get involved by hosting a viewing party, concert, or polio walk or ride. Find out more at endpolio.org/world-polio-day.
Rotary Club of Santa Rosa Sunrise - Founded June 30, 1986
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