This Week's Bulletin Was Written By Mary Engles
President Maureen Eberle welcomed us all as the "best looking and smartest rotary club in the world!!" We'll probably just have that confirmed when President-Elect Carol Jensen returns next week from the Rotary International Convention in Denmark. As outgoing President, Maureen thanked and rewarded all committee chairs who were present this morning including Steve Waterman (International Services), Martin Blair (Rotaract Liason), Pete McGuire (Club Services), Mike Whitehurst (Community Service), Margaret Opplinger (Vocational Services), Bill Poirier and Cynthia Sener (Youth Services). We missed our song this morning!
Larry handed out a few fines for anniversaries and birthdays. Great job this year Larry for making it fun to give up the green!
Club 33 and generally permanent guest Jerry Witt was in attendence today. The guest traveling the furthest today joins us from the Anchorage Alaska club. Brrr...
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Reminder for the demotion party sign-up for next Thursday (July 29th) at the San Diego Yacht Club.
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Sign up sheetsfor volunteers for the annual Veteran's Stand Down breakfast service were also passed around.
Our speaker this morning, Mr. Ples Felix, gave a moving presentation on the history and mission of the Tariq Khamisa Foundation (TKF). The foundation was established in 1995 by Mr. Felix and Azim Khamisa as a healing, instead of a punishing, response to the tragic shooting death here in San Diego of Tariq Khamisa, then a college bound 20 year old. The shooter was Tony Hicks, then a 14-year old gang member. Mr. Felix is the grandfather and guardian of Tony HIcks. Tariq was the only son of Azim Khamisa. TKF is a non-profit organization dedicated to breaking the epidemic of youth violence. Through TKF's school-based nonviolence programs, Azim Khamisa and Ples Felix speak to elementary and middle school children about gangs, violence, revenge, and the importance of becoming "peacemakers." A short video illustrated the tragedy, trial and highlighted the interactive presentations that Mr. Felix and Mr. Khamisa give to middle and high school students about the incident and most importantly how such tragedies can be prevented. Thank you Mr. Felix, for a gentle, gracious, yet moving presentation about one of our societies most serious issues. You can find more information on TKF at their website: TKF.org. Let's build a culture of peacemakers.
