CLICK HERE TO SEE DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE LATEST CLUB MEETING
A landmark contribution – the meeting of October 8.
By Susan Cole
Glenn Sudgen came forward and shared his feelings about our Rotary Club. He said he is totally energized every time he leaves a meeting. That this Rotary Club is so community-oriented and so effective in what it provides to our schools and community, that he is blown away by what we all do. He has been learning more about our Windsor Rotary Community Foundation, the John Lewis Fund. It was originally started as a savings account which would be grown to $1 million, at which time we would use the interest-only (similar to the Rotary Foundation funds) to support scholarships and giving to our local community. The amount of core savings at which we would begin to draw off interest to support our giving has since been reduced to a more realistic $500,000. The fund currently stands at about $357,000. Glenn said he was now donating $143,000 to the WRCF to bring it to the $500,000 mark.
The entire Rotary Club of Windsor stood as one, giving Glenn a standing ovation, some of us with tears in our eyes. Is this the single largest donation to our Club funds since our inception? Charter members are invited to fact check the answer.
Calendar Items:
| Date | Event | Info | Contact? |
| 10/15, Sat., 9 AM t 10 or 10:15 | Rotary Hiking & Dog Walking Club – friendly and healthy! | Meet at Foothill Park, Arata Entrance | Just show up! Regulars include Bill B, Joe D, and Pres. Maureen |
| 11/2, Sat., 9 – 12 | Annual Foundation Seminar | Finley Center, Santa Rosa Registration link at www. Rotary5130.org | Contact Foundation Chair John LeCave 707.280.5236, jlecave@ sonic.net |
| 11/2, Sat, 5:30 PM | Annual Foundation Dinner | Doubletree, Rohnert Park Reception 5:30, Dinner 6:30, $70 per person Registration link at www. Rotary5130.org | https://www. rotary5130.org /calendar/ Windsor Rotary table! Contact Pres. Maureen |
| 11/4, Monday, 5-6:15 | MONTHLY WRC BOARD MEETING | Maureen’s office, 145 Wikiup Drive off ORH,, “South Windsor” | Special topics: Fundraising decisions and Project direction |
| 11/4, 5:30 & 7 | Rotary at Symphony! Honoring Rotarian Yale Abrams | Green Center, see more info: google Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary | Marty Behr, behr@ Whidbey.com; 206.391.3427 |
| 11/7, Monday 11:30 – 1:30 | Rotary Annual Veterans Lunch | Vets Memorial, SR | Leah Hansen, 292.5173, lmhansen1@ sbcglobal.net |
| 12/7, evening | HOLIDAY PARTY! | Home of Sue & John Nelson – watch for more info | Bev Graham, Coordinator |
Notes from the meeting of October 8, 2019
President Maureen led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Susan Cole offered an inspiration from Kahlil Gibran: “In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.”
Visiting Rotarian: Marty Behr, President of Santa Rosa Rotary Club
Visitors: George Walker, former Rotarian from Healdsburg
Vittoria, our Rotary youth exchange daughter from Italy (and volleyball star!)
Steve Klick gave an update on the power shutoff by PG&E
Happy Birthdays go out to:
Glenn Sudgen – October 12
Leslie Lewis – October 5
Joan Mora – October 14
Craig Curreri – October 23
There will be a walk in Foothill Park on Saturday. Both 2-legged and 4-legged friends invited to join.
Thanks to all who purchased and supported Tri-Tip Tuesday.
Our Club’s Board met last night. Several non-Board members attended, and the discussion was lively and productive. One thing stood out: our mini-fundraisers are very popular. President Maureen announced a new approach to enriching our Scholarship program to make it more relationship-based and to appeal to students who do not traditionally apply for scholarships and those who we can help realize their dreams for good work and a financially secure future – as well as continuing education. More announcements to come.
Announcements:
Marty Behr, President of Santa Rosa Sunrise, announced two upcoming events sponsored by the five Santa Rosa Rotary Clubs: November 7 is a luncheon honoring America’s Veterans, from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at the Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Rosa. Leah Hansen can provide more information and tickets for Club members who are interested. November 4, 5:30 PM is a Tribute to Yale Abrams at the Santa Rosa Symphony, Green Music Center. Marty will stay after the meeting to provide tickets for those interested.
The Rotary Foundation Dinner (south) will be held Saturday, November 2. President Maureen has a table for all Club members who want to attend. And, she’ll reserve a second table if we need more!
Our Club is looking for nominees for President in 2022-23, following Pam Moulton. John LeCave is heading up the effort to search for candidates.
Speaker: Craft Talk by Heather Cullen, our newest member
JB Leap introduced Heather Cullen, who teaches music, choir, performing arts, and after-school activities.
Heather gave an inspiring and emotional presentation about her life. She was born in Concord, California, and educated as a chemist. She worked for Dow Chemical in Concord in soil and water chemistry. She has four children: Autumn, Spring, Ben, and Efraim. She described a life of homeschooling up to 18 kids (including her own) as she and her husband drove across the country with their family looking for work. She describes that time (where she learned how to do “poor” really well) as a grand adventure that drew their family together. Theirs is a really strong family, non-materialistic, with a strong belief in community service. Windsor ended up being their oasis – their safety net. A town with great schools, worth their respect, love, and attention.
Heather started with the choir, which the kids loved, and said it changed their lives. From there she has created the Windsor Talent Show, which has auditions in January for a March 6, 2020 show, which includes whole families and is sold out every year.
Heather is a force to be reckoned with – lookout for her energy and power!
Joe Deacon announced that he will serve on the Windsor High School Construction Trade Academy advisory board, with the first-class beginning August 2020.
President Maureen discussed the Club’s different emphasis in giving scholarships. We are re-imagining how we give those scholarships. We want to locate past recipients, have them as our guests and recognize, celebrate and contribute to a greater life impact on recipients of our contribution to their education, in whatever direction the students desire to use that education. Wally Krutz gave an impassioned message about the importance of different ways for kids to see their future after high school, with college not necessarily the only direction.
President Maureen closed the meeting by asking Susan Cole to offer the opening inspiration by Kahlil Gibran once again: “In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed. “
Meeting adjourned in honor of Glenn Sudgen.