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Program Notes
Past President Sue Nelson let us know that even though President Maureen Merrill was in the room, but she wasn’t speaking to allow her to recover from a cough. When told she would not be speaking…pause…laughter… and good wishes for a speedy recovery.
John Hackenburg was asked to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Susan Cole gave us the inspiration of Mahatma Ghandi, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Itsy Bitsy Spider made its presence known when Carol Martin led a choir of finger puppets recreating the early childhood memories of the song.
Photos were provided by Sandi Krutz, and the words were offered by Tom Boylan.
Rotarian Guests:
JB Leep introduced our speaker and past president of the Sebastopol Rotary, David Schreibman. He also introduced Tom Boag from the same club.
Kathryn Handlen from a Massachusetts Rotary Club is now living in Windsor and happy to be here thanks to Maureen’s invitation
Guests of Rotarians:
Jason Black introduced his lovely school teacher wife, Meghan Black, and the principle of her school, San Miguel Charter Elementary School, Patrick Eagle.
Aubrey Duke our Student of the Month, and her teacher Kate Fitzgerald were introduced by Daniel Myers.
Diane Brabitz introduced two of her employees, Anna and Joey.
Announcements:
Leah Hansen is the powerhouse Rotarian who recently moved into her newly rebuilt home!
Bev Graham got a shout out for her efforts to get our recent social gathering together on the Town Green.
There are a couple of events promoting the talents of Windsor. Windsor @ Weill Hall on Wed, March 25 and the fabulous Windsor Talent Show on Friday, March 6. Heather Cullen is the club contact person with all the details. tyrdnhappy@yahoo.com
A special presentation was made by Carol Martin and Glenn Sugden to award a check totaling $2196.31 to San Miguel Charter Elementary School, because Meghan Black had requested assistance from our club. Meghan teaches at the school and was looking to buy a 3D printer for her Maker Series class. She gave us the rundown on what the first project will be for the students to create, 3D rocket parts. The school principal, Patrick Eagle, thanked the club for allowing children to extend their thinking. Glenn Sugden then let us know how cool Meghan is with developing the Maker Space at the school. We also got a thank you card from the students.
We found out that the Rotary Club of Coronado sent us a check for $14,686 to restore Foothill Park. There will be a presentation ceremony at Foothill Park on Saturday, February 29th at 9 am. Please show up.
Daniel Myers introduced the “Student of the Year” Aubrey Duke and invited Kate Fitzgerald, Aubrey’s English teacher, who also promotes public health to the students. Aubrey is committed to her community and enjoying her time with the Pre-Med core at Windsor High. She let us know she is gravitating toward the psychology of the future. Her efforts have made her more empathetic to those around her and this is leading her down a path of Child Psychology.
According to Aubrey, “I just feel like I am at home in the Pre-Med program.”
Sue Nelson asks us to sign up for the WHS Vineyard Academy program that will allow students a chance to meet us and hear about what we do and or have done, especially as Rotarians.
Dancing with the Stars and Stripes will have a chance to raise some funds at a club social on March 12th. David Culley, owner of KC’s American Grill will be donating a percentage of the day’s proceeds toward the Stars and Stripes program. The social starts at 5:30, but the food is served all day long.
On March 26th, Jason Black has us going to the Left Edge Theater for another mini-fundraiser. Details to follow.
Steve Klick welcomed Salvador Rico with the Rotary Club of South Ukiah as a leader in the work to Clean Rivers of the World. Salvador told us that Rotary International is considering supporting the efforts he and a few other Northern California Rotarians started by cleaning the Russian River, and eventually heading into Mexico. He and Rotary have been building connections with other major groups concerned about clean water and rivers specifically. Salvador will be travelling to Washington DC to connect with others looking to create a clean water alliance with agencies outside of Rotary to clean rivers around the world. We are all invited to get behind his efforts.
Program:
JB let us know that David Schreibman is the co-founder of the Overcoming Obstacles Award (OOA) program with Sebastopol Rotary Club. The OOA program has been around for 10 years and provides support to students who have met challenges beyond the typical high school age student, and overcame those challenges.
David shared that the award is close to his heart and means enough to him to get up early and share the details of the OOA program with us. We were introduced to many quotes from both Rotarians and students relaying that the program is a life changing event.
Many of the honorees have overcome major obstacles, not related to higher GPA scores, or their athletic abilities. This program targets high school seniors that made a life decision to change their lives, regardless of the pitfalls they faced. Many of these recipients have faced extreme challenges.
Character and actions to overcome hardships is the premise of the award. Frank Mayhew of the Sebastopol Club was a founded the OOA after a visit to the Rotary Club of Reno where they were honoring students who dealt with special challenges. He and the Sebastopol club made a decision to work with students that are challenged by societal limitations they have faced.
David gave us a picture of what the event day looks like. Students are presented with various speakers, community leaders and adults that have overcome obstacles in their past as well. These talks lead to discussions with the students, who wind up learning that they are not alone when it comes to their problems. Others have gone through the same trials and tribulations and have come out on the better side of life.
Each student is assigned a mentor for the day to help guide them through the program. A student quote he shared, “No adult has ever shared their teenage obstacles in the past. I thought it was just me that had the problem.”
Every student is given a $200 check and is invited to a lunch, where they can also bring up to two friends to the lunch for support. Each student also receives a $1000 scholarship, and a single student that excels in the interaction receives an additional $1000 scholarship.
This program has taken off with the commitment of the Sebastopol Rotary Club members. David shared that in order to build a program, you need the commitment. We were challenged to consider using the Sebastopol model to build our own OOA for Windsor Rotary. David shared that his club has the materials they can share to help us get this off the ground.
Upcoming Community Events
Monday, March 2, Club Board of Directors Meeting, 5:02 – 6:12 PM, 145 Wikiup Drive, Maureen’s office in “south Windsor”. All members welcome. Non-directors, please notify Maureen of attendance, in case space adjustments are needed. Topics: Membership updates, Scholarship, and other signature service programs, club admin activities.
Thursday, March 12, K.C.’s California Grill, Town Green in Windsor. ALL DAY DINE ‘n DONATE to benefit Veterans Resource Center and the dancing of our member, Jose Diego, in Dancing With the Stars and Stripes (that event is Saturday, April 25). 5 – 7 PM . . . Club Social Reception on KC’s heated patio; come for the friendship, invite friends, and stay for dinner.
Thursday, March 25 Live Play / Theatre Night for Windsor Rotary. Mini-fundraiser and social. See Pulitzer Prize-Winning Play, “The Flick”, a NY Times Critics Choice, at Left Edge Theatre, south side of Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. 6:30 PM Reception, 8 PM Showing. Underwritten by Jason Black, Edward Jones Financial Advisors.
Saturday, April 11, 8 – 1, District Training Assembly, Finley Center, Santa Rosa. Also held in Eureka on Saturday, March 21, same time. See www. rotary5130.org.
Tuesday, April 28. 4 – 7 with prep time during the day. TRI-TIP TUESDAYreturns as a mini-fundraiser and service project with the WHS Vineyards Academy. See Carol Martin to get your fork in.
Friday – Saturday, May 15-16 Annual District Conference in beautiful Humboldt County. Reservations are tight, so please secure lodging. Don’t miss the annual presentation of Youth Exchange Students and the chance to meet up with Rotarians from our 6-county, 47-club district! It’s our yearly celebration of all that Rotary Clubs do in our communities and in the world.