Rotary Scholarships
Pledge of Allegiance was led by Pegi Ball
Inspiration came from Maureen Merrill – one word: “Dauntless” For all our scholarship
students – you are dauntless!
Our song was led by Heather Cullen, who gave the excellent advice, “Shower the people you
love with love . . .”
We had no visiting Rotarians, but many guests. Today we hosted all of the students from
Windsor High School who received Rotary scholarships this year, and their families. It was a
full house and happiest of times. Our scholarship recipients were: Jadyn Holdenried, Noel
Leon, Maddie Senkowski, Oliver Nunez and Kieran Campbell. (Ximena Bracamones Penaloza
also received a Rotary scholarship, but was unable to attend our meeting this morning.)
In addition, our guests included: Veronica Passalaqua, Don Francesci, Dorothy Mack, Natalie,
our outgoing Youth Exchange student to Taiwan, Stephan, our current Youth Exchange son,
Domingo, and Jeremy Decker, Superintendent of Schools.
A. Upcoming Events/Announcements
Renee Hyde reported on our first-of-the-year Summer Nights on the Green. She said
the results were wonderful wonderful wonderful, yielding over $3,000 for our
International Service this year. Special shout out to Boyd and Larry who stepped in
to help when we were a bit short on workers.
Monica McCabe reported that this coming Rotary year our Service efforts would
be led by Pam Moulton for International, and Monica for Community.
Pegi Ball let us know that the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards barbecue lunch will
be held on Tuesday, June 13. Anyone working with Rotary Youth programs this
year will need to take the Youth Exchange Protection Class (on-line). Sue Nelson
encourages us that it doesn’t take too long (maybe less than half an hour) but also
recommends reading all the material before taking the test.
Pegi also said that she had communicated with Jack Hyde, who moved to New
Jersey. Janet is having significant health issues, including covid. Jack would enjoy
a phone call or email from us – just hearing our voices helps him greatly. Contact
Pegi if you need Jack’s phone or email.
Sandi Krutz said our club is looking for Youth Exchange host families. We have a
girl from France arriving in August, but still need a host family. Her first home
will be with Doug Willliams. Hosts can be community members, not just
Rotarians, and it was echoed from several members that we always get more than
we give when we host a youth exchange student. Windsor residents & Rotarians
are being invited to a Zoom meeting next Tuesday evening, June 13 – 6:30 .
You will hear about the “experience” of hosting a student from another country—
and the responsibilities.
President Brian announced that he will be having his final Board Meeting on
Monday, June 12, 6p-7:30p location TBD. Everyone is invited to attend.
Michael Juric hosted the next part of our meeting, introducing our Rotary scholarship
recipients, while they in turn, introduced their family members who were there supporting
them. Michael did an excellent job both thanking and recognizing the parents who raised such
exceptional students. It is hard work, and the parents are to be congratulated. Cheers and
applause from the entire club for the parents!
Each student spoke briefly about where they were continuing their education and what they
were going to study:
Maddie graduated from Windsor High School, is going to attend UCLA and study business
economics.
Jaden also graduated Windsor High and is attending University of Washington, studying
business and playing soccer.
Oliver graduated from Met Academy and is going to start at SRJC, then likely Cal Poly
Humboldt, studying chemical engineering.
Kieran graduated from Windsor Oaks and is going to SRJC and will became a fire fighter. He
interned this last year and loved it.
The Rotary selection committee members were asked about what stood out to them about
our new selection process for scholarships. Almost all mentioned the live, in-person
interviews were an opportunity to learn more about the students, their personal and
educational goals and who were their role models or mentors. All of the students who applied
were impressive candidates.
Michael summarized our scholarship programs where we have donated over $200,000 for
Windsor High School graduates, and recently, supported by the Ken Moulton fund, over
$40,000 in scholarships to students graduating from Windsor Oaks, which Ken founded, and
the Met Academy.
When the recipients were asked by Michael what we should focus on as community leaders,
their answers were inspiring: an inclusive mind set, so we are not so divided as a community
and world; pollution, food security and energy; mental health; and unifying our communities.
President Brian led the next portion of our meeting, which was highly informational about
Rotary in general, and how we operate.
For next year, Brian Ling, with help from John Hackenburg, will lead Foundation. Rotary itself
is almost 120 years old, with the motto “Service Above Self”. In 1978, Rotary declared that we
were going to eradicate the scourge of polio from the earth, and do it in the next 25 years. We
are 99% of the way to that goal, with only one country left on earth where polio is endemic.
And the number of polio cases in a year is less than the fingers on one hand.
Brian recognized Pegi Ball for being a Paul Harris plus 5.
Rotary International is recognized as one of the premier charities in the world, with the
minimum of funding going to administrative costs (less than 3%). So donations to Polio Plus,
disaster relief, Ukraine assistance, and other worthy causes around the world through our
donations to RI are used wisely. Brian has the current status report for anyone who would
like to know where they stand in their donations to RI.
To donate to Rotary International, GO ON-LINE. It’s easy to do, and more direct. It’s also easy
to set up a donation in whatever amount works for you, on a continuing basis, monthly, so you
never have to think about it. If you need help going on line, see John Hackenburg or President
Brian.
Our Club’s Windsor Rotary Community Foundation (WRCF) mirrors the Rotary Foundation in
its use of funds. But all WRCF funding stays right here in the Windsor community. We fund
scholarships for students such as those we hosted today, and all our local projects, which is
long and varied. When we contribute at least $1,000 to WRCF, we become John Lewis fellows,
in honor of our founder, John Lewis. Our latest fellow, cheered by everyone in the club, is our
own President-Elect, Doug Williams.
Our co-treasurers, Carol and Ed, let us know how we contribute and where those funds are
used:
Windsor Rotary Community Foundation
“How can you give?”
1. At a meeting –
A. Hand us a check or cash
B. Give us your credit card (Happy Skippy!)
2. On our website –
A. http://windsorrotary.org/donate
B. It can even be recurring!
3. Company matching funds where you work
4. Mail us a check
A. WRCF – PO Box 2295, Windsor, CA 9549
Windsor Rotary Community Foundation
“Where can your money go?”
• Endowment Fund
• Long term investment – we use earnings
• Current Projects Fund
• Operating funds for new and legacy projects
• Ken Moulton Scholarship Fund
• Scholarships for the alternative schools in Windsor
• Special Projects
• Like Food & Toy Drive
Charter member and Past President Sue Nelson let us know that with the amount that we now
have invested in our WRCF funds, we need to take a look at how we are managing our funds.
The large contribution from Carl Wiuff’s estate put us at a new level and we need to evaluate
our processes to be sure we are acting with the best information and assistance that is
available.
Windsor Rotary Community Foundation
Want to learn more?
Check out TWO upcoming meetings…
#1: Presentation by Sonoma County Community Foundation
Date: June 20, 2023
Time: 5:00pm to 6:30pm
Place: Airport Business Center (Ed’s office)
414 Aviation Blvd., Santa Rosa
#2: Interest Group – Discuss Possible Changes to Income Withdrawal Policy for WRCF
Date: TBD – Likely mid-July
Time: TBD
Place: Airport Business Center (Ed’s office)
414 Aviation Blvd., Santa Rosa
President Brian introduced June birthdays, anniversaries and celebrations and collected fines
from Kurt Mitchler (did he really get a chocolate cake and pony???!!!); Pegi Ball, who
celebrated at a lunch with her Rotary buddies; and Sandi Krutz, who went to San Francisco to
see “Book of Mormon” and is awaiting the birth of their first grandson.
President Brian fessed up that he and Geoff had ridden the 72 miles around Lake Tahoe after vowing never to do it again. They were better prepared this time and did not repeat this vow after completing the
loop in a little under 8-1/2 hours. Kudos to Brian and Geoff, and you can be sure the club
shouted for a fine from him. He said it was a dauntless ride, and yes, he donated.
Thank you to our guests and volunteers.
- Setup/ John, Kurt
- Song/Heather
- Scribe/Susan Cole
- Inspiration/Maureen