Rotarians and Rotary friends will gather this Thursday, November 21, for meetings in small groups at Charter House and Trinity Lutheran Church. There will be no meeting this month at Express Employment Professionals. You're invited to "brown bag it" and join others at 11:30 am to eat and socialize. Starting at 12 pm, President Colin will lead the business meeting from Charter Houe, and the other location will watch via Facebook Live. An online program and small group discussions will follow. If you aren't able to attend in person, join us via Facebook on The Rotary Club of Rochester page, and the program link will be provided in the comment section.
Salvation Army bell ringing is a tradition of The Rotary Club of Rochester. "When you volunteer to bell ring, you help improve, and even save lives. The money dropped in a red kettle goes right back into your local community. By now you’ve likely heard that two hours of your time at a Salvation Army red kettle raises about $60 in donations."
Ringers are needed for six Saturdays, starting Saturday, November 16 and ending Saturday, December 21. All but one Saturday will be served at inside locations. Please take a look at your calendar and sign up for a shift or two! Friends of Rotary and family members of all ages are welcome to serve as volunteers, as well!
Register here or via the calendar link on each date. Five volunteers are still needed for this Saturday, November 23!
Over the past 8 weeks, Past President Sara Gilliland, President Elect Chris Colby, President Elect Nominee Heather Holmes, Administrative Director Elizabeth Karsell, and I have investigated over 12 locations for our Thursday noon lunch Rotary meetings. Every year we research options for our meetings. Our current contract with the Mayo Civic Center (MCC) was simply unaffordable to continue. We currently are billed more than $1400/meeting by MCC to guarantee 72 meals and pay a room rental charge. Our last contract year, the club paid over $10,000 to MCC to cover this cost which was NOT paid for by members. Bottom line: if we don’t have 72 members in attendance, the club pays for meals to meet the guarantee of 72 meals. This is unsustainable.
With that in mind, we began a thorough search for meeting venues, both downtown and out of the downtown area. At the urging of several members we also reviewed some local churches that were in the immediate downtown area. Our meeting requirements are for approximately 55 people (our average number). We do need sound/visual and a professional place to meet. You have told us you would prefer a hot lunch service. A strong desire to stay in the downtown area has been communicated to many board members.
Hannah is one of our 2019-20 outbound Youth Exchanges students. She is a graduate of Byron High School and living this school year in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Here are a few of Hannah's own words regarding her experiences this year, "Week 14!!! This week was full of adventures and new traditions! I loved every second I got to spend with family and friends! With my family I went to the market and bought sugar skulls for the Día de Muertos altar. As a Spanish class we made an altar for Frida Kahlo. Went with my host mom and got our nails done. Enjoyed the sights, and smells of the Isla de San Marco for the big festival Cultural de Calaveras! On Thursday we went to the grand opening of my aunt, uncle, and cousins new restaurant! The later that night went out with friends for Halloween:) on Friday celebrated my little cousins baptism. Then went to the isla on Saturday night with some friends where we went on rides, got our faces painted, and enjoyed some traditional food. Sunday we got together with family and told stories enjoyed traditional Día de Muertos pan, chocolate, and candies, and has fun with the family.
Something interesting and that surprised me was here people dress up both on Halloween and on November first! They also go trick or treating 2 days in a row as well (on Halloween and the day after) they also have certain times to go. The first day is normally earlier (starts around 2pm and ends around 9 or 10) then the next day it starts later around 6 till whenever people run out of candy), And both the 2nd and 3rd of November is time with family and friends and traditions.
This was such and amazing week and I am so happy to have such a loving and welcoming host family here. It was so fun to get to learn see and participate in their family traditions."
Salvation Army bell ringing is a tradition of The Rotary Club of Rochester. "When you volunteer to bell ring, you help improve, and even save lives. The money dropped in a red kettle goes right back into your local community. By now you’ve likely heard that two hours of your time at a Salvation Army red kettle raises about $60 in donations."
Hannah is one of our 2019-20 outbound Youth Exchanges students. She is a graduate of Byron High School and living this school year in Aguascalientes, Mexico. .png)