Attached is a recap of yesterday's meeting.  
 
Our in-person attendance increased yesterday, which was welcome by the staff of the American Legion and by our club members  Thanks to all who attended in-person and online.
 
In the attached recap, you'll find a summary of an interesting presentation delivered by Dr. Sarah Tuberty, who told us about her journey growing up with, and adapting to her congenital disability.  It was an informative and heartwarming presentation, for sure.
 
Next week we will have an abbreviated meeting, which will end by 1:15 so that we can drive over and celebrate Larry Fargher's 89th birthday with Lois and Larry. More information and a link to the e-vite is included in the attached recap. Please RSVP via the e-vite to help with planning.
 
 
See you next week at our regularly scheduled meeting.
 
Bill 
 
Bill Kelly
President
Rotary Club of Santa Clara
 

        Weekly Recap 

 

 

President Bill Kelly 

September 9, 2021 

 

We had a visiting Rotarian yesterday attend our meeting online from the state of Pennsylvania.  Our guest speaker, Dr. Sarah Tuberty, is a Rotarian with the Rotary e-club of Silicon Valley.  In addition to serving as a Rotarian, she was an excellent speaker, who provided our club some insights into the world of adaptive aerial arts.   

 

Meeting Highlights 

  

Pledge:  This time, the Pledge was led by Rotarian Jan Eric Nordmo. Thanks Jan Eric for helping kick off our meeting. 

  

Inspiration: This week, our inspiration came from Past President, Dan Holder.  With the 20th anniversary of 9/11 on Saturday, Dan took the opportunity to remind us about the impact that 9/11 had on nation, and on our club.  He shared a heartfelt letter that he wrote to the club at the time of those tragic events, and highlighted the community response in support of first responders and all those affected that day.  The club dedicated the profits from the 2001 Art and Wine festival to the family of a firefighter from the FDNY who sacrificed his life to save others that day. It was an incredible inspiration, Dan, and we thank you for sharing your thoughts with us at the meeting. 

Birthdays:  Happy Birthday to Patti Smith, and Miten Marfartia, who each celebrated their birthday on September 5.  Miten was so proud of his birthday that he donated $200 to the RI Foundation to become a “double sustainer”. Thanks, Miten, and Happy Birthday! 

 

Anniversaries:  Congratulations to Tressa and Ken Williams, who celebrated their 23 years of marriage on September 5.  Dan and Julie Winter celebrate 27 years together on Friday September 10.  Dan was looking for a nice restaurant where he could take Julie this weekend.  Dan Holder reminded him that there’s a top tier band playing at Jack Holder’s on Friday.  Gotta like Dan seizing the promotional opportunity.  Happy anniversaries! 

 

Rotary Anniversaries: There were no Club anniversaries to celebrate this week. 

 

We Care: No new reports from Don Skinner this week.   

 

Upcoming events:  

  • Relay for Life event, is October 2nd. 

  • The Parade of Champions is October 9th.  

  • Rose Academies benefit golf tournament October 16th. 

  • Steps for Success is scheduled on Friday October 29, which is Halloween weekend.  

President’s Report:  

  • Ana Vargas-Smith provided an update on the Parade of Champions, scheduled for October 9th.  The deadline for registering is fast approaching, but more entrants are encouraged to join the parade.   Ana noted that the 85th anniversary of our Rotary Club is worth celebrating, and the parade offers a chance to highlight our club’s impact in the community.  The parade will be viewed by a large crowd in downtown Santa Clara, as well as on streaming video.  The parade will be rebroadcast on the City’s media channels to gain even further exposure. 

Volunteer opportunities exist to help prepare for the big event.  We need helpers as we design our float for the event. We’re looking for creativity, and/or some muscle to help build the float.  Please contact Bill Kelly to sign up for the team. exposure.   

  • The 113th Annual Rotary International Convention is scheduled June 4-8, 2022.  Over 20,000 attendees from around the world will descend upon Houston, Texas for this event.  District 5170 has secured a block of rooms for the event at the Holiday Inn Houston Hotel. Reservations are encouraged to be made well in advance if you would like to attend. In the past, several Rotarians from our club have attended the RI Convention.  For more information, visit the RI hotel reservation website here.  Cost of the hotel is $175 for advanced booking. 

  • Our next meeting, September 16, will have a special format. Our guest speaker will deliver an abbreviated presentation due to her limited availability.  After lunch Rotarians have been invited to enjoy dessert at Larry Fargher’s home to help him celebrate his 89th birthday.  We will end the meeting early at 1:15 so that we have time to travel to Larry and Lois' home at 2443 Golf Links Circle in Santa Clara.  Feel free to simply drive by and say hello, or park your car and drop by the house to celebrate with Larry and Lois. 

Please RSP to a birthday e-vite, to help with planning. 

  • September 8th Board meeting briefing: 

  • The Board approved grants to the following organizations: 

  • Santa Clara Parade of Champions: $500 

  • Rose Academies Benefit Golf Tournament: $500 

  • American Cancer Society Relay for Life Santa Clara: $1,500 

  • Kim Short, Committee member of Rose Academies made a quick presentation at the meeting to discuss their upcoming benefit golf tournament, as well as remind us of the important work their organization performs in Uganda, especially in educating women.  You’ll remember a Zoom call from Uganda earlier this year when Academy members  were guest speakers at a weekly meeting and shared their story with our club.  If you would like to sign up and golf in the tournament or learn more about their organization, visit their website.  The tournament will be held on October 16th at Spring Valley Golf Club. 

  • On October 2nd, the American Cancer Society is holding their Relay for Life event at Townsend Field in Santa Clara.  This annual event was canceled during the past year in response to the pandemic. This year the Board voted to donate $1,500 to this event in recognition of the impact that cancer has had on our loved ones.  The event will include a walk around the field for those Rotarians that would like to participate.  The event runs from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.  More information will be sent soon regarding the event, as well as additional donation opportunities for our members.   

  • President Elect Tressa Williams provided an update on the February President’s dinner cruise event.  Tressa has an outstanding evening of fun planned as we celebrate our 85th anniversary in style.  Stay tuned for more details in the coming months. 

 

Keynote Speaker:  

 

We were treated to a wonderful presentation from Dr. Sarah Tuberty, who told us about her journey of adaptation and understanding of her disability experience. She was born without fingers on one of her hands, which provided unique challenges to her when she was growing up.  She described in vivid detail, what it was like as a young child to experience living with a disability, and the challenges that her disability presented. 

 

Sarah’s graduate work focused on providing tools for parents to help disabled children adapt and succeed in life.  She cited her roles as a mentor, scholar,  flight attendant, and accomplished athlete in aerial arts, in providing her with the tools necessary to help others adapt to disability and thrive.  Her relaxed presentation style helped in the delivery of her message. It was an enjoyable and informative presentation. 

 

 

Our guest speaker next week will be Heather Schomaker from the Wheelchair Foundation. The Foundation has a goal to provide a free wheelchair to every child, teen and adult worldwide who needs one, but has no means to acquire one. This is a cause that is supported by Rotary District 5170. The Foundation definitely performs important work to help those in need.  

 

This will be an abbreviated meeting that will end by 1:15 so that we can drive over and visit Rotarian Larry Fargher at his home. 

 

 

 

 

See everyone next Thursday, September 16th, at the American Legion Hall or online via Zoom.