Escondido Sunrise Rotary; Meeting to Serve our Community via Zoom; and “A Visit from District 5340 Governor, Steven Weitzen, and a Review of Sunrise Rotary’s Service Achievement”…… February 4, 2021
Editor’s Note…
As we all try to conduct our professional pursuits in new ways, it’s appropriate to remind ourselves of who we are as a Serving Organization… Our accomplishments, our fellowship and the reminder of our many successes is valuable as we await the time we can gather together again…
So, we met via Zoom… On February 4 … Sunrise Rotary members talking about service and connecting through fellowship in new ways…
President Chris opened the meeting… Even with a gavel and the familiar chime of a gavel striking a bell… 24 Sunrise Rotarians joined the Zoom meeting… Nice job all of you for joining us…
Past President, Jack Anderson led the salute to our Nation’s Flag…
Past President, Kelly Mayberry offered an invocation…
Guests and Visitors:
Visiting today, was 3rd Grader Ella Olson, offering tantalizing Girl Scout cookies for sale
Ella’s mother, Allison was also on the Zoom call
Ella Olson giving Sunrise Rotarians the “Hard Sell” on her Girl Scout Cookie offerings…
Now, some Sunrise Rotary member milestones…
Birthdays:
February 10: Chris Leso
Chris Leso enjoying the good birthday wishes from Sunrise Rotarians…
Anniversaries:
February 6: Past President, Brian and Nancy Murphy, 56 years… Congratulations!!
Rotary Anniversaries:
Brad Allaband 3 years
Sergeant at Arms, Gloria Lefler, 19 Years
Sunrise Rotarian Project Updates…
Past President Rich Aeling updated Club Members and District Governor Steven Weitzen on our service efforts during this Rotary Year…
A list of Sunrise Rotary accomplishments at this point in the 2020-21 Rotary Year…
Bikes for Kids with gift bikes to children of Marine Corps families and for children at the Boys and Girls Club…
Construction of play equipment at Dixon Lake along with Escondido Kiwanis Clubs…
Improvements to the Downtown Escondido, Heritage Park during the Christmas Season… Also pictured are the Club’s work in providing meals to first responders…
Sunrise Rotarians Serving, and Announcements:
North County Veteran’s Stand Down Clothing Drive…
Past President Rich Aeling reported that the clothing drive will be held in March in preparation for the Stand Down in April…
Supporting Local Restaurants
This week you are encouraged to visit the ‘Craft and Taco Lounge’ located at West Valley Parkway and Pine Street… When you stop in, let them know that Sunrise Rotarians are supporting local businesses…
Support for the Vaccine Clinic at Neighborhood Health…
Future President, Tina Pope described the use of volunteers to direct traffic and guide the clinic’s clients into the vaccine distribution program…
Volunteers are also eligible to receive Covid vaccination…
Women in Rotary Award
President Chris announced this month’s Women in Rotary Award… to Gloria Lefler, Sergeant at Arms… Thanks for serving the Club, Gloria…
Last month’s Women in Rotary Award recipient, Constance Larsen received her pin from President Chris…
Rotarian of the Month Award
President Chris announced that Past President, Rich Aeling is Sunrise Rotary’s Rotarian of the Month for February. Rich continues serving as Community Service Chair… Congratulations, Rich… Thanks for leading the Club in all of our community service projects…
President Chris is pictured presenting last month’s Rotarian of the Month Award to Club Secretary, John Schwab…
Rotary Foundation Awards…
Past President and Foundation Chair, Kevin Svetich announced two new Paul Harris Fellow Awards…
Kirk Henson receiving his second Paul Harris recognition from President Chris…
Past President Brian Murphy received his fifth Paul Harris Award from President Chris…
In his remarks, Past President, Kevin also commented that Escondido Sunrise Rotary is 100% Paul Harris Fellows, is recognized for ‘Every Rotarian, Every Year’ in Foundation contributions, and has seventeen Paul Harris Sustaining Members… Last year, Escondido Sunrise ranked third in District 5340 as to per capita Foundation contributions…
High Fives:
President Chris announced that the Valley Center HS Golf Team would hold their annual charity golf event on Thursday March 18 at Native Oaks (formerly Woods Valley) Golf Course… Past President Scott Putnicki will be arranging the participation… Let Scott know if you want to play…
Program:
District 5340 Governor, Steven Weitzen was our program for the day. President Chris Miller introduced Governor Steven…
Governor Steven opened his presentation by acknowledging all of the great service projects successfully undertaken by Sunrise Rotary. He was especially appreciative of our strong support for the Rotary Foundation, both in our contributions and our support for Global Grants. He noted the strong efforts by Past President Mike Dunlap for the grant projects, and to Past President Kevin Svetich who serves as Sunrise Rotary Foundation Chair…
District Governor Steven Weitzen presenting to Sunrise Rotarians…
Governor Steven spoke about his introduction to Rotary and the power of the invitation… He encouraged all Sunrise Rotarians to be ready to extend an invitation to our meetings… invitations often lead to new members…
He also spoke about the value of seeing Rotary at work world wide… Opportunities are endless to participate in an international visit and to see Rotary working around the globe up close and personal.
In sharing his experiences, Governor Steven described Rotarians as ‘People of Action’, and as such he described our ’Why’ of our participation as Rotarians… He also spoke in detail about Rotary’s role in working to stop human trafficking… Human trafficking is a world wide issue, and is an $800 million per year business in San Diego County. Trafficking takes place in many areas of peoples’ lives, including; slave labor, prostitution, organ transplants and similar aspects of human deprivation.
Rotary’s efforts in San Diego County include working closely with many not for profit organizations as well as the District Attorney and the Department of Justice…
As Governor Steven closed his presentation, he reminded all of us of Aristotle’s message… “The essence of life is serving others and doing good.”…
Thanks for joining us today, Governor Steven…
Second Half of the Rotary Year Is Underway…
A reminder to all of Escondido Sunrise Rotary Members; President Chris has led us artfully through the first half of his presidential year in spite of the pandemic impacting our ability to meet in person. We accomplished a significant event with our Virtual Grape Day 5K, and raised an amazing amount of money for all of the good things we do as a group of “Sunrise Rotarians…
But now, we have the last half of President Chris’ year to continue being the beacon of good hope and strength to our community…
Keep attending online meetings and supporting all of our efforts to care for those in Need…
Next Week’s Meeting:
Joe Berninger sharing information about the Guatemalan Literacy Project
Thanks for Attending Today’s Meeting…
Support for our Escondido Community …
Our great community and the success of its businesses is all of our responsibilities… Support the businesses that are doing all they can to survive during this challenging time… Take out some chow… Be ready to support them when the economy begins working again…
The ‘Giving Arch’ on Grand Avenue and Centre City Parkway reminds us that Escondido is a caring, giving community…
To all; be safe and be well…. God Bless those men and women that carry the load at our medical facilities, and God Bless the first responders… May our governmental leaders be wise, thoughtful and smart as this pandemic is overtaken by our hard work and collective support…
Online Meetings:
Technical Support for Online Meetings:
Our on-line meetings continue to be technically managed by President Elect Richard Agnew… Thanks for that Richard… And, Richard is prepared to support all of our attempts at joining the on-line meetings… Look for his email with details and links to log on to the upcoming Zoom meetings…
Watch for emails defining the next online meeting. The system works fine, dependent upon your technical support available through your PC or laptop…
SEE YOU SOON… ON LINE OR IN PERSON….. Next meeting; Thursday February 11; 7:30 AM… Check President Chris’ or President Elect, Richard Agnew’s email for the Zoom Link…
