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Posted byRoss Burkhardt
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A New Beginning - Welcome, 2014
It's that time of year again, starting anew-
We're at the beginning once more.
Now comes reflection and, yes, resolution
For our 365 encore.
We all get to do this, over and over
And, maybe, gain wisdom this way.
What do you learn as you look to the past,
And how will the future play?
Rotary ever asks, "Is it the truth
in thought and action and deed?"
How will we live as this new year unfolds?
What does tomorrow need?
We've a chance to start fresh, to launch a new course
As we build on our best yesterdays.
Will our work be helpful to others we meet?
Will we provide backing and praise?
It's always familiar, yet also quite new,
The yearly transitional scene.
At this new beginning as we look ahead,
We welcome 2014.
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Posted byTom Walker, DGN
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United Charity Air Mile Giveaway
"Thank you to everyone who showed that Rotary Unity is working all over the world!"
3,368,099 United Air Miles is to be awarded to Rotary! In United's 10 Million Charity Miles Giveaway, Rotary got 36.64 percent of the total votes! These miles can be used for about 33 international airline tickets for humanitarian projects. Las year, Rotary got 2.5 million miles in the giveaway.
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Students of the Month
Jocelyne Chavez is a student at Arrowhead Park Early College High School and is the daughter of Yadira Chavez. She is in the Honor Society, where she is an active participant and event volunteer. Related to the Honor Society, she has received Academic Achievement Awards. Her hobbies and interests include club volleyball, guitar and music. The Junior Leadership Program for the Chamber of Commerce is among her community activities. Her education and career goals are to graduate with a 4.0 gpa and attend the Harvard University pre-med program.
Riley Myers is a junior at las Cruces High School and is the son of Julia Burello and Clark Myers. School activities include; band, MESA, FIRST Robotics, Chess Club and Science Olympiad. He has received academic honors for the 2011 - 2012 & 2012 - 2013 school years.
His hobbies and interests include music, engineering, STEM and reading. FIRST Lego League, volunteer mentor, Comcast Cares, MESA Leadership Conference, Tuba Christmas and volunteer for clean ups are included in his community activities. He will be seeking a career in engineering.
Christopher J. Palmer is a junior at Centennial High School and is the son of Susan Palmer. Varsity tennis, varsity cross country and Key Club are among his school activities. He received academic honors in the 10th grade and was awarded MVP on the varsity tennis team in the 10th grade. His hobbies and interests include tennis, basketball and cooking. For community activities he volunteers and helps at mall events. Education and career goals include graduating high school with a 3.7 or higher GPA and receive an academic or tennis scholarship for college as he pursues a degree in business management and accounting.
Stefany Urena is a junior at Las Cruces High School and is the daughter of Veronica Jara and Roberto Urena. She is currently involved in the National Honor Scoiety, La Societe Honoraire Francaise, H.O.S.A., M.E.S.A., French Club and Performing Dance. She has taken honor classes in math and science and received the Academics Award for both years in H.S. Her hobbies and interests include working out, Zumba, photography, being outdoors and cleaning house. She likes helping those in need and has participated at the El Caldito Soup Kitchen, Toss No Mass, and the Convoy of Hope. Career goals are to get a bachelors degree as an RN and look into becoming a general practitioner, "family doctor".
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Las Cruces Rio Grande Rotary Club Youth Exchange
Katie Homa our 2011 - 2012 Outbound Exchange Student visited the club on January 7, 2014 and gave a report on her activities for the summer and as a student at Columbia University. Her experience as an exchange student in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has encouraged her to continue studies in the Portuguese language. This summer she will be volunteering for the World Cup in Brazil. She is also considering doing some program application translations for a Thailand software program into Portuguese. RYE continues to enhance and encourage our students.
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Total raised from the dinner and auction: $16,339.76
(Great start for the 2014 Dress The Child project!)
Ken Martin and Paul wait outside the fitting room for their Dress The Child shopper to try on clothing at Kohl's shopping night. |
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The Las Cruces Rio Grande Rotary Club participated in 5 shopping events for 2013 "Dress The Child" project. On December 8, 2013 a shopping event was held at Kohl's. More than 530 children were dressed this year. Rotarians and family members seen at the shopping event were: Don Buck, Jan Wimsatt, David Hicks was out of town but sent his wife, Susan, and daughter, Peter & Lia Krebs, Nikki MacDonald, Matt & Patty Olson, Ken Martin and Paul Villain, Dave & Ronnie Wright, Chub & Carol Foreman, Chris Erickson, Richard Williams with daughter and son, Faith Lester, Gerardo Valencia, Larry & Joanna Binkley.
The final dressing event was held on Wednesday, December 11, at Kohl's. This extra date was made possible with Kohl's incentives which amounted to more than 45 additional children receiving clothes. LCRGRC members showing up for this event: Joni, Richard Haas, Janet Honek & Stuart Young (red ribbon members), Kayla Jones, Peter & Lia Krebs, Ken & Patricia Shaw, Laura Smart, Kate Theisen, Ronnie & Dave Wright, Will Burke, Jan Wimsatt, Wendy Beserra, Larry & Joanna Binkley and Tom "Chester" Mackin. (Glad to see Tom back in action.)
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India's Three-Year Polio-Free Anniversary
India marks three years without a case of wild polio on Januyary 13, 2014, a landmark achievement for global public health and the worldwide effort to eradicate polio. Experts once considered India the most technically difficult place to end polio. As recently as 2009, India was home to nearly half the world's polio cases. High population density, migrant populations and poor sanitation presented exceptional challenges to eliminating the disease.
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Rotary International as a part of more than 2.3 million vaccinators
deployed during national immunization days. LCRGRC pardticipates in
the End Polio campaign and Laura Smart went to India as one of the
vaccinators.
While India's anniversary is a significant milestone and proof of what is possible, recent outbreaks in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa - both linked to virus from endemic countries - are proof that as long as polio exists anywhere, it is a threat everywhere.
Ending polio is a critical step toward improving the lives of the world's most vulnerable children.
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Posted by Chris May
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Service Above Self.... On January 11, 2014 Las Cruces Rio Grande Rotary Club members met for a yard sale pickup. Chub Foreman, Richard Williams, Pam Lillibridge, Diane Indorf, Chris Erickson, Stuart Young, Robert Sheldon and Chris May rolled up their sleeves and made several stops to pick up items for the annual yard sale. The proceeds will benefit Mesilla Valley Hospice and members will get a meeting make-up for this service. The success of the yard sale depends partly on the "stuff" or "treasures" the club picks up during the year. If you didn't make this one, there will be other pick-ups in upcoming months. Watch for the announcement of the date. Members in red are new "red ribbon" members off to a good start.
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Six new Las Cruces - Rio Grande Rotary Club members, and one transfer were inducted and welcomed to the club on December 3rd. The new members, and transfer, were introduced to the club and were given a few minutes to tell the club about themselves. Several of them took advantange of the "free time" for advertising their business. A great day for the club as several members commented that it has been rare to see this many new members inducted at one meeting, especially in November and December which are usually slow months for new membership.
The new members to the club are:
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Steve Apodaca - Wells Fargo Bank -
Principal Business Relationship Manager
Janet Honek - Managing Member of Sunspot Solar Energy
James A. Dolan - General Manager of Mesilla Valley Mall
Sean E. Rogers - Assistant Professor at NMSU
Stuart A. Young - Citizens Bank - Commercial Loan Officer & VP Business Banking
George K. Vescovo - President Vescovo Toyota of Las Cruces
Marci Beyer - District Judge Division 2
Robert C. Sheldon (Rob) - Consulting Engineer
Transfer from Rotary Club of Geneva, OH.,
member from 1969 - 2013.
Steve Apodaca - Wells Fargo Bank -
Principal Business Relationship Manager
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From September 25 to October 4, 2013, Laura Smart participated in the RFE - Rotary Friend Exchange. The following is her brief description of the experience: "Our trip began Sept. 25th & concluded Oct. 4th. I had 3 host families for 3 nights each. We were in the Bath & Bristol area of England. It was a wonderful experience meeting other Rotarians celebrating & sharing the humanitarian & business aspects from England. I encourage everyone to participate some time in an RFE! It was so fun!"
Laura Smart and the Las Cruces Rio Grande Rotary Club will be hosting an RFE from England from March 29 - April 8, 2014. Let's give them a big southwestern welcome!
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Other "Family Ties" coming up in the future: Allen's, Kuehne's, Binkley's & Canja's. Kathy and Matt Olson were recognized in November.
Father & Son
Mike & Brandon Beckett
Mike has been in LCRGRC 10+ years and
Brandon just got rid if his new member red-ribbon.
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We continue with our Family Ties in the Las Cruces - Rio Grande Rotary Club, this month featuring Mike and Brandon Beckett. Mike is married to Veronica and has 2 children, 1 grand dog and 2 grand kittys.
Previously, another son, Brett was a member of the club, but has since moved to Hobbs. Mike has been in Las Cruces 47 years and has also lived in Las Vegas, Nevada and Portales, New Mexico. He went to Las Cruces High School and NMSU. Mike has been sergeant at arms, treasurer and is now president elect. He will assume the presidency of our club next year and was recently installed as president of the Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce. His favorite Rotary project is the "Dictionary Project" for 3rd graders. He picked this project because it is "book related and makes kids happy". (As the owner, CEO of the successful COAS Bookstore, being "book-related" is understandable and applauded). When asked why he is a member of Rotary, Mike responded; "Service Above Self, what an awesome concept!"
Brandon is single and has been in Rotary 3 months and has lived in Las Cruces 18 years. He has also lived in Utah and Lovington, New Mexico. Brandon graduated from Las Cruces High School and NMSU.
His favorite LCRGRC project is the Rotary (International) Youth Exchange as he is a strong supporter for students who learn/study abroad. As a new member his happiest "Happy Dollar" was; "My Happy Dollar for having my first Happy Dollar". He is a photographer and loves continuously learning so he can help better our world.
Mike has been a real asset to the Las Cruces Rio Grande Rotary Club, and the Las Cruces community. It is good to see Brandon following his lead.
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Important Dates and Events:
"Dress The Child" Shopping Nights
November 3, Old Navy, 6 p.m.
November 10, Old Navy, 10 a.m.
November 17, Sear's, 6:30 p.m.
December 8, Kohl's, 6 p.m.
December 11, Kohl's, 6 p.m.
December 14, 2013
Annual "Dress The Child" Holiday dinner and silent auction.
December 28, 2013
Welcome "The Rotarian Aussies" to New Mexico, 6:00 p.m. Laura Smart & Bob Crowley's home.
February 12, 2014
4-Way Essay Contest - 5:30 p.m.
Branigan Library - Roadrunner Room
February 14, 2014
"The Fantasticks" - Spencer Theater
Silent Auction Item - DTC Auction
February 23, 2014
"Glen Miller Orchestra" - Spencer Theater
Silent Auction Item - DTC Dinner
March 22, 2014
Rotary Club of El Paso
Centennial Celebration
Keynote Speaker: Ron D. Burton
2013 - 2014 President
Rotary International
April 15, 2014
Dictionary Day
May, 2014
Annual Yard Sale
May 1-4, 2014
District 5520 Conference
Hotel Albuquerque
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