Contestants Gave Us Something to Think About Lynette Andersen 2024-03-07 08:00:00Z 0
ROARing Readers Mid-Term Assembly Lynette Andersen 2024-02-15 08:00:00Z 0
Assembly Tables at Castori Lynette Andersen 2024-02-03 08:00:00Z 0
It Was a Beautiful Day to Work in the Yard Lynette Andersen 2024-01-29 08:00:00Z 0
Inspiring Middle Schoolers With Art Lynette Andersen 2024-01-29 08:00:00Z 0
Another Great TopGolf Fundraiser Lynette Andersen 2024-01-19 08:00:00Z 0
A Great Holiday Party Lynette Andersen 2023-12-29 08:00:00Z 0
What a fun social event 2023-11-09 08:00:00Z 0
The First Trunk or Treat Was a Success Lynette Andersen 2023-10-23 07:00:00Z 0
A Jam-Packed Meeting Lynette Andersen 2023-08-18 07:00:00Z 0
August 3 Meeting Lynette Andersen 2023-08-04 07:00:00Z 0
Collecting Backpacks Lynette Andersen 2023-07-26 07:00:00Z 0
July 20 Meeting Lynette Andersen 2023-07-22 07:00:00Z 0
Our Demotion Dinner was a fun "walk about" Lynette Andersen 2023-07-01 07:00:00Z 0
We had our last ROARing Readers Assembly on May 26 2023-05-26 07:00:00Z 0
One of Our Best Projects Lynette Andersen 2023-03-08 08:00:00Z 0
TopGolf Fundraiser on MLK Day Lynette Andersen 2023-01-27 08:00:00Z 0
The Location Changed; The Fun Did Not 2022-12-27 08:00:00Z 0

TopGolf Fundraiser Jan 16

 
The Rotary Club of North Sacramento is holding its 6th annual TopGolf fundraiser on Monday, January 16, 2023.
We are personally inviting you and your club to come join us for a day full of fun for all ages, family, friends and business associates!
The event includes a lunch buffet, drawings, awards, Maui Vacation, and much more!
Sponsorships and online registration is now available at www.eventbrite.com
Please feel free to contact me or Mel Bennett with any questions at:
Steve Delikat                                                                      Mel Bennett
Email:  rcns5180@outlook.com                                  Email:  mbennett@lawsonmechanical.com
Mobile:  (916) 218-9321                                                                 Mobile:  (916) 410-4668
 
Thank you for your consideration!
 
TopGolf Fundraiser Jan 16 Lynette Andersen 2022-12-13 08:00:00Z 0
Our First ROARing Readers Assembly Since the Pandemic Lynette Andersen 2022-11-04 07:00:00Z 0
Boxing Food for Seniors at the Sacramento Food Bank Lynette Andersen 2022-10-27 07:00:00Z 0
Delivering Fun to UC Davis Children's Hospital Lynette Andersen 2022-10-26 07:00:00Z 0
Volunteering to Help Raise Funds For the Library Lynette Andersen 2022-09-30 07:00:00Z 0
Yard Maintenance at Rotary House on Sept 17 Lynette Andersen 2022-09-17 07:00:00Z 0

Dictionary Delivery at Castori

It was the first assembly EVER for these happy third graders. Members of the Rotary Club of North Sacramento, Sacramento Police Department officers, and members of the community delivered dictionaries on Sept 16 to a very excited group of students. Once the dictionaries are handed out, the students are encouraged to look up the professions and vocations of the Rotarians and officers, who autograph the dictionaries and provide inspirational quotes to m motivate the students. 
 

Dictionary Delivery at Castori from Lynette Andersen on Vimeo.

 
Dictionary Delivery at Castori 2022-09-16 07:00:00Z 0
Dictionary Delivery on Sept 16 Lynette Andersen 2022-09-16 07:00:00Z 0
Pres Dennis' Demotion Dinner Showcased District "Super Hero" Theme Lynette Andersen 2022-06-25 07:00:00Z 0
Looks Like a Great New Project Lynette Andersen 2022-05-16 07:00:00Z 0
Help Support Oak Park Rotary House on Big Day of Giving Lynette Andersen 2022-04-15 07:00:00Z 0
Members of 8 Local Rotary Clubs Participated in the Oak Park Rotary House Work Day Lynette S Andersen 2022-02-01 08:00:00Z 0
Our 2022 TopGolf Fundraiser was a huge success Lynette S Andersen 2022-01-21 08:00:00Z 0
A Solemn Occasion Lynette S Andersen 2021-09-30 07:00:00Z 0

Better Late Than Never

With a nod toward PP Steve's vocation and recognition of how we weathered COVID to become "The Best Club in District 5180 (2019-2020)", the background music of the video is "Semper Paratus" (always ready) -- the theme song of the Coast Guard. Be sure to watch all the way to the end to see PDG Jo Ann Lemmon present PP Nick Doiron with a plaque signifying Nick's inclusion in the D5180 Hall of Fame (2020-2021) during PP Mary's Rotary year.
 
 
 
Better Late Than Never Lynette S Andersen 2021-09-03 07:00:00Z 0
Stuffing Backpacks for Robla School District Students Lynette S Andersen 2021-08-04 07:00:00Z 0
We won! Lynette S Andersen 2021-08-03 07:00:00Z 0
Yard Maintenance with our new Partner Club at Oak Park Rotary House 2021-06-29 07:00:00Z 0
Pres. Mary's Demotion: the first and last "in person" meetings of her Rotary year 2021-06-29 07:00:00Z 0
We’re the “Best Medium-Size Club in District 5180” Lynette Andersen 2021-06-03 07:00:00Z 0
Our Inaugural Shred Fest Had Unexpected Benefits 2021-05-15 07:00:00Z 0
Another Productive Afternoon at the Sacramento Food Bank Lynette S Andersen 2021-04-01 07:00:00Z 0
We're Creating a Language Center at Grant High School Lynette S Andersen 2021-04-01 07:00:00Z 0
Family & Friends Help at Rise Against Hunger Food Packaging Event Lynette S Andersen 2021-04-01 07:00:00Z 0
RCNS Returns to the Sacramento Food Bank 2021-04-01 07:00:00Z 0

We're D5180's Best Club of the Year (2019-2020)

It was a challenging year, but PP Steve Delikat and all the members of the Rotary Club of North Sacramento met the COVID challenge in stride. We just kept on doing what we've always done. We were aiming for a 3-peat of the Best Small Club in D5180, but, being recognized as the Club of the Year was beyond our wildest dreams. Congratulations to PP Steve and to all the passionate and dedicated members of the Rotary Club of North Sacramento. 
 
 
 
 
 
We're D5180's Best Club of the Year (2019-2020) 2021-02-02 08:00:00Z 0
Rotarians Collected Dozens of Toys for Stanford Settlement Lynette Andersen 2020-12-15 08:00:00Z 0
Oak Park Rotary House Yard Maintenance Lynette S Andersen 2020-11-20 08:00:00Z 0
Members Collect Halloween Costumes for UC Davis Children's Hospital Lynette S Andersen 2020-10-16 07:00:00Z 0
Members Collect canned food for Stanford Settlement 2020-10-02 07:00:00Z 0

Rotary House Interview With Courtney Corbitt, LCSW

Courtney Corbitt is a social worker with UC Davis Children's Hospital. She is the Oak Park Rotary House liaison. She's been assigned to the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) for the last 5 years, but when she first started acting as the Rotary House liaison, she was assigned to the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). Courtney is a member of a 9-person team of UC Davis Children's Hospital staff who identifies, evaluates, and selects the families who will be offered the opportunity to stay at Rotary House -- for free -- while their child is hospitalized (or receiving intensive outpatient care) for more than 4 months and who live more than 1 hour from the hospital. These children are typically micro-premies or pediatric cancer patients. Oak Park Rotary House is a partnership of seven D5180 Rotary clubs. Remember us on Big Day of Giving on May 7.
 
 
https://youtu.be/WS6BjRRNL3s
 
Rotary House Interview With Courtney Corbitt, LCSW Lynette S Andersen 2020-04-30 07:00:00Z 0
Rotarians at Work Day Lynette S Andersen 2020-04-18 07:00:00Z 0
Saturday Morning at the Food Bank Lynette S Andersen 2020-03-13 07:00:00Z 0
Grant High School Blood Drive Lynette Andersen 2020-03-06 08:00:00Z 0
Groundbreaking at El Cerezo Lynette Andersen 2020-02-14 08:00:00Z 0
Is It Too Good To Be True?  Lynette Andersen 2020-01-27 08:00:00Z 0
Rotarians Ring the Bell for the SalvationArmy Lynette Andersen 2019-12-23 08:00:00Z 0
Another Wonderful Christmas Party Lynette Andersen 2019-12-13 08:00:00Z 0
Another Successful ROARing Readers Assembly  Lynette Andersen 2019-12-06 08:00:00Z 0
A Joint Meeting With the Grant High School Interact Club Lynette Andersen 2019-11-14 08:00:00Z 0
A Morning at the Sacramento Food Bank Lynette Andersen 2019-11-02 07:00:00Z 0

Dictionary Delivery on Sept 20

On September 20, Rotarians, local community volunteers and law enforcement officers delivered dictionaries to third graders at a local elementary school.  They described their occupations and professions to the students and emphasized the importance of reading.  The Sacramento Police Department donated two bicycles to encourage the students to use their dictionaries to improve their reading skills.
The dictionary delivery is one component of a larger school-wide project, ROARing Readers.  The students' literacy improvement is tracked through the year, and literacy improvement, including improvement over the summer break, is rewarded with prizes at three assemblies throughout the school year.
 
Dictionary Delivery on Sept 20 Lynette Andersen 2019-09-20 07:00:00Z 0
Members from Seven Rotary Clubs Come Together for Rotary House Work Day Lynette Andersen 2019-08-03 07:00:00Z 0
Members and family cheered on PE Steve's son, David Lynette Andersen 2019-06-26 07:00:00Z 0
What is Rotary? Lynette ANdersen 2019-06-26 07:00:00Z 0
A Sweet Demotion Dinner at a Suite at the River Cats Lynette Andersen 2019-06-14 07:00:00Z 0

The year end celebration at Castori Elementary was better than we could have hoped

Posted by Lynette Andersen on Jun 04, 2019
 

Today, members of the Rotary Club of North Sacramento and officers from the Sacramento Police Department helped students celebrate their accomplishments in improving their literacy scores.  The "grand champion" increased her reading scores by almost FOUR grade levels. 

 

As they were working to improve their reading scores throughout the year, the students had no idea what the "grand prizes" would be. The top two "reading champions" in two categories (1st through 3rd grade and 4th through 6th grade) received bicycles. The "third place" readers received Razor scooters.  This project was funded, in part, by a Rotary Foundation Community Grant.

 

We are continuing this project next year. We hope the success and enthusiasm of the students will incentivize them to read over the summer and to continue to improve their reading scores next year and beyond.

 

 

The year end celebration at Castori Elementary was better than we could have hoped Lynette Andersen 2019-06-04 07:00:00Z 0

Rotarians Attend Annual Remembrance at Police & Sheriff's Memorial

Members of the Rotary Club of North Sacramento attended the Police and Sheriff's Memorial Annual Remembrance Ceremony.  The RCNS was a major donor and one of members of the RCNS, Past President Dennis Tsuboi, designed the memorial.  Unfortunately, another fallen officer, Mark Stasyuk, was recognized.  Deputy Stasyuk was killed while responding to a routine call on September 17, 2018.

 

 

 

 

Rotarians Attend Annual Remembrance at Police & Sheriff's Memorial Lynette Andersen 2019-05-02 07:00:00Z 0
Packing Boxes at the Sacramento Food Bank  Lynette Andersen 2019-04-06 07:00:00Z 0
Book Donations for Art Night Lynette Andersen 2019-03-21 07:00:00Z 0
Our District Grant for ROARing Readers Lynette Andersen 2019-03-12 07:00:00Z 0
Volunteers at Central Valley Spelling Bee  Lynette Andersen 2019-03-06 08:00:00Z 0
Chaperones at Grant High School Blood Drive  Lynette Andersen 2019-02-28 08:00:00Z 0
TopGolf fundraiser was a success Lynette Andersen 2019-01-23 08:00:00Z 0
Annual Christmas Party (2018)  Lynette Andersen 2018-12-17 08:00:00Z 0
Phase I of Literacy Incentive Project at Castori Elementary Lynette Andersen 2018-12-07 08:00:00Z 0
Top Golf Fundraiser on January 21 Lynette Andersen 2018-11-15 08:00:00Z 0
World Kindness Day is November 13: Pass it On Lynette Andersen 2018-11-09 08:00:00Z 0
Halloween Costumes for Kids at UC Davis Children's Hospital 2018-10-23 07:00:00Z 0
RCNS at the Fall Street Faire Lynette Andersen 2018-10-20 07:00:00Z 0
Dictionary Delivery  Lynette Andersen 2018-09-19 07:00:00Z 0

On Sept 21 Perform a Random Act of Kindness

 
September 21 is the United Nations International Day of Peace.  Create awareness by performing at least one random act of kindness for a person of another race, religion, ethnicity, socio-economic class, or political ideology.  Share your experience with fellow-Rotarians at your next meeting.
On Sept 21 Perform a Random Act of Kindness Lynette Andersen 2018-09-15 07:00:00Z 0
Scoopin' Ice Cream at National Night Out 2018-08-13 07:00:00Z 0
"A Place Called Sacramento" video Lynette Andersen 2018-07-23 07:00:00Z 0
Media Launch: "The Ugly Truth" Lynette Andersen 2018-07-19 07:00:00Z 0
Molly's Demotion Dinner Lynette Andersen 2018-06-23 07:00:00Z 0
Scoopin' Ice Cream at the Taco Festival  Lynette Andersen 2018-06-02 07:00:00Z 0
Best Small Club in District 5180! Lynette Andersen 2018-05-22 07:00:00Z 0
Police & Sheriff's Memorial Annual Remembrance Lynette Andersen 2018-05-03 07:00:00Z 0
Rotarians at Work Day Lynette Andersen 2018-04-28 07:00:00Z 0
District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert Lynette Andersen 2018-04-23 07:00:00Z 0

Support Oak Park Rotary House on Big Day of Giving:  May 3

Support Oak Park Rotary House on Big Day of Giving: May 3 Lynette Andersen 2018-04-21 07:00:00Z 0
ARC Scholarship Recipient Thanks Rotary  Lynette Andersen 2018-04-12 07:00:00Z 0
Rotarians at Work Day Lynette Andersen 2018-04-11 07:00:00Z 0
Rotary Club of North Sacramento's Representative Comes in Second Lynette Andersen 2018-04-09 07:00:00Z 0
Rotarians & Interactors at Sacramento Food Bank Lynette Andersen 2018-03-03 08:00:00Z 0
Club level speech contest Lynette Andersen 2018-02-22 08:00:00Z 0
At the meeting on Feb 1 Lynette Andersen 2018-02-01 08:00:00Z 0
Kenya Global Grant is fully pledged Lynette Andersen 2018-02-01 08:00:00Z 0
TopGolf Fundraiser 2018-01-29 08:00:00Z 0
Courageous Conversations at the Rotary Club of Berkeley Lynette Andersen 2018-01-27 08:00:00Z 0
Packing Christmas Food Boxes at Stanford Settlement Lynette Andersen 2017-12-19 08:00:00Z 0
Interact Blood Drive Lynette Andersen 2017-11-06 08:00:00Z 0
World Polio Day Lynette Andersen 2017-10-25 07:00:00Z 0
Interact Club Meeting October 19 Lynette Andersen 2017-10-19 07:00:00Z 0
Dictionary Delivery: Castori Lynette Andesen 2017-09-14 07:00:00Z 0

Dictionary Labeling

After a fantastic lunch of BBQ at D's Smokin' Pit, the group moved to the Lemmon Law Office to place "4-way test" labels in the dictionaries we'll be distributing to third graders at several school in the Twin Rivers Unified School District.  We'll be delivering dictionaries on two days -- one, a "class assembly" for third graders at Mary Grosjean's school, Castori Elementary, and then, the rest of the schools the following week.
 
 
Dictionary Labeling Lynette Andersen 2017-09-07 07:00:00Z 0

Bowling Night

Bowling Night from Lynette Andersen on Vimeo.

Hosted by PP Nick Doiron, members of the Rotary Club of North Sacramento and Assistant Governor, Dave Veden, and his wife, Michele, spent the evening bowling at Country Club Lanes.  As prospective member, Denise Williams, said at the beginning of the evening, "So much potential."  "Potential" is over-rated. 

 
Bowling Night Lynette Andersen 2017-08-31 07:00:00Z 0

DG Sandi's Club Visit Was Delightful

A Wonderful evening

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DG Sandi's Club Visit Was Delightful Lynette Andersen 2017-08-04 07:00:00Z 0

National Night Out

The Rotary Club of North Sacramento, the Del Paso Blvd. Partnership, and Dixieanne Neighborhood Association partnered with Grace Center to provide hot dogs, hamburgers, and ice cream for local residents.  May Darrell Steinberg and Councilman Allen Warren came to help.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
National Night Out Lynette Andersen 2017-08-01 07:00:00Z 0

Rotarians volunteered at the Save Mart Wine Garden

Members from the Rotary Club of North Sacramento volunteered at the Save Mart Wine Garden Sunday afternoon.  Despite the 100 degree heat, there was a steady stream of customers.  Unsurprisingly, the chilled wines were the most popular.  PDG Brian Moore, from the Rotary Club of Natomas, organizes this event each year.  Our shift, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon was staffed by Pres. Molly Evangelisti, PP Leslie Arnal, Leslie's brother, Bill Loeffler, PP Lynette Andersen, PP Nick Doiron, and Greg Higley.
 
Rotarians volunteered at the Save Mart Wine Garden Lynette Andersen 2017-07-23 07:00:00Z 0
July 20 Meeting at Mama Kim's Lynette Andrsen 2017-07-20 07:00:00Z 0
Pres. Nick's Demotion Dinner Lynette Andersen 2017-06-03 07:00:00Z 0
100 Year Celebration Lynette Andersen 2017-05-20 07:00:00Z 0
Police & Sheriff's Annual Remembrance Lynette Andersen 2017-05-04 07:00:00Z 0
Rotarians at Work Day 2017 Lynette Andersen 2017-04-29 07:00:00Z 0
A Salute to Service Lynette Andersen 2017-01-16 08:00:00Z 0
Christmas Party 2016-12-19 08:00:00Z 0
Fundraiser at TopGolf Lynette Andersen 2016-12-08 00:00:00Z 0
American River College Foundation Scholarship Awards Lynette Andersen 2016-07-08 00:00:00Z 0
A Place Called North Sacramento Lynette Andersen 2016-07-07 00:00:00Z 0
Demotion Dinner Lynette Andersen 2016-06-05 00:00:00Z 0
Rotary House Clean Up Lynette Andersen 2016-02-26 00:00:00Z 0
Dictionary Delivery Lynette Andersen 2015-09-30 00:00:00Z 0

Bulletin 091615

 
Bulletin 091615 Lynette Andersen 2015-09-16 00:00:00Z 0

Bulletin 091115

 
 
 

In some parts of the world, fall is a season of color, warmth, and comfort before the onset of the cold, barren winter. In others, autumn marks the end of the rainy season, a time of abundance, feasting, and giving thanks. And for some, fall can be a mystical time when the veil between the human world and the spirit world thins. The following are just some of the myriad fall celebrations around the globe.

Apart from the cost of travel and lodging, the festivities are often free and open to all. Travelers who time their trips with these cultural events can make a trip to a faraway place all the more memorable at no extra cost. (Note: Consult the U.S. State Department's travel alerts and warnings before setting out for some of these sites.)

Click here for the photo gallery:

 
 
 
Bulletin 091115 Lynette Andersen 2015-09-11 00:00:00Z 0
Rotary House Clean Up Day 2015-08-24 00:00:00Z 0

Oak Park Rotary House

Posted by Lynette Andersen on May 28, 2014

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The Oak Park Rotary House Foundation has modified its mission.  We are now accepting domestic patients and we have formed a partnership with UC Davis Children’s Hospital.  The social workers at UC Davis refer families whose child is being treated at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NIQU).  On a tour of Rotary House, Theresa Arciniega, one of the social workers at UC Davis, remarked, “When you walk through Rotary House, you can just feel the love in every nail.”

We recently received an update from Kayla, the previous occupant.  Kayla stayed at Rotary House for about two months while her newborn, Ryder, remained at the NIQU at UC Davis Children’s Hospital.  He was born with a number of conditions, including spina bifida and hydro encephalitis.  Kayla wrote, “I wanted to take the time and thank you for all your help. Ryder is finally home with no vent, but still has the tracheostomy tube. He is starting to lift his head now.  He weighs 16 pounds 9 ounces and is 26 inches long.  Without Rotary House, I wouldn't have been able to see my son as much as I did.”

The current family’s child is a 9-year-old who has brain cancer.  After several surgeries, he is now undergoing radiation and chemotherapy.  The family has been a guest of Rotary House for more than a year.  Rotary House allows him and his family to have a continuous place to stay during his entire course of treatment.  They won’t have to worry about where they’ll stay in Sacramento or about the cost to constantly travel between home and the hospital.

When the seven partner clubs built Rotary House, we did not appreciate that it’s location a few blocks from the hospitals, Ronald McDonald House, Kiwanis House and the other temporary housing facilities would be an advantage.  Cancer patients have compromised immune systems and the isolation of Rotary House actually helps patients limit their exposure to diseases like the common cold and flu.

In a recent letter, the child's caregiver said the boy was in the final part of treatment and he was doing well despite his compromised immune system. The caregiver wrote, " Everything is great at Rotary House and we know what a blessing it is for us to be here.  I want every single person that was involved in creating Rotary House to know that this is more then just a temporary place to stay. This is a home and a sanctuary. From the day that we moved in, we felt comfortable and cared for. We have met some of the most interesting people that include: The many Rotary members that have checked in on us from day one, those who maintained the house, and the different Rotary clubs that have come to the house to care for the yard and other home needs. We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts; our wonderful neighbors who befriended us from the moment we moved in; UC Davis Medical Center staff, from the surgeons, doctors and nurses, to the cooks, cleaners, volunteers and every specialty clinic we've been too, we thank them always; the Patient Transport Team, whom are some of the nicest people in the world, have picked us up and brought us back from every UC Davis medical appointment we have had since the day we moved into Rotary House. They are all awesome and we are blessed to have every one of them in our lives.

 

Oak Park Rotary House Lynette Andersen 2014-05-29 00:00:00Z 0

Report from Down Under

Posted by Lynette Andersen on May 28, 2014

PP Steve and PP JoAnn are taking some time before the RI Convention to visit one of their former RYE (Rotary Youth Exchange) students, Tania Aisbett.  She lives near Melbourne.  They often reminisce affectionately about Tania, their first RYE student, especially about what a tom-boy she was.

After catching up with Tania and her family, they spent their first day visiting the Healesville Animal Sanctuary, where JoAnn had an up close encounter with a Koala. They also saw kangaroos, tasmanian devils, dingoes, platypuses, and many other native Australian animals.

Later, they sampled wine in the Yarra Valley and took the scenic route home over the Dandenong Ranges.

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They topped off the day with a dinner meeting at the Rotary Club of Chadstone/East Malvern, where Steve and JoAnn surprised Tania with a Paul Harris Fellowship.

Over the last few years, among other things, the Chadstone/East Malvern club has  donated $7,300 to a school for special needs children, donated $2,700 to the Phoenix Park Art & Jewellery Class for Scope students paying for tools needed over the year, donated $1,600 to Disaster Aid Australia, donated $900 to the Sudanese Young Leaders program for Greater Dandenong, sponsored an outbound youth exchange student, who will spend one year in Poland, sponsored 2 high school students at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program held at Oasis, Mount Evelyn, volunteered at the Variety Club's Christmas Party at the Exhibition Centre, and organized a sausage sizzle and coffee at the Henley Rowing Regatta.

 

 

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Day 2:  Tania, Steve and JoAnn visited Melbourne city centre. After walking quite a bit, they ended up taking the free "circle tram" that loops the city, allowing Steve and JoAnn to see the various sights and architecture of the city without pounding the pavement.

 

 

Report from Down Under Lynette Andersen 2014-05-29 00:00:00Z 0

In Memory of a Peace Advocate

Posted by Lynette Andersen on May 27, 2014

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A Brave and Startling Truth

We, this people, on a small and lonely planet
Traveling through casual space
Past aloof stars, across the way of indifferent suns
To a destination where all signs tell us
It is possible and imperative that we learn
A brave and startling truth

And when we come to it
To the day of peacemaking
When we release our fingers
From fists of hostility
And allow the pure air to cool our palms

When we come to it
When the curtain falls on the minstrel show of hate
And faces sooted with scorn are scrubbed clean
When battlefields and coliseum
No longer rake our unique and particular sons and daughters
Up with the bruised and bloody grass
To lie in identical plots in foreign soil

When the rapacious storming of the churches
The screaming racket in the temples have ceased
When the pennants are waving gaily
When the banners of the world tremble
Stoutly in the good, clean breeze

When we come to it
When we let the rifles fall from our shoulders
And children dress their dolls in flags of truce
When land mines of death have been removed
And the aged can walk into evenings of peace
When religious ritual is not perfumed
By the incense of burning flesh
And childhood dreams are not kicked awake
By nightmares of abuse

When we come to it
Then we will confess that not the Pyramids
With their stones set in mysterious perfection
Nor the Gardens of Babylon
Hanging as eternal beauty
In our collective memory
Not the Grand Canyon
Kindled into delicious color
By Western sunsets

Nor the Danube, flowing its blue soul into Europe
Not the sacred peak of Mount Fuji
Stretching to the Rising Sun
Neither Father Amazon nor Mother Mississippi who, without favor,
Nurture all creatures in the depths and on the shores
These are not the only wonders of the world

When we come to it
We, this people, on this minuscule and kithless globe
Who reach daily for the bomb, the blade and the dagger
Yet who petition in the dark for tokens of peace
We, this people on this mote of matter
In whose mouths abide cankerous words
Which challenge our very existence
Yet out of those same mouths
Come songs of such exquisite sweetness
That the heart falters in its labor
And the body is quieted into awe

We, this people, on this small and drifting planet
Whose hands can strike with such abandon
That in a twinkling, life is sapped from the living
Yet those same hands can touch with such healing, irresistible tenderness
That the haughty neck is happy to bow
And the proud back is glad to bend
Out of such chaos, of such contradiction
We learn that we are neither devils nor divines

When we come to it
We, this people, on this wayward, floating body
Created on this earth, of this earth
Have the power to fashion for this earth
A climate where every man and every woman
Can live freely without sanctimonious piety
Without crippling fear

When we come to it
We must confess that we are the possible
We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world
That is when, and only when
We come to it.
 

Maya Angelou

 

In Memory of a Peace Advocate Lynette Andersen 2014-05-28 00:00:00Z 0

Rotary Day at the River Cats

Posted by Lynette Andersen on May 20, 2014

It was a perfect day to hang out at Raley Field.  Rotary Day at the River Cats is an annual event sponsored by District 5180.  In addition to the weather, the fellowship and the fundraising for "Polio Plus", the icing on the cake was a River Cats win.  They defeated the Tacoma Rainiers 6-1, winning three of the four game series against their division counterpart. 

This year, Rotarians purchased 336 adult tickets and 142 youth tickets.  Approximately 225 Rotarians and guests attended the game.  About 20 Interactors attended and more than 120 tickets were donated to various non-profit childrens organizations in the greater Sacramento area.

This year, $3,898 was raised from ticket sales.  In addition, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will be matching that, 2:1.   Up to $8 of every adult ticket sold and $5 from each donated ticket supports “End Polio Now”.

The tickets didn't need to be used on Sunday.  They may be used for any River Cats game.  Many Rotarians purchased tickets they intend to use on other days.  To encourage them to use those tickets and to sell additional tickets, another Rotary Day at the River Cats is scheduled Sunday, August 3, 2014.  Game time is 5:05pm.Image

Leslie, brother, Bill, nephew, Erik, and Erik's girlfriend, Haley

Rotary Day at the River Cats Lynette Andersen 2014-05-21 00:00:00Z 0
TopGolf Fundraiser on January 15 Lynette Andersen 0

We Welcomed Our Newest Guest to Rotary House

Posted by Lynette Andersen

Anna Mejia and her mother-in-law, Florina Mejia, visited Rotary House for the first time today.  Anna gavie birth to baby, Rosamarie, on January 22, 2015.  Rosamaie weighed just 1.3 pounds.

Anna, her husband, Jesus, and Rosamarie live in Anderson, California.  During Rosamarie's hospitalization at the UC Davis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the family is expected to occupy Rotary House for approximately 4 months..

 

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We Welcomed Our Newest Guest to Rotary House Lynette Andersen 0

Memories of Daddy

Posted by Lynette Andersen

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Leslie Arnal:  I had won an essay contest in high school.   I was 17 years old at the time.  The prize was to go to Washington DC to attend an awards ceremony with the First Lady.  My mother organized a multiple day trip.  I asked to go alone, and was granted the privilege, which I promptly abused by raiding the in-room stocked bar.  My dad came for the ceremony itself, and then we checked out.  He was handed a bar bill.  When he asked the clerk for clarification, she said that bill was for the items consumed in the room from the bar.   He never said a word to me about it for which I was forever grateful.

Ed Gee:  I come from a large family.  I have seven siblings.  I am the youngest.  But being the youngest, I was the last to arrive.  By the time I got there, our house was pretty full.  So I typically didn’t have a lot of time alone with either of my parents.  But the one thing that my Dad and I did together, just the two of us, was go fishing.  I remember very fondly not only the time we spent together fishing in our “secret spots”, but also the time getting ready for the day.  I especially remember going out to breakfast before the sun rose to a greasy spoon diner that is no longer around.  It was a place truckers used to stop.  We typically sat at the counter and had dollar sized pancakes and bacon.  I still remember the waitress vividly.  I also remember the short order cook preparing the breakfast.  In fact, I remember once upon a time that I wanted to be a short order cook because of my impression of this cook.  My Dad has now been gone for almost 25 years.  If he were alive today, he would be 100 years old next year.

Brad Driggers:  When we hit Ghana, the local racing association was selling race trained Arabian stallions and my dad bought 2 of them which we rode frequently.  The Ashanti rain forest is indescribably beautiful and we spent many mornings riding along misty trails in the thick bush.  Because the humidity is so high, there is often a cool fog in the jungle and we’d often barely be able to see each other.  Something new would materialize in front of us with every twist of the narrow trail.  Massive trees would loom up and the horses would gingerly step around their tangled root walls that would sometimes extend 15 feet above the ground at the tree base.  Vines were everywhere and you could hear the rustle of animals scampering deeper into the foliage.  There was one fallen tree that was too deeply buried in the bush to walk around and we had to lean forward hugging our horses neck to make it under.  Parts of my youth were straight out of an Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan novel.

One day in a lush grass covered meadow along the way, we unsaddled the horses and as the sun was breaking thru, exchanged their bridles for halters.  Putting the tether under one of their front hooves anchored them in place (horses will think they’re tied when they move their heads to walk and feel the tension on their halter) and we put our heads on the saddles and talked about important guy stuff.  Afterwards we made it to the nearest village just as the women were bringing the days bread out of their domed clay ovens.

It was a great day.

Lynette Andersen:  People don't have fences back East.  If they did, it wouldn't have happened.  And, it probably wouldn't happen, anywhere, today.  No fences meant that people could spontanously gather and it also meant that everyone knew what was going on in everyone else's yard.

In 1968, when my dad had just returned from the Vietnam War, we were transferred to Dover, Delaware.  Back in the “olden days”, all the neighborhood children played together.  There were no helicopter parents.  There was no such thing as a "play date".  Kids spent entire summer days away from their homes, playing together, returning only for meals and just before the street lights were about to come on.

It was the summer between my fifth and sixth grade years.  One night, some of the kids decided to have a "camp out" in our backyard.   Kids began bringing pillows, old blankets and sheets over and we built a giant "tent".  We clothes-pinned some of the blankets together and propped up with broomsticks.   We spread other blankets on the ground.  It was so hot and humid at night that sheets were all we needed for covers.  By bedtime, there must have been 20 kids under the makeshift tent.

The next summer, we moved to base housing.  And, believe it or not, the kids in our new neighborhood did the same thing.  Only this time, there were more kids because military families were bigger.  This time, there were more than 30.

The best part was that the morning after each camp out, my dad woke up early and fried eggs and bacon and sausage in an electric skillet for the whole crowd.   He loved it.  And he was the hit of the neighborhood!

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Report from Down Under

Posted by Lynette Andersen

 

                                                                                                                 

On Steve and JoAnn's last day with Tania, they visited Sydney.     They caught the bus to Circular Quay and then walked towards the Harbour Bridge to get a great view of the Sydney Opera House. 

 

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Image Clouds threatened all day, but the rain held off to the evening. They ran into a number of Rotarians from the Fair Oaks Rotary Club.  On the boat trip back from dinner, they caught the Vivid Light Show.
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Tania, Steve and JoAnn visited Melbourne city centre the second full  day of their visit. After walking quite a bit, they ended up taking the free "circle tram" that loops the city, allowing Steve and JoAnn to see the various sights and architecture of the city without pounding the pavement.

 

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