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Sunrise Rotary April 5, 2018; “The Needs of Youth in Kibera Kenya and Sendoff to Mexicali…

  

President Dave presided over our meeting in fine fashion; President Dave led the Pledge to our Flag, and Past President Jack Anderson offered an invocation.

 

Guests and Visitors:

    

All of our friends going to serve in Mexicali from such remote locations as Prescott, AZ; Modesto, CA; and Whidbey Island WA… Some members of this group have been serving in Mexicali for over 40 years; Sunrise Rotary joined the effort 10 years ago…

Welcome all and thanks for serving with us…

 

Pictured are those heading to Mexicali to serve together this weekend…

 

 

 

Birthdays:        

 

April:        5:    Susie Miller

 

        6:    Alta Farley

 

        7:     Debbie Svetich

        

Anniversaries:

 

April:        8:    Tina and Allen Pope; 29 years… Congratulations! 

                                    

Rotary Anniversaries:

 

April:        7:    Tina Pope, 1 year

 

        11:    Past President Tony Criss, 6 years

 

 

Photos of the Week:

 

Past President Jack Anderson and Judi with their three grandsons… Easter fun!!

 

A news clipping and photo of Past President Kevin Svetich on April 1, 2003

 

 

Dates to Remember:

 

 

April:        20-22:        RYLA

 

May:        17:        Evening meeting; The evening program will be                             presented by Jeff Miller, a survivor of the United Airlines                 Flight 232 that crashed in an Iowa cornfield in 1984…

 

June         16:        Wine, Brews and Buckaroos Event sponsored by                         the Bonsall Rotary Club

 

Hi Fives:

 

Past President Rich Aeling; reporting on ‘Dancing with Our Stars’ this weekend at the Center for the Arts; featuring our own Doug Shultz

 

Escondido East Rotary hosting their annual picnic supporting Active Duty and Veterans on May 12 at Kit Carson Park; tickets are $20 and available from Rich or any East Rotary member

 

Past President Rich also reported on the outcome of the Final Four pool… The big winner is Rich’s brother Jim; he had both teams in the championship game… netting a cool $350… Nice contest Rich and Mike O’Malley who drew the teams…

 

Past President Rich Aeling with his brother Jim… Give him a 1099!!

 

 

Past President Kevin Svetich; also our Rotary Foundation Chair; reminded us all of our goal to excel in the District among other clubs for Rotary Foundation support. 

Kevin also presented Paul Harris Fellowship awards to:

 

Gloria Lefler, her fourth award

Past President Jack Anderson, his ninth award

 

Thanks to both for your generosity…

 

Past President Barry Baker announced the ‘Creek to Bay’ park clean up project for April 21 from 9 AM to Noon… It will be our ‘Rotarians at Work’ project; Barry is overseeing work at Felicita, Grape Day, Mountain View and Kit Carson Parks in Escondido…

More information to come…

 

Past President John Masson was recently in San Francisco and brought President Dave a gift from Alcatraz… A flask to help keep him warm during this long nights ‘On the Rock’

 

And, Brian Murphy was enjoying some time in Las Vegas with his grandkids and won enough gambling to bring President Dave a beer mug…

 

 

 

 

        

 

Program:

 

Past President Jim Ponder introduced Edwin Oketch; from Kibera, Kenya. Edwin and Jim became quantized when Jim was visiting Flying Kites orphanage. Subsequently, Edwin has begun a foundation to support youth in his hometown of Kibera… Edwin is also a presenter at RYLA; where he encourages Rylarians to understand how one can overcome amazing poverty and challenges in life to be able to help others in greater need.

 

Edwin Oketch pictured with Past President Jim Ponder, District RYLA Chair…

 

 

 

 

Edwin provided some background on his hometown; Kibera has a population of 1.5 million in an area of 1.5 square miles… FYI, Escondido has a total area of 37 square miles… Just imagine such a population density.

With such a population density; there are issues of hygiene, public safety and crime. Edwin’s Foundation seeks to improve educational opportunities and enhance the safety of the children he serves… Teaching self-protection, learning and transformational change in the children’s lives today and the future is a loft goal for his group.

 

 

Edwin pictured with President Dave and Bill Dopp who also works with Kenyan orphans…

 

 

 

 

 Next Week’s Program:

 

Our Speaker tomorrow is Jim Bregante, speaking to us about development on the San Diego Bay front…

 

Opportunity Drawing: 

 

Lunch Money:    $21.00     Past President Tony Criss

 

Big Pot:        $667.00    … Past President Mark Hoekstra… Edwin drew for                     Mark… Sorry; better luck next time