This month in our Club it is all about the power of SPEECH!! We kicked off our month with our Niles Rotary Speech Contest in preparation of sending a youth to compete in the Richard D. King Speech Contest to be held on April 14, 2018 at West Valley Community College in Saratoga. Adam Moura and Dirk Lorenz did a great job of contacting the youth, judges, timers, greeters and overall organization of our club competition. We were treated to four different speeches from Washington High School and 1 speech presented by a student from Robertson High School. Congratulations to all – you did a beautiful job and thank you to Maggie and Padmaja for being our official greeters and organizers of our guests.
On February 1 it was my honor to welcome with our Membership Committee our newest member Pranav Panchal. The last few months Pranav has been to so many projects and functions that all that was missing was his Rotary Pin! Pranav’s sponsor is Daren Young and he will be mentored by Craig Steckler – what a trio. Welcome Pranav and I look forward to doing Rotary with you.
Bruce Prescott’s team remains in the lead for Reverse Raffle sales and Bruce still gets the honor of holding on to the Big Kahuna Trophy. Our Geeta received her Paul Harris plus 1 pin today. Congratulations to all.
Our second meeting of the month began with a very heartfelt Ice Breaker given by none other than Gael Stewart. Word had it that she was a little nervous, but no one could tell as she told her heartfelt story. You’re a keeper Miss Gael, I am so glad you are a part of our Rotary Family. Following that, Chiral Desai exchanged her Red Badge for Blue and Chief Rich Lucero received his first Paul Harris and pin. Meetings just don’t start any better than this.
Our own Richard D King was asked to introduce an amazing Rotarian, that happens to be a woman, Donna-Lee Young Rubin. Donna-Lee is a Past District Governor from Boston; she was District Governor when Rick King was RI President. Her story is a fascinating one and currently she is the CEO of Rotoplast. Donna-Lee has been involved in many Rotarian efforts and has been given many Rotarian Awards but today you could really see her love of Rotoplast in her presentation. Thank you for sharing you heart for truly Service Above Self.
Niles Rotary received notice that we will be honored by two community organizations. The first will be a dinner on March 24, 2018. The 17th Annual Event Unity through Diversity: Ethics in Public Life and Public Service to Promote Unity. We have been named as their Community Service Organization of the Year. Music at the Mission has selected Niles Rotary as their Champion of the Arts and Culture in the Tri-City Area. This event will be a Buccaneer’s Ball on April 13, 2018. I am looking forward to both events and am humbled to just happen to be the President in the year we were selected. Both awards are being given because of who we are as a club and what Niles has given to our community for years.
February 15 was a great meeting in which I turned over the gavel to Daren Young as we enjoyed an Area meeting to celebrate the success of the Hot!Hot!Hot! Chili Pepper Challenge. Because it was an area meeting I thought it a good time to give all the Rotarian ladies a Women In Rotary pin in honor of 30 years of women In Rotary. Just before Daren took over the mike to celebrate giving away $60,000 to local charities, Geeta did a short presentation to the Area regarding the WCSC’s Global Grant application. Geeta announced that the Grant has been approved, and we collectively with other clubs in India raised $87,500 going to Sight Now. Her slides are included in the Pinion. Please watch for them, this is a very exciting project and I am looking forward to hearing the stories from Geeta once she returns from India.
The rest of the program was all about celebrating HOT!HOT!HOT! Chili! Recipients received checks and the room was electric with excitement. Great job Chili Heads! Great Job Area 3 on what we can do together as an Area. $59,117 changes lives!
Paso, Paso, Paso, – Once again it was time for a large FUN group of Rotarians to invade Paso Robles! Lead by none other than Chuck Canada the group wined and dined until they could not wine and dine anymore. Details of the event will have to be submitted by someone else, but I can say the pictures I have seen are infectious and really make me sorry we missed it!
Can you believe it February is DONE! At our last meeting of the month we heard from our own hot vodka drinking (only for charity mind you) Margaret Thornberry. She shared the mission and changes that have occurred on the Fremont Cultural Arts Council. Their mission is to continue to nourish the community with art – supported by their strong belief that “ART is an expression of the human spirit.” Thank you, Margaret, for sharing one of your passions with us.
I did finally get some fining done in addition to constant reminders to buy Raffle Tickets! End of the meeting, ticket was drawn and BAM!!! Rick Jones pulls the black ball! Pot is over $1,000. Congratulations Rick!
It was a great month with lots of things getting done as well as lots of Rotary fun. I can’t believe that over half my year is done. It has been such a learning time. I still have some REALLY fun things to look forward to – thank you all for being so patient with my slow start! I love being a Rotarian but more than that being a part of Our Niles Rotary Family.