Bulletins - 2006 - 02/07/2007

This Week's Bulletin Was Written By Jeremy Larson

THIS WEEK’S MEETING

A bit of a foggy view from atop Symphony Towers waited to greet our members and guests for the meeting this morning. Lynn Hamilton started us out with the invocation. We followed this with an attempt at “Anchors Away” that had to put a smile on the faces of the kitchen staff! Next, Caroline Chen came up with her motley wig wearing crew. They looked great and encouraged us to come up with donations for the silent and live auctions at “Wiggin Out”, the funky wig wearing fundraising event on Saturday, April 14, 2007.

SGT. AT ARMS

We recognized Sig’s birthday, and he told us about the 5th addition to the Four Way Test. Sandee Rugg won $69 in the 50-50 raffle.

GUESTS

Speaking of guests, it sure seemed like we had a lot this morning with the greatest distance traveled going to a visiting Rotarian from England. As always, there were many visiting Rotarians from Club 33. Hmm, this is beginning to become a trend…

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• We will be serving lunch at the Senior Community Center on Sunday, February 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Bring quarters for the street parking meters.
• Help is needed for the USO party on President’s Day, Monday, Februrary 19 to serve refreshments and visit with service members.
• Next Board Meeting, Monday, 5:00 p.m. at Potiker Family Senior Center at 14th and Market. Please RSVP to Carol.
• District Council Meeting and Wine Tasting on Tuesday, Februrary 13th at the La Jolla Mariott. See the district website for more information.
• Where in the world is Christopher Blint? If you have any info, please contact Carol.
• Mel Gallegos presented Mike Whitehurst with the theme pin for his Rotary Presidency. The theme will be “Rotary Shares.”
• Steve Seligman, Frank DeFrancesco and Jim Mulvaney won the Super Bowl pool.
• Ron Erbetta’s motto was adopted for the Midway Scholarship Fund Program “No Child Left Ashore”
• Thank you from the Armed Services YMCA for holiday gift bags and cards.

BUSINESS OF THE QUARTER PRESENTATION

Gary Green wore a suit today to present Jeff McCall from DC Shoes with the “Business of the Quarter” award for their “Service Above Self” for their contribution to Operation Stand Down last July. Over $30,000 worth of shoes were donated.  Thank you DC Shoes for your fantastic efforts and all of your charitable endeavors. 

THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM

Continuing with the string of incredible speakers, the club was treated to a wonderful presentation from Raina Baker of the Heifer International. Raina was quite enthusiastic about her position with Heifer and after hearing about the organization, we could all see why. She is a graduate student volunteering for the organization with the intention of working there after college. Her family’s involvement with the organization stretches back 15 years. To spice things up a bit, she found a crazy headband with two hearts for antennae and wore it for a bit.

Heifer International is a non-profit aid agency that donates livestock, animals and plants to people and families in need around the world. Raina shared a story about a goat in Kenya that was donated to a family by Heifer International. The difference was incredible as they were able to use the goat to supplement their diet with its milk, fertilize the ground with its manure so as to improve the soil as well as finding uses for the hair. She also showed us a video about the organization, which was started in 1944 and has made a tremendous difference in the past 62 years.

Heifer International uses the following Acronym in their approach: 

Passing on the Gifts

Accountability

Sharing and caring

Sustainability and self-reliance

Improved animal management

Nutrition and income

Gender and family focus

Genuine need

Improving environment

Full participation

Training and education

Spirituality

To Get Involved: 

1)Check out www.readtofeed.org

2) Gift of an Ark for $5,000 which is two of just about every animal you can list to families in need around the world.

In a lively question and answer session, we discovered that you could actually purchase ½ of an animal. The idea was circulated that the club buy the back half of a goat in honor of Gary Green and all that he continues to bring to the club.