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Posted by President - Brad Beasley
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 March always reminds me of two things; that corporate tax returns are due on March 15th, and St. Patrick's Day. Given that my father's family hailed from County Cork in Ireland, I certainly prefer the latter. I mean, who does not enjoy a day devoted to wearing green, pretending to be Irish, drinking green beer, and chasing Leprechauns (that occurs after the beer).
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As our Rotary calendar turns to March, our service projects continue to roll on, and we continue to have great attendance at our meetings. I would like to commend Richard Haas, our membership chairman, and the club on the multitude of new members we have brought in. With our latest induction, we have 9 new members this year. The sad thing is that we have lost 4 members during the year. I sat down and was thinking about the club when I joined and the turnover of members I have seen since then. I know that roughly half the club has changed since I became a member nearly 10 years ago. While the majority of the people that have left the club have done so for financial reasons, I cannot help but ask "could I have done something to keep the member in the club?". I came to the conclusion that us as individual Rotarians have an obligation to make Rotary a "Fun" place to be, so that members will not feel obligated to participate in Rotary, but enjoy the Rotary journey. My hat's off to Chris May and her team that is putting together a wonderful set of speakers for each meeting, and to the Rotarians shepherding the High School Students to the meetings.
We are the fun club, and it is the duty of every member to make it fun for everyone. I had one member tell me, "Brad it is good to have fun, but we need to be serious when we are doing the projects". I would disagree in that, we should have fun in all we do. It is fun to deliver dictionaries to 3rd graders. IT is fun to dress 500 children at dress the child. It is fun to see the community come out for our yard sale, it should be fun to go with Rotarians and pick furniture (note just because we exert energy to pick up thing does not mean it can't be fun). If doing this projects become "not fun" then we need to really reassess whether these are projects our membership can get behind.
I will be filling out our "club accomplishments" to send to the District and it is really amazing what we have done. I will highlight the accomplishments at our newest event, our year end extravaganza on June 21.
Until then, keep it fun.
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2014 - 2015 Officers & Directors
2014 - 2015 President
Mike Beckett
At the regular meeting on March 4, 2014 the following officers for 2014 - 2015 were elected:
President - Mike Beckett
President Elect - Chris May
Secretary - Loren Kuehne
Treasurer - Ronnie Wright
Sgt. at Arms - Scotty Hendricks
Immediate Past President - Brad Beasley
Membership - Chris Erickson
Public Relations - Clint Lanier
Club Administration - Richard Haas
Service Projects - Nikki MacDonald
Rotary Foundation - Brian Parks
New Generations - Kayla Jones
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Posted by Chris
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Service Above Self
LCRGRC members answer the call!
Remember the picture and the call for service on March 4?
Pictured is part of what Chub, Peter & Chris loaded and
unloaded on February 22.
You are needed for next pick-up on March 8th.
(And you showed up!) see below
The following members showed up and got a makeup:
Scotty Hendricks
Matt Holt
James Dolan
Chub Foreman
Gene Gant
Peter Krebs
Pam Lillibridge
Ken Martin
Chris May
Ronnie Wright
Stuart Young
Pictured: Scotty Hendricks, Ken Martin, Matt Holt
"Thanks to all who showed up ---we had a good time!
And thanks to Eddie Binns for letting us use his pickup
and trailer!"
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Posted by Gene Gant
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LCRGRC Dictionary Day
Gene Gant - Reporting on Dictionary Day
April 15, 2014
"Bring cameras & take lots of
pictures for this event!"
The Las Cruces Rio Grande Rotary Club is preparing for the 8th Annual Rotary Dictionary Day in the Las Cruces Public Schools. Approximately 55 members of the club gather each year and, over the past 8 years, have delivered over 16,000 dictionaries to all 3rd graders in the district. The number of elementary schools receiving the dictionaries have ranged from 23 – 25. This project is a part of the Rotary International Literacy Program.
This year Rotary Dictionary Day will be held on April 15. The members will meet on Tuesday, their regular meeting day, at noon and, after a quick lunch, will head out to the schools. As teams of Rotarians deliver the dictionaries to the students, Rotarians will present the Rotary 4-Way Test to these 3rd graders The Rotary 4 Way Test is our ethical guide to the way we "think, say and do." A label is placed in the inside cover of each dictionary reminding students of this Rotary 4-Way test.
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The Power of Poetry / The Power of Rotary
by Ross M. Burkhardt
March 1, 2014
What is the power of poetry?
How does a rhymed verse inspire?
Poem with lines like, “Lo, a tree!”
Seem distant, hard to admire.
When words connect, and the meter
Moves merrily over the page,
Readers soon realize: sweeter
Than honey are words that engage.
Poets compose and then tinker
With passages, seeking a truth.
A poet is ever a thinker,
In old age, also in youth.
What is the power of Rotary?
Why does our gathering grow?
We’re much more than a coterie,
And service is what we know.
When clubs connect, our endeavour
Shows up around this earth.
Rotary is forever.
How do you measure worth?
Rotarians commit to service
And practice the Four Way Test.
Life is no time to be nervous –
Make Rotary manifest.
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Posted by Larry Binkley
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Who Dat?
Hint: LCRGRC member, successful businessman,
but didn't make MLB.
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"Who Dat?" - February
Terry Moss
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Posted by Brian Parks
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Paul Harris Fellows
Nikki MacDonald receiving a
Paul Harris Fellow award from
Brian Parks, Foundation Director
The following members were awarded Paul Harris Fellows (PHF) on February 25, 2014:
Janet Honek (new member) 1st PHF
Dan Howard (new member) 1st PHF
Ken Martin 1st PHF
Brian Parks 1st PHF
Larry Binkley PHF +1
Nikki MacDonald PHF +1
Brad Beasley PHF +3
Robert Francis PHF +3
Joni Gutierrez PHF +3
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Students of the Month
Seven students were introduced at the LCRGRC regular meeting on March 4, 2014.
These students are students at local high schools and selected by staff members
as future Rotarians. Pictures and information on these outstanding students will be presented
in the "Q" Bulletin in mid-March.
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Posted by Larry Binkley
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Rotary Youth Exchange - Sally Goenaga
President Brad with Sally Goenaga
after returning from Taiwan
August 2013
Sally with Joao Pim
from Taiwan, January 2014
Rotarians be proud when we ask ourselves; "Does Rotary Youth Exchange work?" Sally was our 2012 - 2013 Outbound Student to Taiwan and files this report.
Read more for Sally's report.
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"My life back in the U.S. is going super well. I am a Government Major at NMSU. This semester I am taking Japanese classes and many Government classes. Towards the end of my first semester at NMSU, I was offered a work-study position at the Office of Education Abroad and also as a Student Counselor. I chose to work for the Office of Education Abroad as a Marketeer promoting education abroad. During my first semester at NMSU I joined the club Study Abroad Ambassadors. Now I am the secretary of the club. This club helps the university exchange students acclimate to life in Las Cruces. I am still in contact with my friends from Taiwan (Taiwanese and exchange students). On January 23rd I had the opportunity to meet with one of my best friends (Joao Pim) from Taiwan in San Francisco. We use to be in the same club and went to the same high school in Taiwan. My futurre internation experience will happen really soon. I will be going to Shanghai this summer to study Mandarin. Then I will stay an extra three weeks doing volunteer work in Xi'an. Now I am already palnning and saving for my next exchange experience for the Spring 2015! Hope to see you all soon."
Sincerely, Sally Goenaga
Rotary Youth Exhange does work! The experiences are life changers and future makers!
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Posted by Richard Haas
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Newest Member
March 4, 2014
Membership Director, Richard Haas
inducts newest member, Dr. Daniel Howard (Dan)
while sponsor Dr. Phil Benson looks on.
The LCRGRC welcomes our newest member, Dr. Daniel Howard.
Dan recently moved back to Las Cruces from Colorado to
assume the position of Executive Vice President - Provost of
NMSU. He is very interested in the service that Rotary provides
to the community and is looking forward to being involved.
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Family Ties in LCRGRC
The Las Cruces Rio Grande Rotary Club is fortunate to have several "family ties" as members. During the past several months, we have recognized the following: Matt and Kathy Olson (son & mother), Mike and Brandon Beckett (father & son), and the February Sweethearts (husband and wife) Loren & Nancy Kuehne, Bill & Stacie Allen, Saf & Judy Canja. For March we recognize Larry & Ken Binkley (father & son)
Pictured are:
Larry and Ken Binkley
Ken has been in Las Cruces 27 years and the LCRGRC for 12 years, while Larry has been in Las Cruces 7 years and the LCRGRC for 6+. Their favorite Rotary projects include Joni's Pizza Party and Rotary Youth Exchange. Of course Ken is the Pizza Party and Larry chose RYE. But other projects are favorite as well.
When asked, "Why are you in Rotary?" Ken's answer was, "the 4-Way Test, it's great helping others and the club is so fun!" Larry comments on "Service Above Self", sharing and friendships.
When asked about their Happiest Happy Dollars or most memorable: Ken said, "The birth of my children and having two members I sponsored earn "Rotarian of the Year" award". Larry's most memorable moments were "one of those big '0' birthdays and being selected as "Rotarian of the Year."
Final shots: Ken - "Not only do I have some of my closest friends in our club --- Rotary as a whole --- but it's really great to be in the same club as my dad, a retired Kixxxxn. Ha!" And, Larry added, "Great to be in same service club as my son and enjoy a different 'professional type' relationship with him." As his mom says, "my Kenny is such a good boy!" And, I agree.
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The Las Cruces Rio Grande Rotary Club has 3 couples as members. The Rio Grande Sweethearts pictured below are: Loren & Nancy Kuehne, Bill and Stacie Allen and honorary members, Judith & Safron Canja.
Brandon & Mike Beckett and Matt & Kathy Olson
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Posted by Laura Smart
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Backpack Beds
Pictured above: Laura Smart and President Brad Beasley
modeling the "Backpack Beds" donated to the Gospel Rescue Mission.
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Your Rotary dollars at work!
In 1992 Tony Clark from Australia was a Rotary Youth Exchange student. After he graduated from college, became an IT entrepreneur, and married Lisa, Tony became a Rotarian. Tony was inspired to start the nonprofit , Swags for Homeless , in 2007 when he saw so many homeless people in Australia turned away from shelters. Tony's design of the Backpack Bed has won four global product design awards.
Over 100 of Tony's beds were sent to New Jersey & New York to aid those displaced by Hurricane Sandy. District 7500 (New Jersey) aided in the first U.S. distribution of the Backpack Beds. 60 beds were also donated to Chicago, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles.
After communicating with Tony via e-mail & phone, I proposed the service project of donating backpack beds to the Gospel Rescue Mission to our Rio Grande board members in November, 2013.
On February 25th, it was with great pleasure that our club presented 4 Backpack Beds to Bob Jeska, director of the Gospel Rescue Mission. He will give each backpack bed to a homeless person who will complete a survey which must be returned to Swags for Homeless.
Thank you to the board for approving the funds allocated to this project. Essentially, all 70 plus members participated in providing a warm bed for 4 homeless people in Las Cruces, NM!
"Service Above Self"
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Posted by Loren Kuehne
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Club Make-ups
"You'll never know who you'll meet when you make up a missed meeting!"
LCRGRC member and world traveler, Peter Krebs with Sheik Ahmed, President
of the Jumeira Rotary Club in Dubai.
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Posted by Loren Kuehne
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LCRGRC Youth Exchange
Loren and Nancy hosted Paul Villain at a Lobo's Basketball Game at The Pit in Albuquerque on
February 1. Pictured are: Loren, Hugh Greenwood, Paul, DeShawn Delaney, and Nancy.
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Important Dates and Events:
February 12, 2014
4-Way Essay Contest - 5:30 p.m.
Branigan Library - Roadrunner Room
March 8, 2014
Yard Sale Pick-up, 8:30 a.m.
Mesilla Valley Hospice
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 2-3 2014
Annual Yard Sale
May 1-4, 2014
District 5520 Conference
Hotel Albuquerque
June 12, 2014
Taste of Las Cruces
June 17, 2014
No regular meeting
June 21, 2014
LCRGRC Year End Dinner
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