Rotary makes high-quality health care available to vulnerable mothers and children so they can live longer and grow stronger.
We expand access to quality care, so mothers and children everywhere can have the same opportunities for a healthy future. An estimated 5.9 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, inadequate health care, and poor sanitation — all of which can be prevented.
HOW ROTARY MAKES HELP HAPPEN
Rotary provides education, immunizations, birth kits, and mobile health clinics. Women are taught how to prevent mother-to-infant HIV transmission, how to breast-feed, and how to protect themselves and their children from disease.
The Richard D. King Annual Youth Speech Contest is open to student speakers in grades 9 through 12 who attend a local, public, private or home high school within District 5170.
Club Contest
Thursday, March 14, 2024. Location: Foothill High School, San Jose
230 Pala Ave., San Jose, CA 95133
1st Place $200; 2nd Place $150.00; 3rd Place $100.
See the following for criteria, rules and registration information.
We partnered with the newly charted Rotary Club - SF Bay Area as well as the California Native Plant Society for a fun and rewarding volunteer event at Lake Cunningham Park. Kids and adults of all ages participated in a weed removal project to beautify our community space. Together, we learnt about the importance of environmental stewardship while enjoying the outdoors. Gloves and tools were provided. Let's continue to make a positive impact on our local environment and create a cleaner, greener space for all to enjoy!
Cleanup at Lake Cunningham Park in East San Jose
We learned how to tell plants we want to keep from invasive weeds.
Let's use wheelbarrows - much easier than carrying!
We believe good health care is everyone’s right. Yet 400 million people in the world can’t afford or don’t have access to basic health care.
Disease results in misery, pain, and poverty for millions of people worldwide. That’s why treating and preventing disease is so important to us. We lead efforts both large and small. We set up temporary clinics, blood donation centers, and training facilities in underserved communities struggling with outbreaks and health care access. We design and build infrastructure that allows doctors, patients, and governments to work together.
The pandemic unfortunately has schooled most people on the toll that disease takes on our communities.But fighting disease is something that Rotarians around the world have been doing for decades. In fact, it is one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus.
Our members combat diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and polio. Prevention is important, which is why we also focus on health education and bringing people routine hearing, vision, and dental care.
For more than a decade, the Fall Leadership Conference has singularly inspired thousands of Bay Area high school students to raise over $1 million dollars for local and international projects they design and to donate over 1 million hours of time to our local communities.
We were privileged to sponsor 10 students: 5 each from Mt. Pleasant and Yerba Buena High Schools. They, in turn, will inspire fellow students with the skills they learned at the Conference.
Club members Disha Vij and Nimeesha Rane were among the many volunteers that helped to make this event a success.
We are requesting members to bring a brown bag lunch for this meeting. Catering options are available if we need/decide to hold additional meetings at this location.
Picnic by the Lake was held in partnership with the County of Santa Clara Parks and Recreation Department and the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen. The Multicultural Festival and Resource Fair is an all-free event open to the public which featured:
A kid’s zone with inflatables, face painting, and bubbles!
A rock climbing wall
Raffle prizes
100+ resource booths
COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots
Multicultural performances from local community groups
Free beef and veggie burgers while supplies last
Pumpkin patch with free pumpkins while supplies last
Folks from ‘Reading Partners Silicon Valley’ stopped by our booth; we plan to invite for one of our meetings to learn more. They are eager to collaborate with us.
Economic and Community Development is one of Rotary's six areas of focus.
This video shows how Rotary carries out service projects worldwide that enhance economic and community development and create opportunities for work. We also strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.
One way we support Economic and Community Development is though club participation in Kiva.org a micro-loan program platform.
Beginning with a $500 donation, we have made 26 loans in 10 countries and have loaned $970 with repaid KIVA credit.
Through Kiva we make microloans as a force for good, creating a space where people can have one-to-one impact, and together, expand financial access for all.
As loans are repaid, the money is used to fund more microloans.
"From a new fishing net to community solar power, it’s easy to help fund a loan that changes someone’s life."
October is Economic and Community Development Month
An afternoon well spent with our Rotary family and friends helping package 50,000 meals for those suffering from hunger and starvation. The Rise Against Hunger meal packets consisted of protein in the form of soy, dried veggies and carbs in the form of rice. The packet also included some vitamins.
Special thanks to Parina's daughter, Francesca's son and granddaughter and Deepali's sister and her family for joining.
Members of the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen joined members of the Rotary Club of SF Bay area for the Lake Cunningham Park cleanup service event this morning.
Was a fantastic way to get out, be with family and still work for our community.
Jamie Chaidez Announced as New Chairwoman at Partners Against Child Trafficking International
Congratulation to our club member Jamie Chaidez for her promotion within PACT. Learn about her motivation to work with Partners Against Child Trafficking.
Rotary International President R. Gordon R. McInally called for members to capture the world's attention and lead the way toward possibilities far beyond our current expectations.
"The goal is to restore hope — to help the world heal from destructive conflicts and, in turn, to help us achieve lasting change for ourselves,"
Rotary Fellowships are international groups that share a common passion. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, and enhance your Rotary experience.
As a member of the International Fellowship of Rotary Musicians (IFRM), I was privileged to sing with a choir of fellow musicians at the RI Convention in Los Angeles. This year our friend, Madhumita Bishnu whom we first met through Nick Leon's visit to the village in India where we support girl's education, participated in the choir in Melbourne.
Explore our fellowships
Interested in a particular subject? Visit the group's website or email it to learn more. Click on Read More for a list with links.
Rotary Fellowships are international groups that share a common passion. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, and enhance your Rotary experience.
As a member of the International Fellowship of Rotary Musicians (IFRM), I was privileged to sing with a choir of fellow musicians at the RI Convention in Los Angeles. This year our friend, Madhumita Bishnu whom we first met through Nick Leon's visit to the village in India where we support girl's education, participated in the choir in Melbourne.
Explore our fellowships
Interested in a particular subject? Visit the group's website or email it to learn more. Click on Read More for a list with links.
Youth Service Month is a special time in Rotary. Throughout the month of May, members of Rotary clubs, Rotaract, Interact, and those involved in Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) and Rotary Youth Exchange celebrate the opportunities Rotary provides to connect, grow through service, develop leadership skills, mentor or be mentored, and have fun.
This fund draws both its name and its inspiration from Jerry and Dorothy Erich. The long-time owners of Erich Printing and Lithographing, they gave many young people their start in graphics and the business world. Jerry funded the endowment and conferred on the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen Board of Directors the responsibility of carrying on their objective of helping worthy high school graduates of the Eastside Union High School District to pursue trade or vocational programs through two-year scholarships.
A minimum of $4,000 Scholarship Grant per Student: First year $2,000 for a trade or vocational program at any school with potential of a second year scholarship . Grant is for tuition and education-related expenses that will lead to employment to students after graduation.
March 16, 2023 1:00PM Foothill High School Library 230 Pala Avenue, San Jose CA
Eight contestantswowed fellow Rotarians and guests at our club-level speech contest on March 16, 2023 with their original speeches on the topic of Imagine Rotary, the theme introduced by this year's Rotary International President Jennifer Jones.
The Rotary Clubs of District 5170 sponsor the Richard D. King Annual Youth Speech Contest each year with three goals in mind for the club members and each contest participant:
To increase personal knowledge and awareness of the importance of being able to speak effectively before a group.
To increase public knowledge of what Rotary is and does throughout the world, especially among young people. Through this knowledge, we hope that they will learn, as we have in the past, "He who profits most serves best."
To increase participation in the contest and to provide all high school contestants with an opportunity to win prizes as top public speaker, or runner up, in District 5170.
Support water, sanitation, and hygiene efforts on World Water Day
Your Title Here
World Water Day is held every 22 March to highlight the importance of clean water. This UN observance is also used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. This year’s World Water Day will focus on accelerating solutions to urgent water and sanitation needs around the world. In Lebanon, for example, all the country’s Rotary clubs united behind a global grant-funded project to bring clean drinking water to nearly every school in the country in partnership with other organizations and Lebanese government ministries. And in Ecuador, the Rotary Club of Guaranda, Bolívar, worked with community leaders in the village of Cochapamba and with a regional water agency to build a system that now provides clean drinking water for 133 families.
The Rotary theme for March, Water and Sanitation, asks us to focus on the life changing improvements that we can make through these international projects to provide a more readily available and healthy supply of water to all people.
It was all smiles from the volunteers at Free Meals on Wheels Saturday, November 19, 2022.
Dir. of Community Services, Manjeet Singh was joined by club members, Robbie Izat, Binta Patel, and Deepali Sinha and a host of community volunteers from the area.
Some prepared food, some packaged food and some delivered food to hungry folks.
More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. That’s 17 percent of the world’s adult population.
Rotary's goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. We support education for all children and literacy for children and adults.
August is Membership and New Club Development Month, a time to recognize our members and the incredible work they do locally and globally. In 2021, many Rotarians around the world are working together to curb the pandemic through vaccination drives. After a long year of uncertainty, hope is on the horizon.
Membership Month is a great time to introduce friends and colleagues to the family of Rotary. Here are just a few ideas on how to attract new members and keep them engaged:
Learn about strategies for attracting new members in this online course in the Learning Center. (A My Rotary account is required.) The course highlights ways to interest prospective members and showcase your club’s strengths.
Because of the pandemic, many clubs have started meeting exclusively online. The Engaging Online Meetings page has many useful tips and stories on virtual engagement. Take the Best Practices for Engaging Members online course to develop strategies for engaging people at all stages of membership.
Is your club healthy? Find out by taking this online course, which will help your club improve its member experience, service and social events, public image, and club operations. And don’t forget to address your club’s challenges! Answer a few questions in the Club Planning Assistant to get solutions that are tailored to the issues you are facing.
Subtitle: Motivate Yourself and Others to Change the World.
An Invited Presentation by
Dr. Martin Mandelberg, Ph.D.
President (2021 – 2022)
Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen
"Small and Mighty"
Rotary International District 5170 Conference
24 April 2022
San Ramon, CA.
To our Rotary Leaders: Rick King, Richard Flanders, Anne Matthews, Jarita Solari, Brenda Cressey, and Chris Offer.
We were all moved by your brilliant words You touched our hearts with your stories.
I ask each of you to continue to use your access, skills, and assets to keep Rotary International highly relevant in these changing and challenging times as we all work towards making this a better and kinder world.
I commend to you the words of the internationally renowned mathematician and computer scientist, Richard Wesley Hamming, who asked the question “What are the most important problems in your field? What are you working on? Why are they not the same?”
(2) To my fellow Rotary Club Presidents and Officers.
I ask you to lead by good example, carefully listening to your members ideas, and then empowering, and enabling them to not merely do good work, but to strive to do GREAT work
You are a leader – Go forward and motivate the members of your club. The Keys to motivation are vision and action.
I commend to you the words of Nelson Mandela: “Action without Vision is passing time, vision without Action is day-dreaming, but vision with action can change the world.”
(3) To Rotary Club members.
Continue to learn from your officers, mentors, and each other, as you step up and volunteer to perform the thousands of efforts that bring substantial benefits to your clubs, communities, the nation, and the world.
Be not afraid of challenges or doing something for the first time.
In the words of the famous anthropologist Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
4) To all Interactors, future Rotarians, and citizens.
I ask you to continue to observe, study, question, and challenge not only Rotary International, but all of the organizations around you.
The world’s future will be increasingly in your hands. You must continue to learn throughout your life, get involved, and be part of the solution – not part of the problem.
I challenge you with the words of Margaret Mead: “Never depend upon institutions or government to solve any problem. All social movements are founded by, guided by, motivated and seen through by the passion of individuals.”
President Marty's Presentation at Dist 5170 Conference
Customary when a Rotarian visits from another club, we exchange club banners. At the March 17, 2022 club meeting we had just such an opportunity as our guest speaker was in town on a visit from India.
Photo credit: Deepali Sinha
"Brief about Rtn Manmohan Maini: Rotarian since 1996, Past President Manmohan Maini is an Electronics and Telecommunications Engineer with three master degrees in Computer Science, Computer Applications and Business Administration on Marketing. Deputy General Manager with Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, he belongs to Rotary Club Ambala Central, R I D 3080, India as Vice President for the year 2021-22. Regular blood donor, he has completed 56 donations till date. Served as Assistant Governor two times and presently serving as District Secretary Communication. He is the recipient of International highest recognition in the Rotary world of service i.e. “Service Above self” Award during 2014-15. Blessed with daughter and son. Daughter is pursuing Doctor of Dental Surgery from University of Michigan and son is working with Cisco at San Jose"
Clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education are basic necessities for a healthy environment and a productive life.
When people have access to clean water and sanitation, waterborne diseases decrease, children stay healthier and attend school more regularly, and mothers can spend less time carrying water and more time helping their families.
HOW ROTARY MAKES HELP HAPPEN
Through water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs, Rotary’s people of action mobilize resources, form partnerships, and invest in infrastructure and training that yield long-term change.
Situated in different parts of the world, the Rotary Peace Centers offer tailor-made curricula to train individuals devoted to peacebuilding and conflict resolution — no matter where they land.
Vocational Service is the essence of Rotary and serves as the foundation from which we serve our communities around the world. Vocational Service calls on us to empower others by using our unique skills and expertise to address community needs and help others acquire or refine skills and advance their professional opportunities.
Read on for some examples of vocational service in action:
We believe good health care is everyone’s right. Yet 400 million people in the world can’t afford or don’t have access to basic health care.
Disease results in misery, pain, and poverty for millions of people worldwide. That’s why treating and preventing disease is so important to us. We lead efforts both large and small. We set up temporary clinics, blood donation centers, and training facilities in underserved communities struggling with outbreaks and health care access. We design and build infrastructure that allows doctors, patients, and governments to work together.
Our members combat diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and polio. Prevention is important, which is why we also focus on health education and bringing people routine hearing, vision, and dental care.
HOW ROTARY MAKES HELP HAPPEN
We educate and equip communities to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases. Rotary members have hundreds of health projects underway around the world at any given time.
Thousands of energized Interactors were inspired this past Sunday, November 7th. They truly had a good time. FLC2021 returned in person at Independence High school in San Jose, and our club members were there to provide support and adult presence for the students.
Our Rotarians, Francesca Medina, Nick Leon, Robbie Izat and Deepali Sinha, talked directly to students during registration, supervised them during workshops and at lunch, and certainly helped the Interactors further connect with Rotary. A lot of students had never seen or met a Rotarian until Sunday! Just being there went a long way for not only safety but for strengthening the connection.
FLC2021 has come to a close. Our Rotations will be there for a smooth and strong FLC2022 as well!
Our latest International Project is in Mali, Africa
The Baobab Learning Center (BLC) began in 2016 as a 501(c)(3) charity in the USA, with programs in Mali, Africa. Our programs for the empowerment of children, women, young adults, and communities are supported by generous donations from people like you.
Our Mission
A Brighter Future for Children
Children in rural areas of the world’s poorest countries like Mali often have little access to education. BLC houses 30 children and provides meals, clothing, and tutoring to 35 others to ensure their success in school and to prepare them to contribute to their communities as good citizens of their country, and good stewards of the land and the water around them.
Empowering Women
BLC has two shea butter processing facilities where over 100 women learned to process nuts they gather into shea butter to sell in a co-op. We teach women in the village skills that include cooking, childcare, hygiene, entrepreneurship, and management.
Empowering Young Adults
After the Malian army repelled terrorist attacks near our center, vulnerable young adults were invited to hear presentations by educators, health practitioners, and more. The youth then chose one of eight program areas to receive vocational training and internships. Without jobs, young adults are subject to predatory recruitment by ISIS terrorists.
Great news! Solar Panels
The Baobab Center is grateful to the Rotary Club of San Jose East Evergreen and The Step It Up Foundation for a 2021 grant for solar voltaic panels at our main Center and the two shea butter and grain processing facilities. We will encourage the contractor to include young adults in our programs to assist with the work in the July of 2021 as part of their vocational training.
Rotary projects and activities help to give children access to an education for the very first time. We build schools, we supply books and computers for classrooms and we train teachers.
Our club supports education at home and abroad with scholarships to low-income students attending junior college or vocational schools; with fundraising to build and furnish classrooms in Chamabondo, Zimbabwe, Africa for youngsters who previously sat in the dirt; with partnerships with NGO's to combat human trafficking of girls and boys in Vietnam.
Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
Although Labor Day is a secular day, a number of organizations and houses of worship express good wishes for the day with prayers:
Prayer of Blessing the Work of Our Hands
Blessed be the works of your hands, O Holy One. Blessed be these hands that have touched life. Blessed be these hands that have nurtured creativity. Blessed be these hands that have held pain. Blessed be these hands that have embraced with passion. Blessed be these hands that have tended gardens. Blessed be these hands that have closed in anger. Blessed be these hands that have planted new seeds. Blessed be these hands that have harvested ripe fields. Blessed be these hands that have cleaned, washed, mopped, scrubbed. Blessed be these hands that have become knotty with age. Blessed be these hands that are wrinkled and scarred from doing justice. Blessed be these hands that have reached out and been received. Blessed be these hands that hold the promise of the future. Blessed be the works of your hands. O Holy One.
Members who have a positive Rotary experience are more likely to stay. In turn, they create a positive Rotary experience for others, because their enthusiasm is contagious. If your club’s members genuinely enjoy being a part of the club, you’re on the right path. Your experience includes not just your club meetings and other activities, but also the connections you’ve made and your pride in Rotary’s work.
Service and Socials
Participating in service and having fun with fellow members are the primary reasons Rotarians join and stay in Rotary. The healthiest clubs vary their activities and offer multiple ways to get involved. Try a new kind of social event or a different service experience and watch the impact it has on your club.
Members
A healthy club is one that is growing and changing. Having members with diverse perspectives and backgrounds will fuel innovation and give your club a broader understanding of your community’s needs. Pay attention to how your members are feeling about the club. Research shows that one of the most common reasons members leave is that club leaders are not open to new ideas. Involving members and giving them a voice in their club’s future will strengthen both the club and members’ commitment to Rotary. Image Clubs that have fun and make an impact are attractive to those who see that. A positive public image improves your club’s relationship with your community and prospective members. Make sure your club is getting the credit for the service you provide. Demonstrating that your club meets real needs confirms your value to your community.
Business and Operations
When your club runs smoothly, you likely have good leaders who are looking toward the club’s future. The leaders shape the club as a whole, and it’s crucial to have skilled people in those leadership positions. For this reason, leadership development is also a way to fortify your club.
Visit My Rotary and complete the Rotary Club Health Check questionnaire. It is the first step in becoming a healthier, more vibrant club.
Santa Clara County and seven other Bay Area counties have issued a new health order requiring masks indoors in public places. The mandate applies to everyone regardless of vaccination status.
Officials announced the health order during a news conference on Monday [8/2/21]. The order, which takes effect midnight on Tuesday, applies to most public settings, with limited exceptions, in Santa Clara County, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Sonoma and the city of Berkeley.
People in restaurants or bars can remove masks to eat and drink. But masks must remain on inside gyms, movie theaters, hair and nail salons or retailers. In Santa Clara County, businesses are obligated to enforce the mask mandate. Residents can submit complaints about businesses failing to do this on the county website.
Officials said this is a necessary step because the Delta variant is responsible for a significant spike in hospitalizations of unvaccinated individuals. Some vaccinated individuals have also been hospitalized, although those cases are infrequent and tend to be elderly and with significant co-morbidities.
The announcement reflects guidance from both California Department of Public Health and the CDC.
At his induction ceremony on July 8, 2021, incoming Club President, Marty Mandelberg received a Rotary pin from Past President Sara Calkins while Past President Nick Leon looked on approvingly.
For the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen, serving youth is a major component of our outreach and projects. All club members must be up to date with the latest in Youth Protection. The update takes 3 hours on Sat. 8/14 and it's virtual (you can attend in slippers!) - ed.
Rotary Zones 26-27s Youth Services Taskforce is sponsoring a virtual conference with a goal to review some of the new requirements of Rotary's latest Youth Protection Guide. Whether you are a leader with Rotary Youth Exchange, RYLA or Interact, just a dedicated volunteer, there are aspects of Youth Protection you may need to know. This conference will provide some valuable "how to" ideas on how you can best, and most easily, implement Rotary's new guidelines.
Virtual Rotary Youth Protection Conference
Saturday morning, August 14
9:00 - noon, Pacific Daylight Time
Registration for this Virtual Rotary Youth Protection Conference is now open. Here is the link you you can use to register:
While her sponsor, Nick Leon looks on, President Marty Mandelberg welcomes Diane Truong as our club's newest member. Wecome Diana!
Diana is the Deputy Director of Communications & Operations for Pacific Links Foundation. Pacific Links Foundation leads counter-trafficking efforts at the frontiers of Vietnam by increasing access to education, providing shelter and reintegration services, and enabling economic opportunities. The Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen has partnered with Pacific Links in the fight against trafficking over the past three years and plans another project this year.
July 7th Social at 6pm and July 8th club meeting at noon, both at The Creek Eatery, 5623 Silver Creek Valley Road, San Jose, CA 95138.
Living in Virginia, President Marty will have limited, quarterly in-person meetings with us. We'll see him via ZOOM; he's always open to phone sessions (just remember the time difference).
Marty is sincere about enabling club members fulfill their potential as Rotarians. Come to either or both of these gatherings to get well-acquainted.
I am proud to serve as your San Jose East/Evergreen (SJE/E) Rotary Club President for 2021- 2022. While a Rotarian for just two years, I have been a Board Officer on profit and non-profit organizations for 30 years. My education has been in Engineering, Management, and Strategy with 50 years of service in government, private industry, and academia.
I have been called a creative optimist, and I wear that label proudly. Creativity and persistence can overcome many obstacles. To be a pessimist is to waste energy in non-productive efforts.
My education and work experience have helped my career and benefited my wonderful family. But just as important as accomplishments are aspirations.
Starting in July 2021, I plan to listen to each SJE/E club member and learn what characteristics they want their club to have now and in the future, and especially hear about their aspirations. I ask you to reflect on your aspirations and work with the other members to build our club to meet all members' goals. An energized club can attract proactive new members who wish to serve and have fun as we re-grow SJE/E.
My job is to serve all the members and use leadership, organizational, and mentoring knowledge. We all deserve ethical treatment, respect, accountability, transparency, and responsiveness. Comments and suggestions for improvements are crucial as we strive to be of practical service to others. With all of your active participation in Avenues of Service and Club projects, we can build on SJE/E's excellent reputation in District 5170 and become the Rotary Club we want to invest our time and energy. I offer a suggested goal motto: "The Best Small Rotary Club in California."
Thank you in advance for your thoughts, efforts, and continued support.
The LGBT Rotarians and Friends Fellowship connects members of the Rotary Family and works to build an organisation that is welcoming to members of the LGBT+ community. We work to connect members in friendship, educate clubs to be more inclusive and build a catalogue of service projects that support the LGBT+ community.
The Fellowship is also available as an LGBT+ advisory group, contributing to and consulting on practices to be an inclusive club, policy development and projects of significance to the LGBT+ community. Contact us for advice.
June is designated Rotary Fellowships Month to recognize the importance of international fellowship and goodwill among Rotarians with similar recreational and vocational interests, promote increased participation in fellowships, and increase understanding of this program.
As a member of the Rotary Fellowship of Musicians I had the privilege of singing with Rotarians from around the world at the RI Convention in Los Angeles.
Youth Service Month is a special time in Rotary. Throughout the month of May, members of Rotary clubs, Rotaract, Interact, and those involved in Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) and Rotary Youth Exchange celebrate the opportunities Rotary provides to connect, grow through service, develop leadership skills, mentor or be mentored, and have fun.
Although COVID may prevent some of us from celebrating Youth Service Month in person, it need not dampen our enthusiasm, excitement, and gratitude for these programs and the volunteers who make them possible. Here are four ways you can safely celebrate:
Hunger touches every community, nation, and region of the world. It is a problem without a simple solution. At Rotary, we are committed to using the vast resources of our diverse membership and our partnership with organizations like the Global FoodBanking Network to seek fresh insights and pursue innovative answers. In the following letter for the official World Food Day website, Rotary's General Secretary John Hewko explains why Rotary is so motivated to help:
We support local solutions to bring clean water, sanitation, and hygiene to more people every day. We don’t just build wells and walk away. We share our expertise with community leaders and educators to make sure our projects succeed long-term.
The District Conference date has been changed. We moved it to July 17th at Gilroy Gardens. We are hoping that this can still be done in person. It is an excellent location (All outdoors) for in person events and by moving the date we increase our chances of gathering together. Mark your calendar for this fun event.
The month of February is very special in the Rotary calendar because it includes the anniversary of the first meeting of Rotary held on February 23, 1905, now designated as the World Understanding and Peace Day.
Rotary's goal of worldwide peace and tolerance has been an unwavering pursuit: conducting global forums, hosting international peace symposiums, advancing peace through its 60-year collaboration with the UN, as well as grassroots initiatives such as the Rotarian Action Group for Peace.
It is my immense pleasure to announce that for the first time in the history of our club, our contribution to TRF this year was the highest ever. We not only donated over $10,600 but also we had a per capita contribution of $424. In addition, this year, we had a record of 5 Paul Harris Fellows and we have achieved 100% success with Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) participation. I feel very happy with my decision to reduce our dues, while also mandating a $25 dollar contribution to the TRF. Thank you to everyone for your unwavering support and I hope with this new practice, we can keep our club’s legacy thriving, partially by donating 10% of our dues to the TRF. Maybe it’s a nominal amount but it feels so great that our club is at a hundred percent participation, “Every Rotarian Every Year”, especially during these challenging times.
Heartfelt thanks!
Congratulations! 100% success in EREY. A Note From The President.
Our club is sending 14 Interactors from seven high schools to the 2021 Virtual President's Winter Retreat on February 13 and 14. "The check is in the mail."
President’s Winter Retreat allows selected Interactors to meet, bond, and collaborate with like-minded and dedicated leaders from all over the district. Attendees participate in a series of exciting and interactive workshops to further develop their leadership skills, learn and foster new ideas, and make connections with those around them.
Although students are not currently on campus, SJE/E Rotarians shopped and bagged turkeys and "all the fixin's for teen parents. The groceries will be delivered to the students' homes. Masked to protect all present, we were happy to be in the same room with our fellow club members! The note we put in each bag tells of our pride in their determination to finish high school and plan for their futures.
Justin was born and raised in San Jose and graduated from Lincoln High School as the class of 2018. This was also where he developed a passion for volunteering, joining Key Club with my friends in sophomore year and volunteering every weekend. Somewhere along the road, he realized that he had a fondness for cooking and so he moved to Oregon for two years to attend the Oregon Culinary Institute, where he earned his AOS in Hospitality & Management. Shortly after receiving his degree.
Justin moved back to San Jose and is now working for the Rise Against Hunger warehouse in Hayward.
How Cupertino Club Grew - Wonderful Insight by our District Membership Chair Hung Wei. Last year and this year, our club has added young professionals and some of them become members of the board so that they can stay engaged and understand Rotary better.
How Cupertino Club Grew - Wonderful Insight by our District Membership Chair Hung Wei
On this very special day. Happy 90th Birthday Audrey! On your 90th birthday, may you only know the joy, peace, and health that comes with a life well-lived. Sending you birthday wishes Filled with happiness, Brightened by rainbows, and warmed by love.
Please make a note and check your email > On the 20th of August District Governor Greg Giusiana, and Assistant Governor AG Sweeney will make an official visit to our club.
The purpose of the visit is to allow the District Governor to communicate directly with all Rotarians in our club. Together we will listen to the Club Leadership and gain a better understanding of our club. As president, I’ll talk about budget, club goals, club membership, and prior year’s financial statement. Also, I’ll present the new Paul Harris Fellows and induct the new members virtually.
All the service chairs are required to give a five-minute presentation on their projects. Please do prepare for it and your presence is mandatory. The treasurer needs to present a monthly financial report. DG & AG will be here for one hour. AG Sweeney will introduce our district governor Greg Giusiana. Please arrive early, plan to stay until after the DG leaves, and stand when the District Governor is introduced to welcome DG and his spouse. Please email me if you have any questions. Sometimes I do not reply the very same day. Please bear with me. Thanks for your cooperation and patience. E-meet you all on Thursday (20th, September) at 12 sharp. We’ll be using the same Zoom link.
I (President Arpita Sikka) would like to congratulate to all the Rotarians who contributed to TRF! The reason I am mentioning this now is that this year, we have adopted a new strategy at my recommendation so that we all can donate to TRF. We all have been paying eight and a half percent from our dues during these unprecedented pandemic times. If everybody pays their dues, our contribution will be 100%. So far, our club is the highest contributor (68%) in the district if you notice the District TRF Report. My proposal has been successful, except for the club members who have not yet paid dues. Donate to TRF.
We express our sincere gratitude towards all the firefighters, men, and women, who are putting their lives on the line. We continue to pray for the safety of all the firefighters. To all those working so diligently, your dedication and valiant efforts will never be forgotten.
More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. That’s 17 percent of the world’s adult population.
Rotary's goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.
We support education for all children and literacy for children and adults.
Friendly reminder: Today, instead of our regular meeting, we’ll be hosting a Virtual Rotary Trivia Night. In July, last Thursday we hosted a Virtual Bingo. Please check your email. E-see you all tonight! #VirtualMeeting #RotaryTrivia.
'A momentous milestone': Africa now free from wild poliovirus. Since 1996, countless Rotary members from across Africa and around the world have raised funds, immunized children, and promoted vaccinations, enabling the GPEI to respond to and stop polio outbreaks. Rotary members have contributed nearly $890 million toward polio eradication efforts in the African region.
'A momentous milestone': Africa now free from wild poliovirus.
Please make a note and check your email > On the 20th of August, District Governor Greg Giusiana, and Assistant Governor AG Sweeney will make an official visit to our club. Thanks for your cooperation and patience. E-meet you all on Thursday (20th, September) at 12 sharp. We’ll be using the same Zoom link. Here is the Zoom link:
Arpita Sikka is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Rotary SJEE Thursday Luncheon Time: Aug 20, 2020, 12:00 PM Pacific Time (the US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81444533397?pwd=bGtFcG9TVWFlbVdNNGp5QUhsZC9vdz09 (Please copy the link)
M.A.T was a staunch supporter of our Rotary District 5170. Many of us had the benefit of hearing him speak at District Events and in casual conversation as well.
Mateo A.T. Caparas, a past Rotary International president who championed Rotary’s earliest efforts to fight polio and created the program that became Rotary Community Corps, died 15 July. He was 96.
Caparas, known as M.A.T., served as RI president in 1986-87 and used his term to encourage members to inspire hope, through service, in communities around the world.
The only RI president from the Philippines, Caparas also served as vice president, director, Rotary Foundation trustee and chair, committee member and chair, International Assembly group discussion leader, and district governor. A Rotarian since 1959, he was a member of the Rotary Club of Malolos, Bulacan, Philippines.
This year we are proud to announce that Rotary SJEE will be giving $54000 for the scholarship. Usually, the scholarship board checks the applications with precision and then decides the applicants who are eligible for the scholarship program. This year 27 students are selected. Scholarships are available only for those students who are planning to go to Community colleges or trade schools.
In line with District 5170 guidelines, our club will continue meeting on ZOOM rather than in person until we are informed it is safe and sensible to change.
Our first ZOOM meeting will be on Thursday, July 9 (not the 2nd). Be sure to check your email inbox for the invitation to join the meeting.
Have a safe and sane celebration on the 4th. Rotary San Jose (Downtown) has cancelled their fireworks display this year - "A Capitol Fourth" will air on PBS at 8PM - they've quite a lineup of performers for this, their 40th anniversary show, all practicing social distancing!
The Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen welcomes Arpita Sikka, Club President July 2020 - June 2021.
The year will continue to be challenging as we open doors to new ways of holding meetings, raising funds and serving communities here in San Jose and globally.
Our total dollar amount of giving to The Rotary Foundation has exceeded our club goal for this year, HOWEVER, our goal of involving every club member has fallen short.
A gift of just $25 qualifies you as a member of EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year). Since we're not having to pay for lunches this month, why not donate the cost of a lunch or two to The Rotary Foundation?
How?
Visit https://www.rotary.org/en and click on donate. You'll need your Rotary ID (it's on the mailing label of your Rotarian Magazine and in your profile on ClubRunner).
Contact TRF Chair Nick Leon for instructions on donating via the mail
Why?
TRF mission
The mission of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.
What impact can one donation have?
For as little as 60 cents, a child can be protected from polio.
$50 can provide clean water to help fight waterborne illness.
$500 can launch an antibullying campaign and create a safe environment for children.
Our total dollar amount of giving to The Rotary Foundation has exceeded our club goal for this year, HOWEVER, our goal of involving every club member has fallen short.
A gift of just $25 qualifies you as a member of EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year). Since we're not having to pay for lunches this month, why not donate the cost of a lunch or two to The Rotary Foundation?
How?
Visit https://www.rotary.org/en and click on donate. You'll need your Rotary ID (it's on the mailing label of your Rotarian Magazine and in your profile on ClubRunner).
Contact TRF Chair Nick Leon for instructions on donating via the mail
Why?
TRF mission
The mission of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.
What impact can one donation have?
For as little as 60 cents, a child can be protected from polio.
$50 can provide clean water to help fight waterborne illness.
$500 can launch an antibullying campaign and create a safe environment for children.
Thank You!
No Meetings? Donate to TRFNo Meetings? - Give to The Rotary Foundation
As per new guidelines from Rotary International, President Harbinder is suspending all club meetings for the remainder of March and through April 30, 2020
The Richard D. King Annual Youth Speech Contest is named to honor Rotary International Past President, District 5170 Past Governor Richard D. King in thanks for his many years of “Service Above Self” to District 5170 and to the rest of the Rotary world.
This year's theme is “Rotary Connects The World”
The Rotary Clubs of District 5170 sponsor the Richard D. King Annual Youth Speech Contest with three goals in mind for the Club Members and each Speech Contest Participant:
To increase the personal knowledge and awareness of the importance of being able to speak effectively before a group.
To increase public knowledge of what Rotary is and does throughout the world, especially among young people. Through this knowledge, we hope that they will learn, as we have in the past, “He who serves best profits most.”
To increase participation in the contest and to provide all high school contestants an opportunity to win prizes as top speaker, or runners-up, in District 5170.
(source: Richard D. King Annual Youth Speech Contest Handbook)
Students may create their speech on any topic, however the speech must include a tie-in with the current Rotary theme and at least one element of the 4-day test:
RI President-elect Holger Knaack’s theme for 2020-21, Rotary Opens Opportunities, asks Rotarians to create opportunities that strengthen their leadership, help put service ideas into action, and improve the lives of those in need.
Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. Rotary unites people from all continents and cultures who take action to deliver real, long-term solutions to our world’s most persistent issues. Together, we apply our professional experience and personal commitment to find new and effective ways to enhance health, stability, and prosperity across the globe.
Through volunteering, our 1.2 million members make lifelong friendships that transcend political and cultural boundaries and foster global understanding and respect. In addition to our 35,000 clubs, Rotary also offers expanded service opportunities including:
Interact: a service organization organized and sponsored by Rotary clubs for young adults ages 12-18. There are more than 20,300 Interact clubs in 159 countries.
Rotaract: groups organized by Rotary clubs to promote leadership, professional development, and service among young adults ages 18-30. There are more than 10,000 Rotaract clubs in 184 countries. Rotary Community Corps (RCCs): groups of non-Rotary members who work to improve their communities. There are more than 7,500 RCCs in 80 countries, all organized and sponsored by Rotary clubs.
Membership Snapshot
Who: Rotary brings together the kind of people who step forward to take on important issues for local communities worldwide. Rotary members hail from a range of professional backgrounds; doctors, artists, small business owners, teachers and executives all call themselves Rotarians. Rotary connects these unique perspectives, and helps leverage its members’ expertise to improve lives everywhere.
Where: From Haiti and Greenland to Nigeria and Singapore, Rotary unites a truly diverse set of leaders from across the world. Currently, the largest number of clubs comes from the United States, India, Japan and Brazil. The fastest growing Rotary regions include Southeast Asia and Africa.
What: Each year, Rotary members invest more than $200 million and 16 million volunteer hours to promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, save mothers and children, support education, and grow local economies. Polio Eradication For more than 30 years, Rotary has been the driving force in the effort to eradicate polio worldwide. Alongside our partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we have achieved a 99.9 percent reduction in polio cases. Our members have contributed $1.9 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease. Today, polio remains endemic in Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Rotary remains committed to ending polio, and will raise $50 million per year, with every dollar to be matched with two additional dollars through a matching agreement with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. With the infrastructure we helped create to end polio, we have built a lasting global health legacy that is now used to reach millions of children to treat and prevent other diseases.
Polio Eradication
For more than 30 years, Rotary has been the driving force in the effort to eradicate polio worldwide. Alongside our partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we have achieved a 99.9 percent reduction in polio cases. Our members have contributed $1.9 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease. Today, polio remains endemic in Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. Rotary remains committed to ending polio, and will raise $50 million per year, with every dollar to be matched with two additional dollars through a matching agreement with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. With the infrastructure we helped create to end polio, we have built a lasting global health legacy that is now used to reach millions of children to treat and prevent other diseases.
Inspired by Rotary International’s motto of “Service Above Self,” the penguin flapping his wings is embarking on a journey of service around the world. Landmarks depicted on the float include the Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Sydney Opera House. The “flight crew” walking alongside the float includes Rotary International President Mark Maloney and his wife, Gay, and Optimist International President Adrian M. Elcock and his wife, Ann.
Nov 25 - club members distribute turkeys and side dish items to teen parents at ESUHSD Foothill High School in support of their determination to reach their goals.
"The members of the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen are proud of the work you are doing:
Several San Jose East/Evergreen Rotarians joined other diners at the RVP Gala November 2nd. The dinner at Ta Restaurant in Milpitas was excellent but the highlights of the evening centered on the reason we had gathered. Our club sponsors, with Milpitas, Oakland Uptown, and Los Gatos Rotary Clubs, a RYLA-type leadership camp in Vietnam to keep students in school to receive education and training in life skills so they are not trafficked.
Are you aware that human traffickers promise jobs in China to entice the students?
Actually the girls are kidnapped and sold to a Chinese family to have a baby. The baby is kept by the family and the girl is sold to another family to have another baby, and sold to yet another family. After three babies, the girls are sold into prostitution.
All funds raised from the Gala go to the Rotary Vietnam Project (RVP) which will then be matched by a foundation, AND those funds will be matched through a Rotary Global Grant Project. We're still receiving donations and will report on the final tally soon.
Our club is registered to have a resource booth at Councilmember Sylvia Arenas’ Fall Family Festival on October 12th, 2019 at Lake Cunningham Regional Park.
They are looking forward to having us join the event.
Induction of new member and the glimpses of Rotary meeting. The guest speaker was William Devincenzi talked about climate change, global warming,
and renewable energy. Rotary’s core values are #diversity, #integrity, #service, #leadership, and #fellowship, and our club is very diverse and inclusive. Good to see that our club is growing in that direction. #diversity #inclusivity.
Yesterday, I spoke at the United Nations in New York City at the inaugural Global Climate Restoration Forum because climate change is an issue that affects us all. Without immediate action, it will continue to affect every generation that inhabits our Earth. It’s time to demand action on global climate change.
Sea levels are rising. Ice caps are melting. Global temperatures are increasing. Forest fires blaze in our state and across the globe. Humanity itself is threatened.
These are all effects of global climate change.
Last month, I introduced a resolution to declare a Climate Restoration Emergency in Santa Clara County that passed through the Board of Supervisors unanimously. Yesterday, I spoke at the United Nations in New York City, delivering a call to action to local governments around the world: we must band together and do all we can to address the climate crisis immediately.
Cortese Addresses Global Climate Restoration Forum
Today (Sat 14th) we did the shopping for Family Supportive Housing. They provide temporary housing and targeted support to single- and two-parent families who are experiencing homelessness. They provide shelter, food and safety-net services to homeless families. They have asked for twin sheets and clean towels.
Towels - 3 6Pieces Towels Set, 3 4Pieces Towels Set, 3 2B2H2W towels Set - Total Cost $213.94
Bed Sheets - 24 3PC Twin/Full Sheet Set - Total Cost $271.15
Total Cost of the Project - $485.09
Service Saturday. (Shopping For Family Supportive Housing).
We had a great lively 'Lunch and Learn' meeting today as we inducted four new members and recognized two PHF+4 members.
Thanks to all the members who came out to support our new members!
From left: Membership Chair, Robbie Izat, New Members Martin Mandelberg, Issac Christopher & Francesca Medina (not pictured, Vikas Agrawal), President Harbinder Sikka
Paul Harris Fellow awardees Harbinder Sikka and Audrey Clark with The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Chair, Nick Leon.
Kudos to community service chair Arpita Sikka for a very successful 'Back to School Backpack' drive for kindergarten and 1st-grade students. Our club members came together on Saturday, July 13th, 2019 to pack the contents into the 48 animal printed backpacks. Each backpack was stuffed with pencil box containing 12 pencils, eraser, and sharpener. It also contains a glue stick, a box of 10 crayons, and 10 washable markers. Also packed was a folder a set of 50 construction papers.
Our club logo was placed on the backpack to make sure the club name is recognized as the source of the backpacks.
The backpacks were donated to 'Family Giving Tree' for distribution to schools in San Jose.
Back to School Backpack Drive - 48 backpacks for Kindergarten and 1st grade
This year our Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen were the 'Freedom Sponsor' of the 'Rose, White, and Blue Parade' in San Jose, CA. As part of this sponsorship, our logo was displayed on the Parade website. We were given a car to ride in the VIP section of the parade. Past President Robbie, Secretary Manjeet, and Community Service Director Arpita rode the car in the VIP section waving and cheering the crowd.
President Harbinder walked along with District 5170 Area 5 interactors while distributing 'Rotary SJE/E' flyers to the San Jose residents who lined up on both sides of the road along the parade route. It was a great success in all measure and both Past President Robbie, as well as President Harbinder, got time on the live coverage to talk about the club for a minute. Also from the stage, the announcer talked about our Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen while we walked past the stage in the middle of the parade route. It gave us quite a bit of publicity and visibility in the community. Our members Dave Cortese, and Kensan Chu also rode cars in the VIP section on their own as a community leader.
I love to travel! I even enjoy the mundane process of getting from here to there. But last year, my wife, Gay, and I had one of those experiences that would strain the optimism of even the most cheerful traveler. We found ourselves with six hours to wait, at an airport where we were not scheduled to be, on a day we had not planned still to be traveling, having woken up that morning at a hotel unknown to us the night before. It was one of those days.
As we waited at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, Gay and I took a walk to people watch. We went from one end of the terminal to the other and back, looking at every gate, every destination, every group of people waiting for their flights.
Each gate was its own island of humanity. When we walked down the center of the concourse, we were in New York, moving along with everyone in one river. But when you veered off into those seats, you left that current and landed on an island. You were already in Delhi or Paris or Tel Aviv.
As we started our walk, I thought: "All these different people, all these different countries, all in one place. This is like Rotary!" But as we walked past gate after gate, I realized something. It was not like Rotary at all. Because everyone in that river was heading for an island. And every island stayed an island. The people heading to Taipei might be talking to one another, but they were not talking to the people heading to Cairo or Lagos.
Contrast that with Rotary. Rotary allows us to connect with one another, in deep and meaningful ways, across our differences. It connects us with people we would never otherwise have met, who are more like us than we ever could have known. It connects us with our communities, to professional opportunities, and to the people who need our help.
Connection is what makes the experience of Rotary so very different from walking along that concourse at JFK Airport. In Rotary, none of us is an island. All of us are in Rotary together, whoever we are, wherever we are from, whatever language we speak or traditions we follow. We are all connected to one another — part of our communities and members not only of our clubs, but also of the global community to which we all belong.
This connection is what lies at the heart of the Rotary experience. It is what brings us to Rotary. It is why we stay. Please join your fellow Rotarians on this journey as Rotary Connects the World.
In this ever-more digital age, its important to remember the humanity among our fellow Rotarians as we strive to improve conditions for all of human kind.
We have two special visitors attending our June 13th meeting at The Ranch:
Min, our Youth Exchange Student from South Korea, who will share experiences from his time with local families and schools.
Mr. Edward Alvarez, our program speaker who will address the topic of Education in the News
Edward Alvarez has extensive background and experience in the education sector. His education experience includes services on various advisory committees, including the East Side Union High School District and the California Community Colleges Advisory Committee on Minority Affairs. He was elected to the East Side Union High School District Board of Trustees and served a seven-year term during which the District constructed 8 high schools. He served a 7-year term on the Board of trustees of Santa Clara University as well as the Board Real Estate and Finance Committee.
Join us tomorrow for fellowship and learning and to give our visitors a warm San Jose East/Evergreen welcome!
We are excited to have co-founders of San José Spotlight, Ramona Giwargis and Josh Barousse as our guest speakers this week!
We'll meet in the private dining room at The Ranch Restaurant for this special program. Buffet lunch cost - $25, cash or check.
About San José Spotlight
San José residents deserve a trusted source for unbiased, independent political news. And we’re here to provide it.
San José Spotlight is the city’s first nonprofit, community-supported digital news organization. We’re changing the face of journalism by providing an innovative model for delivering reliable, truthful news to the nation’s 10th largest city.
We’re partnering with you – the readers – to make it happen.
Rotary believes in developing the next generation of leaders. Our programs help younger leaders build leadership skills, expand education and learn the value of service.
Reports of candies for SJE/E Rotarians and guests on April 18 may be true...
The legend of the Easter bunny bringing eggs appears to have been brought to the United States by settlers from Germany. The German tradition of the Easter bunny (or Oschter Haws) migrated to America in the 1700s, accompanying German immigrants, many of whom settled in Pennsylvania. Over the past 200 years, the Easter bunny has become the most commercially recognized symbol of Easter in the United States. Other countries use other animals as the symbol of Easter, such as the cuckoo (in Switzerland).
In legend, the Easter bunny, also called the Easter hare and the spring bunny, brings baskets filled with colored eggs, candy, and sometimes toys to the homes of children on the night before Easter, in much the same way as Santa Claus is said to deliver presents on Christmas Eve. The Easter Bunny will either put the baskets in a designated place or hide them somewhere in the house or garden for the children to find when they wake up in the morning, giving rise to the tradition of the Easter egg hunt.The legend of the Easter bunny bringing eggs appears to have been brought to the United States by settlers from Germany. The German tradition of the Easter bunny (or Oschter Haws) migrated to America in the 1700s, accompanying German immigrants, many of whom settled in Pennsylvania. Over the past 200 years, the Easter bunny has become the most commercially recognized symbol of Easter in the United States. Other countries use other animals as the symbol of Easter, such as the cuckoo (in Switzerland).
In legend, the Easter bunny, also called the Easter hare and the spring bunny, brings baskets filled with colored eggs, candy, and sometimes toys to the homes of children on the night before Easter, in much the same way as Santa Claus is said to deliver presents on Christmas Eve. The Easter Bunny will either put the baskets in a designated place or hide them somewhere in the house or garden for the children to find when they wake up in the morning, giving rise to the tradition of the Easter egg hunt.
Rotary makes high-quality health care available to vulnerable mothers and children so they can live longer and grow stronger.
We expand access to quality care, so mothers and children everywhere can have the same opportunities for a healthy future. An estimated 5.9 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, inadequate health care, and poor sanitation — all of which can be prevented.
HOW ROTARY MAKES HELP HAPPEN
Rotary provides education, immunizations, birth kits, and mobile health clinics. Women are taught how to prevent mother-to-infant HIV transmission, how to breast-feed, and how to protect themselves and their children from disease.
Ms. Susan Mineta Update on a proposed 13 acre Evergreen neighborhood commercial development
Ms. Susan Mineta, Sr. Vice- President, Forward Planning for Republic Urban will be presenting an update on a proposed 13 acre neighborhood commercial development along San Felipe near Yerba Buena in partnership with San Jose Evergreen Community College District. She will be discussing the current zoning change request and the proposed commercial uses including Senior Assisted Living and Medical offices. The college hopes to use the ongoing revenue generated from this project to fund student Programs like San Jose Promise that helps make college more accessible and affordable for deserving students by paying tuition, books and other expenses during their first two years of college. The presentation will be followed by audience Q&A.
Clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education are basic necessities for a healthy environment and a productive life.
When people have access to clean water and sanitation, waterborne diseases decrease, children stay healthier and attend school more regularly, and mothers can spend less time carrying water and more time helping their families.
HOW ROTARY MAKES HELP HAPPEN
Through water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs, Rotary’s people of action mobilize resources, form partnerships, and invest in infrastructure and training that yield long-term change.
Rotary's goal of worldwide peace and tolerance has been an unwavering pursuit: conducting global forums, hosting international peace symposiums, advancing peace through its 60-year collaboration with the UN, as well as grassroots initiatives such as the Rotarian Action Group for Peace.
But Rotary's most significant effort to wage peace is the Rotary Peace Centers program, established in 2002. Each year, the program trains some of the world's most dedicated and brightest professionals, preparing them to promote national and international cooperation and to resolve conflict. They include graduates of a two-year master's degree program and a three-month professional certificate program at Rotary's partner universities.
Today, more than 900 peace fellows are applying their expertise in various fields. They're settling border conflicts in West Africa, developing aid programs at the World Bank, drafting legislation to protect exploited children in Brazil, providing security for U.S. diplomats, and many other career paths devoted to peace.
23 February — Rotary's anniversary
Rotary's 108th anniversary on 23 February marks a year of both achievements in the fight to eradicate polio and a stepped-up commitment to finish the job.
Worldwide, 222 polio cases were reported in 2012, a little more than one-third of the 650 cases reported in 2011. India marked its second year without polio on 13 January. Overall, the annual incidence of polio has decreased more than 99 percent since the Global Polio Eradication Initiative was launched in 1988. Then polio infected about 350,000 children per year.
Although the wild poliovirus is now endemic only in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria, it could spread from there back to other countries.
Among Rotary's chief responsibilities in the eradication initiative is advocacy, an increasingly important element of this latter stage of the effort. In addition to contributing more than US$1 billion to the GPEI, Rotary has helped secure over $9 billion from donor governments since the initiative began in 1988. Rotary is boosting its advocacy work in the 200 countries and regions where Rotary clubs exist to encourage every national government to help meet a $700 million shortfall (as of 1 February) in funding the GPEI through 2013.
We had fun, fellowship and stimulating conversations during our inaugural "Last Thursday" Evening MeetUp
Club members were joined by visiting Rotarian PP Bijoya Mishra of the RC of Bhubaneswas, Orissa, India. She is in San Jose for about 6 months staying with her daughter who also joined our MeetUp. We learned that her club is for women only (men are allowed to visit); their current membership is about 45. Dr. Mishra, retired from a career as a professor of chemistry, has turned her energy to chairing her club's Literacy Committee. It was because we had an evening meeting that she was able to join us however she hopes to visit a lunch meeting in the near future.
Last Thursday Monthly Meetups - Informal, No Host Social
evenings - bring in members who can't attend at lunch time
support local businesses by meeting at a different restaurant each month
be more visible in the community
social time with fellow Rotarians
chat about our club projects with newcomers/visitors at the Meetup
potential for new members
MeetUp Events are available at https://www.meetup.com/Rotary-Club-of-San-Jose-East-Evergreen/
2019-20 Rotary International President Mark Daniel Maloney is urging leaders to grow Rotary by creating new Rotary and Rotaract clubs that take advantage of innovative membership models.
In his speech to incoming leaders at the annual training event in San Diego, California, USA, Monday, Maloney said “The first emphasis is to grow Rotary — to grow our service, to grow the impact of our projects, but most importantly, to grow our membership so that we can achieve more."
During the 2016 Council on Legislation, delegates voted to give Rotary clubs more freedom to decide when, where, and how they meet and the types of membership they offer. Clubs that have taken advantage of the new club flexibility options have reported increased membership; greater diversity in age, professions, and experience; and more engaged members.
At its January 14, 2019 meeting, the club board voted to move our Thursday lunch meeting back to the restaurant at The Ranch Golf Club, 4601 Hill Top View Ln, San Jose, CA 95138. We started on Thursday, January 17, 2019 and ordered from the menu rather than pay for a more expensive buffet. Staff were welcoming and the view remains terrific!
Now that the golf course has closed, we hope that the restaurant won't be as noisy as it had been on the occasions when we were moved out of the private room due to a conflict.
We're not going back to the private room because there's a hefty surcharge which, in 2018, cost us $4000+ more than the funds we collected for lunches. An exception will be the Speech Contest on February 7.
On January 11, a new safety crosswalk was dedicated on Marten Avenue near Mt. Pleasant High School in East San Jose. Representing the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen, Ravi Pathak, had photo ops with San Jose Council Member Magdalena Carrasco and Erika Salazar from Assembly member Ash Kalra's office -- being a Rotary presence and reinforcing the continuing support of our club in the community.
From the Mt. Pleasant High School staff in attendance, Ravi heard many positive comments about our Robotic Car project spearheaded by club member Harbinder Sikka.
The team there is working enthusiastically on the project.
Boot Camp schedule • Rotary Overview • Red Cross Overview o Sound the Alarm – free smoke alarm installation and fire safety education and preparedness o Missing Maps–a collaborative project to map areas using satellite imagery to help humanitarian organizations meet the needs of vulnerable people around the world o Blood Drives o Hands-only CPR • Tour a new Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) • Volunteering during a disaster (shelters, response, etc)
Vocational service can be hard to define, but it is easy to describe: It is simply the point where our Rotary lives and our professional lives intersect. When we put our Rotary ideals to work through our work, that is vocational service.
Rotary Foundation receives highest rating from Charity Navigator for 11th year
By Rotary International
For the 11th consecutive year, The Rotary Foundation has received the highest rating — four stars — from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities in the U.S.
The Foundation earned the recognition for demonstrating both strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.
“We are extremely honored to be recognized,” says Foundation Trustee Chair Ron Burton. “It represents the hard work and dedication of countless Rotarians throughout the world. They know their gifts will be used for the purpose for which they were given and that they will, indeed, make a real difference.”
The rating reflects Charity Navigator's assessment of how the Foundation uses donations, sustains its programs and services, and practices good governance and openness.
Instead of a lunch meeting at The Drying Shed on Nov 29, we're gathering at the Otto home to prepare all auction items for the Dec 8 Crab Feed. Bring a bag lunch or a dish to share - whatever works for you.
BUT bring auction items!!! If you are not able to come that day, please contact Marisa to arrange a drop-off day/time before the 29th.
We also need you to bring ticket money and any unsold tickets that day as well. If you haven't bought your ticket(s) yet please contact me ASAP.
The success of the Crab Feed Fundraiser in the hands of all of us!
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
During the past 100 years, the Foundation has spent $3 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects.
With your help, we can make lives better in your community and around the world.
Our mission
The mission of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.
Why should I donate to The Rotary Foundation?
Your donation makes a difference to those who need our help most. More than 90 percent of donations go directly to supporting our service projects around the world.
How does The Rotary Foundation use donations?
Our 35,000 clubs carry out sustainable service projects that support our six causes. With donations like yours, we’ve wiped out 99.9 percent of all polio cases. Your donation also trains future peacemakers, supports clean water, and strengthens local economies.
What impact can one donation have?
It can save a life. A child can be protected from polio with as little as 60 cents. Our partners make your donation go even further. For every $1 Rotary commits to polio eradication, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has committed $2.
The talk will cover the current state of assessing cognitive health in aging patients, including the assessment (and re-assessment) cycle, diagnoses, and planning for long-term care.
The shortcomings of the current process for patients, their families, and the healthcare system will be discussed along with a commentary on some barriers to slowing/curing/reversing Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia.
Digital cognitive monitoring will then be discussed along with its benefits to aging adults as individuals and as a population.
At an emergency meeting of the board of directors on September 27, 2018, it was agreed to leave The Ranch Golf Club, which was charging $502.50/week and causing the club's finances to go "in the red" about $1200/month. The decision was difficult for many as the site had great views and a pleasant private room. Several attempts at renegotiating for a lower cost met with inflexibility.
After researching several alternatives, it was decided to relocate to The Drying Shed Restaurant where Director of Catering, Edward Ramsey welcomed us "back." Our club had met there years ago.
We will order off the lunch menu and the total bill will be paid by our Treasurer. We will keep the cost of lunches at $20 for the time being until we see if that amount covers lunches as well as tax and tip.
For our Oct. 11 meeting we will not engage a guest speaker. This meeting will be to acquaint ourselves with the location and get used to ordering from the menu. Mr. Ramsey has requested that I give him an estimate of how many of us to expect the day before, so I'll be asking for an email response from all those planning to attend.
At this week's meeting, September 27, the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen welcomes District Governor Tim Lundell. We're looking forward to a great year with his leadership to inspire all of us to reach our fullest potential as Rotarians.
From DG Tim's welcome letter
Our Rotary International President Barry Rassin commands all District Governors to “Be the Inspiration”, to inspire their Club Presidents to want to grow, to want to do more, to want to reach the potential in each of us. I have, in turn, asked all of your Club Presidents to do the same thing, to inspire that same desire in each Rotarian. President Barry quoted from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who said “If you want to build a boat, don’t begin by collecting wood, cutting boards, or assigning tasks. Begin by awakening in the souls of your workers a longing for the vast and boundless sea.” I dearly hope that each of you will join me in satisfying our longing that the world is better next June 30th than it was today.
Our year ahead will have new opportunities for learning, leadership training, fellowship and celebration, including our Zone Membership Seminar (August 25th), the Avenues of Service Event (October 4th), the Celebration dinner for our own Richard D. King’s 50th Anniversary in Rotary (November 2nd), the Rotary International President’s Dinner (January 3rd), the District Training Assembly (April 6th), our 2019 District Conference at the USS Hornet Museum (May 17-19th), and the Rotary International Convention in Hamburg, Germany (June 1-5 th). Details on all of these will follow, and, of course, many other events and opportunities will occur throughout the year. I am tremendously excited about the opportunity to visit each of our 54 outstanding Rotary Clubs, and meeting each of you personally. Let’s all do our best to “Be the Inspiration” for each other, and to spread that enthusiasm throughout our communities.
Kudos to Ruth Ashford for spearheading our club's participation in the RC of San Jose Silicon Valley's Charity Auction and to the Rotarians who pitched in enthusiastically with auction items donated and tickets purchased/sold.
The "Can Do" energy in the club is exciting!
Greg and I are looking forward to seeing you at the event on Sep 29!
And we're looking forward to our second fundraiser already planned for a Dec 8, 2018 Crab Feed - San Jose East/Evergreen style!
Jennifer Cullenbine - CEO and Founder of Family Giving Tree
As her response to an MBA program to create a program that adds value to another person's life, Jennifer started Family Giving Tree in 1990. We learned that the program celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2015 and in 2017 the gifts given had grown from 2000 in 1990 to 80,000 gifts, 40,000+ backpacks. A record 682 agencies were served. Amazing statistics but more touching was the story of boy in that first year who asked for two pillows only. No toy?, he was asked. No. No toy. When asked why not, it was learned that two family members were sleeping on the floor.
Jennifer, a Rotarian and a Past President also shared a tip that President Sara picked up on immediately: "Minute to Win It" --- a great way to add fun to our meetings.
Our August 16 program featured Tuyen Fiack, Executive Director of Silicon Valley FACES.
SV FACES is dedicated to creating and promoting an empathetic and inclusive community free of bias, bigotry and violence through our programs and advocacy. She showed this inspiring video of just one of the programs they provide:
Charlie Wasser was honored by President John Goldstein for his service as Club President 2016-17, 2017-18 with a few barbs about Charlie's hair style and kind remarks about his leadership in increasing club membership during his tenure as President.
Now serving as Immediate Past President, Charlie has also expanded his Rotary service as District Club Extension and Development Chair, Rotary District 5170.
(San Jose, Calif.) — Following a months-long, nation-wide search, Keith Aytch has been named president of Evergreen Valley College (EVC). Aytch, who has served as interim president at EVC since July 2017 and vice president of academic affairs at the College since 2011, was approved by a unanimous vote of the San José – Evergreen Community College District (SJECCD) board of trustees during its April 24 meeting.
At the July 12, 2018 club meeting, President John presented the Rotarian of the Year to a member who has served and continues to serve the club in numerous ways including: Past President, Secretary for several years, assistant to the Treasurer, website and newsletter management, and Interact adviser.
July 1 begins a new Rotary Year with the theme: “Be The Inspiration”.
Lets be the Inspiration to each other and the East San Jose / Evergreen community this coming year!
Our Leadership Team is energized to guide in this direction. We are a growing Club so we shall see lots of efforts to be Rotarian in new and varying ways. Can we grow to 40 members and beyond? Shall we all find ways to support East San Jose and build a better community? Shall we join together to support the Rotary Foundation?
July 1 begins a new Rotary Year with the theme: “Be The Inspiration”.
Lets be the Inspiration to each other and the East San Jose / Evergreen community this coming year!
Our Leadership Team is energized to guide in this direction. We are a growing Club so we shall see lots of efforts to be Rotarian in new and varying ways. Can we grow to 40 members and beyond? Shall we all find ways to support East San Jose and build a better community? Shall we join together to support the Rotary Foundation?
Carlos Cruz has volunteered to head the ROTARY FOUNDATION Support efforts and to lead us in activities so we get to know each other better, build constructive business behaviors and enjoy more of what we do best! He will be resourcing “The Energy Bus” book for ideas and perspectives. These activities will form part of our Assembly gatherings.
Sara Calkins is heading up the Communications and Website projects. We owe her tons of thanks for all her contributions and activities that have supported and continue to support the wellbeing of the Club and our community outreach. Suguna is on a long term stay in India and could not continue her activities with the Club. However, she will remain as a member.
Ravi Pathak volunteered to be the Youth Protection Officer. His task is to encourage and ensure that everyone completes their Youth Protection Training and gets the ‘Live Scan’ too!
I look forward to seeing you all in our next meeting on Thursday July 12, 2018 at 12.15pm. We shall be back at the San Jose Country Club on Alum Rock Road at least for this week.
Rotary Fellowships are international groups that share a common passion. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, and enhance your Rotary experience.
How do I join a fellowship?
Fellowships are open to Rotarians, family members, and program participants and alumni. You can contact a fellowship directly by using the links below.
Historical Background Rotary Fellowships began informally in 1928 when Rotarians with a shared interest in the language Esperanto joined together. In 1947, a group of Rotarian boating enthusiasts began flying the Rotary flag from their crafts, calling themselves the International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians; this fellowship now boasts the longest continuous existence. The scope of Rotary Fellowships has changed much over the years, but today their purpose is still to unite Rotarians in friendship and provide venues for enjoying their favorite recreational or professional activities.
*"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper, you are misinformed."*-Mark Twain
*"I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle."*~Winston Churchill
*"A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul."*~George Bernard Shaw
*"Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries."*~ Douglas Casey, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University
*"Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys."*~P.J. O'Rourke, Civil Libertarian
*"Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!"* ~Pericles (430 B.C.)
*"No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session."*~Mark Twain (1866)
*"The government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other."*~ Ronald Reagan
*"The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin."*~Mark Twain
At the May 10 meeting of the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen, we will have a special program speaker, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo. He will discuss issues facing San Jose. While this will be a regular club meeting, San Jose East/Evergreen likes to open meetings to the public that have a wide public interest as a public service. Please plan on attending. Since we will have a larger audience than normal, please let me know if you wish to attend so we can have enough lunches available. The cost for lunch is $20.
We normally have our speaker start at 1:00 pm, but the Mayor will have a tight schedule that day and has asked to speak at 12:30 pm. The meeting will start at 12:15 pm so we will be ready for Mayor Liccardo.
The induction of new members is a special opportunity to welcome people into your club. This is a memorable experience and in this ceremony the president lets the new membesr know that they are valued and appreciated.
The Mayor of San Jose, the President of San Jose State University, a serial entrepreneur and inventor of LeapFrog, an internationally recognized Peace Scholar, a Past Rotary International President, our Rotary District Governor, and you.
Seize this once-in-a-year opportunity to share in the inspiration alongside local movers and shakers of the Silicon Valley by registering for this year’s Rotary District 5170 Conference happening on Saturday, June 2, 2018, at the state-of-the-art Student Union Building of San Jose State University. Our Rotary District Governor Orrin Mahoney has a personal invitation waiting for you to be part of the celebration. Are you ready to accept?
As #India remains #poliofree for seven years, a tribute to a surgeon who has for 28 years fought the good fight for his patients, including some of the poorest in the country.
As India remains polio-free for seven years, a tribute to a surgeon who has for 28 years fought the good fight for his patients, including some of the poorest in the country.
Rotary San Jose East/Evergreen Rotary Club's Exchange Student
Emma is the Rotary Exchange Student the Club sponsors 2017-2018. She is from Italy. You will be impressed by her command of English and other languages she speaks and the insights she is able to share about our multicultural world.
Bio: Lead Founder and proposed Executive Director of Perseverance Preparatory School, Ms. LeeNatali began working with high school students at Downtown College Preparatory School on the Alameda, then joined Teach For America and taught at Cornerstone Academy Preparatory School (“Cornerstone”) in the Franklin-McKinley School District. Cornerstone, a 2014 California Distinguished School located within the boundaries of San Jose, was also founded by a Fellow with Building Excellent Schools. At Cornerstone, Ms. LeeNatali taught 2nd, 5th, and 6th grades, piloted a leadership curriculum based on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, served on the school’s Hiring Committee, and contributed as Master Teacher for the pilot Teacher Residency Program. Bringing a deep commitment to the students and families of San Jose and a regional as well as national network of training and support from Building Excellent Schools, Ms. LeeNatali earned a BA in Law and Social Justice, as well as a BS in Psychology, and Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials from Loyola Marymount University.
Description: Ms LeeNatali will discuss Perseverance Preparatory School, a 5th-8th grade school for the underserved students of San Jose. Perseverance Prep educates students through rigorous academics, targeted instruction, and service learning for a life of ethical leadership and scholarly success.
Many thanks to the 7 of our 32 club members who have contributed - where are the rest? Bring your check payable to TRF (memo Polio Plus) to the next meeting or mail it to TRF Chair Sara Calkins now and have your donation doubled by the Gates Foundation. Why? - read the message below. Deadline is 4/23 so I have time to process your donation.
This message is being sent on behalf of PDG Dwight Perry, PolioPlus Chair
Week 6
April 10, 2018
We're this close - 99.9%!
What is Polio...?
Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a crippling and potentially deadly infectious disease especially of young children. It is caused by the poliovirus. Poliovirus is usually spread from person to person through infected fecal matter entering the mouth. It may also spread by food or water containing human feces and less commonly from infected saliva.
The disease is preventable with the polio vaccine.
● Through Rotary International and the PolioPlus program (along with their partner's) polio will be eradicated worldwide soon.
● As of April 1, 2018 there have been only seven known cases of polio in the world.
● Let's hit a homerun in District 5170 with every Rotarian contributing at least $50 towards the "Flash Campaign" so that all the children in the world can stand tall and walk with their heads held high.
Nearly 6 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation. We expand access to quality care, so mothers and their children can live and grow stronger.
• WHY - Because "We Are This Close" to ending the dreaded disease of polio. With your support children around the world will be able to walk and play as healthy individuals.
• WHERE - Rotary District 5170
• WHAT - Each Rotarian in our district is being asked to donate $50.00. All funds will be matched 2 to 1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Deliver checks (payable to The Rotary Foundation, Memo Polio Plus) to your Club TRF Chair, Sara Calkins no later than at the April 26 meeting or mail to Sara today at the address below or to the District Office.
• SOMETHING EXTRA - For those who have not yet contributed a total of $1,000 to become a Paul Harris Fellow, our district will match any contribution you make with recognition points to help you achieve that recognition level.
Your $50 turns into a $150 donation to PolioPlus! Join the team and let's get it done!
Rotarian Richard Dorsay and his wife Dorothy received a heart-felt letter from the District 9210 Asst. Governor, Hudson Mtomba. In it he thanks them and the members of the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen for "all your efforts over the years...without your assistance, many of these students would be unable to continue with their education."
This is a great opportunity all around - your gift to The Rotary Foundation - Polio Plus campaign:
adds to your annual giving toward a Paul Harris Fellowship
gets matched in dollars from the Gates Foundation 2 for 1
receives matching points from District 5170 towards your first Paul Harris Fellowship
Mail your check payable to The Rotary Foundation - (memo Polio Plus) mail/deliver to your TRF chair, Sara Calkins today or bring it to a meeting before the April 30 deadline.
In spite of being diagnosed with ALS at the young age of 21, he took life as a challenge and soared to great heights, and lived on to be 76 years! How incredible is that? Makes us wonder why we crib and quarrel at silly things!
I would like to give an update from the Vocational Services desk of the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen. We had a successful crab feed and the club has allocated $4040 to the Vocational Service towards our AI/Robotics project. With that our present total for this AI/Robotics project has now increased to $6000.
Our club endowment president Mr. Robbie Izat has also announced the availability of $38000 for the year 2018 from the club endowment funds towards club projects. The deadline for the application from the club members has been extended to April 30th, 2018. There is a limit of $11,000 per project. We hope that our Vocational Service project will be able to get the funding from the club endowment board making the total amount raised to be $17,000.
Since there is a delay in obtaining these funds so I would like to request high school AI/Robotics clubs to recruit more Juniors so that we can hold the competition in the fall. Since now all the funds are coming from our own club so there are some changes to the rules regarding the equipment.
1. The equipment now will remain the property of the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen.
2. Rotary SJE/E will monitor the progress of the clubs to ensure that the provided equipment is used properly otherwise we have the right to reclaim the equipment.
3. Rotary SJE/E may use the equipment for different summer clubs at the same high school or different high schools in ESUHSD.
4. Club advisors will be required to provide a monthly update on the progress to the Rotary SJE/E vocational chair.
Treasurer Marianne has posted a file detailing income/expenditures of our recent Crab Feed. To access it, log on to our website - in the My Clubrunner section, click on View Club Documents. The file is in the Club Finance - Budgets and Reports section.
This coming Thursday, we will hold a drawing at the end of the meeting for one of the remaining bottles of wine from the Crab Feed.
Drawing tickets are $1 each. Those members paying $20 for lunch will get one free ticket -- buy more tickets to increase your chances of winning. Those paying $10 and non-paying guests are encouraged to participate too @ $1 per ticket.
Curious about what kind of work you might expect to find as a Rotary Peace Fellowship graduate?
Our over 1100 #RotaryPeace Fellow alumni are working in over 100 countries in a variety of capacities from leaders of grass-roots organizations to high-level positions with national governments.
RI President-elect Barry Rassin’s theme for 2018-19, Be the Inspiration, asks Rotarians to inspire change in the world and in each other. “I ask all of you to Be the Inspiration to help Rotary move from reaction to action — to take a hard look at the environmental issues that affect health and welfare around the world and do what we can to help.”
Our very own Rotarians Keith and Laura, both from the field of education, enlightened us with the workings of Evergreen Valley College and the K-12 Public Education Finance.
The Rotary Foundation has various focus areas like promoting peace, fighting disease, education etc. all of which are possible with the support of dedicated Rotarians! Rotarian Nick is one such, and is being recognized for his generous contribution to the Foundation over the years!
REMEMBER Unlimited crab.........Please let your friends know. This is a major fund raiser to raise money for East San Jose residents that may need assistance now.
In a disarming interview, the former U.S. president weighs in on the battle plan for peace, the challenges to free elections at home and abroad, and the lessons of a life of service.
Description: Chief Business Officer Laura Phan will give an overview of California public education finance, including the impact of the new Local Control Funding Formula and fiscal challenges for local school districts.
Laura Phan is the Assistant Superintendent, Business Services Division of Oak Grove School District. Prior to the current position, she served in the same capacity at San Mateo-Foster City School District, Alum Rock Union School District, and Mount Pleasant School District. She has more than 15 years of experience in school business management. In addition, Laura is a California Certified Public Accountant with diverse experience in auditing and consulting, and a former owner/operator of two different businesses.
In addition to participating in various school business associations, Laura is a founding member of the Vietnamese American Professional Women Association of Silicon Valley (VAPW), and an active participant in various charity organizations. Every year, Laura works with her charity groups to plan and execute large fundraising events. Laura has a special interest in promoting and supporting the advancement of disadvantaged women and children.
Our Past District Governor Jeff Orth gave us pointers on Finance and Estate Planning, and our speakers from the City of San Jose gave us a very informative session about Vision San Jose that has been working successfully to bring down road accidents and deaths by improving road and traffic conditions through technology and innovation.
Our next big club wide project is the crab feed fund raiser. President Elect John as Club Service Chair and I are putting it together for now. (HINT HINT!!!). Things will be a bit different this year. Most obvious change is that it is being held at the Mayfair Community Center. Since we serve the East Side of San Jose it seemed more appropriate to hold it on the East Side not to mention the capacity is for 225 people.
The food will of course be unlimited crab, salad, bread/rolls, either a pasta or potato salad and dessert. We would need to pay the Mayfair to cook for us – we are not allowed to cook there. There will be a no host bar.
In addition to the funds raised by the event tickets, we will have a live auction, a silent auction, and pastry sales. To have the live auction, we need to have at least 4 items worth at least $1000. The silent auction will use the bidding on the item technique. There will be a sheet for each item where participants will be able to write a bid beating the previous bid. Silent auction items will be any item less than $1000 in value. The pastry sales will be individual slices of whatever type of pie, cake, and baked goods that gets donated. The goal for the crab feed is to net $13,000. The ticket sales should net $8,000. We will need to net $5000 from the auctions and pastry sales to hit the goal.
Right now we have 33 members in the club. If this were San Jose Silicon Valley Rotary we would be asking that each of you bring in $1000 worth of auction items, pastry and ticket sales. They net over $20,000 last year and they bemoan the fact that the net is much lower than it has been. SJEE net $6000 last year. No, we are not setting a $1000 of combined value brought in by San Jose East/Evergreen Rotarians. However, think about what would be accomplished in the communities we serve if we each committed to bring in at a minimum $1000 of value from auction donations, ticket sales, and pastry.
Seriously, local business people are willing to participate when you ask them to donate auction items and/or buy tickets. We will be considering sponsorship opportunities for businesses and community leaders. As I mentioned, we are getting known and people will be willing to assist if asked. At some of the Facebook pages (at least 5 pages) on which I posted for the crab feed, people shared the post on their timeline.
If you sell tickets, you can offer to hand deliver them to your buyers to save the online ticket service charge. Otherwise direct them to EVENTBRITE at the following URL:
Please get in touch with PE John or myself and tell us what part you want to take the lead or participate to GET IT DONE!!!!!
The attached flyer is done using WORD. You can easily use WORD to customize the contact information which is listed as me and should be changed to you. Those of you that use Facebook should post an event about the crab feed. That will give us a much wider distribution than just the pages I posted.
The Ranch Golf Club has informed us that they would be charging us an additional $500 a week for the use of the location starting January. Quite the raise from $175 a week. We opted to find another location. Evergreen Valley College (EVC) President Keith Aytch, and member of the San Jose East/Evergreen Rotary (SJEE) has been kind enough to find us a location on the EVC campus for the month of January.
The attached is a map of the campus. We will be meeting in the Gullo Student Center in the conference room next to the cafeteria. The cafeteria is indicated by "4" on the map. Once on campus, follow the signs to Parking Lot 7, park there, and follow signs to Gullo not Gullo II. The campus is located at:
" I had a great evening at the club’s Christmas Party. We had 65 attendees including a San Jose City Council Member and her Chief of Staff, which obviously shows the reach into the East Side and Evergreen communities the club is starting to have. At the party, there were 5 people that mentioned they would like to visit the club and perhaps join. They liked the camaraderie in the room, the active outreach into the community and the current and potential community projects." - President Charlie
" I want to thank everyone who helped with Friday night’s Christmas Party. We ended up with about 95 present including the guest musicians and their parents. We had 73 reservations with 65 showing up and three sick and unable to make it. Not a bad attendance record!
It was wonderful to see such a mix of the Evergreen East San Jose community. Several persons expressed interest in joining the Club and I know all were impressed with the reach of the Club into all echelons of the community. Yes. Our program showed that we take the meaning of community seriously as we brought together a cross section of all ages and drew musical richness from the Diwali, Chanukah and Christmas traditions: All forms of festivals of light.
It was also a pleasure to have our International Exchange student speak about Christmas traditions in her home town in Italy. An impeccable English presentation given with such confidence and clarity. You wouldn’t know that she is still learning English!
Thanks to all who helped make the event such a success. Thank you to Rajjot Indian Restaurant for the sumptuous food, Exclusive Events Decor for the stage backdrop, Lynn Kim and other Musicians from Grace Church, the Joyful Musicians, Santa Claus whose memorable line was “Ho! Ho! Ho!” He seemed to be able to answer every question with that refrain!. And thank you to all the Rotary Club members who chipped in to help from the planning, setup, breakdown, music, drinks, gifts, decorations and most of all the good cheer.. .The night was a sign of a bright and happy future.
Too bad Scrooge and Marley didn't have the Rotary 4-Way Test!
"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. "Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"
-Charles Dickens, novelist (1812-1870) [in A Christmas Carol, published on this date in 1843]
What a theme for a month we associate with Christmas, Hanukah and many other religious and cultural celebrations. This is a time when we usually look at sharing our good fortune with others, not to mention sharing all that good cheer.
But Disease? We do not have to look far beyond our celebrations to see the need in our own communities and beyond. Often we are bombarded with television commercials showing the need for help during the festive season. For those of us in Rotary it is a time to reflect on our good fortune and as clubs, look to how we can gift the world with better health.
So many of our projects relate directly or indirectly to health: water and sanitation, providing proper cooking facilities, funding equipment for clinics, providing educational materials on nutrition, reducing poverty, and the list goes on. There are many projects looking to improve health and prevent disease on the Rotary Showcase. You may wish to consider one of these projects when your club looks for its next project.
Area of Focus : Disease Prevention and Treatment Month.
This month includes :
World AIDS Day on the 1st and International Day of Disabled Persons on the 3rd of December.
Organise Medical Camp - Health Awareness for Eye Care / Dental Care Providing equipment such as Artificial Limbs, Wheel Chairs and Calipers to the Physically Challenged Peoples i.e. Polio Sufferers
Provide low-Income, uninsured or under-insured persons with the knowledge , skills, an opportunities to improve their diet, physical activity and other life habits to prevent, delay, or control, chronic diseases
Initiate Actions to Prevent and control Diabetes, Heart Diseases, Obesity and Associated Risk Factors.
Speaking about the holidays, the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen will be holding our Christmas party in a larger venue this year at the Grace Church. We are doing this to make it more of a community event to share with our neighbors. If you have not yet been to a Rotary club meeting or assisted us on a community project, please plan on coming to the party. You will have the chance to meet and mingle with the members of the Rotary club and your neighbors from around the Bay Area. This will give you a marvelous overview of why so many of us have a real deep seated passion for Rotary. You will enjoy yourself.
The meal will be buffet style including 3 appetizers, entree, and a dessert. It is catered by Rajjot Indian Cuisine of Evergreen. Rajjot is in the holiday spirit and has been kind enough in their pricing so that we only have to charge $15.00 per person. Pastor John Goldstein of Grace Church has worked with us to keep costs down to use the church’s banquet hall. Pastor John is also the President Elect of the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen and is the idea man that developed this event. We look forward to working with him when he takes over as President July 1, 2018 – especially since he will continue to use his passion for Rotary to develop innovative programs like this party and effective community projects.
The URL will take you to EVENTBRITE to purchase your tickets. If you are not comfortable purchasing tickets online, get in touch and club members will assist you.
Having a lot of fun shopping for Christmas gifts for the children of Sunday Friends; and packing Turkey bags for Thanksgiving for single moms completing school at East Side Union School District.....
Counting on all our Club Rotarians to participate in one or more of the following events:
1. Sunday Friends- November 17th. One time shopping at Target -$10- $20 for shopping at Hillsdale Target Store in San Jose.
The following people have signed up for this event:
7-8:30pm- Suguna, Lupe, Charlie
7:30-9pm- Pastor John, Arpita
Sunday Friends- November 19th Meadows Elementary School
*Shift 1: 11am-2pm and/or Shift 2 12:30pm-4pm
We still need signups for this
If you want to participate in this event please reply with your interest.
Foothill High School Thanksgiving Event. Tuesday, November 21, 2017 meet at the Safeway Store at 9:30 AM located at 1530 Hamilton Ave,San Jose,CA95125 to purchase / load basket items and then take them to Foothill High School to be sorted and given out to the families. In the past usually three (3) or (4) Rotarians meet at Safeway.
Participants for Safeway store shopping: Robbie, Ruth, Arpita
Other Rotarians meet at Foothill High School [230 Pala Avenue, San Jose, CA95127] at 10:30 AM to make the individual baskets. The moms get out of school at 12:15 PM and come to the Family Learning Center with their child and get their "basket." We meet the families and usually say something about the need to stay in school and get an education.
Participants to meet at Foothill High 10:30am: Joy, Sara, Lupe, and Suguna
Christmas Tree Give away Dec 8th– Vice Mayor Carrasco’s Event- details to come
City of San Jose Seven Tree’s Community Center- Breakfast with SantaSat. December 9th 2017 9am-12pm
We need about 6-10 volunteers overall to help with a number of tasks:
-cooking breakfast, serving, then clean-up (8am-12pm)
In 2006, San Jose resident (BS in Aviation San Jose State) Antonio Verges was first identified and recommended by the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen, and subsequently selected as one of four non-Rotarian young professionals to represent Rotary District 5170 in a month-long cultural and vocational program of The Rotary Foundation called Group Study Exchange. As a senior assistant aviation analyst at NASA AMES and a multi-engine rated pilot and certified flight instructor, the then 26-year old Antonio already possessed some of the training and skills required to catapult him into his dream profession of a commercial airline pilot. GSE was that transformative experience that led Antonio to reach for the stars.
As you can see, today Antonio is a pilot with American Airlines. The first photo shows Antonio and his son Maximillan in the cockpit of one of the planes Antonio flies. The second photo shows Antonio, Max, Antonio's parents, and several crew members.
GSE instilled within Antonio Rotary's motto of "Service Above Self" which he practices by giving vocational talks to students in schools on Chicago's Southside.
Our Dear Rotarian Richard and Spouse Dorothy - Service above Self!
Provided the top of the line water filter for one school that will provide clean water for the school and a part of the village. In another government school which was even more poor we bought and distributed new sweaters, paper note books, pens and some pants to all 20 students present today. We bought some soap and colored pencils for the school. There were two women who cooked the food for the children’s lunch. We provided them with sweaters for the winter and a ceiling fan for the times that they got too hot when preparing the food. The water filter and it’s installation has been paid for. The filter is in the school and it will be installed in the next few days. The president of the Pragpur Rotary Club helped us and will ensure the installation.
All of these gifts were needed and the recipients were unable to afford them.
Dorothy and I are privileged to carry out the work of Rotary.
DG Orin Mahoney's Club Visit - He enlightened us with the scope and the scale of the 54 clubs in the district and its work; and........get ready for our district conference just where it ought to be - right in the heart of San Jose Downtown - San Jose State University!
Our Visiting Rotarian from Scotland exchanging Rotary flags with President Charlie!
Like to attract birds into your yard? Thanks to an interesting and very informative discussion by Kelsey from the Santa Clara Audubon Society &Camille, Executive Director of Somos Mayfair; talks about how they have been engaging local residents in the Mayfair neighborhood and how we can get involved.
Our regular club meet turns into a halloween bash! Thanks Arpita for capturing all the fine moments!
Presentation from the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
Bio: Kelsey is the Education Programs Coordinator for the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society and teaches elementary school students about birds and the importance of conservation. She graduated from UC Davis with a B.S. in psychology and a minor in wildlife, fish, and conservation biology. Before joining SCVAS, Kelsey taught 4th graders about watersheds and native plants followed by a stint in the conservation corps.
Description of Talk: Kelsey will go over the different birds we have in the area, along with details about their habitats and adaptations. She will discuss how to attract birds into your yard, and general information about nest boxes and feeders!
Camille Llanes-Fontanilla is the Executive Director of Somos Mayfair. She joined the organization in 2010, advancing its nationally recognized leadership development and organizing model. Camille is a skillful bridge-builder, maintaining and expanding relationships with key stakeholders, and securing millions of dollars for the Mayfair community in east San Jose. She has 12 years of experience in nonprofit management, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications and Ethnic Studies from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from San Jose State University.
Rotary Presentation on SOMOS Mayfair SOMOS Mayfair is a grassroots organization with 20 years of experience in authentically engaging community residents in the Mayfair neighborhood of east San Jose to be the drivers of change. In a half hour lunchtime presentation, come and learn more about the work of SOMOS Mayfair; its benefit to the community and how to get involved. For more information visit www.somosmyfair.org
I have only just found this video and have to say that it is such an important documentation of the founding of Rotary. It was clearly pulled together by the Rotary members sometime in the late 1960's or 70's. Well done to those Rotarians who saved this, and well done to those who decided to upload it here. I learned so much about those early days with Paul Harris than anywhere else.
The Boys of 1905 - a history of Rotary International
Our Newest Member Carlos being inducted into the club by our President Charlie and President Elect John. Welcome Aboard Carlos!
Michelle Bernal, President & Founder of Hope for Hans. Her humanitarian work includes working with the homeless in San Jose and travelling the world to leper colonies especially in India, helping them with medical treatments and gain a foothold back into society.
True patriotism springs from a belief in the dignity of the individual, freedom and equality not only for Americans but for all people on earth, universal brotherhood and good will, and a constant and earnest striving toward the principles and ideals on which this country was founded.
Eleanor Roosevelt, diplomat, author, and lecturer (11 Oct 1884-1962)
Just Amazing - Our Club's Philippines Medical Mission October 2017, Headed by Marissa Otto - The number of people she could reach out to!
2 Day Mission Total 3005 Patients treated in the Philippine Medical, Dental, Optical Mission. Couldn’t have done it without partner organizations: MARCH for Christ, Rotary Club of Puerto Princesa, And City of Puerto Princesa. People traveled up to 20 hours to come to the Mission, from other islands.
Very Proud of you Marissa - Hats Off
In Another part of the World - Rotarians Harbinder and Arpita Sikka visit our School in Zimbabwe - The Chamobando School for which Rotarian Richard has been working on diligently, raising funds and supporting the school for the past many years.
Join your fellow District 5170 Rotarians for the 2018 RI Convention in beautiful Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The District is managing a fixed number of rooms at the
Fairmont Royal York via the RI Convention Housing block. Room rate is at $276 USD per night (inclusive of tax) for Single or Double
Occupancy. Hurry! Reservation deadline is on October 1, 2017, Sunday.
For more information and reservations, visit https://events.rotarydistrict5170.org/ non-event-registrations/2018-ri-convention-toronto-hotel-reservation
This week's speaker is Michelle Bernal, President & Founder of Hope for Hans. Her humanitarian work includes woirking with the homeless in San Jose and travelling the world to leper colonies. She works with the residents of the colonies assisting them in building microfinance systems.
October 19, 2017
Camille Llanes-Fontanilla, the Executive Director of Somos Mayfair, will give us an overview of Somos Mayfair. Somos Mayfair is a grassroots organization with 20 years of experience in authentically engaging community residents in the Mayfair neighborhood of east San Jose to be the drivers of change.
October 26, 2017
Susan Sayre Batton, Oshman Executive Director at the San Jose Museum of Art will present. Susan will discuss who they are and what they do.
It is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will have truly defeated age.
This last weekend showed me that the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen is becoming established as an integral part of the East Side of San Jose and Evergreen communities.
On Friday, I attended the Mexican flag raising at the San Jose City Hall. I had received an invitation to attend from Vice Mayor Magdalena Carrasco. She is also the Council Member for District 5 made up of a large portion of the East Side.
Sunday, 5 Rotarians from the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen assisted at the Viva Calle SJ. That of course was the closure of 7.3 miles in San Jose. This allowed for a very long pedestrian and bicycle mall. Some of the San Jose East/Evergreen Rotarians were involved with traffic flow of the bicycles. One was involved with assisting the Pokemon activities related to Viva Calle SJ.
We all had our yellow club shirts on and were easily spotted. Several people came up to me knowing who I was. Passed the ego part of being known, they knew I was involved with San Jose East/Evergreen Rotary and wanted to discuss the club. Some will come to club meetings to check out the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen. I am setting up meetings with a couple of people I met to chat about our club’s activities.
Our robotics competitin idea being developed for use at high schools in the East Side Union High School District, is underway. Want to get involved in a stateof the art techie project that will assist underserved young people? Stop by.
Bottom line, come visit us on Thursdays at the Ranch Golf Club, 4601 Hill Top View Ln, San Jose, CA. We start to gather at noon. The meetings start at 12:15. At 1:00 pm our program speaker begins and ends by 1:30 pm. There is a $20 cost for lunch. If you do not want lunch, there is still a charge of $10.
Welcome Aboard Eddie! Our Rotary Evergreen family grows again with Richard inducting Eddie Oberoi into the club. Congratulations! Eddie lives in the Silver Creek area and is in the Real Estate Business!
India Currents Publisher Vandana Rajvaidya held us captive with her impromptu talk about the magazine and it's impact on the community here in the bay area!
Keith Aytch, Interim President for Evergreen Valley College being inducted as the newest member of our club by our President Elect John Goldstein. Welcome Aboard Keith.
Rotary recognizes Rotarian Ruth Ashford for her contribution to the Rotary Foundation.
Vandana Kumar is a publishing executive with a 30-year track record in the industry and is a founder of India Currents magazine. India Currents is largest Indian American magazine in the United States reaching over 200,000 readers every month through its print and online editions.
Vandana also serves on the Friends of PACT Advisory Board and the Advisory Board of Narika.
Topic for the day: The Role of Ethnic Media
Chris Allen September 21, 2017.
Chris is the Deputy Center Director of the San Jose Job Corps Center. Chris will explain the programs at the Job Corps. I was there once for a lunch. It is an incredible and large facility. The young people that greet you, who are clients of the Job Corps training programs, are wonderfully polite and professional.
Ash Kalra was elected to represent the 27th Assembly District in November 2016 and is the first Indian American elected to the State Legislature. The district encompasses eastern portions of the city of San Jose. A resident of that city for most of his life, Ash previously represented the 2nd District on the San Jose City Council.
During his time serving as a councilmember, he provided a voice on a number of issue areas, including improved schools and transportation options, and a cleaner environment as well as providing the tools for effective public safety.
Notably, he has fought to maintain funding in the face of cuts to public safety, specifically to restore the San Jose Police Department’s burglary unit and the Violent Crimes Enforcement Team.
He has also worked to bring economic incentives to the area and given a strong voice to extend BART into Silicon Valley.
Before serving on the city council, Ash spent 11 years as an attorney in the Santa Clara Public Defender’s Office.
Previously, he taught at San Jose State University and at high schools in Washington DC. During his tenure on the city council, he was a law professor at Lincoln Law School of San Jose.
Among the many non-profit boards that he has served include the Santa Clara County Bar Association, the Asian Law Alliance, Somos Mayfair, and the South Asian Bar Association.
Ash lives in Hayes, the same San Jose neighborhood where he grew up. He is one of the founders of the Hayes Neighborhood Association.
He is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he has a degree in communications and has a law degree from Georgetown University.
“The power of Rotary is in the foundation's ability to pull help from around the world while local clubs provide immediate relief in their own communities,” says Don Mebus of the Rotary Club of Arlington, Texas.
Rotary districts located along the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana are collecting emergency relief funds and providing immediate aid to flood victims.
How to contribute to the Gulf Coast Disaster Relief Donor Advised Fund
By check
Payable to: The Rotary Foundation DAF Memo line: Gulf Coast Disaster Relief Fund #608 Mail to: Rotary DAF, c/o NRS, 12 Gill Street, Suite 2600, Woburn, MA, 01801
One of the most satisfying parts of being President of the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen is watching the growing acceptance of the club in the East Side and Evergreen as well as the growth of membership in the club.
Our yearly key community project is working with San Jose Vice Mayor Magdalena Carrasco and her staff on their National Night Out event. Most events on the first Tuesday of August nationwide are get-togethers within neighborhoods. In the case of the Vice Mayor’s event on August 1, it is held at Emma Prusch Farm in San Jose. We celebrated with 4000 attendees this year. 10 San Jose East/Evergreen Rotarians, 4 Silicon Valley Rotaractors (Rotary’s 18-30 year old group), and 14 Interactors (Rotary’s high school group; in this case from Evergreen Valley High School) cooked hamburgers and hotdogs for over 2000 people. As the event was shutting down, we still had over 30 people on line for the food.
We are in the process of writing a grant through Rotary International to fund and run a robotics competition for the students of East Side Union High School District. Evergreen Valley College has agreed to host the competition on their campus. The grant will allow us to run the competition for 5 years. This will bring technology and the beginnings of technology training to students that might not otherwise get sufficient exposure in high school. It will be an adjunct to programs that already exist at ESUHSD.
We gave out 7 scholarships in the amount of $4000 each to students graduating from ESUHSD. They will be attending two year colleges and the $4000 will cover most of their expenses for the 2 years.
This week, I met with the Executive Director of the East Valley Family YMCA, Lupe Ruvalcaba. We started to discuss possible synergies between our two organizations. We will be looking at how both organizations can work together for the benefit of residents in the area. Lupe will also be our guest speaker on August 31 at our regular club meeting.
The following week, Vandana Kumar, publisher of India Currents will be the speaker. She will discuss the magazine and its reach into the Indian community.
Please plan on joining us for these two meetings or any future meetings. We meet at the Ranch Golf Club at 4601 Hill Top View Ln, San Jose, CA. We all start to arrive at 12:00 noon and the meeting starts at 12:15 pm. The meeting ends promptly at 1:30 pm. There is a $20.00 fee for lunch; $10.00 fee if you do not eat lunch.
Who knows, you may want to consider looking into the club’s activities and great social environment and then join after a couple of club visits.
Ash Kalra was elected to represent the 27th Assembly District in November 2016 and is the first Indian American elected to the State Legislature. The district encompasses eastern portions of the city of San Jose. A resident of that city for most of his life, Ash previously represented the 2nd District on the San Jose City Council.
During his time serving as a councilmember, he provided a voice on a number of issue areas, including improved schools and transportation options, and a cleaner environment as well as providing the tools for effective public safety.
Notably, he has fought to maintain funding in the face of cuts to public safety, specifically to restore the San Jose Police Department’s burglary unit and the Violent Crimes Enforcement Team.
He has also worked to bring economic incentives to the area and given a strong voice to extend BART into Silicon Valley.
Before serving on the city council, Ash spent 11 years as an attorney in the Santa Clara Public Defender’s Office.
Previously, he taught at San Jose State University and at high schools in Washington DC. During his tenure on the city council, he was a law professor at Lincoln Law School of San Jose.
Among the many non-profit boards that he has served include the Santa Clara County Bar Association, the Asian Law Alliance, Somos Mayfair, and the South Asian Bar Association.
Ash lives in Hayes, the same San Jose neighborhood where he grew up. He is one of the founders of the Hayes Neighborhood Association.
He is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he has a degree in communications and has a law degree from Georgetown University.
A very cool perspective about the YMCA and it's various activities from Lupe Ruvalcaba, Executive Director of the East Valley Family YMCA.
Our guest speaker talks about Travel Insurance and gave us some very interesting pointers that we were not aware of!
August 10 the speaker was Dave Cortese, President of the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County. He discussed the state of the county and related major issues involving homelessness and immigration.
Seven Rotarians from Okayama-East Rotary Club in Japan visited our club. It is part of their celebrating 60 years of Sister City with San Jose.
This young man (soon to be high school senior) just returned from a 10 month stay in Japan to address our visiting Rotarians. He was sent as a Rotary Youth Exchange student by our own Rotary District 5170.
This coming Thursday, the meeting at the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen will be one you do not want to miss. There will be an interesting variety of topics that make Rotary meetings the place to be for lunch. It is packed with a greater variety than most Rotary meetings have.
August 10 the speaker is Dave Cortese, President of the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County. He will be discussing the state of the county and related major issues involving homelessness and immigration.
We will have 7 Rotarians from Okayama-East Rotary Club in Japan visiting. It is part of their celebrating 60 years of Sister City with San Jose. They invited me to attend a concert today which included members of the Okayama Junior Orchestra and San Jose Youth Orchestra. Okayama-East Rotarians were one of the sponsors to bring the orchestra from Japan. That is incredible Rotarian spirit.
In addition there will be a young man (soon to be high school senior) who just returned from a 10 month stay in Japan to address our visiting Rotarians. He was sent as a Rotary Youth Exchange student by our own Rotary District 5170.
We will also have an overview of a Rotary grant we are writing to fund a robotics competition in East Side Union High School District schools. The grant will end up between $30,000 and $50,000. The competition will be held on the Evergreen Valley College campus. The competition and the college setting will raise the self-confidence of the students. This will help give students from an economically challenged area of Silicon Valley a chance at leveling the playing field.
From my perspective as a dyed in the wool Rotarian, I am very much looking forward to this meeting.
Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen meets at the Ranch Golf Club, 4601 Hill Top View Ln, San Jose, CA 95138. People start to arrive at 12:00 noon. I will be starting the meeting by 12:15 pm. The speaker begins 1:00 pm. There will be a $20.00 cost for lunch. If you do not wish lunch, the cost is $10.00.
Barry Rassin, of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International for 2018-19. He will be declared the president-elect on 1 September if no challenging candidates have been suggested.
As president, Rassin aims to strengthen our public image and our use of digital tools to maximize Rotary’s reach.
“Those who know what good Rotary clubs do will want to be a part of it, and we must find new models for membership that allow all interested in our mission to participate,” he says. “With Rotary more in the public eye, we will attract more individuals who want to be part of and support a membership organization that accomplishes so much good around the world.”
Rassin earned an MBA in health and hospital administration from the University of Florida and is the first fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives in the Bahamas. He recently retired after 37 years as president of Doctors Hospital Health System, where he continues to serve as an adviser. He is a lifetime member of the American Hospital Association and has served on several boards, including the Quality Council of the Bahamas, Health Education Council, and Employer’s Confederation.
A Rotarian since 1980, Rassin has served Rotary as director and is vice chair of The Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees. He was an RI training leader and the aide to 2015-16 RI President K.R. Ravindran.
Rassin received Rotary's highest honor, the Service Above Self Award, as well as other humanitarian awards for his work leading Rotary’s relief efforts in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake there. He and his wife, Esther, are Major Donors and Benefactors of The Rotary Foundation.
Rassin’s nomination follows Sam F. Owori’s death in July, just two weeks into his term as Rotary International president-elect.
Barry Rassin selected to be 2018-19 Rotary president
Emma Prusch Farm Park is all spruced and waiting for you on Tuesday for national night out. They'll be a ZIP LINE on Tuesday. And there are popsicles, chickens, goats, horses and peacocks throughout the summer..
We must dissent from the fear, the hatred, and the mistrust.
We must dissent from a nation that buried its head in the sand waiting in vain for the needs of its poor, its elderly, and its sick to disappear and just blow away.
We must dissent from a government that has left its young without jobs, education, or hope.
We must dissent from the poverty of vision and timeless absence of moral leadership.
We must dissent, because America can do better, because America has no choice but to do better.
-Thurgood Marshall, US Supreme Court Justice (1908-1993)
Our Guest Speaker Tara Martin-Miliusreceives a ‘thank you’ from the Club for the message and work with clean energy in the Bay area. The District Governor chose to be with us and to commend Charlie for his leadership in the District recruiting new members and to commend the Club for giving 10% of the $110,000 given by the District to the Rotary Foundation this year. He also had the privilege of welcoming our newest member, Vijay. Also our last member for the Rotary year. What a way to end the year.
There are as many reasons to come to Rotary as there are Rotarians – maybe even a few more. But each of us has stayed in Rotary because it adds something to our own lives. Through Rotary, we are Making a Difference in the world; and the more involved we become, the more of a difference Rotary makes to each of us. Rotary challenges us to become better people: to become ambitious in the ways that matter, to strive for higher goals, and to incorporate Service Above Self into our daily lives.
What kind of difference Rotary clubs and individual Rotarians make through their service will always be their own decision. As an organization, we are guided by the three strategic priorities our Board has set in our strategic plan: to support and strengthen our clubs, to focus and increase our humanitarian service, and to enhance Rotary’s public image and awareness.
In the year ahead, our clubs will have the support of a greatly augmented array of online tools, including a refreshed Rotary.org, a simplified Rotary Foundation grant application process, an improved My Rotary experience, and a rebuilt Rotary Club Central. As we look to strengthen our clubs, two specific challenges stand out in our membership: our gender balance and our average age. To keep our clubs strong, we need to build a membership that reflects the communities we serve and that will continue to develop knowledgeable leaders for generations to come.
For many years, one idea has stood at the heart of all our service: sustainability. Sustainable service means our work continues to have a positive impact long after Rotary’s direct involvement has ended. We don’t dig wells and walk away; we make sure communities can maintain and repair those wells. If we build a clinic, we make sure that clinic has a way to keep running without ongoing support from us. And when it comes to polio, we aren’t working to contain it; we’re working to end it.
Eradicating polio is the ultimate in sustainable service. It is an investment that will yield not just a long-lasting but a permanent benefit, on a global scale. It is and must remain our No. 1 priority until the job is done.
For 112 years, Rotary has made a difference to more lives, in more ways, than we can ever count or will ever know. Today, each of us bears a torch, its flame lit by Paul Harris, that has been passed forward from generation to generation, in Rotary: Making a Difference.
The new club Board of Directors will give an overview of what is being planned for the year in their areas. Rotarians and guests will be able to decide in which areas and on what committees they will participate.
Teen Challenge Residential Substance Abuse Rehab Centers
Spencer grew up surrounded by family members that were substance abusers. He was a full-blown addict by age 15. He entered Long Island Teen Challenge in 2010. His parents died from the substance abuse.
He is on the “Tech Team” for the Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force. He has been the Director of South Bay Teen Challenge in San Jose since April of 2014. He manages two residential centers, the Alum Rock Women & Children Center & the Asbury Family Center. He plans to get his ministerial credentials and to open more Teen Challenge discipleship programs and re-entry houses in the Bay Area.
Interact Area 8 (we sponsor YB, Evergreen Valley, and Silver Creek....Area 8 also includes Oak Grove, Andrew Hill, Santa Teresa, and Overfelt) are hosting a prom in an Interact style. The purpose of an interact prom is to give those who could not attend their own prom a chance to go at a reduced price. The prom is a fundraiser for the Interactors and it includes dancing, performances, and food.
They need 3 chaperones from SJEE to volunteer. The event will be on Friday June 23, at Napredak Hall at 770 Montague Expwy, San Jose, CA 95131. Chaperones need to arrive at 6:00 and the event will end at 10:00pm. Chaperones will stay until 10:30pm.
Roast and Toast for Jeff Orth
Don't miss out on the fun! Join us as we celebrate soon-to-be PDG Jeff Orth and welcome soon-to-be DG Orrin Mahoney at the Roast and Toast on June 22, Thursday, 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm at Guglielmo Winery - 1480 E. Main Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037.
This morning I attended a plenary session which was mainly about the status of polio eradication. There have only been 5 cases worldwide since January 1, 2017. The last case of polio was February 20, 2017. With the need for no cases for 3 years to declare the world polio free, the date we need to hope for is February 20, 2020.
Rotary International President John Germ siad that we still need $1.5 billion to finish the eradication of polio worldwide. Within 10 minutes he rattled off donations from world countries that are working as hard as Rotary to eradicate the crippling disease. Then he gave us the grand total of donations (aka at this point pledges). The total RIP Germ gave us brought tears. The donors pledged another $1.2 billion. The Gates Foundation extended their 2 for 1 challenege (for every dollar Rotarians bring in, the Gates Foundation will match with anoither $2.) Where it has been a match upo to $35 million a year until 2018, the match was increased to $50 million and until 2020. View the video to hear from world and business leaders.....
For those of you receiving this email and are not Rotarians, we have been requesting people to donate to the polio eradication effort a minimum of $26.50. The $26.50 represents the first deposit made into what has become The Rotary Foundarion in 1917.
Please think about the incredible thing we are all witnessing......we are on the verge of eradicating the second disease that has effected humans in a horrible way.
I ask as a favor for future generations....your children......your grandchildren....and....please considering donating at $26.50 to eradicate polio before June 30, 2017. That is when the current Rotary year ends and it would be great to end the year with high amount of donations considering how much was pledged today. Get in touch with me if you are not a Rotarian and I will handle the process for you. Rotarians please go online at rotary.org to donate. Satellite club members you can go online also or contact me about your donation.
San Jose East/Evergreen is continuing to become an integral part of the community. We recently took part in the San Jose citywide Great American Litter Pick Up helping to clean the local communities. Our scholarship program brought in over 20 applications from San Jose Eastside Union High School District students.
Our list of upcoming club programs is as impressive as always. We are able to attract top notch speakers and elected officials with interesting topics. While Rotary clubs do not take political stands, we do get officials requesting to speak to Rotarians. Rotarians are looked at as community leaders and get involved in community initiatives.
The upcoming speakers starting May 25, this Thursday, include Lissa Kreisler, who is known as The Voice Of Silicon Valley, will discuss her life in Silicon Valley focusing on her 40 years in radio. She worked at KLOK 1170 for ten years, doing mornings and then spent the following 29 years at 94.5 KBAY, also spending mornings with listeners.
On June 1, John L Varela, Board Chair of the Santa Clara Valley Water District will give an update on the water situation. Since it is felt we have come out of the drought, his talk about current status and futures will be most timely.
On June 8, Steve Eckert, Executive Director of the Alum Rock Counseling Center, will discuss the center's programs. The center deals with individuals that are working through trauma experiences in the Alum Rock area.
On June 22, tentatively we will have our exchange student discuss his thoughts on the exchange program. He will be leaving soon for the country in which he will live for 10 months. Rotary has a key program called Peace and Conflict Resolution. The worldwide Youth Exchange program is what I consider to be a key part of that peace effort. The Youth Exchange program sends teenagers to countries all over the world. The students meet other students from other countries. After 10 months of getting to know each other through Rotary and the families with whom they live, the students develop what will be lifelong friendships. The caliber of these youth is such, they will more than likely end up in key roles in government and business. When an issue arises between countries, they each will have good friends in similar positions around the globe to make for an easier negotiating situation. Come hear our student’s story and also hear from the Rotary District’s Chair of the Youth Exchange.
As always, visit with us at one of our meetings. We meet on Thursdays at the Ranch Golf Club, 4601 Hill Top View Ln, San Jose, CA 95138. People start to arrive at 12 noon and I start the meeting by 12:15 pm. It would be helpful if you could RSVP but if you do not get a chance to do so, come visit us just the same.
Celebrate soon-to-be PDG Jeff Orth and welcome soon-to-be DG Orrin Mahoney.
Enjoy a Rotary tradition in the heart of Silicon Valley's wine country with a delicious buffet catered by Mama Mia's Mediterranean Italian Cuisine, and fine wines created by the oldest, continuously operating, family owned winery in Santa Clara Valley - Guglielmo Winery!
Where: Guglielmo Winery | 1480 E. Main Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
When: Thursday, June 22, 2017
5:00 pm - Registration/Check-in
5:30 pm - Beverages and hors d'oeuvres
6:00 pm - Buffet dinner
6:30 pm - Roast and Toast Ceremony
Dress: Casual - be prepared for late afternoon/evening cool weather
One complimentary drink (wine or beer) included. Additional purchase of wine or beer - $5.00* (CASH BAR ONLY). (*Net proceeds to Interact.)
Posted by Robbie Izat, John Goldstein on May 24, 2017
Dictionary distribution to 3rd graders at Russo McEntee Academy Alum Rock with Nick Leon and Robbie Izat from San Jose East Evergreen Rotary. What a great job it was!!!
Harbinder receives his Paul Harris Fellow pin!! Yay.
Raised in the Silicon Valley, I went to San Jose State University and majored in Radio-TV Journalism. Upon graduation, I worked at KLOK 1170 for ten years, doing mornings and then spent the following 29 years at 94.5 KBAY, also spending mornings with listeners.
Raised two daughters, spending countless hours as School PTA President. Have also spent countless hours in the community, serving on Boards, Committees and Emceeing many non profit events and galas.
My talk is called “Decades of Sunny Mornings” as that is what I and my listeners had for nearly 40 years. It’s my story of landing a radio job in my hometown, the laughs, the tears and the tale of starting over!
I have watched this Valley go from prune orchards to high tech and love the place I call home!
Posted by From Rotary International on Apr 19, 2017
Australia Rotary clubs raise awareness and funds to prevent domestic violence and support its victims.
The statistics are sobering: Intimate partner violence is the most common type of violence against women, affecting 30 percent of women worldwide, according to a 2013 World Health Organization report. As many as 38 percent of murders of women are committed by an intimate partner.
In New Zealand, a dozen women are killed by their partners or ex-partners each year. And in Australia, a woman is killed, on average, about every week.
Recognizing the desperate need for domestic-violence services in their communities, Rotary clubs throughout Australia and New Zealand are fundraising and partnering with charities to raise awareness and work on prevention and victim support.
As one club president said: When ending polio seemed insurmountable, Rotary stepped in. Why can’t Rotary help end domestic violence?
Due to a great 35% turnout of club members for the District 5170 Assembly the afternoon/evening of April 13, there will not be a lunch meeting at The Ranch.
In “The Health of Nations: The Campaign to End Polio and Eradicate Epidemic Diseases” (Oneworld Publications), British journalist and Sunday Times best-selling author Karen Bartlett surveys the global landscape of epidemics past, present, and future. Beginning with the 1980 eradication of smallpox, she guides us through more timely threats such as the Ebola and Zika viruses, and looks ahead to a future without malaria, measles, or polio.
“Who decided to rid the world of polio? Not politicians or global health organizations, as you might expect,” she writes, in one of several chapters devoted to polio. “The starting gun was fired by Rotary International, a network of businessmen more used to enjoying convivial dinners, raising money for local good causes, and organizing floats to carry Santa Claus around suburban neighborhoods at Christmas.”
Several possible community service projects are in the works.
As I mentioned above, Rotarians with a deep passion can accomplish things she/he set out to do. As you know, Denise Henkes join SJEE because of her passion for Sunday Friends. I feel the same way about Sunday Friends and always urge Rotarians and others to volunteer or donate to them. To emphasize Denise’s passion, read the following which is an email she wrote for all of us (HINT: this includes all the non-Rotarians that keep thinking about joining Rotary or assisting us helping our neighbors:
I have signed up for a volunteer shift at the upcoming Sunday Friends program at Lowell School (March 26). Please consider joining me, and wearing your yellow Rotary T-shirts. To register, go to the “returning volunteers” tab on the website (www.sundayfriends.org) and select the shift that suits your schedule. My shift is at 12:30. If you are unable to volunteer that day, please consider donating everyday household items, like toilet paper, paper towels, detergent, soap, etc., or baby items, like diapers, baby shampoo, things like that. I will collect them when we meet on the 23rd for our luncheon, and bring them with me to the site. You can print out a donation receipt for tax purposes, and that is also to be found on their website.
I hope you will come volunteer with me on that day!
Please call me with any questions.
Next one is from Vice Mayor Magdalena Carrasco. On April 22, she is holding the “Great America Litter Pick Up.” The attached flyer gives the details to what amounts to assisting the residents of East San Jose clean their neighboirhoods. Clean neighborhoods are the first steps to beautifying streets but more importantly the people’s lives.
Here is another one I received from a friend related to tutoring high school students. His name is Dave Noel and here is his contact info – mention my name so he knows you are from SJEE or found out about it from SJEE: dnoel1234@aol.com
I wonder if your Rotarians might be interested in doing some volunteer teaching for Citizen Schools (www.citizenschools.org) at middle schools in East San Jose? My company's new corporate owner, Thermo Fisher Scientific, has been a big supporter.
If anyone is interested in a low-commitment trial run, I can set them up co-teaching opportunities of 1 to 3 classes at their convenience held on Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00pm at Renaissance Academy at Fischer or Thursdays from 3:00-4:30pm at Joseph George Middle School. No prep work is needed. The curriculum and supplies are already taken care of, and you can see in advance what topics are being taught on which dates. The curriculum is called Science Explorers. It's tilted towards basic Chemistry, but it's super basic so there is no need to have subject matter expertise.
Another possible service project is serving as a judge at a high school level debate competition. There will be 200 “home schooled” students competing. Here is the request I received:
Our homeschool debate club is going to host our Spring Debate tournament at West Valley College, Saratoga, CA on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 23, 24 and 25, 2017. We expect to see more than 200 homeschool students, aged between 12-18, to come to debate in Team Policy, Lincoln Douglas, Parliamentary and Individual Policy debate. I would like to invite you to come to help to serve as a judge to educate these fine young men and ladies. If you are able to help us out, please click on the link below and sign up for the rounds of your choice. https://clash2017.homeschooldebate.net/judges Please keep the following in mind as you consider this opportunity: 1. No experience necessary! We are training our students to learn to communicate with all kinds of people! We provide a short orientation before the round. 2. This is a national qualifying tournament. 3. Only a two & half hours commitment (or more if you have time). Thank you in advance for volunteering and we would be delighted if you would join us! See the schedule page at: https://clash2017.homeschooldebate.net/schedule. When the registration software ask about where you learn about this event, please put "Frank Tang".
Council Member Raul Peralez will discuss San Jose today and where Rotary can assist.
Raul serves as the elected City Council representative for the district 3 area of San José, California. Prior to taking office he served for 8 years as a San José police officer, and ten years a substitute high school and alternative education teacher, involving work with students in the juvenile justice system. He was recognized by YMCA Project Cornerstone as the 2013 Adult Role Model of the Year and as an Emerging Leader by the Silicon Valley Latino magazine. As a city councilmember, his focus is on economic vitality, public transportation, addressing issues of housing, homelessness, and public safety. He obtained a degree in Mathematics from San José State University and as a lifelong resident of San José, Councilmember Peralez continues to give back to his community through his work and volunteering in his free time.
Captain Kihmm oversees the Foothill Division located in the eastern foothills of San Jose which covers an area of approximately 42 square miles and has population close to 295,000 residents.
Captain Kihmm is in his 26th year as a police officer and has promoted through the ranks to a Police Captain. He has been in several different assignments including being the Adjutant to the Chief of Police and commanding the Homicide Unit. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from San Diego State University in 1990.
Captain Kihmm has attended numerous professional training courses, but two of his highlights were graduating from the Los Angeles Police Department’s West Point Leadership Program and the FBI’s National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Topic
San Jose Police Department’s “21st Century Policing”-Strengthening community policing and trust among law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.
Supervisor Mike Wasserman from the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and motivational speaker Chris Hennessey.
Upcoming -
All the speech contest winners go on to
Area 5 contest! Be there to encourage and applaud them to the District Level!
Location - History Park, San Jose.
Mar 28, 2017 6:00 PM – 9:00
Philippines Medical Mission - Lunch with the Local Phil. Organizer On March 30, Thursday
The Medical Mission that Marisa has been working on for funding is in it's final stages of completion.This means that we have the necessary minimum amount of money for the Mission.
All Rotary Club members, and their friends and family are welcome to join as volunteers and to give additional donations.
What made this first mission possible is through an old friend of Marisa, Luis Cusi, a successful real estate developer who several years ago dedicated his life to Medical Missions in disaster areas all over Southeast Asia.
The Rotary Foundation's assets have grown to approximately $1 billion, and more than $3 billion have been spent on various social and community welfare projects across the world
The Rotary Foundation, the charitable arm of Rotary – a global network of volunteers committed to improving lives and communities around the world – has been named the 2016 Outstanding Foundation by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).
From its first contribution of $26.50 almost a century ago, The Rotary Foundation’s assets have grown to approximately $1 billion, and more than $3 billion have been spent on projects that promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and children, and grow local economies.
Rotary named world’s outstanding foundation in 2016
Supervisor Wasserman will provide update on County accomplishments, initiative, services and what to expect for 2017. - See more at: http://rotarysjee.org/Speakers/de721463-8fa4-4ebc-8553-0c53ce456ddc#sthash.qNzzMLFp.dpuf
Supervisor Wasserman will provide update on County accomplishments, initiative, services and what to expect for 2017.
Described as having “a head for numbers and a heart for people,” Supervisor Mike Wasserman was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in November 2010 – and re-elected in 2014 -- after serving eight years on the Los Gatos Town Council as Mayor and Councilmember. A businessman for more than 30 years, Mike has proven that balancing budgets and maintaining high-quality public services can be done when the focus is on the people you represent.
Mike currently sits on 29 committees, including chairing or co-chairing the Public Safety and Justice Committee, the Habitat Conservation Authority, and a youth task force. He coined the phrase “Real. Life. Help.” to describe the services Santa Clara County provides and he reaches 25,000 residents with this information in his monthly electronic newsletter.
Mike has a degree in Psychology from the University of Southern California and was a Certified Financial Planner for more than 30 years. He has been married to his college sweetheart, Kim, for more than 36 years and they have two adult children, Nicole and Sean.
Elizabeth Karr is the branch manager for the Hillview and Dr. Roberto Cruz-Alum Rock Branches with San José Public Library; she is also the Committee Chair for the Summer Reading program, which works closely with the Summer Meal program committee. She was formerly the Peace Corps Librarian at Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, DC and a past Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Philippines, 2007-2009). She has also worked as an academic librarian in Montana and is a proud graduate of San José State University Library and Information Science School. She is also a San José native.
The Summer Reading program is San José Public Library’s largest program and is one of the most interactive and rewarding: during our summer 2016 program, 17,732 youth registered and our readers went on to clock a total of 4,191,898,169 minutes read! Over the past couple of years, the Summer Reading program has aligned with our summer meal program, which fed over 16,000 people last summer, mainly youth under 18 years of age. Elizabeth will discuss how both of these programs are essential to combating childhood hunger and illiteracy in San José and what the plan for this summer program is. SJPL has also launched several new services over the past year to meet our various communities’ needs that Elizabeth will highlight, some of which include: the MakerSpaceShip (a mobile “maker” laboratory); SJ Works initiative which offers career and job resources; TeenHQ, a new teen space and series of programs at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library; Citizenship Corners in ten of our branches; and a new bridge library at Cesar Chavez Elementary School, amongst other cool things.
Rotarian builds his own iron lung replica to teach a new generation about polio. Roger Frank put his engineering background to good use, rolling and welding all the steel components himself. He wants to inspire people to donate to polio eradication.
The Richard King Speech Contest to be held on Feb. 23rd is a very defining part of our club. Talented High School students from all over the district participate and make it difficult for the club members to decide on the winners. All of them are winners!
Hope to see you all at the club meet to encourage and cheer them on!
The rain didn’t keep Eastside families away from the Sunday Friends program at Lowell school! In Denise's words "It was a fun day for me, and several people recognized me from our Rotarian group who help out at Sunday Friends. Here I am with an enthusiastic young lady, making Valentines for one of Sunday Friends’ outreach programs. I helped out at many tables, all arts and crafts related. Tired, but so worth it!!"
Our Speaker on Jan 19th Alyssa Lynch - Superintendent of Metropolitan Education School District (MetroED) in San Jose. - MetroED is focused on preparing students to thrive in college and careers. Our programs include Silicon Valley Career Technical Education (SVCTE) and Silicon Valley Adult Education (SVAE).
Congratulations to all! We have sold all the tickets for our Annual Crab Feed. Hopefully, those of you that had wanted tickets, were able to purchase them. Since it is a fund raiser, we will be having a silent and live auction. We are still collecting donations for the auctions. Any donations would be greatly appreciated. Remember the funds we generate will be used for the club’s humanitarian projects on the East Side of San Jose.
We are really proud of the hard work of our Rotarians, going above and beyond to retailers and restaurants in and around evergreen and east San Jose collecting donations - $100 worth of tools from a Home Depot, $50 worth tools from OSH Southside, $50 gift certificates from Mexican Lindo, a dinner from Caspian Village restaurant, some coffee and gift certificate from Starbucks, plenty of tools from OSH Alum Rock, $100 worth from SOH Silver Creek, a big beautiful "car wash" gift basket from Payless Rockery and Hardware, a $50 gift card (actually, 5-$10 cards) from Red Lobster, a fitness evaluation gift card from Sozo fitness, a $75 gift card from Target Silver Creek, 2 gift cards for 2 cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes on Aborn, Working on getting more from New Seasons, Office Depot, and Sizzler and making plenty more gift baskets with support from all the club members. Some of us are bringing in wine bottles, kitchen ware, cutlery, spa - bath and body, accessories, sports memerobilia etc....please bring in anything that we can put together in baskets and auction off, and of course if any of you have the time visit your neighborhood retail and restaurants to request gift certificates. Most of them are willing and happy to do so.
Now we need to get together and Wrap Gift Baskets.
The date is Jan. 29, Sunday 10:00 -12 noon.
Location: 1712 Cherry Ave. corner Pine Ave. San Jose, CA 95125 cell phone (408) 489-0169.
We request Nick's help to transport the items on Feb 4th, Joy Engstrom's help and everybody else for baskets, Sara's help for any wrapping paper, string, hay, or any kind of packing material in the shed, or as a matter of fact if any of you have some at home that you would like to donate.
Please let us know if you can come, and if you can't come and have gift items, pls bring them to the meeting on Thursday Jan 26th, we can wrap them for you.
A reminder to all members to bring dessert to Auction off at the Crab Feed. Dessert Auction is a great way for the Club to generate income from the Crab Feed. Members are encouraged to bring a dessert to the auction, home made or from your favorite bakery!
See you all at Marisa's place for gift wrapping on Sunday Jan 29th. To all our new members, please do come - we have so much fun every year gift wrapping! You will have a great time!
See you all at the Club meet tomorrow, and on Sunday at Marisa's place, next Thursday we are dark. See you again at the Crab Feed on Sat Feb 4th!
Veterinary Services for Pets of the Homeless - Vet clinic for the homeless, will introduce her program to us. Karen travels around the Bay Area going to areas where homeless people are. Some of them, like us, have pets they adore. The difference is, most of us reading this have or can find the resources needed to help our pets. Karen will explain the dilemma faced by homeless people. The people live on the street because they do not have sufficient resources to find permanent shelter. What choice can they make when their beloved pet needs medical attention? Karen’s organization offers a possible solution.
Feb 16, 2017 Jim Zito, president EESD Board of Trustees
Jim Zito is the President of the Evergreen Elementary School District board of Trustees. Jim will give an overview of EESD.
Feb 23, 2017 Richard King Speech Contest
We will be hosting the club level competition of the Richard B. King Speech Contest. The competition, named after one of Rotary International’s worldwide presidents, brings together 6 high school students from the local high school districts. The oratory of these remarkable students will keep you involved in the competition. One of the fun parts, at least for the meeting attendees, is to see how close you come to choosing the winner among the 6 students that our judges choose. The winner will go on to an area contest, a regional contest, and then the Rotary District 5170 finals winning cash prizes along the way.
ROTARY International Convention - June 10-14, 2017
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
Looking ahead, the Rotary convention will be extra special as we celebrate the centennial of The Rotary Foundation in the city where it was born. I hope you’ll join me in Atlanta, 10-14 June 2017, to look back proudly at a century of being people of action and serving humanity - and look ahead to the challenges Rotary will tackle in the century to come.
Yours in service,
Jeffery M. Orth,
DISTRICT GOVERNOR 2016-2017
What It Is Like to be Involved in the Fairgrounds as an Anchor Tenant
Serene Hope, a recent member of the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen, will give a bio and will also describe her recreation business at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. She will describe the concepts her company has developed and would like to implement at the Fairgrounds as the planning process at the Fairgrounds continues.
Attendees that heard the County's overview of the planning process will get a unique insight into what means to run a business and implement changes at the same time. The Fairgrounds are destined to become a landmark in San Jose. Serene's talk will give a look at the process that is being followed.
Alyssa Lynch is the Superintendent of Metropolitan Education School District (MetroED) in San Jose. MetroED is focused on preparing students to thrive in college and careers. Our programs include Silicon Valley Career Technical Education (SVCTE) and Silicon Valley Adult Education (SVAE). During the past year, Alyssa has brought a STEAM focus to MetroED by teaming with Xilinx and other business partners to offer STEAM camps throughout the school year to 6th to 10th grade students. Prior to joining MetroED, Ms. Lynch served as the Career Technical Education Director at the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE). Ms. Lynch is well known throughout the CTE community for her leadership role in spearheading the CTE initiative in Santa Clara County in 2009.
Ms. Lynch has a quarter century of experience in education. She began her career as a counselor at St. Mary’s College. She then combined her passion for marketing and education and became a marketing instructor at American High School in Fremont. In 2004, she served as the Director of North County Regional Occupational Program in Sunnyvale. In 2008, Ms. Lynch was named the ACSA Career Technical Education Administrator of the Year for California. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Home Economics & Fashion from California State University Fresno and San Francisco State University, a teaching credential, Administrative Services Credential and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from San Jose State University. In addition, she’s a frequent contributor to the San Jose Mercury News and Silicon Valley Business Journal on the topic of the importance of CTE in Silicon Valley. Ms. Lynch has been a member of the San Francisco Run 365 Running Team since 2009 and has ran in over 25 half marathons. In 2016, she was named one of Silicon Valley Business Journals Women of Influence.
Rudy Flores is the Chair of the San Jose Parks ad Recreation Commission. The commission oversees the large number of parks in San Jose. Rudy will discuss the way the commission works and how residents can volunteer at the parks.
We have two opportunities this month to volunteer with Sunday Friends—Sunday January 8th and Sunday January 22nd.
This is a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon and help Sunday Friends in their continuing efforts to bring life skills to participating families.
Once you’ve seen it, I'm sure you’ll agree it’s an awesome program, and since they operate on two Eastside school campuses, they are definitely taking place in the community we aim to serve.
Please contact Denise Hankes to let her know of your interest. She needs to turn in a list by this Thursday, January 5 before 5:00pm.
Thanks in advance for your support!”
Sunday Friends - Rotary SJE/E in Action in Our Community
Rotary named world’s outstanding foundation in 2016
The Rotary Foundation, the charitable arm of Rotary – a global network of volunteers committed to improving lives and communities around the world – has been named the 2016 Outstanding Foundation by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).
From its first contribution of $26.50 almost a century ago, The Rotary Foundation’s assets have grown to approximately $1 billion, and more than $3 billion have been spent on projects that promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and children, and grow local economies.
Rotary members, their families and friends can support Rotary’s work by bidding on antiques, artwork, jewelry, and collectibles through eBay Live Auctions events.
Each month, Rotary will promote on its social media outlets a set of upcoming Live Auctions events, and eBay, the world’s largest auction website, will donate a portion of all sale proceeds from those events to Rotary.
Live Auctions events enable buyers to participate in auctions across the United States — held at such auction houses as Sotheby’s, Swann, and Freeman’s — without leaving home. Under this proceeds-sharing agreement, only U.S. auction sales are eligible.
Upcoming eBay Live Auctions that will partially benefit Rotary
A couple of years ago, researchers at Princeton and Stanford released a study of American political attitudes that was, in a word, terrifying.
The most shocking finding was that political prejudice is now more acute than racial bigotry. What’s more, it is voters who are driving the cycle of contempt and confrontation in Washington. Those intractable politicians we love to rant about are, in fact, acting on our orders.
Another study, by political scientists Alan Abramowitz and Steven Webster at Emory University, offers more grim news. Americans are increasingly engaging in a practice they call “negative partisanship,” which means we vote based more on fear and loathing for the other party than on a positive identification with our own.
These negative views, by the way, are not grounded in a sophisticated objection to the policies advocated by the opposing party. They are tribal in nature.
Abramowitz and Webster do note that an increasing number of voters identify themselves as independents – Gallup put the number at 43 percent last year – which would suggest a decline in partisanship. Unfortunately, actual voting data reveal that these folks are choosing to label themselves as “independent” to avoid the perception of mindless loyalty to a particular party. In fact, they almost never cross party lines. The “swing voter” is a dying species in American politics.
Bill Bishop’s 2008 book, The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America Is Tearing Us Apart, chronicles the larger cultural shifts that have stoked this polarization. His basic point is that Americans increasingly self-segregate. We surround ourselves with people of the same class, level of education, and ideology. Forget red and blue states, we’re talking about red and blue neighborhoods.
At the same time, our very definition of “politics” has changed over the past half-century. We used to consider politics a collective civic endeavor, the means by which our society sought to solve common crises. These days, politics functions as a form of identity. We regard those in the other tribe not as neighbors who share many of our basic goals and values but as an abstract set of strangers who seek to desecrate all we hold dear.
I still remember watching the 1980 presidential election returns with my parents and a group of their friends. Ronald Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter that year. Our living room was filled with jubilant Reagan fans and downcast Carter supporters, but the general air was one of amicability. Try to imagine the same scene today.
Which brings us, alas, to the brutal presidential race playing out in front of us right now. Regardless of how you feel about the outcome, we can all agree that Election 2016 has represented a new low when it comes to political acrimony.
So the big question is this: How do we begin to depersonalize politics? How do we cure ourselves of political prejudice?
Members of the Rotary Club of Little Rock, Ark. and Heifer International staff work together to build a hoop house to seal in heat and extend the growing season for farmer Joe Carr.
Photo Credit: Miriam Doan/Rotary International
“Agriculture is the lifeblood of Arkansas; it’s the state’s original business,” says Sharon Tallach Vogelpohl, an Arkansas Rotarian for nearly 20 years. But that business has become more challenging in recent years as row-crop farming has become more commoditized, making it difficult for families who have been farming for generations to make an adequate living.
Vogelpohl, who was club president during the Rotary Club of Little Rock’s centennial year in 2014, says club members wanted to mark the milestone with a project that would have a lasting, local impact. “With all the good that Rotary has done internationally, we wondered what we could do to bring that good home here in Arkansas, which is a very impoverished state,” she says. “What could we do to help our friends and neighbors in our own backyard?” The conversation quickly turned to a farming project.
The Little Rock club (nicknamed “Club 99” because it was the 99th Rotary club chartered) meets weekly at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library, which is a tomato’s throw from the headquarters of Heifer International. Heifer is a nonprofit, founded in 1944, that seeks to end hunger and poverty through sustainable agriculture. Given the proximity – and that several Heifer employees are members of the Rotary Club of Little Rock, including Ardyth Neill, president of the Heifer Foundation, and Ben Wihebrink, operations director for Heifer USA – the two organizations teamed up to help Arkansas farmers.
Around the world, Heifer teaches farmers how to increase production sustainably and access new markets. It also helps small-scale farmers form cooperatives, where locals can buy produce directly. The goal is to increase a farmer’s profits by about 30 percent while providing the community with more locally grown produce. A key component of Heifer’s method, and the Arkansas project, is the formation of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) network – a food subscription service in which consumers buy produce in advance at a fixed price, guaranteeing farmers a market for their crops, regardless of how weather or other factors may affect their output.
In Arkansas, Rotarians fund Heifer’s training efforts, including an informational video, and members offer advice in their areas of expertise, like marketing, finance, and business planning. “Heifer helps the farmers with technical expertise,” Neill says. “Rotary gives them access to individual club members who want to help them directly. That means local folks helping local folks to make a difference.”
ROTARIANS, HEIFER INTERNATIONAL HELP FARMERS GROW ECONOMY
Halloween Party was indeed fun watching everyone walk in with a variety of costumes, playing fun games, lot of desserts.....No speakers, just us - mingling, chatting, catching up and fooling around....
Lunch at the Ranch will never be the same. Wear your costume and have some fun getting to know each other.
Nov 03, 2016 Joy Engstrom Elefante Blanco
Joy is the founder of Elefante Blanco a "boutique" high end thrift shop. Wow......high end thrift!!!!!
It used to be located on the Alameda in San Jose but closed because of a massive rent increase. Joy will discuss her plans in regards to re-opening Elefante Blanco in the East Side of San Jose. The presentation will discuss the potential fund raising for San Jose East/Evergreen Rotary and other nonprofits that may want to participate.
This will be a most informative meeting discussing a potential avenue of bringing in significant money for any organization involved.
Nov 10, 2016 Pilar Furlong Bill Wilson Center Overview
With over 20 years of experience fundraising for non-profit agencies both large and small, Pilar’s knowledge of the sector is both extensive and diverse. Currently serving as the Chief Community Resources Officer for Bill Wilson Center in Santa Clara County, Pilar oversees the fundraising, communications and marketing, and volunteer recruitment teams – ensuring that resources are in place to support and strengthen the community by serving youth and families through counseling, housing, education, and advocacy.
Prior to her appointment at the Bill Wilson Center, Pilar was Chief Operating Officer for the American Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter. In that role she oversaw the fundraising, volunteer management and disaster response teams, working with a corps of staff and volunteers to implement preparedness and relief services throughout Santa Clara County.
Prior to her work for the Red Cross, Pilar raised money for several arts organizations and two health care systems – all in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pilar is an alumnae of Mills College and the University of San Francisco. She resides in Santa Clara volunteers for the Association of Fundraising Professionals Silicon Valley Chapter and for the Triton Museum of Art.
Nov 17, 2016 Denise Hankes Identity Theft
Our very own Rotarian Denise will talk about Identify Theft that is so rampant today and how we can safeguard ourselves from being a victim.
A beautiful collage of our club members at our 50th anniversary celebrations.
Our Golden Anniversary Gala was held on Friday, October 21st, 2016 at the Villages Golf and Country Club. Celebrating 50 Years of Rotary in the San Jose East/Evergreen community, the anniversary gala had live entertainment and began with a 6:00pm cocktail reception followed by a delectable and sumptuous three-course gourmet dinner. The highlights include a foreword by San Jose City Mayor Sam Liccardo and a keynote address by District 5 council member, Magdalena Carrasco. The event was open to all, especially Rotarians and their families both locally and from around the Bay Area.
At the Avenues of Service Booth - Nick says
Proud to be with the Vietnam Soccer Ball Project leadership committed to ending human trafficking in Vietnam and distributing the virtually indestructible no pump required, Rotary branded soccer ball to the world. Damn right I'm proud. Be the change.
These Interactors mentor me. "I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy." -- Rabindranath Tagore.
Showing our support at the Human Trafficking Awareness Seminar hosted by Charlie at City Council Chambers, San Jose.
As volunteers and advocates, Rotary members play a crucial role in the fight to end polio. Our partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative will come together in Atlanta for World Polio Day.
On 24 October, World Polio Day, Rotary will bring together partners from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative for an update on our fight to end polio. As host and moderator of the event, our organization plays a key role in amplifying one of the most important public health concerns in modern history.
When we first took it up as an organizational cause over three decades ago, polio affected 350,000 children every year, mostly in lower-income countries where poor sanitation and limited access to clean water facilitate the spread of the virus.
Our collaboration with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, local health workers, and national governments has helped reduce the number of cases to just 74 last year. When the final case is behind us, polio will be only the second disease, after smallpox, ever to have been completely wiped out.
This year's event, the fourth to be live-streamed and the first to be held at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, is our opportunity to put the fight to end polio in the public eye.
Watch the live-stream event on 24 October at endpolio.org.
Henry Yong, President of Evergreen Valley College, is the newest Member of our Club. He was inducted last week and we look forward to working with him. Welcome to the Club Henry!
Lisa J. Blanchard of The Grateful Garment Project was our featured speaker last week.
She spoke about her vision to make sure that no victim of sexual assault ever experience further suffering due to lack of resources.
On October 20, the club will not be meeting which is known as dark in Rotary parlance. Since we have the Human Trafficking Seminar on Monday, October 17 and the 50th Anniversary Gala on Friday, October 21, we will take a break from the routine of having a club meeting. Want to visit us during this week, come to the Gala. Contact the club for tickets.
On October 27, we will have our annual Halloween costume meeting with all attendees in costume. We will also have the yearly visit by the District 5170 District Governor Jeff Orth. Yes, both he and Barb Orth will be in costume.
Lisa J. Blanchard – Executive Director and Founder: As founder, Lisa has been the guiding force and visionary of The Grateful Garment Project. Lisa’s unique combination of experience in nonprofit, customer service, law, and management produces the creative and conceptual leadership required to bring The Grateful Garment Project to the State of California and beyond. She has dedicated significant amounts of time to working with people not only professionally, but also in a volunteer capacity. Lisa holds an AS in Business, a BS in Human Services and a Masters in Nonprofit Administration. It is her vision that no victim of sexual assault ever experience further suffering due to lack of resources.
Self Esteem and Communication
Oct 13, 2016
Linda Banner, Phd
Self Esteem and Communication
COMMUNICATION and SELF-ESTEEM
How are these two topic related OR are they?
What does “trust” have to do with it?
Can TRUST be re-built once broken?
These, and more questions will be answered by Dr Banner in her talk on October 13, 2016! Please come and bring your own questions for this “enlightening” talk!
Dr. Linda Banner is a Health, Clinical, and Forensic Psychologist in private practice in San Jose for more than 25 years. She is an international expert in the field of sexual medicine and has been quoted, published, and regarded as an expert in this area of specialty for many years, especially after completing her doctoral research at Stanford Medical Center.
District 5170 and Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen
Oct 27, 2016
DG Jeff Orth
District 5170 and Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen
The story continues.... Inducted three new promising members into our club last week.
Following is a bio of Serene:
Serene Hope is the CEO for Extreme Sports Productions and Recreation Entertainment Global LLC. These companies have built and operate multiple family recreation center and software marketing companies focused on outdoor family adventure activities. She is from Silicon Valley, specifically Sunnyvale and Cupertino where even as a child she was involved in innovation and technology, starting her first company at the age of 9 called "Siliconcepts" a jewelry company made with computer chips. She has an extensive background in facility operations, marketing and sales as well as working many years in film and television casting and production here in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has been involved with building and managing all aspects of operations and development for multiple recreation centers including Santa Clara Paintball and Nor Cal Laser Tag, Paintball Sports Park, Midway Facility, Paintball Tickets Marketing and Ventav Marketing Solutions.
For the past thirteen years she has been dedicated to providing the highest level of service and safety for her family recreation in California and in Washington State. Through her nationwide events and marketing company she bring a unique perspective working with fairgrounds all over the west coast such as Solano County, Contra Costa County, Alameda County, LA Pomona, San Diego Del Mar, Cal Expo and of course the beautiful Santa Clara County just to name a few. Engaging these local communities for decades has given her a understanding of fairgrounds big and small, the communities that surround them, and a heart to serve them in a multitude of ways. Her experience with family recreation centers and marketing lead her to develop a software that quickly helped hundreds of recreational facilities build their customer base and bring in new customers year after year. With an emphasis on youth and recreation she has been successful in creating fundraising opportunities for hundreds of local schools, and non profit youth and family focused organization in Santa Clara County and throughout California.
Serene is married to Michael DeCorra her husband of 12 years, and business partner for 20 years. They have one college age child attending Cal Poly Pomona looking to graduate in December and ultimately earn his doctorate in neurology and one child attending Valley Christian Elementary who loves playing ice hockey and paintball. Serene has traveled to both India and Haiti with mission teams to provide food, prayer, and love to children and families in great need and has always had a heart to give back. Through the use of her nationwide marketing company she continues to help raise money for children in India who suffer from Leprosy also know as the Hansen disease. By raising funds to provide food, shelter, water wells, education, medicines and vocational training she hopes to continue to make an impact on those innocent lives who are often time shamed and unable to work or even come into contact with regular society. She has been a faithful member of Jubilee Christian Center for 14 years and greatly values her faith, family and friendships. She has always believed in "service before self" and is excited to have found this high quality, valuable, local organization that impacts the community the youth and those around our county in such a meaningful and positive way.
This is what our young doctor Shail would like us to know about him:
"Excellence is not a skill, it's an attitude." – Ralph Marston
I am a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Medicine. I have being on this medical journey for more than 2 decades, which started with Med school in India and continued as I migrated to US in 2002. I completed my residency in Internal Medicine from Kaiser Permanente at Santa Clara and worked there as an inpatient Hospitalist for 7 years. Working in the heart of Silicon Valley in one of the leading community hospitals, I have treated significant cardiovascular and medical problems, which I firmly believes are mostly triggered by lifestyle choices and can be treated / prevented with aggressive lifestyle modifications.
I founded Excel Medicine in 2016 as I am a firm believer of "Prevention as Treatment" and lifestyle modifications as treatment option instead of conventional reactive medical approach. Em is a practice in which I can provide quality personalized care with aggressive lifestyle changes to help reduce and prevent diseases and achieve a better quality of life. One of my personal goals is to increase awareness and fight the epidemic of cardiovascular diseases in South Asians. Beside work I enjoy strength-training, listening music, biking, photography and spending time with my family.
I am excited to be a part of Evergreen Rotary and it will definitely take me to paths of charity, humility, tolerance, service, honesty and fulfillment.
“Rotary summons men to respond to their best impulses...their best selves...[to] lift up their heads in every land. The best things in us are not confined by national boundaries.”
We all know Steve Samuel of USTEC:
He was our featured speaker at the club a few weeks ago, and has been attending our club meets for a while now.
His organization, A Non-Profit Computer Aided Design Instruction has been doing wonderful work in the valley working and training veterans and other groups with CAD. As a high tech person working in Silicon Valley, he correlates that for a person - the Brain is the Hardware, Education and Experience is the Software and his/her Culture is the Operation System. Very Interesting.
We welcome you to the club and hope to do great work with you!
The tradition continues .... Was it fun once again getting together and cooking dinner to about hundred residents at Family Supportive Housing? Of Course, and very satisfying to watch the adults and children alike enjoy the variety of healthy portions served on their plates: Yummy Chicken cooked by John; Maryanna, Nick and Shail had a good workout stirring the mashed potatoes and gravy; Ruth, Marisa and Suguna taking care of getting the Salad, Bread, Veggies and Desert ready. Great work, and an awesome job even cleaning up and leaving the kitchen spick and span - great job with the dishes Nick!
I overheard the Manager Judy telling the residents that a Doctor, a Pastor, a Teacher, etc. were cooking them dinner! Thank You All!
In preparation of the 2017 Rotary International Convention, Rotary received a record number of paid pre-registrations during the 2016 convention. With nearly a year before the convention begins, more than 21,000 attendees have already registered, far exceeding previous convention totals for the initial May-June registration period. The 2017 Rotary International Convention will be held in Atlanta, coinciding with the centennial of the Rotary Foundation, which was established during the 1917 convention in Atlanta.
The convention pre-registration announcement comes on the heels of significant strides made against the eradication of polio, Rotary's flagship cause. With just two polio-endemic countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, there is an opportunity this year to see the last case of polio, giving convention attendees an additional reason to celebrate.
"Rotary's International Convention is a time for Rotary members of all backgrounds and walks of life to come together in celebration of their friendship and mutual dedication to service," said Rotary International President John Germ. "I'm so pleased that once again the great city of Atlanta will be our 2017 host city. With more than 21,000 registrants so far, and thousands more expected attendees, I'm certain the 2017 convention will be one of the largest in Rotary history. I look forward to working with the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau and Rotary's Host Organizing Committee over the coming months to create an unforgettable experience for all those involved."
Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) and Georgia Department of Economic Development representatives attended the 2016 Rotary International Convention in Korea to pre-promote Atlanta. Both organizations provided pre-and post-trip planning for attendees who registered while on site in Korea. Attendees were further incentivized by a discounted pre-registration rate offered in recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Foundation.
"We are excited to welcome Rotary International back to Atlanta for the Foundation's centennial celebration," said William Pate, president and CEO, ACVB. "Atlanta has a long history with Rotary International and it is a special opportunity to welcome Rotary members from around the world to our city."
The 2017 Rotary International Convention will be held June 10-14 at the Georgia World Congress Center. The last time Rotary held its international convention in Atlanta was in 1970.
About ACVB
Established in 1913, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau is the official destination marketing organization for the city and serves to favorably impact Atlanta's economy through conventions and tourism. A private, not-for-profit organization, ACVB bolsters Atlanta's $15 billion hospitality industry, which generated nearly 51 million visitors in 2015. Visit atlanta.net for more information.
CONTACT: Audrey Carl, 217-840-0443 or audrey.carl@rotary.org
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL REACHES RECORD PRE-REGISTRATION NUMBERS
IRONMAN TRIATHLETE MINDA DENTLER CHALLENGES WORLD TO END POLIO
Minda Dentler becomes the first woman hand cyclist to complete the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile cycle, and 26.2-mile marathon of the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA.
I was born in 1978 in Mumbai to a domestic worker and single mother. At six months old, I was paralyzed from the hips down by polio. The chances of surviving in India until your 18th birthday with a disability are very slim. My mother was unable to care for me and left me at an orphanage. I don't remember much about my time there because I was so young, but I know the conditions were primitive. I had no real hope that my life would become anything of note or that I would have the opportunity to be independent and overcome the burden of a very preventable disease.
Our District Governor Elect Orrin Mahoney from Cupertino Club talks about diversity at our Rotary Clubs. He spoke about the current models of reaching out to various communities that are a big part of the valley, partnering with them through their local associations and festivals, through international projects and partnerships etc.
Rotarian Catherine delivers a bio of herself at the club meet last week. It was very interesting listening to the stories of her family, and her memories of growing up in a fruit orchard in Cupertino.
It was a pleasure visiting the Rotary Club of Silicon Valley to listen to a young immigrant from India Manasi Ganpule talk about the tradition, culture, and evolution behind the luscious Indian Dress - The Saree, and how she has been active on social media trying to reach out to the next generations of Indians to preserve this beautiful weave.
Ruth was present, and she talked to the club about our 50th Anniversary Dinner, and invited them to attend. Let's make it a point to attend the meets of some of our local clubs in the valley in the next few weeks, and invite them to the occasion.
Our Speaker of the week Karl Danz of Citizens Climate Lobby, talks about Global Warming and how we can help reduce the negative effects....and look what they have been using as an analogy!
Rotarian Harbinder delivers a bio about his incredible work as a chip designer at his company Nvidia!
What an incredible group of youngsters! Rotarian Suguna visiting the Interact meet at Piedmont Hills High School. Just watching their enthusiasm talking about their projects and fund raising ideas makes it all so worthwhile being a Rotarian.
Catherine's Croatian family owned two orchards and a small vineyard in Cupertino, where her grandfather made wine, and she is the last family member still living on one of their original Cupertino ranch properties.
As 4th and 5th generation Croatian wine makers, her family members currently have two wineries in Sonoma and Napa counties. Both wineries participate in charitable projects. One recently released a wine benefiting the Vernon Davis Foundation and the second winery donated wine to a charity event sponsored by William Shatner. A third family winery was purchased by Robert Mondavi in the late 1980's. Some family members also work as winemakers, managers and proprietors for other wineries in Sonoma and Napa counties.
Catherine attended Cupertino schools then graduated from Holy Names University in Oakland with a BA in English Literature and Journalism. During her degree program she worked at KQED-TV and KQED-FM in San Francisco, for over 14 years. She earned her MLIS at San Jose State University, while working in city, county and college libraries.
A few years ago she retired from a county library system, and has since then been developing and writing SiliconValleyLibrarian.org which covers local history, trends and area wine history. She has also created a few Web sites for area nonprofit groups.
She is currently working on her next Web site which will be dedicated to local and international wine and vineyard history. She has been advocating for a Santa Clara Valley/ Santa Cruz Mountains Wine History Museum here in Santa Clara County, for years, to honor the contributions of early vineyard growers and winemakers to our valley's economic development. She is also hoping to interest Rotary groups in organizing Bocce (or Pétanque) charitable, wine tasting tournaments, to financially assist community groups and organizations engaged in serving area children.
Catherine has joined the Rotary because it does such fabulous work, locally and globally, and has been continually inspired by the luncheon speakers and members. "Rotary folks are amazingly kind and generous people" she says.
Follow us on Facebook for updates on park hours and programs.
The Rotary PlayGarden, the Rotary Club of San Jose’s centennial gift to our community, opened in May 2015. The $6 million PlayGarden enables children with special needs to play alongside their siblings and friends and is maintained by Guadalupe River Park Conservancy staff and volunteers, in-kind donations, and fee-for-service contracts.
Sep 01, 2016 Steve Samuel of USTEC - A Computer Aided Design Instruction by a Non-profit, talked to us about his work and organization. As a high tech person working in Silicon Valley, he correlates that for a person - the Brain is the Hardware, Education and Experience is the Software and his/her Culture is the Operation System. Very Interesting.
We are out there and will continue to be so....President Charlie will be posting an article about the club in the future editions of the Evergreen Times.
Harbinder and John make a case for hosting the Clubs's 50th Anniversaryon the 21st of October, to make it a gala event with lots of fun and a lot more fundraising. Everyone is requested to be at the club meet this week before 11:30 for a discussion about the event.
Our newest member Catherine being inducted into the club by Sara....Welcome aboard Catherine.
Glen Williams and Bruce Knopf of the Santa Clara County Asset Management gave us a very interesting and enlightening overview about the future of the Santa Clara Fairgrounds. A meeting was held yesterday with about eleven proposers detailing their ideas on development plans for the nearly 165 acres of prime land. Ideas thrown around were a stadium, fleas market, winery etc.etc. For more info please visit fairgrounds vision.net
Charlie, Harbinder, Robbie and Arpita attended the district membership training seminar. Seen here with DG Jeff Orth. Our DG's message has been Attract the Young, Have Lots of Fun, Get More Done ....
A Climate Solution We Can All Live With” A speaker from the Citizens Climate Lobby will cut through the divisiveness of climate change by describing a bi-partisan effort underway to pass national legislation. This common sense proposal won’t wreck the economy, is fair and equitable, and is aligned with most people’s core values.
Karl Danz has been a volunteer with Citizens' Climate Lobby since August 2013, and is a co-leader of the local chapter which meets monthly in Mountain View. He learned about the threats associated with greenhouse gas emissions in college many years ago and has been involved with various efforts and organizations addressing this issue. Nothing seemed to offer a solution at sufficient scale until he encountered CCL. Karl joined 1000 other volunteer lobbyists who went to Washington, DC last June to meet with members of Congress and push for national legislation to put a price on carbon--he has made five such lobbying trip to the nation's capital.
Diversity in Rotary Club Members
Sep 15, 2016
Orrin Mahoney, DGE District 5170
Diversity in Rotary Club Members
Orrin, who is the District Governor Elect will speak about building a Rotary club that reflects the diverse nature of the community in which the club exists and serves.
Parkinson’s Institute and Clinical Center
Sep 22, 2016
Carrolee Barlow, MD, PhD
Parkinson’s Institute and Clinical Center
Carrolee Barlow, MD, PhD—renowned expert in neuroscience and neurodegeneration—joined the Parkinson’s Institute and Clinical Center as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in February 2014. Dr. Barlow is the second CEO in the Institute’s 25 year history. She takes the reins from Dr. J. William Langston, who founded the organization in 1988.
Dr. Barlow would like to speak to us about: •Who are some of the famous people who have Parkinson’s disease? •What is Parkinson’s disease? •How do you tell you may have Parkinson’s disease? •What are the latest treatments for those afflicted with Parkinson’s disease? •Discoveries of the Parkinson’s Institute and Clinical Center •What is the Parkinson’s Institute and Clinical Center currently working on?
San Jose Police Department PAL and San Jose East/Evergreen Rotary
Sep 29, 2016
Sergeant Jim Ureta and PAL Officer Ismael Lemus
Presentation will cover possible ways for SJ PAL and Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen can work together.
Rotarian Ruth gave as an interesting insight into her life professionally and with Rotary. Thank you Ruth for your many years of service with our club.
Our speaker for the week, San Jose Public LibraryLucia Maria Calve talked about all the wonderful programs that our Public Library offers us, the new Village Square Library, and about their Partners in Reading Program.
Rotarian Suguna Alluri talked about an avenue of Community Outreach.
Our Interactors and the The Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen, especially Nick Leon were recognized by the San Jose Unified School District Board.
We have been working on Community Outreach and the following article was published in the Silver Creek and Evergreen Spotlight Magazines that serve our area. We are working on publishing the article in other local and regional publications. Please let us know if you could be of help.
It has been an exciting club meet last Thursday with the induction of three new and very enthusiastic members into our club.
We are extremely happy to Welcome aboard our Husband and Wife Team Harbinder Sikka and Arpita Sikka who promise to be very strong and active members of the club.
Harbinder Sikka is a computer engineer working as the Director of Software Development at Nvidia. Born and raised in Delhi, India, he is a US Citizen, having lived in the Bay Area for the last 25 years. Outside of work, Harbinder runs a group "Fiscally Responsible Democrats” and is also the Neighborhood Commissioner for District 8 (Evergreen and Meadow Fair), elected for a term from July 2016 to June 2020. He is passionate about making San Jose a great place for everyone, and is always looking for ways to help those in need. Recently, he has raised $4500 for the Nepal Earthquake victims. For fun, he enjoys watching sports, is a season ticket holder for the 49ers and the Earthquakes and a fan of the Warriors. He is excited about joining Rotary because he believes the group will help take his passion for service to the next level while introducing him to like-minded individuals.
Always Cheerful Arpita, is consumed by wanderlust, and is often traveling or planning their next adventure. She enjoys exploring and observing the world and is truly inspired by Rotary's efforts to make a difference. She was born in India but has lived here in the Bay Area for several decades as a US citizen. She is a retired teacher and feels strongly about working with children and in education. She enjoys giving back to the community and learning about current events. She is excited to work with Rotary and meet others who share her passions!
Lupe Chavez has been a promising and regular visitor and we are thrilled to have him inducted into our club.
Lupe was born in Mexico, immigrated to the US when he was 4 years old, and grew up in Greenfield, CA (Monterey County). He attended Notre Dame University for Architecture during the summer as part of his high school education. It was a life changing experience as the first and oldest child of a farm working family and after graduating from Greenfield High School continued on to college at California Polytechnic State University, (Cal Poly) San Luis Obispo, graduating with a degree in Business Administration, Management and Human Resources. He met his wife there, and they have a daughter Marilu Citlali Chavez, born in 2009. They lived in San Luis Obispo for 13+ years because of their love for for the city. Additionally, he met his future business partner, and eventually founded MGY; an international medical nonprofit whose goal was to increase health capacity around the world by using education and technology. After moving around a bit they eventually settled down in South San Jose in 2015.
After a stint with different companies, he now works as the Business Development Manager for Areias Systems, Inc.; an engineering and contract manufacturer out of Scotts Valley. He has recently returned from a trip to Uganda, Africa with his non profit.
Lupe joined Rotary for the same reason he has started a nonprofit; to volunteer his time and efforts for a community aware organization - to help others in need.
Wishing you all a very warm welcome to your Club...
It has been anexciting club meet last Thursday with the induction of three new and very enthusiastic membersinto our club.
Harbinder is excited about joining Rotary because he believes the group will help take his passion for service to the next level while introducing him to like-minded individuals.
Cheerful Arpita, enjoys giving back to the community and learning about current events. She is excited to work with Rotary and meet others who share her passions!
Lupe Chavez has been a promising and regular visitor,and we arethrilled to have him inductedinto our club. He hasjoined Rotary for the same reason he has started a nonprofit; to volunteer his time and efforts for a community aware organization - to help others in need.
Wishing you all a very warm welcome to your Club...
It's always a pleasure to listen to our Nick speak about the club's youth activities that he is very deeply involved with. Nick gave us an insight into all the wonderful work we do with our interactors - RYLA, Scholarships, Speech Contests, Vietnam Soccer Ball Project, Fishing at Lake Cunningham and distributing Dictionaries at some of our elementary schools. We admire his passion and integrity working with our local school children to bring out the best in them. Hopefully this year we will all work with Nick to attend, mentor and be more involved with all the interact clubs that we sponsor.
Forty years ago, a man named George Campbell, the owner of the company I worked for, invited me to join Rotary. Back then, that was a common practice in the United States. Your boss invited you to join Rotary because he thought it would be good for business and good for the community, and you said yes. It’s not surprising that our membership surged during that period.
George warned me not to use Rotary as an excuse to slack off at work. Even so, I always had time to attend lunch meetings and serve on committees. I never had to worry that taking a long lunch once a week would hurt my advancement, or what my boss would think about the occasional Rotary phone call at work.
Today, things are different. Companies are less generous about time, and not every manager looks favorably on community service. It’s hard to enjoy a Rotary meeting when you’ve got emails piling up on your phone. It’s harder than ever to balance work with Rotary – and the model that gave us so much growth a few decades ago is part of what’s holding back our growth now.
That’s why the recent Council on Legislation adopted some innovative measures that allow clubs to vary their meeting times and expand their pool of prospective members. Clubs have more flexibility now to respond to the needs of their members and to clear away as many barriers to membership as they can. But there’s one barrier to membership that only you can remove, one thing that every prospective member needs to become a Rotarian: an invitation to join a Rotary club.
Whenever I tell a group of Rotarians that we need more willing hands, more caring hearts, and more bright minds to move our work forward, everyone applauds. But those hands, hearts, and minds won’t magically appear in our clubs. We have to ask them to join. And an invitation to Rotary is something that only you can give. An invitation is a gift. It’s saying to someone, “I think you have the skills, the talent, and the character to make our community better, and I want you to join me in doing that.”
I’m the president of Rotary International, but the only club I can invite someone to join is the Rotary Club of Chattanooga, Tenn. I can’t make your club or your community stronger. Only you can do that – by inviting the qualified people you know to join you in Rotary Serving Humanity.
With clubs in almost every country, our more than 1.2 million members embrace their diverse background and unite to exchange new ideas, apply expertise, and implement improvements that transform communities.
Our members work locally and partner on international projects that address today’s most pressing humanitarian challenges.
The impact our members make takes shape at Rotary club meetings and activities. These gatherings give you the chance to:
Change lives. You’ll have the opportunity to discuss and act upon your community’s greatest needs.
Connect with other passionate people. Rotary club meetings are a place to strengthen connections to friends and neighbors and form meaningful relationships that last a lifetime.
Invest in yourself. Many clubs offer workshops, conferences, guest speakers, and more – all aimed at helping you grow personally and professionally.
Michael Kevane is Associate Professor of the Economics Department at Santa Clara University. He is past President of the Sudan Studies Association, and co-director of Friends of African Village Libraries. Recent research focuses on how libraries promote reading, with articles published in Libri, World Libraries and Bulletin des Bibliothèques de France. He is co-editor of Kordofan Invaded: Peripheral Incorporation and Social Transformation in Islamic Africa (Brill, 1998) and author of Women and Development in Africa: How Gender Works (Lynne Rienner, 2014, 2nd edition).
Aug 11, 2016 Nick Leon
Rotary and San Jose East/Evergreen Rotary Youth Services
Our club has been very active working with the interactors of the East Side Union Schools. Nick will enlighten us about his extensive work with the Youth, and how as club members we can be more involved with the activities and projects of these youngsters and to be mentors.
Aug 18, 2016 Lucia Maria Calve - San Jose Public Library Foundation
It’s Not your Grandmother’s Library.
Lucia will give a brief history of how our library has changed, She will describe surprising new programs at the library which help our community members, and the exciting differences the Library Foundation has made historically, most recently and will be making in the future.
Aug 25, 2016 Glen Williams and Bruce Knopf
Santa Clara County Asset Management
Bruce J. M. Knopf
Director, Santa Clara County Office of Asset and Economic Development
Mr. Knopf has over thirty years of economic development and business transaction experience in the
public and private sector. He is responsible for land transactions and development as well as
implementing with its partners the County’s program for economic development in the region.
Glen A Williams
Asset Development Manager, Santa Clara County Office of Asset and Economic Development
Mr. Williams has over forty years of experience in real estate, as a developer, investment banker, broker and consultant. He currently has responsibility for helping the County of Santa Clara decide how to best utilize its real estate assets to maximize their value to the County’s residents. One of his assignments is to serve as Project Manager for the master-planning effort for the County Fairgrounds.
More than two years ago, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors initiated an effort to reach out to both the local community and the private sector to help plan the future of the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. On August 23, 2016, responses are due from a Request for Qualifications issued June 21, directed to Investors and Operators of Commercial Recreation and Event Center Uses for the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. At the Rotary Club lunch, members will get to be the first group to hear about the results of the submittals received the day before and the process going forward.
Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen is always looking for new members that want to give back especially to the East Side communities. We recently worked with Council Member Magdalena Carrasco and her District 5 staff at their National Night Out event August 2 at Emma Prusch Farm Park. We cooked over 1200 hamburgers and hot dogs for the attendees.
Does getting into the neighborhoods to assist our neighbors that might need a little help, interest you? Get in touch and we will discuss having you come to one of our Rotary Club meetings.
1. BECAUSE WE ARE ABOUT TO ERADICATE A DISEASE, AND YOU CAN BE A PART OF IT
We are 99.9 percent of the way toward ending polio. As of early June, there were only 16 cases of wild poliovirus in the world, and many think this could be the year we see the last naturally occurring case of polio.
As Rotary and our partners work to eradicate the poliovirus in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the remaining endemic countries, we also continue immunization campaigns in other high-risk countries to ensure that the disease remains gone for good. You can participate on the ground. Email polioplus@rotary.org to connect with Rotarians leading upcoming trips.
Also consider using your network to spread the word and make sure polio stays on the global agenda. Provide a link to endpolio.org in your email signature. Follow End Polio Now on Facebook and Twitter and share the story of polio eradication with your social networks. When your legislators speak at club meetings, make sure you bring up polio funding. “The fact we are grassroots enables us to have a tremendous amount of influence,” says International PolioPlus Chair Michael McGovern. Host a community event to celebrate World Polio Day on 24 October; register your event and download resources at endpolio.org.
Donate now and your contribution will be matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Go to www.endpolio.org.
2. BECAUSE YOU ARE CONNECTED TO PEOPLE WHO TAKE ACTION
Olympia LePoint
Rotary Club of Los Angeles
is a rocket scientist who helps others overcome their fears.
Kenton Lee
Rotary Club of Nampa, Idaho
invented a shoe that can be adjusted to five foot sizes so that children always have a pair that fits.
Lisa McCoy
Rotary Club of Gravenhurst, Ont.
provides bicycles to Cambodian children so they can get to school.
Ron Bowden
Rotary Club of Toowoomba East, Australia
helped found a “men’s shed,” a communal building stocked with tools for light carpentry, where people gather to tinker and socialize.
Carole Kimutai
Rotary Club of Nairobi-East, Kenya
climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money to end polio.
Neli Vazquez-Rowland
Rotary Club of Chicago
tackles homelessness, unemployment, and addiction in Chicago.
Cathy Groenendijk
Rotary Club of Juba, South Sudan
risks her life to help girls who have been orphaned by the war in South Sudan.
Todd Bol
Rotary Club of Hudson, Wis.
founded the Little Free Library movement, with more than 36,000 book exchanges in all 50 states and 70 countries.
Filipe Senna Fernandes
Rotary Club of Macau
is a business consultant and marketing professional by day and a disc jockey by night.
Planning a project and need help?
Rotarian experts offer advice to other members through Rotary’s action group network and the Foundation’s cadre system.
To get in touch with a cadre adviser who can help you plan and execute a grant project anywhere in the world, visit www.rotary.org/cadre-technical-advisers.
3. BECAUSE OUR FOUNDATION IS 100 YEARS STRONG
Founded in the midst of a world war, our Foundation grew up during a global depression and a second world war to become one of the world’s leading foundations. Its story is one of vision, compassion, and generosity. What began as modest projects that helped relatively small groups of people gradually expanded, and today more than $3 billion has been spent on programs and projects transforming millions of lives around the globe. Together, Rotarians are attacking poverty, disease, and lack of education, and bringing peace through grant-funded projects in our areas of focus.
Celebrate the Foundation centennial by bringing your community together.
No matter how large or small, your gift makes a difference.
Already supporting The Rotary Foundation? Make it automatic via Rotary Direct, which allows you to choose the amount and frequency that are right for you. Get started at www.rotary.org/give.
Considering a large gift? Endowed gifts are invested in perpetuity, with a portion of their earnings spent on a designated program. Special naming opportunities are available for endowed gifts to recognize the donor or a loved one. Learn more at www.rotary.org/take-action/give/recognition.
4. BECAUSE WE KNOW ALL ABOUT SOCIAL NETWORKING
In 1905, a lonely Paul Harris was looking for camaraderie and a way to build a professional network. Today, that network is 1.2 million members strong who are connected to other leaders in their own communities and around the world. Keep up with those connections in the My Rotary online community, where you can join a discussion group or start a new one. Share your interests and activities at www.myrotary.org/exchange-ideas. Expand your Rotary network by attending a Rotary International Convention (the next one is in Atlanta in June; visit riconvention.org for details) and keep up with your connections near and far on social media: Check out Rotary’s pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
5. BECAUSE THE GOOD YOU DO REALLY DOES COME BACK TO YOU
Through the Global Rewards program, Rotary and Rotaract members can take advantage of discounts on car rentals, hotels, dining, entertainment, and a wide variety of other products. (Marriott, Amazon.com, Costco, and Ikea are just a few of the businesses that participate.) Many members also offer discounts from their own businesses. Use it as a way to save money on a club project or to support a member-owned business. Products and services are added every week; find out what’s new at www.rotary.org/globalrewards.
Met someone you think would be great for Rotary? Use the same membership referral tool to connect them with the right club.
6. BECAUSE MEMBERSHIP JUST BECAME A LOT MORE FLEXIBLE
Rotary clubs now have more options for attracting members and keeping them involved. In April, representatives from Rotary districts around the world met to revise Rotary’s policies, approving changes that give clubs greater flexibility in when, where, and how they meet and the types of membership they offer. For example, clubs may now:
Structure their meetings however they like, as long as they meet at least twice a month. Want your service events and monthly socials to count as meetings? No problem. Prefer to offer both online and in-person meeting options? Go for it.
Amend their bylaws to reflect their attendance requirements. Reporting attendance to the district is still expected, but clubs are free to relax or tighten their policies.
Change bylaws to offer additional membership types such as associate, corporate, or family. Want to invite colleagues of the same company to join as corporate members who alternate attendance at meetings? Do it.
Invite a Rotaract member or younger professional to join at a lower financial and time commitment. Rotaractors who meet the qualifications of membership can now join a Rotary club without giving up their Rotaract status. Relatively few Rotaract members make the jump to Rotary when they turn 30. This change may facilitate Rotaractors’ transition to Rotary clubs.
These changes were made after Rotary carried out several years of pilot programs to explore innovations in membership, classification, and the club experience. Consistently, the research found that when clubs have more freedom to determine how they meet, whom they invite to join, and what defines engagement, the club is more vibrant and able to grow.
7. BECAUSE OUR WORK TO SUPPORT PEACE AND END CONFLICT IS MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE – ONE PERSON AT A TIME
8. BECAUSE ROTARY’S SCHOLARSHIPS HELP THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS
Clubs and districts can support scholarships with either a district grant (for any level of study) or a global grant for graduate study in one of Rotary’s areas of focus. A student could study anywhere in the world and for any length of time on a district grant-funded scholarship. The district provides all administrative and logistical support for this type of scholar. Rotary clubs that use global grants to support their scholarships may do so only for graduate students studying abroad in one of Rotary’s six areas of focus. Scholarships range from one to four years and can include an entire degree program. Prospective scholars have to show proof of admission to the chosen university and participate in club or district activities before, during, and after the scholarship.
Did you know? The Rotary Foundation also offers a limited number of scholarships for water and sanitation professionals to study at UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands. Rotarians interview applicants who have been admitted to the institute and recommend scholarship candidates. Learn more at www.unesco-ihe.org/rotary.
Rotary’s Areas of Focus
Providing clean water
Supporting education
Fighting disease
Saving mothers and children
Growing local economies
Promoting peace
9. BECAUSE SCIENCE SAYS ROTARIANS ARE HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER
Rotary club meetings offer the type of genuine social connection that triggers our bodies to release oxytocin, the so-called happiness hormone, and reduce levels of cytokines, pro-inflammatory proteins that signal the immune system to work harder and are often associated with poor health and depression. In fact, data from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index show that adults who volunteer and receive recognition for community involvement have higher overall well-being scores and experience less stress than their peers. Psychologists from the University of Queensland, Australia, found that membership in multiple social groups can boost self-esteem, and not just because of the relationships contained within them. The more subjects identified with given groups, the more psychological benefits – purpose, meaning, and a sense of belonging – they gained from their memberships.
10. BECAUSE OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT
If you’ve ever been to a Rotaract meeting or volunteered at RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards), you’ve already glimpsed one of the most vibrant parts of Rotary. Our programs for the 20-something and younger set are designed to mentor young leaders and bring generations together. Rotary recently relaxed its membership requirements, allowing Rotaract members to join a Rotary club without giving up their Rotaract membership. The change helps Rotaract members find the Rotary club that fits them best. Get involved with Rotary’s programs for young leaders in your area. Learn more at www.rotary.org/rotaractinteractryla.
Interact is a club for people ages 12 to 18 who want to connect with others in their community or school. Clubs organize at least two service projects a year: one that benefits their community and one that encourages international understanding.
RYLA is a leadership development program. While participants can be any age, most events focus on secondary school students, university students, or young professionals. RYLA events are typically three to 10 days long and include presentations, activities, and workshops.
Rotaract brings together people ages 18 to 30 in universities and communities worldwide to organize service activities, develop leadership and professional skills, and have fun.
We were impressed with the goals and dedication of our speakers at today's meeting. Darrell and Alicia Cortez lead a team of volunteers for Shop With a Cop Silicon Valley. They work with kids at Santee Elementary School; improving reading skills and community/police relationships. They have a fundraiser coming up Aug 20- Tacos and Margaritas anyone? Check it out, and do plan on attending. Also let your friends and family know.
RI President K.R. Ravindran shares a personal story of triumph over polio at the closing session of the 107th Rotary convention.
Photo Credit: SJ Cho
RI President K.R. Ravindran closed the convention in Korea on Wednesday, 1 June, with a poignant story about his mother's fight to survive polio at age 30.
When Ravindran was 11 years old in his native Sri Lanka, his mother awoke one day feeling weak and short of breath. Sitting down to rest, she found herself unable to move. The polio virus had quickly invaded her nervous system, resulting in paralysis.
She was placed in an iron lung at the hospital to enable her to breathe, and was told that her chances of walking, or even surviving without a ventilator, were slim. But most Sri Lankan hospitals were not equipped with ventilators in 1963.
Ravindran's grandfather, a Rotary member, hosted a club committee meeting in his living room the evening after his daughter was rushed to the hospital. Rather than simply offer consolation, his fellow members went to work, using their business acumen and professional connections to find a ventilator.
One of the members was a bank manager who called a government minister to facilitate a quick international transfer of funds. Another member, a manager at SwissAir, arranged to have a ventilator flown in. The next day, it arrived at the hospital.
"There was so much red tape at the time in Sri Lanka, but somehow, those Rotarians made it all fall away," Ravindran told the packed audience at the KINTEX Convention Center in Goyang city.
Ravindran's mother spent a year-and-a-half in a hospital bed, but her condition gradually improved. She eventually left the hospital walking -- with a walker, but upright, on her own two feet.
"Fifty-three years ago, my mother's life was perhaps one of the very first to be saved from polio by Rotarians," Ravindran said. "We have saved millions of lives since then.
"Tonight, I stand before you as her son, and your president, to say that soon -- perhaps not in years but in months -- Rotary will give a gift that will endure forever: a world without polio."
At the convention's general session the day before, Rebecca Martin, director of the Center for Global Health at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, had described how close we are to polio eradication. Earlier that day, Rotary released an additional $35 million in grants to support global efforts to end the crippling disease.
This year's convention, one of the largest in Rotary history, attracted more than 43,000 attendees from over 150 countries. Ravindran, in his final speech to members as their president, emphasized what it really means to be a Rotarian.
"There are people on this planet whose lives are better now because you traversed this earth," he said. "And it doesn't matter if they know that or not. It doesn't matter if they even know your name or not. What really matters is that your work touched lives; that it left people healthier, happier, better than they were before."
LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR
Following Ravindran's remarks, members of Ravindran's Rotary Club of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and RI President-elect John Germ's Rotary Club of Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA, took the stage to exchange club banners, a tradition that unofficially marks the changing of the guard.
Germ told the audience that Rotary is about to begin the most progressive year in its history.
"You told us that we need to change and become more flexible so that Rotary service will be attractive to younger members, recent retirees, and working people," Germ said. "You spoke with clarity, and groundbreaking legislation was passed this year at the Council on Legislation.
"Clubs now have the opportunity to be who they want to be, but at the same time remain true to our core. I'm pleased to share with you that Rotarians all over the world are responding with great excitement."
At the onset, we would all like extend a heart felt Thank You to our Outgoing President Robbie. What a wonderful and Outstanding two years we have had with him. We will miss him standing up at the dais every Thursday welcoming us with his warm, friendly and approachable demeanor. But glad to be now able to sit and chat with him at lunch and continue to work with him on various projects together.
We all Welcome Charlie aboard as our new President. He is all enthused to make it a great Rotary year, with special emphasis on increasing club membership to help work with our neighbors in the upliftment of the most economically challenged areas in Silicon Valley. We whole heartedly support Charlie in all his endeavors, and to work with him to make it an awesome year for our club.
Following are a few dates Charlie would like us to mark in our calendars:
Third Monday of the Month 5:00 p.m. - SJEE Board Meeting at Grace Church
Third Thursday of the Month - Pin Day (Decorate yourself with all the Rotary Pins you have)
Fourth Sunday of the Month - Sunday Friends Volunteer Opportunity
July 30 - Robbie's Debunking Barbecue
Aug 2 - National Night Out
Aug 26 - SJEE Presentation to Faculty Staff of Evergreen College
Aur 27 - Membership Seminar
Sep 12 - SJEE 50th Anniversary Celebrations
Oct 17 - Human Trafficking Seminar S.J. City Council Chambers
July 30, Saturday 6pm 1712 Cherry Ave. corner Pine Ave. San Jose 95125 phone (408) 269 7845.
Summer Fun! Once Again Marissa will be hosting the barbecue at her place. Let's all think of our culinary speciality and sign in to bring it to the event.
Come join your fellow San Jose East/Evergreen Rotarians as we have our Toast and Toast to thank Robbie for serving as club President for 2015-2016. Marisa and Rich Otto have invited us into their home to celebrate.
Please RSVP through Club Runner. Under UPCOMING EVENTS, click on TOAST AND TOAST. You will be taken to page describing this event. Top left corner of that page click on "Members". You will be taken to the registration page. On the registration page, you will be able to describe what you will be bringing.
We need: Entrees e.g. BBQ meats (cooked or to be cooked), appetizers, salad, and desserts, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks 3 to 4 or each. Rich will BBQ Beer Can Chicken.
This Thursday, July 7, will be the first club meeting of the new Rotary year. The committee chairs of the 5 Avenues of Service will be presenting the current idea of what projects will be done this year. I believe this is different than what has been done before.
The idea is for all of us to see what is going on and either buy into it or make suggestions. Another hoped for outcome is that SJEE club members will step up and volunteer to help the committees and even come up with a new idea he/she will implement.
From what I have been told, there will be more non-Rotarians in attendance than normal. If everyone with whom I chatted about membership shows up, there will be 5 potential members.
Please plan on attending the meeting. I will be starting it at 12:15 so arriving at 12 noon to socialize and get food would be helpful.
Let's start the year off with a big bang and grow the club's presence in the communities both local and internationally.
Yours In Rotary,
Charlie.
Welcome Aboard Charlie - A Message from our New President
June 9, 2016 - Craig Needham talks about Polio and Its Effect on Families
Craig’s mom had polio and was confined to an iron lung for 13 years from 1949 to 1962. He shared his recollections and insights about his mother’s struggles and acceptance of her condition.
And Now This after having had a Polio free India for many years. Hoping it turns out to be a false alarm.
Polio virus resurfaces in Hyderabad after 5 years
HYDERABAD: The Telangana government on Tuesday sounded a "global emergency" after an active strain of wild polio virus (P2 strain) was detected in a water sample collected from a drain, prompting it to airlift two lakh vaccines from Geneva to inoculate more than three lakh children in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy district as a "preventive measure" from Wednesday.
Vaccine Derived Polio Virus (VDPV) strain has not been seen in the country for more than five years. While no case of polio has been reported so far, the strain, doctors said, must be contained as it continues to be reported in neighbouring countries and West Asia that are well connected with Hyderabad. The government said it's launching a massive vaccination programme as a preventive measure.
"The government has decided to conduct a special campaign against polio in Hyderabad and parts of Ranga Reddy from June 20 to June 26," said Rajeshwar Tiwari, principal secretary, health. He added that this wasn't the first time that the strain was traced. The wild polio strain was previously detected in Bihar, Gujarat, UP and even Delhi.
The strain was found in a sewerage sample taken from the Amberpet sewerage treatment plant on May 17, during routine surveillance after 30 samples were taken from various parts of the city. The earlier administered oral polio vaccine contained P1, P2 and P3 strains, but with the P2 strain of the virus not surfacing in a long time, the vaccines too did not contain the P2 strain.
"In this case, the P2 strain is vaccine derived. Someone vaccinated 10 months to a year back released the strain through stool. Such rare cases happen when a child's immunity is very low. To avoid such stray cases, that happens one in a million, the P2 strain is no longer given even in vaccines," said Dr G Srinivasa Rao, chief programme officer, National Health Mission, Telangana.
"We'll be following WHO-set standards during our programmes," he added. As part of the special campaign, children aged between six weeks to three years will be given additional doses of the injectable polio vaccine (IPV). Booths will be set up in areas being covered in these campaigns.
Officials said they would deploy monitoring teams to all these places, but there won't be any door-to-door vaccination campaign. Parents of children living in these areas will be encouraged to ensure their children get the IPV dose from the vaccine booth, which will provide additional protection against all types of polio.
The strain was found in a sewage sample taken from the Amberpet sewerage treatment plant on May 17, during a routine check after 30 samples were taken from various parts of Hyderabad
I'd like to begin preparing a list of volunteers for the Sunday Friends program at Lowell Elementary School on Sunday June 26th. Charlie Wasser has invited County Supervisor Cindy Chavez to join him at the school that day, and it would look VERY good if our Rotary club showed up in a big way! Help us make an impact on Ms. Chavez and the Sunday Friends community by volunteering to help out. We'll start at 11:00 am, and plan on being there until 4:00 pm. If you can only donate a few hours, that's okay. Bring your friends and family, they will surely enjoy the experience.
Please speak to me on Thursday, or respond via email and let me know if you'd be able to come out and help us that day. We want to be a strong ally for Sunday Friends in their wonderful efforts. Wear your "Rotarian At Work" T-shirts!
What a great way to socialize and help raise money for the community projects done by the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen. We are holding a whiskey tasting. There will be 5 whiskeys from different areas and food. I bet most of you have not been to a whiskey tasting. What a wonderful way to find out what this event type is like and enjoy learning about whiskey.
The event will be held at the Turf Club on the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. The facility is as upscale as it sounds and is part of the Fairgrounds' Off-Track betting complex. If you have not been to the Fairgrounds for a while. this event is reason enough to go and meet friends and make new friends while helping raise money for projects to assist our neighbors in San Jose East, some of the poorer areas of Silicon Valley.
Buy tickets online with an added $3.74 service charge to the $50.00 price or get in touch with Charlie. Tickets are expected to sell quickly.
Jun 9, 2016 Craig Needham will talk about Polio and Its Effect on Families
Craig’s mom had polio and was confined to an iron lung for 13 years from 1949 to 1962. He is going to share his recollections and insights about his mother’s struggles and acceptance of her condition. Craig is a graduate of Bellarmine, Santa Clara and Hastings Law School. He is a trial lawyer, mediator, and law professor in San Jose and has an active law practice in San Jose.
Jun 16, 2016 Darlene Sanchez Tenes of CasQ - A Hispanic Lifestyle Company will be our guest.
Ms. Tenes founded Marketing Maniacs, Inc., in 1998, an award winning Silicon Valley public relations and marketing firm and in 2005 CasaQ, a Hispanic Lifestyle Company. Since 2003 Ms. Tenes has been a regular contributor on television as a Latino Lifestyle expert discussing history, foods, and traditions of Mexico, Spain and other Latin-American countries. Known for her micro-history lessons and quick wit she became a favorite guest sharing recipes, entertaining tips and more with the television audience.
Jun 23, 2016 Club Dark - Off to Gilroy Gardens for "Toast and Toast" for our incoming and outgoing District Governers.
June 30, 2016 Club Dark - Off to the Hills for RYLA Barbecue.
In line with what our speaker Angelera Siveira of "Step Up Silicon Valley" talked about last week about poverty in Silicon Valley, Sara forwarded this article that followed in the Mercury News.....
The median price for a one-bedroom apartment is $3,590 in San Francisco, $2,290 in San Jose and $2,270 in Oakland, according to the report.
San Jose is now the nation's third costliest city for renters, according to a new report from Zumper. Oakland is the fifth most costly, tied with Washington, D.C.
Angelera talked about how her organization uses Community Action Poverty Simulation to educate everyone, about the day to day realities of living in poverty in the Valley. Participants role play the lives of low income families to maintain self sufficiency on Social Security and other government offered incentives to provide themselves with food, shelter and other basic necessities. This model sponsored by groups of volunteers helps come up with creative ways to measure poverty and ways to cut poverty. Silicon Valley has 18% of its population living below the level of self sufficiency compared to the country average of 10%, because of high costs of living here.
Getting down to the wire for the Whiskey Tasting. June 17.
We really need to get a count on the number of tickets sold. The idea of this event was to be unique from the perspective of what it is and where it will be held. This should make it not so difficult to sell tickets.
Because of the crab situation, the crab feed dinner morphed into lasagna and did not really bring in sufficient funds for the year. As we all know there are many projects with which Rotarians can become involved. But like everything else in the world, these usually take money. We are in a deficit for the year so far.
To break even on this event, we need 38 tickets sold. Incredibly we are not there yet. I will suggest to the board on Friday of this week to consider cancelling the event if ticket sales do not vastly improve. Selling below minimum numbers will have the opposite effect of raising funds.
As an aside, Silicon Valley Rotaract has volunteered to collect tickets and the Fairgrounds are handling all the arrangements. Everything is in place for a wonderful fun evening and a chance to raise money for the club's projects.
This is the link to Eventbrite to buy tickets online. Get in touch with Sara if you would rather have tickets handed to you or to those who buy them through you.
More than 42,000 Rotary members from over 100 countries will come together in Korea to celebrate Rotary.
Photo Credit: Photo by Rotary International/Alyce Henson
Korea is playing host to Rotary's largest event of the year, its annual convention. More than 42,000 Rotary members from over 100 countries will come together this month to celebrate service, exchange ideas, and relax among friends at unforgettable concerts and social events. The convention runs from 28 May to 1 June.
Attendees will hear from renowned experts in areas of peace, global health, and human rights.
Our full coverage will include photos, videos, a live blog, and social media pages
WORLD WATER SUMMIT
Immediately before the convention, the Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group will host its annual World Water Summit on 27 May, focusing on sustainable strategies for bringing water, sanitation, and hygiene to all communities around the world. The event will feature speeches from experts in the field, including Gary White of Water.org and Sanjay Wijesekera, Chief of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene for UNICEF.
3K WALK FOR PEACE
Attendees, wearing the traditional garb of their home countries, will walk in solidarity for a more peaceful world in the 3K Walk for Peace on 28 May. The event will be complemented by the Rotary Way exhibit, featuring photographs of 111 years of Rotary service.
CONVENTION SPEAKERS
Speakers from 29 May to 1 June include:
Rosie Batty, family violence activist and 2015 Australian of the Year
90%of Reading Partners students in Silicon Valley increased their rates of literacy learning.
24 READING CENTERS
1,100STUDENTS SERVED
1,180VOLUNTEERS
Despite Silicon Valley’s booming job market and influx of international talent, disparities in literacy achievement are growing. Only 59 percent of third graders in Santa Clara County and 55 percent of third graders in neighboring San Mateo County read at a proficient or advanced level, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. In Silicon Valley, where those without a high school degree will earn a median income below the federal poverty line, the stakes for learning to read are high.
Reading Partners was founded in the Silicon Valley in 1999. Since then, Reading Partners has been successfully providing volunteer-led, one-on-one literacy tutoring to K-5 students in three counties across Silicon Valley. We currently operate reading centers in twenty schools in Sunnyvale, San Jose, Redwood City, Hayward, San Mateo, Mountain View, and Atherton.
Our Club hopes to partner with Taryn Kearns and Reading Partners to continue to improve Reading and Literacy in our Neighborhood.
Let’s let everyone know how much fun it was!
Charlie, Robbie and Denise reading with the young’uns at Sunday Friends.
It was a fun day! Lots of activity.
We also were tasked with preparing the lunch break food—we had potatoes, bell peppers, and onions to cut and cook into a hash, and about 12 kids to help us. They earned points for their help.
We don’t seem to have any pictures of that activity, which is too bad, because it was a lot of fun, and the kids are so earnest. Also, we had to arm them with knives, which was very exciting, at times.
Raul Lozano from Valley Verde
Raul enlightened all of us with his sustainable and self sufficient Organic Gardening Program for many under privileged families, done in their own backyards - Working with the families and training them to not only fend for themselves, but to be mentors for new families - Planning a micro business model to help them execute a very successful green house business selling saplings at various nurseries was indeed inspirational to listen to.
Club 50th Anniversary Celebrations - Discussed various ideas and possibilities to make it a memorable event. It could be a single big event or a series of events over the month of September. Some of the ideas discussed were - Formal Dinner and Dance with MC and various little events during the course of the evening with recognition of invited notable guests, History of the Club, Special Tributes, A View of 50 years of our Rotary, Displays, Decorations, Nostalgia etc. or/and separate events like Concerts, Cruise, Barbecue, A Diverse Cultural Program, Fund Raising Event etc. etc. All ideas are welcome. Please contact any of the Committee Members - Charlie, Marissa, Ruth or Suguna.
Sunday Friends - Sign up for Sunday Friends Volunteering Opportunity on May 15th. Anyone still interested please contact Denise Hankes.
It's important that we begin getting ready the auction items for the June 18th Charity Auction we're participating in with the RC of Silicon Valley. It was requested that each of us try to bring in a Wine Bottle this week. Joy will make a wine basket for the auction. Please contact Sara for information about the auction, and submitting the appropriate forms along with the auction items you may be contributing.
Whiskey Tasting Fundraiser, June 17, 7:00 pm in the Turf Club at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds - a great way to socialize and help raise money for the community projects done by the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen. Those interested please contact Charlie or Robbie.
One of the things that is hard to grasp is that there are people that go hungry in Silicon Valley - hard to believe I bet but unfortunately true!!! The following video describes one of the programs on the East Side of San Jose that is addressing this problem to help families grow their own food.
Raul Lozano from Valley Verde will be speaking about the program at the meeting of San Jose East/Evergreen Rotary tomorrow, May 12, 2016. We meet at 12 noon at the Ranch Golf Club in San Jose.
Pope Francis greets Rotary International President K.R. Ravindran at a Jubilee audience at the Vatican on 30 April, where 9,000 Rotary members were special guests of the pontiff.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Vatican
Thousands of Rotary members, motivated by a special invitation from Pope Francis, gathered at the Vatican in Rome on Saturday to celebrate a message of compassion, inclusiveness, and service to humanity.
At midmorning, the group -- numbering some 9,000 members from 80 countries -- made its way through the congested streets of Rome, past the tight security surrounding St. Peter's Square, and settled into the area reserved for Rotary in front of St. Peter's Basilica for the Jubilee audience.
Francis, a 79-year-old Argentine, urged the crowd of more than 100,000, which included members of the police and armed forces from around the world, "to build a culture of peace, security, and solidarity around the world."
His message of peace resonated with Rotary members, including R. Asokan from Tamil Nadu, India. "His message about peace is about accepting. Rotary, which accepts all walks of life, can carry his message to all our clubs, therefore carrying his message to all our communities," says Asokan.
Though Francis is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, his words often reach a wider audience. A poll published earlier this year found him to be one of the most liked and trusted world leaders.
That's what made this event at the Vatican so appealing, says Adriana Lanting, who traveled from California, USA, to attend. "To have such a transcending figure together with a transcending organization like Rotary in the same place is something I just couldn't miss," says Lanting, a member of the Rotary Club of Long Beach.
Madrid Zimmerman, another Long Beach member, isn't Catholic but says Francis has a knack for touching people's hearts regardless of where they're from. "Rotary has the same effect," she adds. "We may have different ways of expressing it, but our [Rotary] action in helping others comes from the same place.
"This event is a reminder that we only have one goal and that's to give service to those who need it. I think that's the message I want to bring back to my club," Zimmerman says.
After the Jubilee audience, Francis met with a small delegation of Rotary members led by RI President K.R. Ravindran. The pope spoke to Ravindran about the importance of vaccinating children against polio and encouraged Rotary to continue its efforts against this disease.
"I have been honored and deeply touched to have had the opportunity to meet Pope Francis earlier today, and to have heard him tell us to continue our fight toward polio eradication," says Ravindran, who is Hindu. "It has given me even more pride in Rotary's past, even more faith in its present, and even more optimism about its future, than ever before."
Hope to see you all this week! It's just us....We need you to plan our 50th anniversary bash...Let's make it a memorable occasion with all our ideas and suggestions!
In preparation for July 1, the new Rotary year, I believe it would be a good idea to have a club visioning session. The visioning exercise would be facilitated for us by district personnel such as Arlene Goldberg and Ron Sekkel that are chartered to do that. It would be held on a Saturday morning from approximately 8:00 am to 12:00 noon. The district facilitators ask that we have at least 10 SJEE Rotarians attend.
They will guide us in expressing ideas and passions of the members of SJEE in a way that the ideas can become viable projects and club activities. With the frame work we develop during that morning, we would then hold a Club Assembly. The Club Assembly will allow us to flesh out the ideas. I have started to ask members to fill positions on the board which will also make some of them committee chairs for the Avenues of Service positions the club by-laws and club constitution mandate. These members will present tentative ideas based on results of the visioning and some more ideas to discuss with the club members.
I looked into booking a tour for our group to visit Sunday Friends.
They only conduct tours at Lowell Elementary on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month.
I have taken the liberty of scheduling a tour on this coming Sunday, April 24th from 1:00-2:00 pm at
Lowell Elementary
625 S.7th Street
San Jose, CA 95112
With your permission, I will announce it at our next Rotary lunch meeting, and
take down names of those who would like to come. I will also have a flyer with a map.
Next month’s dates fall on Mother’s Day (May 8th), and the next tour after that is on May 15th. I have a piano
recital that day. So those dates won’t work for me.
I know it’s short notice, but the May dates won’t work, and June is too far out, I think.
On April 21, Stephanie Shaterian will speak about video production. Her description of the talk is as follows.
Visions of a killer marketing video dancing in your head but not sure how to execute one within your time and budget constraints? The key components to making irresistible marketing videos remain the same whether you plan to DIY, outsource certain services or hire a production company for the whole shebang (hint: it’s in the storytelling).
There’s no reason to hold yourself back from turning your marketing video vision into reality. After attending this talk, you’ll have the necessary knowledge to develop a compelling marketing video and a basis for comparing your execution options.
Join us for lunch if you are not yet a Rotarian and want to hear the talks and check us out. We meet on Thursdays at the Ranch Golf Club, 4601 Hill Top View Ln, San Jose, CA 95138. People start to gather around 12:00 noon and the meeting starts at 12:15 pm.
There is a $20.00 cost for lunch.
Hope to see you at a SJEE Rotary Club meeting soon.......
Regional leaders from around the globe gathered at Rotary World Headquarters in Evanston in early March for training they will use to inspire members in their respective areas.
Several participants - most of whom will begin their term on 1 July - noted that the true measure of the institute's success will be how well the information they learned is transmitted to Rotary members.
"We have to realize that training doesn't stop at the district level," said Michael Boyer, a Rotary public image coordinator from Pismo Beach, California, USA. "We train people really well to be governors and club presidents but we have to realize that we also have to train our members in how to talk about Rotary."
Boyer said his goal is to ensure that members can discuss Rotary's brand in a clear and compelling way. "We have to make our club presidents understand they can't just stand in front of their club and say, 'Go invite members.' They actually have to train members in how to ask and what to say," he said.
March 17th marks the day of St Patrick, celebrated by millions of people around the world. In Ireland, St Patrick’s Day was always held as an important religious day but today its celebrated as Ireland’s national holiday.
There are a number of things that are associated with St Patrick’s Day and the whole celebration that surrounds it. Some are old Irish traditions and are directly related to celebrating the Patron Saint of Ireland and others are more recent such as being Irish for a day.
The wearing of the green on St Patrick’s Day
Many people wear something green on St Patrick ’s Day which is known in the U.S. and other countries as wearing of the green. Usually people would wear green to show their Irish heritage & culture on the day that everyone’s Irish but in Ireland the wearing of the green doesn’t really exist, well in terms of celebrating our culture. However, we do wear Shamrocks to symbolize the teaching of the holy trinity by St Patrick – although we’ve no real evidence this was actually trued. A small bunch of Shamrocks would be pinned to the breast of our outer coats and should be away worn when attending Church.
Holy day of obligation
Most, if not all, practising Christians in Ireland will attend Church as St Patrick’s Day is a Holy Day of Obligation. Family members would attend Church wearing their shamrocks and afterwards head home for a large roast, similar to a typical Sunday roast. Some families would sit around and watch the St Patrick’s day parades take place in Dublin, New York, Chicago and other major cities.
The drinking of green beer
In Ireland you would be hard pushed to find a pub that served green beer and actual fact this is not a typical tradition of Ireland but is that of the U.S. & Canada. Some places in Ireland, such as Dublin, may have a few pubs that will serve green beer but for the most part it’s not something we generally do.
Did you know that pubs in Ireland had to remain shut for St Patrick’s Day? It wasn’t until the late 1970’s the Irish law permitted pubs to open their doors on March 17th.
A day of parades & festivals
Another American tradition for celebrating St Patrick’s day is the parades. First started in New York City in 1766 the parades have become a major attraction for millions around the world. Today hundreds of parades take places in many different countries with thousands in attendance.
Did you know that it wasn’t until 1995 when the Irish government decided to start holding a parade in Dublin, to help boost tourism?
It’s now known in Ireland as St Patrick’s festival which takes place over 5 days with events including art shows, plays, concerts, fun fairs and the main parade.
This month I enjoyed hearing from Rich Thomas and Frances Negranza --both representing the Santa Clara County Fair and Fairgrounds.
It was great to hear from Rich that the County Fair is still a vital part of our culture; that 4-H members still show the animals they've raised; that creative people enter all manner of goods and art to be judged; that entertainment is top-notch; that corn dogs are still sold, and that the Fair grows with the culture -- there will be a robotics demonstration!
Rich also described that the Fairgrounds are rented by promoters for special shows and races and that several cultural festivals are booked yearly...truly a multi-use facility.
Frances' area of concentration is education - there's a great area in the fairground that teaches kids the cycle of growing food and she recently got the "go ahead" to present information in classrooms.
We had another kind of meeting as well. Eleanor Vogelsang, Community Relations Manager of CLOSE UP Washington DC came to introduce herself and, of course, we pressed her to stay for lunch. We learned that "Close Up Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan civic education organization driven by a mission to inform, inspire, and empower youth to be actively engaged citizens in our democracy." Certainly we can all agree this is a greatly needed service.
Eleanor will be our speaker this week on the topic, Close Up Teaching Students about Life and Responsibilities of Individuals in a Democracy. In the current national political climate I'm looking forward to being inspired too!
More than 660 million people worldwide do not have access to clean drinking water and 2.4 billion lack adequate sanitation facilities.[i] Although comparatively few people die from thirst, waterborne diseases claim the lives of nearly 1,000 children each day.
A GATEWAY TO MANY HUMANITARIAN BENEFITS
Accessibility to clean water and sanitation prevents waterborne diseases and reduces the time spent securing water from distant sources, enabling mothers to devote more time to helping their families earn a living and children to receive an education. As a result, our work in providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene is catalytic to efforts in Rotary’s other areas of focus: fighting disease, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies, and promoting peace.
ROTARY’S ROLE
Rotary carries out sustainable projects – a goal of our strategic plan – to bring positive, lasting change to communities locally and globally. One of our areas of focus is working with communities to develop and maintain sustainable access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Rotarians support communities’ efforts to improve access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) through creation of infrastructure, such as boreholes, rainwater harvesting systems, ventilated pit latrines, and hand-washing stations. Rotarians also invest in training and educational opportunities for community members to operate and maintain these systems for the long-term.
ROTARY AT WORK
· RI-USAID International H20 Collaboration – The collaboration is a strategic partnership that brings together USAID’s technical expertise and Rotary’s network of grassroots volunteers to boost access to WASH infrastructure, strengthen delivery of WASH services, promote hygiene education, and mobilize communities and resources in developing countries. Rotary and USAID have committed $4 million to Ghana and $4 million to Uganda.
· Kenya – Rotary clubs in Kenya and Maryland and Idaho, USA, partnered with Genesis World Mission to create a rainwater catchment system to provide clean drinking water, irrigate crops, and establish fish farms in Burangi, Kenya. The global grant-funded project is multiplying crop yields and improving health for community residents.
· Tanzania - The Rotary clubs of Same, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, and Ames, Iowa, USA, are working with the village of Kigogo to provide access to safe water through a well and gravity-pressurized system. They are also building the capacity of the local governing committee to manage, maintain, and operate these systems long-term, and providing hygiene education and training to villagers.
· WASH in Schools –The Rotary WASH in Schools Target Challenge is launching in 2016 in two areas of focus: water and sanitation, and basic education and literacy. Rotarians in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, and India are aiming to provide comprehensive water, sanitation and hygiene services, and improve educational performance. To do this, Rotarians will be guided by WASH, behavior change, and educational benchmarks that build on each other and on the work Rotarians are already doing in the field.
· UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education – Rotary sponsors 10 students annually in master of science programs at the institute in Delft, the Netherlands, as part of a strategic partnership. The institute is the only graduate school in the world dedicated to international water management.
Join your fellow San Jose East/Evergreen Rotarians and District 5170 Rotarians for a night of training and fun. The District 5170 District Training Assembly will be held on March 24. It is designed for all Rotarians especially those that have leadership roles in the 2016-2017 Rotary year. It is also good training for Red Badgers and Blue Badgers that need some Rotary information refresh - as in, everyone should attend. There are usually 2 tracks of seminars. This is followed by a dinner and a speaker talking about relevant Rotary topics. More information as it becomes available.
Mar 24, 2016 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
India Community Center
525 Los Coches St.
Milpitas, CA 95035
Please go to the following link to register on the club's site. Charlie will handle the registration
with the district for everyone that signs up on the club site:
One of the keynote speakers at this year’s Rotary International Convention in Korea will be Dananjaya Hettiarachchi, the founder and CEO of a human resources development and communications firm in Sri Lanka. In addition to being a much-sought-after motivational speaker, trainer, and executive coach, Hettiarachchi holds claim to a title that many seek but few attain: world champion of public speaking.
In 2014, Hettiarachchi bested some 33,000 competitors from around the world to become the first Asian-born winner of the Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking, which began in 1938. In his championship speech, “I See Something,” Hettiarachchi recounted how he reversed the course of a troubled youth and got on a path to success after being introduced to a mentor who told him, “I see something in you, but I don’t know what it is.”
THE ROTARIAN: Will it be a special challenge to speak at the Rotary Convention? Have you decided on a topic?
HETTIARACHCHI: More than a challenge, it will be a privilege. Since speaking is what I do day in and day out, it is an opportunity that I look forward to. I have focused on a broader theme of bringing out the leader in you first and how, during that process, you could contribute more toward the people around you and society at large.
TR: What are the essential elements of a good speech?
HETTIARACHCHI: One of the most important elements is to be authentic. Your voice is as unique as your fingerprint. Your voice, tone, rate, pitch, and volume tell who you are. People need to buy in to you before they buy in to what you’re saying or selling.
TR: You have said the most important part of a speech is the pause. Could you explain that?
HETTIARACHCHI: Silence speaks volumes, and a well-placed pause can speak volumes. It is that few seconds of silence that allows the audience to contemplate what you have said and allows the weight of your content to sink in.
TR: Your winning speech, “I See Something,” seems almost as much a stand-up comedy routine as a speech. How important is humor in a speech?
HETTIARACHCHI: Humor is an essential part of communication and public speaking. I wouldn’t classify it as a stand-up routine because stand-up comedy has no message; it has only an entertainment aspect. Humor allows a speaker to connect because it is universal. A speaker uses humor to create a connection that will allow him or her to position a more meaningful message with an audience. In an era when attention spans have diminished, keeping an audience entertained is vital to delivering your message.
TR: What is the more important element of a speech – style or content?
HETTIARACHCHI: I think they are equally important. Content helps you change the mindset of the audience; style helps you to be remembered and keeps people coming back for more.
TR: What is the worst mistake a speaker can make?
HETTIARACHCHI: Making the speech presentation about himself or herself instead of focusing on the message and the audience.
TR: You are the first Asian to win the Toastmasters International World Championship. Contestants are required to speak in English, and your native language is Sinhalese. What challenge does it present to learn to speak in a second language?
HETTIARACHCHI: Learning the language is not that difficult. Using it with confidence in front of native speakers is the challenge. This requires many cycles of learning through failure.
TR: What brings you the most satisfaction in the work you do?
HETTIARACHCHI: It’s when people tell me that I have changed them in some way through the workshops and keynotes that I do. I speak in many countries on peak performance and self-leadership. I live for those moments where the stories, lessons, and insights that I share help people find their purpose and allow them to perform at their peak.
TR: Any insights you would like to share about self-improvement and achieving success?
HETTIARACHCHI: The importance of mentors and teachers in creating a better society and world. The importance of helping yourself first before you help others, to make things more sustainable. The importance of environment in success – how engineering the right environment for people is sometimes better than charity in allowing them to become successful. The power of changing one person at a time has a compound effect.
Hear Dananjaya Hettiarachchi speak at the 2016 Rotary Convention, 28 May-1 June in Korea. Register at www.riconvention.org.
The fierce July sun beat down on us as we approached the field where the match was to take place. It wasn’t much of a soccer pitch, with its uneven terrain and rusty poles for goalposts, but the local teens we had met came ready to play. They guided us over the piles of bricks and broken tiles that separate their neighborhood community center from the field behind it and took their positions.
Much like any schoolyard competitors, incursions from grazing cows notwithstanding, players stretched and warmed up, took turns retrieving out-of-bounds balls, and, after the final goal, lined up to exchange high-fives. The Vietnamese contingent handily outscored our group of American Rotary volunteers, but the defeat was far from bitter. The five Rotarians, four Interactors, and two 20-something alumni of Rotary Youth Leadership Awards had already achieved what they had come to Vietnam to do: distribute durable soccer balls to promote play and to spread Rotary’s message of service and goodwill.
The community center sits on the outskirts of Hoi An, a resort town on the South China Sea. Orange and fuchsia bougainvillea blossoms spill over stalls selling scarves and spices at one of Vietnam’s oldest marketplaces, and along the banks of the Thu Bon River, food vendors serve aromatic pho (noodle soup) and banh mi (sandwiches). By night, tourists dine under glowing silk lanterns at the seaside restaurants and hotels.
The kids we met in Hoi An have a few soccer balls on hand, but are just as likely to kick around rocks or bundles of banana leaves. Tim Jahnigen first observed this phenomenon in 2006 as he watched news footage of a refugee camp in Darfur, Sudan. The children on the screen were playing soccer using a bundle of trash tied with twine. Struck by the evidently universal tendency of children to play no matter how difficult the circumstances, Jahnigen set out to develop a soccer ball tough enough to endure the harshest conditions.
Almost 10 years later, One World Play Project – the company Jahnigen founded with his wife, Lisa Tarver – has provided more than 1.5 million durable soccer balls in over 175 countries. The ball itself is made of a proprietary foamlike blend that bounces like a soccer ball but won’t puncture, deflate, or otherwise fall apart.
“Play is vital for humans to thrive,” Tarver says, echoing recent research. “Play is one of the most effective therapies for any kind of trauma or hardship, whether in refugee camps or inner cities afflicted with gang violence – anywhere kids have suffered human rights abuses or the effects of poverty or natural disasters. Play is what allows them to recover and connect with their community.”
Our club meeting on February 18 can be described in a word: Inspirational.
Ten Independence High School Interactors came to visit on their spring break to share progress toward their goals. They are well on their way to another banner year!
Club members Richard Dorsay and Nick Leon presented information on our club’s International Projects.
Richard told of the on-going improvements made at Chamabondo School in Zimbabwe; students aren’t learning while seated on the bare ground anymore—classrooms, desks, chairs, curriculum materials and even a computer lab have been added over the years. Now funds are being raised to provide scholarships to assist Aids orphans and children living in poverty to continue their schooling.
Richard also told us about a new project in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Jerusalem. 60 students, 30 Jewish and 30 Muslim, will be hosted for a 6-week course in peacemaking.
Nick presented a narrated slide show documenting the many improvements at Hanspakara Tribal School where our club has been involved along with the Rotary Club of Calcutta Uptown for several years. Among the accomplishments there, students & their families have a big change in how they get drinking water. Instead of a multi-use pond of contaminated water, they now have access to well water, pumped through a pipeline to faucets at the school.
To quote club president, Robbie, “that’s what Rotary is all about!”
Rotary's first fiscal year began the day after the first convention ended. The convention of the Rotary Clubs of America was held in Rotary’s birthplace, Chicago, in 1910.
Ever wonder why the Rotary year begins 1 July? The international convention initially played a key role in determining the start date of our fiscal and administrative year.
Rotary's first fiscal year began the day after the first convention ended, on 18 August 1910. The 1911-12 fiscal year also related to the convention, beginning with the first day of the 1911 convention on 21 August.
At its August 1912 meeting, the Board of Directors ordered an audit of the International Association of Rotary Clubs' finances. The auditors recommended that the organization end its fiscal year on 30 June to give the secretary and treasurer time to prepare a financial statement for the convention and board, and determine the proper number of club delegates to the convention.
The executive committee concurred, and at its April 1913 meeting, designated 30 June as the end of the fiscal year. This also allowed for changes to the schedule for reporting club membership and payments. Even The Rotarian changed its volume numbering system to correspond to the fiscal year (beginning with vol. 5, July 1914).
Rotary continued to hold its annual conventions in July or August until 1917. Delegates to the 1916 event in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, approved a resolution to hold future conventions in June, mainly because of the heat in cities where most of them occurred. The next one was held 17-21 June in Atlanta, Georgia.
The term "Rotary year" has been used to signify Rotary's annual administrative period since at least 1913. An article in The Rotarian that July noted, "The Rotary year that is rapidly drawing to a close has been signalized by several highly successful joint meetings of Clubs that are so situated as to assemble together easily and conveniently."
Since the executive committee's decision in 1913, the end of the Rotary year has remained 30 June.
On February 11, Hilbert Morales, Publisher Emeritus of El Observador, the Spanish language newspaper in San Jose and a regular visitor to the club, will speak on the role of local community news in its development socially, economically, and influence on public policy. He will look at how the city of San Jose changed from a citywide election to election by district.
On Thursday, January 28, our Rotary Club will host its annual Richard D. King Speech Contest. I invite you to be a part of the audience to hear contestants from local high schools deliver inspiring speeches based on the 2015-16 Rotary International Theme: Be a Gift to the World.
Please arrive between 11:30 AM and 11:45 AM to check in, go through the banquet line, and be seated so we can start the contest at 12 noon.
Ruth Ashford
Club Co-Speech Chair 2015-16
Club Vice President and Foundation Chair 2015/16
Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen
President 2006-7 "Lead the Way"
When I was an undergraduate, one of my professors expressed the interesting idea that scholars should stop studying the causes of war. He suggested that conflicts occur all the time and that the natural state is war. He proposed that we should be studying the causes of peace, as that is the less common situation. Paul Harris expressed a similar view in 1945: "The way to war is a well-paved highway and the way to peace is still a wilderness," he said in a recorded interview in Tuskegee, Alabama.
Rotary International says our Peace Fellows “study the root causes of conflict,” but if you look at the curricula from the universities offering this unique degree, you will see emphasis on “peace studies.” Many of the courses feature work in conflict resolution; that is, nonviolent means of resolving differences. The descriptions of their programs include terms such as “peacekeeping,” “peace building,” “strategies for promoting peace and stability.”
While Rotary’s emphasis rightly continues to be on polio eradication, the inception of the Rotary Peace Centers and Peace Fellows program may be the initiative that secures Rotary’s role in the world. Rotary has a long history of promoting peace, and the Rotary Peace Centers are the embodiment of this long-term Rotary interest. In 1923, Paul Harris offered an opinion as to the real mission of Rotary.
“Is there anything more potent than man's impulse to hate? I think that there surely is and that it is man's impulse to love. What have we been advertising throughout the centuries? We have been advertising war. The pages of history reek with it. In the days of my childhood, no education was considered well begun until hatred of alien races had been burned into one's mind. It was surely wonderful advertising and done just in the nick of time. The child mind is a delicate film, wonderfully impressionable. Love is mightier than hate. Give it one half the advertising that hate has had, and there will be no more war.”
He goes on to comment:
“Rotary is now international in its scope. The most acute problems of one country at a particular time are not necessarily the most critical of another at that same time. The most acute problems of a country at one time are not necessarily the most acute problems of that same country at another time. Great Britain was in the maelstrom of the war from the beginning to the end. Would it not be natural and proper that to British Rotarians the most valued service which Rotary can possibly render the world at this time is in giving of itself to the preservation of world peace?”
The Rotary interest in achieving peace has continued throughout its 110-year history. As PRIP Frank Devlyn said in 2006, “In Rotary we have always practiced and have an ongoing policy of promoting better understanding and peace.” Rotary was instrumental in the formation of the United Nations and has continued that collaboration for 70 years. Rotary holds regular peace symposiums and forms throughout the world, and in fact had a Presidential Peace Conference in Ontario, California earlier this month.
The Rotary Peace Centers that Rotary created in 2002 offers great promise for the future, and it is a program worthy of our support. These Peace Fellows are the best and the brightest, and they choose to put their talents to work in the study of peace. Your financial gifts to the Rotary Peace Centers make you a part of this great effort to promote nonviolent solutions to problems that would otherwise be decided by conflict.
Rotary International President-elect John F. Germ announces his presidential theme 'Rotary Serving Humanity.'
Rotary’s founder, Paul Harris, believed that serving humanity is “the most worthwhile thing a person can do,” RI President-elect John F. Germ said, and that being a part of Rotary is a “great opportunity” to make that happen.
Germ unveiled the 2016-17 presidential theme, Rotary Serving Humanity, to incoming district governors on 18 January at the International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA.
“I believe everyone recognizes the opportunity to serve Rotary for what it truly is: not a small opportunity, but a great one; an opportunity of a lifetime to change the world for the better, forever through Rotary’s service to humanity,” said Germ.
Rotary members around the globe are serving humanity by providing clean water to underdeveloped communities, promoting peace in conflict areas, and strengthening communities through basic education and literacy. But none more important than our work to eradicate polio worldwide, he said.
After a historic year in which transmission of the wild poliovirus was stopped in Nigeria and all of Africa, Germ said we are closer than ever to ending polio.
“We are at a crossroads in Rotary,” he added. “We are looking ahead at a year that may one day be known as the greatest year in Rotary’s history: the year that sees the world’s last case of polio.”
Last year’s milestones leave just two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the virus still circulates. Polio would be only the second human disease ever to be eradicated.
When that moment arrives, it’s “tremendously important” that Rotary is ready for it, said Germ. “We need to be sure that we are recognized for that success, and leverage that success into more partnerships, greater growth, and even more ambitious service in the decades to come.”
Germ, a member of the Rotary Club of Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA, encouraged attendees to return to their clubs and communities and spread the word about Rotary’s role in the fight for a polio-free world.
“People who want to do good will see that Rotary is a place where they can change the world. Every Rotary club needs to be ready to give them that opportunity,” Germ said.
Enhancing Rotary’s image isn’t the only way to boost membership. “We need clubs that are flexible, so our service will be more attractive to younger members, recent retirees, and working people.”
He added: “We need more willing hands, more caring hearts, and more bright minds to move our work forward.”
If you grew up with our Neighborhood, you may remember how we sometimes talked about difficult things. There were days ... even beautiful days ... that weren't happy. In fact, there were some that were really sad.
Well, we've had a lot of days like that in our whole world. We've seen what some people do when they don't know anything else to do with their anger.
I'm convinced that when we help our children find healthy ways of dealing with their feelings--ways that don't hurt them or anyone else--we're helping to make our world a safer, better place.
I would like to tell you what I often told you when you were much younger: I like you just the way you are.
And what's more, I'm so grateful to you for helping the children in your life to know that you'll do everything you can to keep them safe and to help them express their feelings in ways that will bring healing in many different neighborhoods.
January continues to be a strong month for the meeting programs at the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen.
January 21, John Hogan, CEO of Teen Force, will discuss the job training program his organization does. The main thrust is help high school students get their first job. Teen Force is having a new initiative where they are looking to work with Eastside Union High School students to get into the job market. This program is within the mission of the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen to assist community members so it is a must see event. AND we induct John Goldstein during this meeting!
January 28, is the club level annual Richard D. King Speech Contest. Students from local Eastside Union High Schools will write and present their own speeches. The winner of the club contest goes on to compete in the area level and then regional level contests in Rotary District 5170. In addition to the students getting a venue to practice their speaking skills, there are cash prices for winners at the various levels of the contest.
Hope to see you at the club meetings. If you are not yet a member, these four meetings will give you a great feel for what the Rotary Club meetings are like. You will also get an overview of the types of areas and projects with which the club is becoming involved.
Charlie Wasser
Membership and Outreach Chair
Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen
The speaker at Rotary San Jose East/Evergreen's meeting on December 19 was Dr. Hilaria Bauer. Dr. Bauer is the newly appointed superintendent of the Alum Rock Elementary School District. She spoke about the current state and future plans for the school district.
A dynamic speaker, Dr. Bauer gave us a little background about her youth in Mexico; about her work in the district; about Alum Rock ESD not benefiting from the federal "No Child Left Behind" program; about short and long term goals for raising expectations of success for students, families and teachers. She presented a well-organized structure for reaching goals and emphasized the need for universal early childhood education and English proficiency by the 3rd grade as markers for future success.
"When I was very young, most of my childhood heroes wore capes, flew through the air, or picked up buildings with one arm. They were spectacular and got a lot of attention. But as I grew, my heroes changed, so that now I can honestly say that anyone who does anything to help a child is a hero to me."
Rotary's top priority is the eradication of polio, but our members take on far greater responsibilities to fight disease. They set up health camps and training facilities in undeveloped countries and in communities struggling with HIV/AIDS and malaria. They also design and build the infrastructure for doctors, nurses, governments, and partners to reach the one in six people in the world who can't afford to pay for health care.
Disease prevention and treatment takes on many forms, from supporting studies to helping immunize people to improving drinking water and the sanitation infrastructure. The world relies on Rotary to tackle these global challenges, and to set an example for others to follow.
25 Student Families Received Turkeys and All the Sides
[from left] Sara Calkins, Ruth Ashford, Robbie Izat, Debbie Gentry-Rao, Foothill Principal George Sanchez and Yollett Merritt spent a happy morning on November 23, 2015 preparing for our Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen's annual Thanksgiving Food Sharing Project.
We donate the supplies for their Thanksgiving meals to cheer on teen parents who are raising children while completing their high school education. We're proud of their determination to succeed!
Water District Update and Alviso: The History, The Change, and Future Vision
Nov 12, 2015
Richard P. Santos
Water District Update and Alviso: The History, The Change, and Future Vision
Richard P. Santos, long time resident of Alviso and Director of District 3, Santa Clara County Water Board, will give a brief update about the current status of water in the country, and speak in greater detail about the history, present, and projected future of this very unique community nestled at the northern tip of San Jose and historic entrance to the south Bay.
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. As the charitable arm of Rotary, we tap into a global network of Rotarians who invest their time, money, and expertise into our priorities, such as eradicating polio and promoting peace. Foundation grants empower Rotarians to approach challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition with sustainable solutions that leave a lasting impact.
New Member Induction - Welcome to our newest member Brian Wheatley who was inducted into the club by President Robbie and sponsored by Charlie. We wish Brian well, and hope he will make many wonderful memories working with us in serving the community. Brian is a Political Science major from UCLA, has been a teacher is San Jose for many years and is currently serving as President of Evergreen Elementary Teachers Association. Brian will introduce himself formally in one of the future club meets.
Dear Sara was recognized and commended for sponsoring Charlie Wasser, and for her work with our Rotary for the past many years.
Speaker Cindy Chavez- Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez held us spell bound as she talked about Human Trafficking happening rampantly in our very own backyard - in the High Tech Corridor from Oakland to San Francisco to San Jose. Apart from working with various other county departments like VTA, Bay Area Air Quality, Children and Family Services, Cindy has dedicated her time and resources in working with Human Traffickers and has been instrumental in bringing several of them to Justice. Wage theft, Sex Trafficking, Prostitution and Child abuse leave victims traumatized, disoriented and unable to reach out for helpbecause they are terrified of losingfood, housing, visas etc. and also the inability to speak English puts them at a disadvantage. A Trained Task Force comprised of Several Service groups such as Police, Bus Drivers, Fire Fighters, Teachers, Health Care Workers and Watch Dog Communities help the victims by being aware, identifying, and reporting such crimes to law enforcement and government officials. Setting up Zoning Laws, Health Checks, Certification for Design and Permits of various hot spots like Massage Parlors, Bikini Bars and even Shopping Malls are some of the other measures taken up to control the problem. Cindy recommends that weas Rotarians can best help by attending a training session. President Robbie has promised to bring together a few local Rotary Clubs for one big Training Session.
Guests - A local Author Ann Bridges was present at our meet this week. Her new book "Private Offerings" gives us an insider view to Silicon Valley. She has been working with Evergreen College to help students fund projects to help them be more involved with writing and publishing locally to give back to their own neighborhoods. For those of us who are interested, she is having a session with the college on November 4, 2015.
We also had Sergio Jimerez who is running for Council Member for District 2. He is currently the President of Oak Grove Neighborhood Association and is very involved with organizing neighborhood cleanups, and has one every Saturday in different communities. Please visit his Facebook page for more information.
Sunday Friends-President Robbie, Charlie, Ruth, Debbie, Marissa, Suguna, and our newest Rotary member Brian and his lovely spouse Danielle, along with our District 2 Council Member Ash Kiara had the chance to participate in the scheduled tour of Sunday Friends. It is indeed the "The Best Kept Secret in San Jose" and we definitely came back with something to think about. We interacted with the founder, the executive director and some of the volunteers and were amazed with the precision work of the organization. Apart from taking care of education of entire families, every detail of putting together an emotionally, mentally and financially sound family is taken care of. It would be a great place for our Rotarians and especially our interactors to volunteer their time or resources at. They have an event - the Holiday Shopping Spree coming up on November 13 and 20, 2015 for which we have been requested to volunteer. If interested, please contact one of us who have attended the tour or visit their website.
Upcoming Speaker- One of the biggest mysteries ever - Social Security...Our guest speaker Gus Liu will unravel the puzzle for us. Be sure to be there and get an insight into our lives ahead.
Also this week Crab Feed and Christmas Party Planning...That should be a lot of fun! So once again we expect a full house!
Sunday Friends - Our club has been scheduled to attend a tour of "Sunday Freinds" on Oct 25th around Noon. We do remember one of the executive directors Ali Berakat talk to our club about the wonderful organization that works with underprivileged families to try and put them on the right path to a fulfilling life. We do hope that most of us can attend and come back with something to think about.
FLC - As we know, our Club has always been at the forefront working with and sponsoring the maximum no. of interactors from District 5170. So, it has indeed been a pleasure to listen to Nick talk about the InteractorFall Leadership Conference that Ruth, Van, MaryAnn, Sara and Charlie participated in. They attended the workshop for advisors and came back with a plenty of information that will help us council and advise Interactors, actively work and participate in their projects, and attend some of their weekly meetings. For those of us who have signed up as advisors but were not able to attend the workshop, please talk to Nick for advice.
The International Project for the Interactors this year is Human Trafficking.
Day on the Bay - Some of our members including Charlie and Ruth had the chance to attend Day on the Bay at Alviso County Park. It was a big multicultural event with a lot of fun and camaraderie. A good occasion to make our presence felt in the neighborhood. Charlie came back with the info. that the Alviso Rotary Club which is currently running as a Saturday club, may become a chartered club again, once they have enough members.
"None of us are getting out of here alive, so please stop treating yourself like an after thought. Eat the delicious food. Walk in the sunshine. Jump in the ocean. Say the truth that you're carrying in your heart like a hidden treasure. Be silly. Be kind. Be weird. There's no time for anything else." - Sweatpants & Coffee
When two opposite points of view are expressed with equal intensity, the truth does not necessarily lie exactly halfway between them. It is possible for one side to be simply wrong.
-Richard Dawkins, biologist and author (b. 26 Mar 1941)
Here's our next opportunity to spread the word about our club to tens of thousands of people as they attend Supervisor (and fellow SJE/E member) Dave Cortese's DAY ON THE BAY: A Multicultural Health Festival.
Be sure to wear your brand new bright gold Rotary SJE/E t-shirt for instant recognition. Details of our involvement will be discussed at the Oct 8 club meeting.
10am - 3pm
Alviso Marina County Park
Just down the street from the South Bay Yacht Club where our Annual Crab Feed is scheduled on Dec 12.
Nearly 1.4 billion employed people live on less than $1.25 a day. Our members promote economic and community development and reduce poverty in underserved communities through training, well-paying jobs, and access to financial management institutions. Projects range from providing people with equipment to vocational training. Our members work to strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.
Rotary members help Indian weavers achieve better wages and working conditions.
October is Economic and Community Development Month
Charlie, Sara and Suguna from our Club had the chance to attend the PRSeminar on September 22, conducted by DistrictPRChairDeborahRice. She stressed the fact that everysingleone of us in Rotary is a part of the PRcommittee.
Ideas: Cross Club Promotion, Short Promotional and Project Video Clips in Newsletters and Web Sites - College And High School Kids do an Excellent Job, Keeping Web Site Current, Honorary Rotarianship to Local Newspaper Editors and TV or Radio Personnel, Story of Ethnic Interest to local Ethnic Newspapers, Newspaper inserts, Car Plaques, Dress up Rotary, Banners, and of course Interesting Crowd Pulling events were some of the concepts discussed to help promote Rotary in our neighborhood. We can discuss more at our next meeting.
The concept that Sunday Friends follows to work with low income families to break the cycle of poverty is refreshing. Speaking at our club meet on September 17, one of the board members Ali Berakat explained how the entire family is involved in the learning and giving process, by engaging them in various classes and interesting activities. The children and their families earn money in the form of tickets for various activities and achievements, which they use to buy supplies from the Sunday Friends store - be it clothing, school supplies, books etc. Through this concept the children and their families learn, on hand, financial concepts like math, banking, savings, loans and interest, computer skills - basically all the STEM concepts (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). For more information and volunteering opportunities please visit sundayfriends.org. Our Rotary Club can plan a visit to their center for a 45 minute tour, offered on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month.
"How to love people who irritate you? Why are they irritating you? Simply because, they are not the way you expect them to be. They are not the way you want them to be. If you believe in God, then the person who irritates you also happens to be a creation of God, and he seems to be such a masterpiece that he can just irritate the hell out of you, isn’t it? So, don’t deceive yourself. Just see irritation is happening because you have already decided what is right and what is wrong. You have decided, “This is the right way to be.” If they’re some other way, they will irritate you first, then you will get angry, then you will hate them, then you will want to kill them. This is a natural progression simply because you are expecting everybody in the world to be like you. If everybody in the world were like you, could you be here? In your own home, if there was one more person like you, could you live in that house? It’s very good that everybody in the world is the way they are. The person who is sitting next to you right now, if you look at them, you will see there is no other human being like this person anywhere in this planet. There never was one, there never will be one. There isn’t another one like that, and it is such a miracle for you that today you are sitting next to this human being who is absolutely unique. Where is the question of irritation? You’re blind, that is why you are irritated " - "From a Blog"
"Happy is the person who is able to distinguish the real from the unreal, the eternal from the transient and the good from the bad by his/her discrimination and wisdom. Twice blessed is the person who knows true love and can love all God's creatures. The one who combines within his/her mortal frame knowledge, love, and selfless service for the welfare of others is thrice blessed."
Recognition and thanks from fellow Rotarians were expressed to Marcela Dustrud [seen here with Joy Engstrom on Sep 20, 2015] who resigned her position as Treasurer after more than five years of service.
Marcela served as Treasurer for the Club as well as for the Dorothy & Gerald Erich Endowment Fund. She also prepared tax returns for the club and its two endowed funds. Her successor will be grateful for Marcela'smeticulousrecord-keeping.
Joy also stressed Marcela's tireless accounting support for Elefante Blanco Thrift Boutique.
"As one family united under service we will embrace our differences, foster compassion and acceptance, seek unity through collaboration and celebrate diversity. As individuals who stand alone, there is only so much we can do for others. As individuals who stand together however, we are able to create greater ripples of change that can only further our impact. We have an abundance of tools that help us do this, ranging from social media to our interpersonal abilities. The most important tool however is yourself. You have assets unlike anyone else, and it's up to you to use them in collaboration wih others to paint a bigger picture" - What an interesting theme for Interactors 2015-2016.
"No intelligent human being is ever 100% clear about how to act, he/she always weighs it. Whatever we do, out very existence, our eating, living, and breathing is an injustice to some other life form, if you look at it from their point of view. If you eat, you kill, if you breathe, you kill, if you walk, you kill. So if you don't want to do all that and kill yourself, still you kill. No action in the world is 100% right or 100% wrong. You just have to consider the larger good that you create with your actions and perform them accordingly." - "From an ancient Scripture"
Full House - A reminder to all that we have some very interesting speakers lined up for the next few weeks including MagdalenaCarrasco - City of San Jose Council Member, Kansen Chu - California State Assemblyman, and our very own Rtn. Dave Cortese - President, SCC Board of Supervisors. It is very important that we receive them well with good attendance, and make them feel welcomed. Many of our interactors and members from other local clubs will be visiting, so look forward to some very interesting club meets ahead. We also expect a full house for the Club Evening Meet on September 10, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. For those of us who have not been able to attend the regular afternoon sessions, this is a wonderful opportunity to catch up and make your presence felt. Please bring friends and potential Rotary members.
SJEEMembership Chair Charlie Wasser gave a wonderful PowerPoint presentation at the club meet on Thursday August 20. The talk was on how we can work together on making our club more Attractive and Engaging to draw in and retain members. Charlie's talk was further reinforced at the DistrictMembership Seminar held at the Embassy Suites on Saturday August 22. The Seminar was attended by President Robbie, Membership Chair Charlie, and Rtn. Suguna. The very lively and informative presentation by two PDG's from Southern California, Wade Nomura and Larry Sundaram, emphasized on "The New Focus". They introduced some very basic and simple tools that Rotary leaders can adopttoattract and retainmembers at their respective clubs.
President Robbie would like to set up a Membership Committee that would help evaluate our club policies, and initiate some action items to grow and sustain Membership. To learn more and actively participate, please review Charlie's slide show that was mailed to all members, and also visit www.zone2526.org > "Strengthen Clubs" > "Membership" > "Membership Resources".
Loved this from Rtn. Wade Nomura -
"Does your club have the "Cheers" culture -
"Sometimes you want to go Where everybody knows you name,
Posted by Yollette Merritt, Suguna Alluri on Aug 18, 2015
Kudos to Club Youth Service Director, Nick Leon, for last week’s program about the successful trip to Vietnam to deliver the Interact funded 2,400 “indestructable” soccer balls to orphans in various parts of the country. The presentation was well received, and the chocolate treat from Vietnam was delicious!
Bill Bellou, CEO of The Evergreen Times, was present to cover the story.
Kudos to President Robbie and Membership Chair Charlie Wasser for Volunteering to represent our club at the East San Jose Dumpster Day held by CouncilMember, Carrasco. Robbie and Charlie spent quite a few hours on a 100 degree Saturday to help clean up our Neighborhood. Thank You for your efforts and inspiring our Club Members to participate in events as such that our held plenty in our city.
We're off to a fantastic start of our EVERY ROTARIAN, EVERY YEAR (EREY) giving campaign! So far, members have contributed $1200.00 to the Rotary Foundation.
Remember, when your EREY is designated as contributions to the Annual Programs Fund, these monies are invested by RI for approximately 3 years. The interest helps to pay RI overhead. At the end of this time period, approximately 1/2 of the contributions are returned pro rata to districts (DDF) and the other 1/2 goes to the World Fund to be used for matching grants.
You can find more than you want to know about the Rotary Foundation at rotary.org.) and in our District 5170 Foundation newsletters (rotary5170.org)
Ruth Ashford
Club Vice President and Foundation Chair 2014/15
TALKING POINTS WHILE DISCUSSING MEMBERSHIP WITH POTENTIAL ROTARIANS:
Why Join Your Local Rotary Club?
The Opportunity to Serve
Rotarians provide service at the local and international levels that addresses health-care needs, hunger and poverty, illiteracy, disaster relief, and environmental issues, to name just a few areas of Rotarian activity. Through participation in these projects, members experience the fulfillment that comes from giving back to the community.
Professional Networking
A founding principle of Rotary was to provide a forum for professional and business leaders. Today’s membership includes leaders in business, industry, the professions, the arts, government, sports, the military, and religion who make critical decisions and influence policy. Rotary offers the opportunity to meet people of this high caliber and work with them in serving others.
Personal Growth and Development
Membership in Rotary ensures continuing personal and professional development. Rotarians have countless opportunities to further enhance their leadership skills, as well as gain experience in public speaking and communication, organization and planning, team building, fundraising, and teaching.
Friendship
Fellowship was a primary reason Rotary was started in 1905, and it remains a major attraction. Today, with more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in some 165 countries, Rotarians have friends wherever they go. Rotary helps to build a sense of community as well as enduring individual friendships.
Cultural Diversity
Rotary International is an association of local clubs in many countries. Membership is open to business and professional leaders from every ethnic group, political persuasion, cultural background, and religion. Rotarians value this cultural diversity and practice and promote tolerance.
Good Citizenship
Membership in Rotary makes one a better citizen. Weekly Rotary club programs keep members informed about what is taking place in the community, nation, and world. Rotary’s expansive network of clubs and programs provides extensive opportunities for service and cross-cultural interchange.
World Understanding
Rotary members gain an understanding of humanitarian issues and have a significant impact on them through international service projects and exchange programs of RI and its Foundation. Promoting peace is one of Rotary’s foremost objectives.
Entertainment
Every Rotary club and district hosts parties and activities that offer diversion from life’s demands. Conferences, conventions, assemblies, and social events provide entertainment as well as Rotary information, education, and service.
Future Generations
Rotary sponsors some of the world’s largest cultural and educational exchange and scholarship programs. Rotary clubs provide innovative training opportunities and mentoring for future leaders.
Ethical Environment
Rotarians practice The Four-Way Test, which measures words and actions by their truthfulness, fairness, goodwill, and benefit to all. Encouraging high ethical standards in one’s profession and respect for all worthy vocations has been a hallmark of Rotary from its earliest days.
The importance to a Rotary club to continue to grow its membership cannot be stated strongly enough. A club will develop a culture over time. With growth, there probably will be some change in the culture. However, as the new members join, any changes that might happen will be a slow evolutionary movement. Then again, since most social groups grow by attracting like minded new members, there may not be any discernible change. The point is that all members of a Rotary club should embrace growth and participate in recruiting.
With new members, current projects can be expanded and new ideas from the cross fertilization of ideas from newer members may bring about new ways to serve the community. In the case of San Jose East/Evergreen Rotary, there are several community projects underway. The current goal is to find more members to keep the projects growing and continue to implement them.
There are two areas of focus for a recruiting effort in a Rotary club. The first is to continue to attract members of all demographic considerations. The other is to hone in on what attracts younger members. The underlying technique is best to showcase the value of membership and let the values attract new members.
Jordan Nevo, Executive Committee member, will share information about the Voces y Manos project in Guatemala which has a team of local staff and international volunteers who work with youth to help them identify and take action to overcome the most important issues faced by their communities. The students have launched highly effective campaigns to fight malnutrition, deforestation, and re-invigorate pride in the Mayan culture. An overall goal is empower each youth with a view of graduation from high school and college.
Jordan has worked as a volunteer for organizations promoting education and mentorship for disadvantaged communities for the past 6 years. He has been a Big Brother and an active member of the Silicon Valley Junior Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area for the past year. From 2010-2011, he has volunteered as an academic mentor for youth who aspire to be the first in their families to attend college. Beginning in 2014, he has joined the Executive Committee of Voces y Manos to raise awareness for educational empowerment programs that are helping marginalized youth in Guatemala.
A couple of quotes from students who have completed their first year in our two-year scholarship program:
"The scholarship has made a huge impact on my life. I thank you greatly for making college possible for me, and I will do all I can to make sure I do not waste this amazing opportunity. If it wasn’t for the scholarship I know I would not be attending college. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope my first year of college at San Jose City, has made you proud, and I will make sure I continue to do so."
"[The scholarship] has helped me out in a way that I don’t have to worry about my tuition, books or supplies…I can focus on school more. I’m studying what I like and I’m going great in school."
Hearing from our Erich Endowment Fund Scholarship Students
We'll get reports from our participation in the May 21st Rotary U.
We'll recap our May 27th Community Service Project at Family Supportive Housing--what worked well; what can be improved for next time.
President Robbie will share words of interest prior to his departure to Brazil to participate in the Rotary International Conference in Sao Paulo. Safe travel to Robbie, Nick and our Interactors!
Vice President Ruth will give us an update on this Saturday's Charity Auction.
Visiting Rotarian Brian O'Neil will share news of the 41st annual Charlie Wedemeyer All Star Game that will be played at the brand new Levi's Stadium on Saturday August 1st at 6 pm.
Our dictionary distribution to Cesar Chavez Elementary School is set for 1:00 PM on Friday, May 1, 2015. Plan on arriving at the school at 12:30 PM. The school address is 2000 Kammerer Avenue, San Jose, CA 95116. We will have fifteen (15) minutes per classroom to distribute the dictionaries. There are approximately eighty-nine (89) third graders.
NOTE: There or two schools in close proximity so go to Cesar Chavez School which is further East on Kammerer Avenue.
I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the rights of the people by the gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.
-James Madison, fourth US president (16 Mar 1751-1836)
February is Rotary Awareness Month
Proclaims Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, FEBRUARY 16, 2015… The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors encouraged all citizens to join them in recognizing Rotary International for its 110 years of service to improving the human condition in local communities around the world, announced Dave Cortese, President.
“It is a great honor to be acknowledged by the SCC Board,” said Ed Jellen. “Every year the collaborative effort of 4,000 Bay Area Rotarians donate on average $1.5 million dollars and thousands of volunteer hours and expertise to help sustain vital community programs.” Jellen is Rotary District 5170 Governor.
The source of project funding begins with the club fundraisers. The events are designed to captivate the interest that best serves the cultural tapestry of our Bay Area neighborhoods.
Funds are allocated to strengthen the capacity of communities by providing scholarships, youth leadership training, art and STEM education in the classroom, computers, books, school supplies, hot breakfasts and luncheons, warm clothing, medical supplies, free health clinics for the uninsured and the global eradication of Polio to mention just a few. At the core of the projects is Rotary’s motto: ‘Service Above Self’
Receiving the SCC Proclamation from left to right are Stew Park, President of the Rotary Club of San Jose; Robbie Izat, President of the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen; Yolette Merritt; Ed Jellen, District Governor; and Dave Cortese, President of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
California: The State of The State and The Impact on San Jose & Silicon Valley
Jim Beall Jr. has served in public office in Santa Clara County for several decades, including the Board of Supervisors from 1994 to 2006, and the San Jose City Council for 14 years. Elected to the newly formed District 15 seat of the California State Senate in 2012, Senator Beall has taken the lead in several initiatives with direct impact on the quality of life of our local communities.
California: The State of The State and The Impact on San Jose & Silicon Valley
Panel: Richard Craig, Kim Komenich, Janice Rombeck
The Death of The Newspaper: Any Hope of Survival?
The history of newspapers has spanned hundreds of years and over various continents, but its role in American society and the body politic has had an unique and powerful impact.
A free and accessible library system has been called by some "the first defense of democracy", and there are many who place the role of newspapers in the same category. Recent years have seen the decline in the United States newspaper market, with closures and restructuring taking place in all parts of the country.
Newspapers... is there any hope of survival?
A three-member panel of professional journalists with a wide range of experience will share thoughts and facts about the future of the newspaper on the local, national, and international markets.
Richard Craig is an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at San Jose State University. He is the author of three journalism-related books and has been an adviser to the Spartan Daily student news outlet since 2002.
Craig has spoken at numerous conferences in the U.S. and abroad. His journalistic work has appeared in The New York Times, the San Jose Mercury News, the Miami Herald, and many other outlets. He earned a Ph.D. in Communications at the University of Illinois in 1995, and was a reporter and editor for six years at newspapers in California and Illinois. For more information, consult his Web site at http://www.profcraig.com.
Kim Komenich, Photographer, Assistant Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at San Jose State University, and advisor for the Spartan Daily students, is an expert in new media and photojournalism, (including staff photographer and editor for the S,F, Chronicle and Examiner) and winner of a 1987 Pulitzer Prize for photojournalism for coverage of the Philippine Revolution. http://kimkom.com/page_id=65
Janice Rombeck is a professional journalist with a wide range of experience including reporter and editorial positions at the San Jose Mercury Newspaper.
The following Vocational Profile was submitted by Yollette Merritt, Director of Vocational Service:
Interview with Dave Cortese, Rotary Club of San Jose East Evergreen Club Member & Santa Clara County Board of Supervisor:
Question 1: What was your inspiration in choosing public service as a vocation and when did you begin your work in this field?
I learned a lot from my father, Dom Cortese, when he was on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and State Assembly. When I was 10 years old, I worked in my family’s orchards alongside migrant farmworkers. As the Vietnam War escalated, two of them were drafted to serve in the U.S. Army and were sent to fight abroad. One of them was killed. I didn’t think this was right and wanted to tell someone who could do something. My parents advised me to write to my congressman, who then was Don Edwards. I did, and he wrote me back a real letter, not just a form letter. I was so impressed that an elected official would take the time to reach out to a young boy that I started to think that public service might be a future path for me. I began to think about public service as a way to help people through difficulties. My first elected office was as a Trustee of the East Side Union High School District.
Questions 2: What was your motivation in becoming a Rotarian in 1986 and later Club President in 1989?
I was a San Jose businessman at the time and was searching for a community service group that did more than talk about good deeds. I found that the San Jose/Evergreen Rotary was an organization that listened to the needs of the community and got things done. I remember one event we organized at Agnews Development Center called Fun Day. We filled the children’s day with art activities, games and entertainment that not only brought them joy but added to the skills they were learning at the center.
Question 3: How has Rotary, its overall philosophy of Service Above Self and the Four Way Test Code of Conduct impacted your professional work and vocation?
I grew up with the Service Above Self philosophy. My family was active in civic, cultural and business activities for generations going back to my grandfather, Vince Cortese, Sr., an immigrant who came to the U.S. penniless and worked to become a successful businessman and job creator. My wife, Pattie, and I have tried to lead by example in order to pass that philosophy on to our children.
As an elected official, I take an oath to conduct my work in a way that reflects honesty and integrity, to ma nage the public’s money wisely and embrace the diversity of our community. I’ve devoted much of my time in office toward creating public policy that brings justice to those who don’t have a strong voice in government. I have organized many events to bring people of all faiths and beliefs together for the common good. In many ways, the Rotary’s Four WayTest embodies the values that I have always lived by, professionally and personally.
"Santa Clara County 2020: Vision for the Future, Lighting Up The Bay"
The 2014-2015 theme of Rotary International is Light Up Rotary. The next few years require vision, wisdom, and a knowledge of the multi-faceted issues confronting our communities in the context of Rotary
Santa Clara County, known in the early 20th Century as the Valley of Heart's Delight, boasts 15 cities that includes San Jose, the 10th most populous city in the country. The citizenry is culturally rich and diverse. The assets and opportunities, as well as the challenges, are also diverse and span a wide range of issues including transportation, agriculture, high tech, public health and public safety, natural resources, housing, economic development and employment opportunities, financial sustainability, and a changing infrastructure.
In the context of governance, what are the options for Santa Clara as a county, working with local municipalities to continue and enhance its vision and leadership role in the region to Light Up The Bay.
Santa Clara County Supervisor and former Vice Mayor of the City of San Jose will share his thoughts and reflection on the immediate road ahead to 2020. Supervisor Dave Cortese was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in 2008. Before joining the Board, Cortese served eight years on the San Jose City Council, including two years as Vice Mayor. From 1992 through 2000, he served on the East Side Union High School District Board of Education.
He grew up in San Jose as part of a family that has been active in civic, cultural and business activities for generations. He is married to Pattie, also a community leader, and has four children. His strong local roots and love for Santa Clara County fuel his passion for public service.
On the Board of Supervisors, Dave is currently Chair of the Housing, Land Use, Environment and Transportation Committee and Vice Chair of the Children, Seniors and Families Committee. He is also Vice Chair of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and a past member of Valley Transportation Authority.
Dave has been a member of the Rotary Club of San Jose/East Evergreen since 1986 and lives in Evergreen.
Dr. Ruth P. Wilson is the Chair of the African American Studies Department and Full Professor at San Jose State University.
Dr. Wilson received her undergraduate degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz in Biology and Community Studies. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Social Anthropology from Stanford University. Prior to her arrival at SJSU, Dr. Wilson’s academic career included a six-year appointment as a medical anthropologist in International Health Division (now Global Health) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and teaching positions at Rutgers University in New Jersey, CUNY Sophie Davis Medical School in New York, and Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. Her research focuses on the social and cultural dimensions of health and illness among peoples of African descent in the United States and worldwide. Most recently, her research in Silicon Valley focuses on the social and cultural dimensions of immigrant African populations in the Silicon Valley and the Bay Area. In 2007 she was awarded a prestigious Fulbright-Hays Award and traveled throughout South Africa with a group of teachers and scholars.
Dr. Wilson will share a slide presentation based on a personal study tour of South Africa, a land (for some) of surprising diversity of people and culture.
AUG 14 2014 PROGRAM: "South Africa: 21st Century Land of Diversity & Contrast"
This picture is of our RYLA campers getting ready to board the bus to begin their camp RYLA experience. Look for an email from Joy all SJE/E Rotarians to attend the RYLA Bar-B-Que on Thursday evening August 8, 2014. We'll coordinate details about car pools at our meeting this week.
The Campers you see in the photo are all outstanding officers from one of the following Interact Clubs that we sponsor: Piedmont Hills, Independence, Evergreen Valley, Mount Pleasant, Silver Creek, or Yerba Buena. Foothill High School did not have any campers this year.
Our Interactors were so excited and thankful of the opportunity you have provided them. They promised to "learn it all" at RYLA so they can make their Interact Club the best ever.
Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed.
Our theme this year is “Light Up Rotary!” So as we begin the 2014-2015 Rotary year, I want to express my appreciation to all of you who have worked, and plan to continue working, so hard to “light up” our new Rotary year by making it one that will be vibrant, fun, and successful for our members, our clubs, and our district.
As to our clubs, I have met many times with the club Presidents as a group, and enjoyed listening to them express their ideas, goals, and enthusiasm. Based on these meetings and other visits I have had with them, I can assure you that our 2014-2015 club Presidents make a terrific team – spirited, motivated, and dynamic. I know they will do an outstanding job to enhance Rotary over the coming year. This they will do by expanding membership so that many additional members of our local communities can enjoy the Rotary experience. They also hope to improve retention by conducting club meetings that are exciting and engaging, and by expanding Rotary service opportunities for club members. Additionally, our Presidents are committed to promoting and supporting The Rotary Foundation, as am I. And, they have voted to help our teachers and schools across the district by collecting and distributing school supplies for the “2014-2015 Presidents’ Project.”
For all of this, they will of course need your help, which I know will be forthcoming.
At the district level, a quick glance at our District Directory for 2014-2015 will show that a good many Rotarians have stepped forward to help our clubs and our district by accepting positions of responsibility in the District. This dedicated and hard-working group includes our Assistant Governors, committee chairs, committee members, and all of those who have volunteered to help with past and upcoming District events. To all of them, I say “thank you.”
Speaking of events, we have a very exciting event-calendar planned for this year. A membership seminar is planned for July 19th for all club Presidents, Presidents-elect, and membership chairs. We are planning a special “Rotary Day at the A’s” for September 20th. Our Avenues of Service event will take place on October 15th. We are already hard at work preparing for our District Conference at the Doubletree from April 17th – April 19th in 2015. Also, all Rotarians are welcome and encouraged to attend our District Cabinet meetings, where we will share camaraderie and learn more about what is happening in Rotary.
I’m excited! Together, let’s “Light Up Rotary”!
Visit with District Governor Ed Jellen - Thursday, July 24, 2014
By Jill Baldwin Walker, 2014-15 governor of District 6060 (Missouri, USA)
At the age of 13, I attended my first Rotary International Convention, in Dallas, Texas. I remember walking through the halls of the event fascinated by the clothing worn by some of the women — women of Africa in their head wraps and ornate dresses and women from India in beautiful wraps of silk.
Although I don’t remember all of the Rotary occasions I have attended as a child, I am blessed that my grandfather joined Rotary, which led to my father becoming a Rotarian. I grew up in the halls of Rotary meetings, district conferences, and fundraisers. I joined Rotary at the age of 29.
When I’m asked when I became a Rotarian, my answer is, “I don’t really know.” Rotary has always been a way of life for me, it’s part of what defines me. Rotary has offered me opportunities that I would not have had in a single career path in a typical workplace. It has given me connections and friendships that I never could have dreamed up.
And just this week I was reviewing my grandmother’s scrapbooks of my grandfather’s Rotary career (she compiled wonderful scrapbooks before we knew to call it “scrapbooking”). In the pages, I found something else that I never could’ve dreamed up. Thirty-five years ago, my grandfather was starting his year as a district governor with the RI theme “Let Service Light the Way.” Now I start the year as district governor to “Light Up Rotary.”
RI President Gary C.K. Huang and his wife, Corinna, at the International Assembly, Rotary’s annual training event, in January.
By RI President Gary C.K. Huang
As we begin a new Rotary year, I would like to tell you that I’m honored to be your Rotary International president and to stand with you as Rotary members.
Being a Rotarian is about a way of approaching the world and its challenges. There are many people in this world who need help and many changes that need to be made. It can be overwhelming.
Confucius and Rotary share similar ideas, and one idea from Confucius is that “It is better to light one single candle than to sit and curse the dark.” To me, this means that we shouldn’t lose hope and do nothing.
Instead, do something positive in your community, and let people know that Rotarians enjoy being together and working together. Involve your spouse and family in Rotary. Sharing your love for Rotary will recruit new members and keep current ones, and be the action that lights a candle.
Tell your community about Rotary
Holding a Rotary Day is a great way to share your love for Rotary with your community, friends, family, Foundation alumni, and Rotaract and Interact clubs. You can make your Rotary Day simple, you can make it fancy, you can make it a whole day or just a few hours. But do something for your community to show people what you do locally and internationally. Make sure your community knows that Rotary is there, Rotary is active, Rotary is fun, and Rotary is doing good work!
RI President-elect Gary C.K. Huang chose Light Up Rotary as his theme for 2014-15. Huang is urging club members to Light Up Rotary by hosting a Rotary Day in their community, continuing our fight against polio, and increasing club membership. "Light Up Rotary is more than our theme. It is how we make a difference -- every day, in every club, and every country we serve."
Life cannot be classified in terms of a simple neurological ladder, with human beings at the top; it is more accurate to talk of different forms of intelligence, each with its strengths and weaknesses. This point was well demonstrated in the minutes before last December's tsunami, when tourists grabbed their digital cameras and ran after the ebbing surf, and all the 'dumb' animals made for the hills.
Exciting news! On behalf of the 2015 Rotary Rose Parade Float committee, we are proud to share this year's Float rendering and name. Rotary International President Elect Gary CK Huang’s theme is “Light Up Rotary.” The Tournament of Roses Parade’s theme is “Inspiring Stories.”
One of Rotary’s most inspiring stories, and one of Rotary’s areas of focus, is the work we do around the world to bring clean water and sanitation to millions of those who lack these vital resources. M...ore than 2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation facilities. It is reported that at least 3,000 children die each day from diarrheal diseases caused by unsafe water.
With this in mind, the name of the committee’s 2015 float entry is “Changing Lives Through Clean Water.” Many Rotary clubs participate in water projects around the world and we want to help you share that message. Together we can spread this Rotary message further to inspire the world to assist those who need clean water and sanitation.
During Friday's world record-breaking Sydney Harbour bridge climb, Rotary members raised enough money to protect 240,000 kids from polio.
Photo Credit: Rotary International/Alyce Henson
Polio took a hit at this year's Rotary convention in Sydney, Australia.
First there was the record-breaking climb across the Sydney Harbour Bridge that raised enough money to protect 240,000 kids from polio. On 30 May, two days before the official opening of the convention, 340 participants ascended the bridge, eclipsing the record previously held by Oprah Winfrey for most climbers on the bridge. Waving 278 flags, they also broke the Guinness World Record for most flags flown on a bridge.
Then it was announced that the World's Biggest Commercial, Rotary's public awareness campaign for polio eradication, set a Guinness World Record for largest photo awareness campaign. More than 100,000 people from 170 countries have uploaded their photos, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Bill Gates, Archie Panjabi, Jackie Chan, and many more.
But the biggest news was the $101 million pledged to polio eradication. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott opened the convention on 1 June with a commitment from his government of $100 million to the PolioPlus campaign. Two days later, Sir Emeka Offor, executive vice chair of Chrome Group, announced a $1 million gift to The Rotary Foundation to help end polio.
"Scores of my friends and classmates fell victim to this dreaded disease," said Sir Emeka, who serves as Rotary's PolioPlus ambassador in Nigeria. "As a young man I vowed that I would someday do something significant to end polio in Nigeria."
While Rotary's work to end polio took center stage at the convention, it wasn't the only Rotary initiative getting attention down under. Here are some highlights from the Sydney convention, which ran 1-4 June:
Providing clean water. Collaboration and partnerships were emphasized at this year's World Water Summit, held 30 May. Global experts in clean water and sanitation urged attendees to join with the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, and governments to work more efficiently and effectively.
Empowering youth. Australian cricket star Brett Lee, founder of Mewsic, and Maya Ajmera, founder of the Global Fund for Children and former Rotary Scholar, inspired attendees with their dedication to providing a better life for the world's poorest children.
Promoting peace. Mwila Chigaga, former Rotary Peace Fellow and gender specialist for African Regions at the International Labour Organization, spoke to convention goers about ensuring decent work and equal opportunities for men and women.
Fighting disease. Renee Saunders, senior public health adviser for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stressed the importance of public-private partnerships in helping to achieve an AIDS-free generation. Professor Martin Silink spoke of the challenges he overcame — with Rotary's help — to make diabetes a United Nations resolution.
Rotary breaks records, puts polio on notice at Sydney convention
We have the shed (only took Greg and me 1 1/2 hours to move it from the hot asphalt driveway to the cabana---one piece at a time---did I mention 93 degrees?
I replacement for one broken window is on its way. We now need a consultation about preparing our deck for the shed.
Our current Rotary Year, July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014 is swiftly drawing to a close and since posting this article in March, our club is no closer to it's "Every Rotarian, Every Year" goal. A sustaining member donates $100 yearly to The Rotary Foundation, but if giving at that level is difficult, give $5, 10, $20. Every donation COUNTS!
Contact Sara Calkins or Ruth Ashford
Your gift to the Annual Fund helps Rotary clubs take action today to create positive change in communities at home and around the world. Your contributions help us strengthen peace efforts, provide clean water and sanitation, support education, grow local economies, save mothers and children, and fight disease.
The Every Rotarian Every Year initiative asks every Rotarian to support The Rotary Foundation every year. In addition to contributing to the Annual Fund on a regular basis, members are encouraged to get involved in a Foundation project or program.
SHARE and District Designated Fund
Through the SHARE system, contributions to The Rotary Foundation are transformed into grants that fund local and international humanitarian projects, scholarships, and activities, such as vocational training teams. At the end of every Rotary year, contributions directed to the Annual Fund-SHARE from all Rotary clubs in the district are divided between the World Fund and the District Designated Fund, or DDF.
At the end of three years, your district can use the DDF to pay for Foundation, club, and district projects that your club and others in the district choose. Districts may use up to half of their DDF to fund district grants. The remaining DDF may be used for global grants or donated to PolioPlus, the Rotary Peace Centers, or another district.
Rotary SJE/E 2013/14 donors to The Rotary Foundation to date:
John Osterlund (far left) and Ron Burton watch as Peace Corps Acting Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet and Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko sign a letter of collaboration on a one-year pilot program in the Philippines, Thailand, and Togo.
Photo Credit: Rotary International/Alyce Henson
In an effort to promote global development and volunteer service, Rotary and Peace Corps have agreed to participate in a one-year pilot program in the Philippines, Thailand, and Togo.
Under the agreement, Rotary clubs and Peace Corps volunteers are encouraged to share their resources and knowledge to boost the impact of development projects in these three countries.
Opportunities for collaboration include supporting community projects, training, networking, and community education. Through the Peace Corps Partnership Program, Rotary clubs can continue to provide small grants to support volunteers and their communities.
Peace Corps Acting Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet and Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko signed the letter of collaboration on Monday, 5 May, at Rotary's headquarters during a ceremony that was attended by RI President Ron Burton and RPCV Rotary staff. In his remarks to the audience, Burton applauded the collaboration and both organizations' commitments to service.
"Today's announcement is particularly meaningful for me because I come from a family of Rotarians," said Hessler-Radelet, referring to her father, grandfather, and aunt. "We are eager to join together in common efforts to inspire volunteerism across the country and around the world."
Hewko noted how both organizations are committed to improving lives and building stronger communities by addressing the root causes of violence and conflict, such as poverty, illiteracy, disease, and lack of access to clean water and sanitation.
The two organizations also agreed to explore expanding the collaboration to more countries based on the results of the pilot. Rotary will enlist the support of its members in recruiting Peace Corps volunteers and involving returned Peace Corps volunteers in service projects at home.
A team of dedicated Rotarians and spouses moved club supplies to the Calkins' Cabana for temporary housing (as in 2 weeks). Many thanks go to Marcela and Jerry Dustrud, Robbie Izat, Sara and Greg Calkins and Nick Leon (taking the photo) for their hard work and good humor.
The next step will be to go though the boxes and determine what to keep and what to recycle.
The step after that will be to find a more permanent solution to storage.
Life cannot be classified in terms of a simple neurological ladder, with human beings at the top; it is more accurate to talk of different forms of intelligence, each with its strengths and weaknesses. This point was well demonstrated in the minutes before last December's tsunami, when tourists grabbed their digital cameras and ran after the ebbing surf, and all the 'dumb' animals made for the hills.
Leonor Fraser and other members of her Rotary club arrived in Masaya, Nicaragua, ready to deliver shoes to the elementary schoolchildren and play with them.
It immediately became apparent that the school, located near a diesel plant, had bigger problems. The plant emitted pollutants into the air, which made the children and teachers lethargic, and the cracked building had no sanitation facilities. Fraser had difficulty breathing during her visit.
Through a Rotary Foundation grant, Fraser, her club, and Rotary members in Masaya were able to relocate the school, install plumbing, and even start a small chicken and goat enterprise so families could earn money to give the students a nutritious breakfast.
The children in Masaya were just some of the many beneficiaries of Rotary grants in 2013. Your generous giving to The Rotary Foundation makes projects like these possible.
Construction on a new school in Masaya, Nicaragua.
Photo courtesy Leonor Fraser
How your gift to The Rotary Foundation changes lives
Fellow Rotarians and Guests, please join me as I say:
I pledge allegiance ...
If we don't have any guests (that would include the guest speaker) omit the "and Guests" part.
==================================
The Pledge of Allegiance was written in August 1892 by the socialist minister Francis Bellamy (1855-1931). It was originally published in The Youth's Companion on September 8, 1892. Bellamy had hoped that the pledge would be used by citizens in any country.
In its original form it read:
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
In 1923, the words, "the Flag of the United States of America" were added. At this time it read:
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
In 1954, in response to the Communist threat of the times, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words "under God," creating the 31-word pledge we say today. Bellamy's daughter objected to this alteration. Today it reads:
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.
-Martin Luther King Jr., civil-rights leader (1929-1968)
brings together a global network of volunteer leaders who dedicate their time and talent to tackle the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members from more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world.
Rotary also offers expanded service opportunities including:
Interact
: a service organization organized and sponsored by Rotary clubs for young adults aged 12-18. There are more than 12,300 Interact clubs in 133 countries.
Rotaract
: groups organized by Rotary clubs to promote leadership, professional development, and service among young adults aged 18-30. There are more than 8,000 Rotaract clubs in 167 countries.
Rotary Community Corps
(RCCs): groups of non-Rotary members who work to improve their communities. There are more than 7,500 RCCs in 80 countries, all organized and sponsored by Rotary clubs.
Membership Snapshot
Who:
Rotary brings together the kind of people who step forward to take on important issues for local communities worldwide. Rotary members hail from a range of professional backgrounds; doctors, artists, small business owners and stay-at-home parents all call themselves Rotarians. Rotary connects these unique perspectives, and helps leverage its members’ expertise to improve lives everywhere.
Where:
From Haiti and Greenland to Nigeria and Singapore, Rotary unites a truly diverse set of leaders from across the world. Currently, the largest number of clubs comes from the United States, India, Japan and Brazil. The fastest growing Rotary regions include Southeast Asia and Africa.
What:
Rotarians contribute their time, energy and passion to sustainable, long-term projects in local communities across the globe. Projects focus on important issues like peace and conflict resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy and economic and community development.
Polio Eradication
Rotary is close to eliminating the second human disease in history after smallpox, with a 99 percent reduction in polio cases worldwide since 1985, when Rotary launched its PolioPlus program. In 1988, Rotary spearheaded the creation of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative with its partners the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Polio eradication remains Rotary’s top priority. To date, Rotary has contributed more than US$1.2 billion and countless volunteer hours to help immunize more than two billion children against polio in 122 countries. Currently, Rotary is working to raise $35 million per year through 2018 for polio eradication, which will be matched 2 to 1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
On 23 February 1905, Paul P. Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram E. Shorey gathered in Loehr’s office for what would become known as the first Rotary club meeting.
Harris’s desire for camaraderie among business associates brought together these four men and eventually led to an international organization of service and fellowship.
Read about each of the first four Rotarians below, and about Harry L. Ruggles, who is often called the "fifth Rotarian."
Rotary’s founder, Harris, was born in Wisconsin, USA, on 19 April 1868. He was raised by his paternal grandparents in Vermont and attended the University of Vermont, Princeton, and the University of Iowa. He was Rotary president from 1910 to 1912 and a member of the Rotary Club of Chicago until his death on 27 January 1947. Learn more about the founder.
Loehr, a mining engineer, was born on 18 October 1864 in Carlinville, Illinois. He was a Rotarian for only a few years, never holding office at the club or international level. But that first Rotary meeting was held in his office, Room 711 of the Unity Building in downtown Chicago. He died in Chicago on 23 May 1918.
A Rotarian for only a few years, Shoreyserved as recording secretary during the club’s first year. He was born in Maine in August 1862 and died in March 1944.
Schiele, a coal dealer, served as the Chicago club’s first president in 1905 and Rotary International’s third treasurer in 1945. Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, in June 1870, Schiele attended Terre Haute Business College and served in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War. He was president of the Schiele Coal Company from 1902 until his retirement in 1939. He and Harris became lifelong friends and lived near each other on the South Side of Chicago. Schiele died on 17 December 1945 and is buried near Harris at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Originally from Michigan, Ruggleswas a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and joined Rotary at its second meeting. He was treasurer of the Chicago club during its first year, president from 1908 to 1910, and a Rotary director from 1912 to 1913. He is known for having introduced singing to Rotary club meetings. His printing company, H.L. Ruggles & Co., printed the first issue of The National Rotarianand the first Rotary songbook. He died on 23 October 1959, an honorary member of seven clubs in addition to his home club, the Rotary Club of Chicago.
We'll be sending Nick Leon, club Vice President and Director of Youth Service, on his way with all our best wishes for safe travel and great success with our continuing project in India.
To describe the project Nick wrote:
There is in a small tribal village in Bankura District of West Bengal, India. The primary school is K-6; after the sixth (6) grade, students must go to a middle school which requires them to live in a "hostel facility" in another village. Because there is no further education in their village and, their parents cannot afford to send the girls to middle school, not only are they not able to continue their education, their community tradition requires that they marry at age 12 if they are not educated and cannot support themselves.
This is a joint project between the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen and the Rotary Club of Calcutta Uptown in partnership with Shamayita Math the Cooperating Organization (NGO). We have "adopted" the village's primary school. We have built an additional classroom, put in a tube well, built toilets, a kitchen and a large supply closet. We have also supplied books, study materials, uniforms, extra curriculum materials, and provided basic hygiene kits for each student.
Our objective is to give these young women the opportunity to not only be educated, but to be given necessary life skills to further their success in life as a contributing members of society, as well as confident empowered individuals, who do not have to be concerned about their living conditions, being married off to the best "buyer" or, being impoverished for the rest of their lives.
The Tribal Girl's Education Program phase II will build an additional two-classrooms, a real kitchen, uniforms, curriculum and school supplies, desks, and hygiene kits.
It costs $100 to send a girl to school for one year. The RC of SJE/E has raised $1600 and the RC of CU will match the $1600 for a total of $3200. Nick has also raised additional funds with an elegant abalone dinner, having dived for the main course himself. The Rotary Clubs of Los Gatos Morning and Scotts Valley also added to the project.
Bon voyage, Nick. We're sure you'll bring back heartwarming stories and lots of photos!
Three reasons to strengthen Rotary’s image
by Jennifer Jones, a member of the RI Communications Committee
Over the past two years, Rotary has undertaken an
unprecedented amount of research to study the
effectiveness of how we communicate with each
other and also to look at perceptions about the
organization from the community at large.
What’s likely not surprising is that we determined we
have all of the strengths necessary for greatness in
our second century of service. However, when we
looked at awareness about our organization in the
greater public arena, they quite simply don’t know
about us. It is very easy to ask the question – how
can this be true?
Global research shows that when asked – four in 10
people have never heard of us, another four know us
in name only, and the remaining two only have some
familiarity, which is often colored by misconceptions.
How can we attract and engage new members and
partners when they don’t know who we are?
Personally, I think that in order to keep Rotary relevant and enticing for the next 100 years, we need
to be innovative, forward thinking, and adaptable to
ensure that the rest of the world views us the way we
view ourselves. Here’s what I like most about the
Strengthening Rotary initiative:
1. It helps us explain who we are, what we do, and
why we matter.
Through this process, we have introduced a new
framework to help Rotarians better define who we are
when asked the inevitable question – what is
Rotary? Of course each Rotarian’s story is
different but if we could highlight the common
ground, it begins to form a compelling call to action.
We are leaders who act responsibly and take action
to tackle some of the world’s most pressing
challenges. When we are all singing off the same
song sheet our message is amplified and it becomes
much easier to engage people in Rotary.
2. It helps us present a strong, unified image to the
public
For so long we did our good work quietly and not for
recognition. While this was noble it made it difficult for
people to understand the good work of Rotarians. Now
that “telling our story” has become a priority, we need
to make sure that we have a united voice.
An exciting new visual identity kit and guidelines have
been launched and they provide tools for individuals,
clubs, and districts to create a look that begins to
introduce continuity across the globe. Of course, there
remains room for personal creativity but a unified look
and feel will propel Rotary into a very bright future.
Everyone will know who we are, what we do and why
it matters!
If you’ve visited rotary.org within the past few months,
you’ve probably noticed evidence of this initiative in
the form of simpler, more action-oriented words and
visuals. I am also so heartened to see the materials
that Rotarians are creating with these new tools. They
are stunning and I have heard from countless
Rotarians that they love the fresh new look and feel.
3. It will help us attract new members and supporters
Strengthening Rotary is essential to Rotary’s future. As
we share our story in a more clear and compelling
way, like-minded people are going to want to be part
of our great organization. This really is one of our best
membership opportunities. In the end, if we can
elevate awareness and attract and engage new
members and partners, our good work will spread and
“doing good in the world” will not only remain our
organizational compass but it will help us soar to new
heights.
From The Olympian THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF MAKATI – OLYMPIA
Journalist Ed Murrow: "Who owns the patent on this vaccine?" Jonas Salk: "Well, the people, I would say. There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?"
-Jonas Salk, medical researcher and developer of polio vaccine (1914-1995)
We are 1.2 million neighbors, friends, and community leaders who come together to create positive, lasting change in our communities and around the world.
Our differing occupations, cultures, and countries give us a unique perspective. Our shared passion for service helps us accomplish the remarkable.
What makes us different?
Our distinct point of view and approach gives us unique advantages:
We see differently: Our multidisciplinary perspective helps us see challenges in unique ways.
We think differently: We apply leadership and expertise to social issues—and find unique solutions.
We act responsibly: Our passion and perseverance create lasting change.
We make a difference at home and around the world: Our members can be found in your community and across the globe.
Fosmo Med was founded with a mission to save the lives of people who may have a difficult time receiving treatment because of a difficulty of getting medical supplies to treat their ailments. Current IV solution has not been changed since the 1970s when the bottle was replaced with plastic bags. However, the plastic bags did not solve the basic fundamental problem with IV solutions: water. Since 80-90%+ of the product being shipped is water, current IV solution is bulky, heavy, has a short shelf life and is prone to leakage.
We believe we have a better solution. We are trying to improve the logistics of shipping IV solution bags – sodium chloride, sucrose and potassium chloride based solutions – by shipping it without water and allow Forward Osmosis to draw clean and sterile water through a membrane thus creating a IV solution at the point of care.
Program this week: Fosmo Med - Saving Lives Through Technology
THE CLOSET at Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church in San Jose had surveyed homeless folks who were receiving jackets last winter. They confirmed that what they have a more difficult time getting was underwear. Open for distribution on the second Saturday each month, facilitator Leslie Stobbe accepted Rotary SJE/E's donation of underwear for adults on August 8, 2013.
Pictured: Robbie Izat, President Elect; Leslie Stobbe; Greg Calkins, Honorary Member
What is the clothing item most needed by people who are homeless? New, clean UNDERWEAR!
As the club's gift to honor the annual visit of District Governor Angie Hassler and her husband PDG Roger, underwear was the requested category.
Rotary SJE/E members rose to the challenge and filled a large basket as well as two overflow bags.
The final tally was 39 packages containing 249 items: pairs of socks, briefs, panties, and t shirts for men, women, girls and boys.
DG Angie Hassler, LT Gov, Art Taylor, PDG Roger Hassler
Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen reveals the six 2013 scholarship recipients:
1.- Chelsey Cartwright: Independence High School
2.- An Nguyen Duy Ha: Yerba Buena high School
3.- Bramleen Kaur: Oak Grove High School
4.- Lynh Nguyen: Yerba Buena High School
5.- Michelle Su: Piedmont Hills High School
6.- Andrew Vo: Mt Pleasant High
Our club hosted two of the recipients of the 2013 Gerald and Dorothy Erich Endowment Fund Scholarships and their families at our lunch meeting, Thursday, July 18, 2013. The other four were already at their college orientations and unable to attend. All those present were pleased to welcome these great students, inspired to hear their personal stories of achievement and shared in the fellowship of RotariansEngaging Rotary/Changing Lives!
upper left photo:
Scholarship recipients (center) Michelle Su
(L) and Andrew Vo with their mothers,
Elizabeth Lee and Nguyet Nguyen, respectively upper right photo:
President Marisa Otto lower left photo:
Part of the memorabilia from the life
of the scholarship endowment fund
founder, Jerry Erich
provided by club member Audrey Clark lower right photo:
fellowship at The Ranch
I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.
We've changed how we structure Rotary grants. Our new system (previously known as Future Vision) focuses primarily on three grant types—district, global, and packaged. It is both more efficient and sustainable, and will help us make a greater impact around the globe.
This site is the new home for all Rotary grants information. Looking to learn about the new grant system? Apply for a grant? Get information on managing your grant? You'll find it all here: http://www.rotary.org/en/grants/
In Grant Basics, you can learn more about the grants we offer to Rotarians and how to apply for them. Our Learning & Reference section houses our extensive resource library, including useful reference documents, training materials, and much more.
Members of a vocational training team shared their expertise in nursing education with faculty at Aga Khan University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery recently
Heartfelt comments from all present at President Joyce's Debunking expressed appreciation for all that was accomplished during her presidency and for the FUN we all had in doing the work of Rotary!
I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know:
the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.
-Albert Schweitzer, philosopher, physician, musician, Nobel laureate (1875-1965)
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
We were so pleased to note that Public Relations Chair, Harry Adams had been successful in having our weekly meeting listed in the local weekly newspaper, that we missed something great. When I had time after the meeting to really look at the Evergreen Times I found an article that featured "our own" Thom Harney!
Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me,
and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.
-William Arthur Ward, college administrator, writer (1921-1994)
Professional Networking
A founding principle of Rotary was to meet periodically to enjoy camaraderie and
enlarge one’s circle of business and professional acquaintances. As the oldest
service club in the world, Rotary club members represent a cross-section of the
community’s owners, executives, managers, political leaders, and professionals
– people who make decisions and influence policy. Service Opportunities
Club members have many opportunities for humanitarian service, both locally
and internationally. Service programs address such concerns as health care,
hunger, poverty, illiteracy, and the environment. Rotarians experience the
fulfillment that comes from giving back to the community. International Awareness
With more than 32,000 clubs in over 200 countries & geographical areas,
Rotarians gain an understanding of humanitarian issues through international
service projects and exchange programs. One of Rotary’s highest objectives is to
build goodwill and peace throughout the world. Friendship
Rotary was founded on fellowship, an ideal that remains a major attraction of
membership today. Club members enjoy the camaraderie with like-minded
professionals, and club projects offer additional opportunities to develop enduring
friendships. Rotary club members who travel have friendly contacts in almost
every city in the world. Good Citizenship
Weekly Rotary club programs keep members informed about what is taking place
in the community, nation, and world and motivated to make a difference. Family Foundations
Rotary sponsors some of the world’s largest youth exchange, educational
exchange, and scholarship programs. Rotary clubs provide innovative training
opportunities and mentoring for young leaders and involve family members in a
wide range of social and service activities. Entertainment
Social activities give Rotarians a chance to let loose and have fun. Every Rotary
club and district hosts parties and activities that offer diversions from today’s
demanding professional and personal schedules. Conferences, conventions,
assemblies, and social events provide entertainment as well as Rotary
information, education, and service. Ethical Environment
Encouraging high ethical standards in one’s profession and respect for all worthy
vocations has been a hallmark of Rotary from its earliest days. In their business
and professional lives, Rotarians abide by The Four-Way Test:
Of the things we think, say or do:
1) Is it the TRUTH?
2) Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3) Will it BUILD GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4) Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? Leadership Development
Rotary is an organization of successful professionals. Team building, fundraising,
public speaking, planning, organization, and communication are just a sampling
of the leadership skills that club members can exercise and enhance. Being a
Rotary leader provides further experience in learning how to motivate, inspire,
and guide others. Diversity in Membership
Rotary’s classification system ensures that a club’s membership represents a
variety of the community’s professional men and women, including leaders in
business, industry, the arts, government, sports, the military, and religion. Rotary
clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds.
Media celebrity & Social Marketing consultant with 20 years in broadcasting, politics. Visionary & thought leader, we are excited to welcome Jan to Rotary SJE/E!
About the photo: While he was attending the professional development certificate program in Thailand, Rotary Peace Fellow alum Dr. Brad Darling (Chulalongkorn, 2011) arranged for his employer, Pearson Education, to donate over 300 books to the Weanghang Pariyatsuka School near the Burma border. Darling and his class visited the school during their applied field experience in 2011. “Global literacy is one of the millennium goals and is something I am deeply committed to trying to counter act,” Darling says. “In the picture, I was reading to a group of young novices. I was teaching them English and they were teaching me their native tongue.”
On December 26, 2004, the patients of the Mahamodara Maternity Hospital in Galle were evacuated just in time to escape the tsunami’s second, more powerful wave.
Although the mothers and children survived, the hospital didn’t. The venerable Mahamodara had been Galle’s maternity hospital since the 1940s. Now that it was gone, mothers were forced to go to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, which quickly became overwhelmed and overcrowded.
In the photo, RC SJE/E Director of International Service, Richard Dorsay stands with the past president and secretary of Galle Rotary Club, after receiving money from our rotary club for a children's ward in a Sri Lankan hospital. (Love the shorts, Dr. Dorsay! ;o) )
RI President-elect Ron Burton will ask Rotarians to Engage Rotary, Change Lives in 2013-14.
He unveiled the RI theme during the opening plenary session of the 2013 International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA, the annual training event for incoming district governors.
“If we really want to take Rotary service forward, then we must make sure that every single Rotarian has the same feeling about Rotary that each one of us here has today,” Burton said. “We need to make sure that every Rotarian has a meaningful role to play, that they’re all making a contribution, and that their contribution is valued.”
Burton said the July launch of The Rotary Foundation’s new grant model, Future Vision, makes it an exciting time to be a Rotarian. He said the new grant model, which has been used by about 100 pilot districts since 2010, represents a new era for the Foundation, and will help Rotarians get excited about Rotary’s ability to change lives.
“It takes everything that is wonderful about Rotary and raises it to a new level — by encouraging bigger, more sustainable projects while providing increased flexibility for local projects, both of which address the needs of the community being served,” he said.
Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.
-William Arthur Ward, college administrator, writer (1921-1994)
The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life -- the sick, the needy and the handicapped.
-Hubert Horatio Humphrey, US Vice President (1911-1978)
Want to get to know your fellow Rotarians better? Visit them at their place of business.
On Saturday, Oct 20, my husband Greg and I got to visit Chaplain John's place of business--the USS Hornet in its berth in Alameda, CA. Seeing where he conducts services in the context of this museum of war time Naval history puts his service and the regard in which he is held there in a new light.
Not built for comfort or safety this aircraft carrier was built for war and contributed greatly to the US efforts during WWII and Vietnam. Our docent told us that 18 and 19 year old "boys", away from home for the first time spent up to 18 months aboard ship often confined for long periods below decks because only the flight crew were allowed on the flight deck during operations. What comfort some of these guys must have found in the Navy Chaplains aboard ship -- in the small space reserved for the chapel/library -- a place of "normalcy" between boredom and fear.
As we come to the close of October, Vocational Service Month, these are importants points to remember:
Through vocational service, Rotarians contribute their professional expertise and skills to address societal problems and needs, and to promote high ethical standards in the workplace.
"Rotary's focus on ethical practices as part of vocational service has been a central part of my success in my business, professional, civic, and personal life since I became a Rotarian," says Paul A. Netzel, vice chair of the Vocational Service Promotion Committee and past RI director.
"Rotary's Four-Way Test has served as an easy template for me in weighing the pros and cons of countless issues and decisions I've had to address over my career," Netzel says. "It has helped make me a better Rotarian."
Rotarians can support vocational service by
Strengthening the emphasis on professional diversity in member recruitment
Identifying ways to emphasize professions in club activities
Placing a stronger emphasis on business networking with integrity at the club and district level -- which also is a means of attracting and mentoring the next generation
Emphasizing the connection between The Four-Way Test and the Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions, and their importance to the values of Rotary
Attend the Project Fair and/or sessions for Presidents, Presidents-Elect, Membership, New Generations, Rotary Foundation, and Future Vision.
Don't miss this opportunity to hear Past Rotary International President Cliff Dochterman, the most popular speaker in the Rotary world. He is inspiring and fun!
Date:
Oct 25, 2012 at 05:00 PM - 09:00 PM
Location:
DoubleTree Hotel
2050 Gateway Place
San Jose, CA, United States
95110
Sign up through the club and your fee is covered - however, if you sign up and are a no-show, you'll be expected to reimburse the club.
nb: Local 19 workers have a dispute with the Doubletree Hotel San Jose and are asking the public to boycott the hotel until an agreement has been reached.
In response to a thank you note to last week's speaker from our program chair, Lee Fort, Candace Roney gave this update on the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford:
Today we are taping an hour-long segment for Dateline about a family here who amazingly, have 5 children who will eventually need heart transplants. Sadly, the congenital issue that all five of these children have (but the parents do not) was not discovered until the oldest child’s heart was failing, and the other four children had been born. It was not something that was evident shortly after birth of the first child. Otherwise, it is probable that the couple would not have gone on to have five children. And one by one, each child has developed the symptoms that will eventually cause the need for a transplant. The two oldest children have received their new hearts and are doing well. The three younger children are OK now, but are in varying stages of heart problems. It is hard to imagine a nicer or more beautiful family, but also hard to imagine the stress they are under. Miracles every day here.
Candace Roney
Executive Director, Community Partnerships
Update on the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford
Several months ago, I wrote to tell about the great strides being made to improve Highway 101 along the Tully Road and Capitol Expressway interchanges. I'm pleased to recap a number of other transportation breakthroughs, which you will find listed below. These are all local projects which are being developed by various agencies, including Santa Clara County.
Overall, I am very happy with the improvements we are now going to see in our local transportation network and I am grateful to have been involved in bringing these projects to life.
Santa Clara County applies for Grants for local projects
The Board of Supervisors approved the submission of grant applications for some local projects including:
• East San Jose Pedestrian Improvement Project – if our grant is approved, pedestrian improvements such as installing sidewalks will take place in San Jose’s East Side.
• Shoulder and guard rail improvements along Uvas Road, Stevens Canyon Road and Clayton Road – those of you familiar with Clayton Road know that parts of the road are in great need of these improvements.
Capitol Expressway Road Improvements
More good news: The Board of Supervisors recently approved some much needed repaving work on Capitol Expressway between Silver Creek Road and Quimby Road. This asphalt and resurfacing work will begin in September.
Capitol Expressway/Yerba Buena Exit/Highway 101
If you have traveled down Highway 101 to the South Bay recently, you may have noticed that traffic flows very smoothly past the Tully exit now. The current back-up is at the Capitol Expressway/Yerba Buena exit. I am pleased to announce that a contract has been approved to make improvements to the Capitol Expressway exit and to build a separate exit to Yerba Buena Road. I am very pleased that the lowest bid was nine percent under the estimated cost. While savings like this don’t come directly back to Santa Clara County, project savings make it easier to ask for money in the future. Construction should begin in September. Kudos to VTA, MTC and Caltrans on getting the final pieces of this together! For more information on this project, please visit the VTA website at www.vta.org.
BART to Silicon Valley
This project broke ground last March. Over the past few months, demolition work has taken place near the sites of the future BART stations in Milpitas and Berryessa. In addition, some demolition work has focused on removing the old Union Pacific Railway track. This work is expected to continue through October. I want to thank those of you in the area for your patience. Like you, I am excited for the work to be completed so I can start riding BART. For more information on this project, please visit the VTA website at http://www.vta.org/news/factsheets/inprogress.html.
Express Lanes through Sunnyvale
VTA has recently received federal funding to design an extension of the SR237 express lanes through Mathilda Avenue in Sunnyvale. This exciting project should improve travel times for both carpool traffic and solo drivers traveling along this corridor. I will keep you updated as more information becomes available.
Dumbarton Bridge Closure
The Dumbarton Bridge will be closed in both directions over the Labor Day holiday for seismic retrofit project work. The closure will begin at 10:00pm on Friday, August 31st and the bridge will reopen at 5:00am on Tuesday, September 4th.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns about these projects, please don’t hesitate to contact me at dave.cortese@bos.sccgov.org or call (408) 299-5030.
Dave Cortese
County Supervisor, Third District
County Transportation Update from Supervisor Cortese
We all know that the Rotary motto is 'Service Above Self', but we have a fellow Rotarian in the San Jose East/Evergreen club who gave much more of herself than others usually do. Toby Adelman, a Red Badger, gave the gift of life to a man who had been a stranger a few weeks earlier.
Toby said in a video documenting the kidney transplant, giving “is the most natural thing as human beings that we do. It comes naturally when we’re not afraid. Sometimes it takes people a lifetime to get that, because we hang on tightly to things. We think there’s not enough. There’s plenty for everybody, kidneys included,” she says. “Should half the planet need one and half the planet gave, we’d all be fine.”
Read Toby Adelman's full story at the link below, and note she is wearing her Rotary shirt in the picture!! ALSO - If you haven't designated to become an organ donor yet, now's the time to think and do something about it - you may be the one who needs the gift next.
Due to rooms left over from the June 2012 District Conference, the district will be holding a contest among clubs involving achievement in a combination of membership and The Rotary Foundation giving. The prize will be free rooms at the Squaw Creek Resort for the Memorial Day three-day weekend on the nights of May 24, 25, and 26, 2013. The rooms must be used on these dates. Twenty-two rooms with three-night stays will be split as prizes for first-, second-, and third-place winners. Winning clubs will be able to use the prizes for club members and family as determined by the club and names provided to the district 30 days in advance. The contest will run between July 1, 2012, and the end of January 2013. The criteria for winners are as follows:
Membership - 25% of the score - Largest percentage net increase in membership for clubs of 25 or more members or that have reached 25 members from July 1, 2012, to the end of January, 2013.
Plus
Membership - 25% of the score - Largest number of net increase in numbers over the club's July 1, 2012, membership.
Plus
Foundation - 25% of the score - Clubs achieving highest percentage EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year) from July 1, 2012 and by the end of January 2013.
Plus
Foundation - 25% of the score - Highest percentage increase in Annual Programs Fund (APF) giving over total APF giving in 2011-2012 by the end of January 2013, if between July 1, 2012 and January 2013 APF is at least an average (per capita) of $200 per member.
For each of the four categories above, 25 points will be allotted to the first-place club, 24 points for second place, and 23 points for third place. The clubs with the top three total scores will become the winners. Winners will be announced by March 1, 2013.
There will be a first-, second-, and third- place prize with rooms divided among 3 clubs: 10 rooms for first place, 7 rooms for second place, and 5 rooms for third place. In case of a tie, a two-week extension will be allowed for those clubs in a tie based on the same criteria.
For those who attended the past District Conference at Squaw Creek, you know how beautiful and comfortable the resort is. The prize includes the room cost plus tax and resort fees. Winning clubs must provide the names of those who will use the rooms 30 days in advance of the Memorial Day Weekend.
In 1958, Bob Izon ran the mile in world-record time in the under-16 age category, becoming the English schools champion.
But the most meaningful run of his life took place in May, when the founding member of the Rotary Club of Hereford Wye Valley, Herefordshire, England, carried the Olympic torch through his hometown.
Izon is one of several Rotarians who have carried the torch on its relay to the new Olympic Stadium in London for the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics on 27 July.
“I consider myself very fortunate to have been chosen, as half the bearers are ages 15 to 25,” he says. “It gave me a chance to pursue three objectives: inspire the younger generation, publicize Rotary’s good works, and show that a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease does not always condemn one to a nonactive life.”
Parkinson’s disease
Izon was diagnosed with the disease in 1992 but has remained active as a Rotarian, a justice of the peace, and a school board member at St. Paul’s Church of England Primary School in Hereford.
The school’s students and their parents lined the road on 24 May for Izon’s portion of the torch relay. Members of his club bore a huge banner publicizing Rotary and their upcoming charity duck race. During an all-school assembly the next day, students spent more than two hours taking turns holding the torch that had carried the flame and having their photographs taken.
“The atmosphere within the school hall was highly emotional, and quite a few of us were close to tears,” recalls Izon. “This was truly the most remarkable week in the 144-year history of the school.”
Izon’s Parkinson’s is now largely under control. In 2003, he participated in a trial procedure at the University of Birmingham Hospital, in which electrodes were placed in his brain, alleviating many of the symptoms.
He has continued to participate in Rotary service projects. Serving as a volunteer dentist on a medical mission to help Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong years ago, he says, reminded him that millions lack access to health care.
“Having Parkinson’s, being a school governor, being a Rotarian, these have all combined to give me an effective message,” he says. “I can say to the kids, don’t give in, and they believe it.”
Other torchbearers
Ken Logan, a member of the Rotary Club of Braids, Lothian, Scotland, ran his segment of the relay in June. He was nominated in part for his role in an Edinburgh charity that delivers aid to Bosnia, for which he has raised over £10,000 through marathons and long-distance swimming.
Mike Thorn, a member of the Rotary Club of Cheam, Greater London, carried the torch through Kent in July.
“It’s an opportunity to be part of history. It’s priceless, and it doesn’t get much better than this,” says Thorn. “It’s the nearest thing to running in the Olympics.”
True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that an edifice that produces beggars needs restructuring.
At our club meeting July 26, President Joyce announced our board's designation
of four honorary members this Rotary year:
Kevin Kelly
Griff Lewis
Bob Pfahnl
Bill Puopolo
Congratulations, gentlemen and thank you for your interest in and support of Rotary.
**********
Past President Adrian should get the drama award for "Happy Five's" in July. After celebrating his son's escape from serious injury in a car accident during our meeting on the 19th, Adrian had something even more dramatic to report on July 26th. He had a narrow brush with death when a spark iqnited a gas leak when he was alone in the crawl space under a house. Yelling to his partner, Adrian made Olympic time in crawling 35 feet to be hauled out. The house was evacuated and emergency 911 calls made and thankfully, everyone was OK.
Last week’s program highlighted RYLA/Interact and the scholarships provided by the Gerald and Dorothy Erich Endowment Fund. The entire meeting was infused with the spirit of Rotary.
Three of the eleven Interactors that our club sent to RYLA were present (Emily of Independence H.S.; Michelle of Piedmont Hills H.S.; and Katherine 0f Oak Grove H.S). Through their words and tears, they expressed thieir gratitude for the life-altering experience of RYLA that our Rotary Club made possible.
Three of the six Erich Scholarship winners and their families spoke of the major impact the $2,000.00 scholarships were going to have in helping them on their educational quests: veterinarian, mid-wife or physician’s assistant, and engineer. We were pleased to have the opportunity interact with all the students and to do a little on-the-spot mentoring. Special thanks to the scholarship committee members -- Nick, Audrey, Ruthie M., Eric, and Joyce -- for publicizing the scholarships and making the difficult selection of the six winners from among 35 outstanding applicants.
Marcela, our club Treasurer, who keeps us current with all things financial, mailed the six checks to the colleges of the scholarship recipients. Thanks. Marcela!
Thanks to the brilliant ideas of Pres. Joyce, we had a delightful luncheon and exchange with the Interactors and scholarship recipients, and Audrey Clark and Bill Mayhood provided each table and a main display table with mementos of Jerry's and Dorothy's courageous lives and beneficence.
We also were graced by the presence of three of the four new club members: Robbie, Harry, and returning to active status, Sara. We know that only illness prevented Toby from being with us. Have a speedy recovery, Toby!
Among many “Happy Fives” given to the club that day, Adrian’s was particularly moving as he related his relief that his son is expected to completely recover from last week's car accident.
Rotary SJEE members and volunteers as well as a host of enthusiastic Interactors rallied to the call to participate in the Elefante Blanco entry in today's Rose White & Blue Parade in the Rosegarden section of San Jose. Kudos to Joy Engstrom for her leadership and organizational skills and to all who participated!
Join Elefante Blanco for the Rose White and Blue Parade
at 10am on the 4th of July.
We will be in the parade!
...with our friends from Rotary, Interact and Rotaract.
Visit http://www.rosewhiteblueparade.com/
for details.
1910 – At the first Rotary Convention in Chicago, some delegates make the first attempt at official sanction of “women’s auxiliaries.” It is rejected overwhelmingly.
1912 –Despite the rejection of women as members and the ratification of women only rotary clubs, the Minneapolis Women's Rotary was incorporated in 1912 as a stand-alone, women-only, rotary club that continues to this date. In 1912, the board of directors of the Belfast, Northern Ireland club discussed the advisability of electing women to membership or allowing them to attend weekly luncheons. The club records of that period indicate the board considered it undesirable to elect women to membership or have them at the weekly luncheons. In that year, also, Ida Buell of the Duluth women’s club spoke to the 1912 Duluth Convention seeking support for women’s clubs. The Convention discussed the admission of women and rejected the idea.
1914 – Wives of Rotarians receive the title, “Rotary Ann’s,” named for the wives of San Francisco and Philadelphia Club presidents that year, Ann Brunnier and Ann Gundaker.
1914-15 – Rotary International Executive Committee approves the policy to discourage the formation of Women's Rotary Clubs.
1915 – The Rotary Club of St. Paul, Minnesota makes opera singer Florence MacBeth an honorary member. This is one of many “unofficial” memberships clubs have given to women over the decades.
1915-16 – Rotary International Board of Directors disapproves the formation of Women's Auxiliary Rotary or Women's Independent Rotary Clubs using the Rotary name; it has no objection to the spirit of the organization carried under some other name.
1916-17 – R.I. Board of Directors agreed that there is no objection to the formation of an auxiliary composed of wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters of Rotarians to be known as the Ladies' Auxiliary of the ——- Rotary Club. (In granting this approval the board had before it a definite plan with regard to an Auxiliary and its activities in the form of a letter signed by the wife of a Rotarian.)
1921 – The Providence, Rhode Island Club makes Blanche Dayne Cressy the wife of Vaudevillian Will Cressy an honorary Rotarian, claiming her to be “the only Woman Rotarian of her day.”
May 24, 1921 – Mrs. Alwilda Harvey, wife of Chicago Club President, brings fifty-nine Rotary wives together at a luncheon. She becomes the founder and president of a new organization called Women of Rotary. Said Mrs. Harvey, “Women through the ages have always practiced “Service Above Self;” now we have the opportunity to put the slogan into practice in serving our community.”
June 13, 1921 – At the International convention in Edinburgh, Scotland, Rotary releases a supplement to the 1920 Proceedings for all members, called the “Manual of Procedures.’ It includes prohibitions on women as members of rotary, or women’s clubs that use the Rotary name. It permits a “Ladies Auxiliary” for Rotary Clubs. (see page xx) The 1921 Convention in Edinburgh, Scotland produced the Standard Club Constitution in which Article 2, Section III stated “A Rotary Club shall be comprised of men . . .”
November 15, 1923 – The Manchester, England Club produces an invitation for Rotary wives to discuss, “Proposed formation of a Ladies rotary club in Manchester.” The idea of a women’s Rotary Club is dropped immediately, but the wives adopt the title of Inner Wheel.
November 1928 – Oklahoma City Club No. 29 originates the Rotary Ann auxiliary organization.
1946 – Jean Harris, wife of Rotary founder Paul Harris, becomes the first Honorary Member of the Inner Wheel Club of Edinburgh, Scotland.
1949 – The Rotary Foundation admits women as Ambassadorial Scholarship recipients.
June 1949 – R.I. convention plenary speaker is actress Madeleine Carroll, impassioned in support of the world’s children. She is one of the first women to speak at an R.I. convention. (Others include blind and deaf author, Helen Keller in 1957, and author, Pearl Buck in 1959)
June 1950 – The Rotary Club of Ahmedabad, India proposes an Enactment to the International Convention in Detroit that would delete the word “male” from Article III of the Standard Club Constitution. It is overwhelmingly rejected.
June 1964 – The agenda of the Council meeting at the RI Convention in Toronto contains an enactment for the admission of women to Rotary clubs. Convention delegates vote that it be withdrawn.
January 1972 – The Rotary Club of Upper Manhattan, New York, proposes an Enactment to the Council of Legislation to admit women to Rotary clubs. After laughter and discussion, it is rejected.
January 1977 – Four enactments are proposed to the Council on Legislation that would essentially permit women members into Rotary. The proposal again by Upper Manhattan, which prohibits membership restrictions based on sex, is rejected. The other three are subsequently withdrawn. The Rotary Club of Forotaleza, Ceara, Brazil, proposes to allow women to become honorary members. It is also rejected.
June 1, 1977 – The Rotary Club of Duarte, CA holds its 25th Anniversary Celebration and introduces three women as new members: Mary Lou Elliott, Donna Bogart and Rosemary Freitag.
February 1978 – Rotary International provisionally revokes the charter of the Duarte club. The club requests a hearing. The Board tells the Duarte club that it must remove women members. The club refuses.
March 27, 1978 – Rotary International board of Directors officially revokes the Charter of the Duarte club. Durate decides to continue as a quasi-Rotary club. They place an X over the Rotary insignia, make new pins, and call the club: The EX-Rotary Club of Duarte.
June 1978 – The Rotary Club of Duarte, CA files suit in Los Angeles Superior Court.
February 1983 – The Duarte case finally goes to trial in California. The State Judge refuses to reinstate the club. The Duarte Club immediately appeals the decision.
March 17, 1986 – The California State Appeals Court reverses the earlier decision. Rotary International immediately appeals the case to the California Supreme Court, who refuses to hear the case. RI requires all Rotary clubs to adhere to the constitutional prohibition against female membership, promising that they will make a study of club attitudes worldwide reviewing legislation at the earliest possible time, the 1989 Council on Legislation.
1986 – Rotary International appeals the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
July 31, 1986 – The Seattle-International District Club (a two-year old club) unanimously votes to admit women.
September 4, 1986 – The Seattle-International District Club secretly admits 15 women so they won’t lose their charter.
September 15, 1986 – The Seattle-International District Club files a lawsuit that seeks an injunction against Rotary International and formally announces the admission of 15 women.
January 1987 – The Seattle-International District Club files an Amicus brief in the Duarte case.
February 1987 – Reinstated Duarte Club President-Elect, Sylvia Whitlock attends a President Elect Training Seminar (PETS), the only woman with over 300 men. “I did not feel other than welcome!”
May 4, 1987 – The U.S. Supreme Court of Appeals of California affirms the 1986 ruling of the Court of Appeals of California in a 7 – 0 opinion.
July 1, 1987 –Sylvia Whitlock begins her term as the first official woman President of a Rotary Club.
1988 – The Rotary International Board recognizes the right of Rotary clubs in Canada to admit women.
June 1988 – Duarte President, Sylvia Whitlock, and Seattle-International District President-Elect, Karilyn van Soest, attend the International Convention in Philadelphia.
January 1989 – Council on Legislation votes to change the Constitution and Bylaws of Rotary to admit women.
July 1, 1989 – Council on Legislation changes take effect, and women are officially welcomed into Rotary.
July 1, 1995 – Eight women take office as District Governors.
July 1, 1997 – PDG Gilda Chirafisi, District 7230, begins second term as woman club president of the RC of Riverdale, NY, the first woman in RI to serve as president twice.
January 1998 – PDG Virginia B. Nordby becomes the first woman delegate to the Council on Legislation that meets in New Delhi, India.
June 1998 – Rotary International presents its highest honor, the Rotary Award for World Understanding (RAWU), to Dr. Catherine Hamlin.
July 1, 2001 – As Sylvia Whitlock begins her second term as President (the second woman in Rotary International to serve as President twice), the Rotary Club of Duarte becomes known as “the mouse that roared.”
July 1, 2005 – Carolyn Jones, Past District Governor from Alaska becomes the first woman trustee of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
2008 – Catherine Noyer-Riveau, (PHYSICIAN, Gynecology) of the Rotary Club of Paris becomes the first female Rotary International Director.
2009 – There are 187,967 female Rotarians worldwide. Sixty-three serve as district governors.
(Accumulated by Linda Parker Hamilton, Historian for the Rotary Club of Oakland, the third oldest in the world from RGHF, The Rotarian, speeches by Oakland Rotarians Iris Brody Lopez and Jack McAboy, and other sources)
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
Women were first officially admitted
to Rotary in the 1986-87 year.
A number of clubs lay claim to first admitting women, but the club that admitted a woman and was therefore expelled from Rotary leading to the lawsuits and court decisions that forced Rotary’s hand, that was the Rotary Club of Duarte California District 5300.
The woman they admitted was Sylvia Whitlock, who takes office July 1, 2013 as the District Governor of D5300.
Jack McClenahan, DG 2013-14
Rotary International District 5240
Muhammad Yunus, the father of microcredit, has newly defined the intersection between the market economy and humanitarian principles as "social business." A social business can be a nonprofit that sells a product, or a for-profit that applies business practices with a social goal, such as providing medical care or affordable, nutritious food. Investors reap no dividends; and profits return to the company. Yunus hastens to add, especially when addressing young people, that social business should pay competitive salaries.
Yunus: Economists assume humans are one-dimensional - that all people want to do in their lifetime is to make money. that's grossly wrong. My thesis is that humans enjoy doing many things besides making money. The capitalist business models we practice today are based on the selfishness of human beings...We should build another kind of business based on selflessness, where I do business not for myself, but for others, to benefit the world, to solve problems. That's what I call social business...
I insist that capitalism is misinterpreted. It's based on a single type of business: profit-making. It's imbalanced. If you add the social business leg to the capitalist system, then it becomes stable. When a business is run only to maximize profit, people are too busy to examine or solve social problems, so they let their governments take care of those problems. But we citizens are capable of solving problems ourselves. That's what the social business can do...
I would say [to graduates of top U.S. colleges and universities that are having a tough time in the job market], "Why try to be a job seeker? What don't you become a job giver?" Create a social business to provide opportunities. If you work in the social business you have started, you've actually created your own job. Whatever salary you may expect in an open market, you can get the same salary in your own company, so you're not sacrificing anything...
Start a company and create five jobs for people who are unemployed. Start a fruit stand. Start a restaurant. You have employed people and they have good jobs. The intention is to provide five jobs, not to make money from the restaurant. As long as the restaurant covers its own costs, that's fine. And if it's making a profit, the profit stays with the company so that it can create a sixth job or a seventh job.
====================================
What business started by Rotary SJEE Member Joy Engstrom typifies the model of the social business? Elefante Blanco Thrift Boutique of course. It's a business with a social goal: to provide clothing for impoverished people in Cabo San Lucas.
They're having a Memorial Day sale this Monday - stop by and support our very own social business!
In
a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of
us would have to settle for something less, because passing civilization along
from one generation to the next ought to be the highest honor and the highest
responsibility anyone could have.
It is with a sad heart that I need to inform you that Marcela's mother has passed away.
Marcela has gone to New York to be with her family. Your Prayers for Marcela, in this difficult time,
would be very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Joy Engstrom
We
are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when
we should be using Nature's inexhaustible sources of energy -- sun, wind and
tide. ... I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power!
I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.
Yesterday, Interact Club presidents of Area 6 schools Mount Pleasant, Piedmont Hills, Independence, and Area 8′s Yerba Buena high school visited their sponsoring East Evergreen Rotary Club. Coming in, we were greeted with smiles and immediate jokes. We enjoyed lunch with our Rotarians at the Ranch Golf Club which was beautiful! We presented our Rotarians with our Area 6 update from our recently held events that many of them attended and chaperoned. Then, we told them about our individual school projects and district international project. They really enjoyed getting to know more about what they were sponsoring and the youth that they are influencing and creating thanks to all of their support. The Rotarians were very interested in our work and we plan on working with many more of them! We learned about more projects individual Rotarians were involved in that could do with some Interact help! Our visit was definitely a SUCCESS! We were able to close the gap between Rotary and Interact and they’ll be expecting us for more visits!!
We would like to express our thank you and love to East Evergreen for all their support!
from left to right: Kim Dang & Cathlyn Telebrico (Mt. Pleasant's presidents), Stacy Ma (Piedmont Hills VP),
Emily Le (Independence co-president), Lawrence Vo (Yerba Buena president), Alexander Lieu (Independence president)
This message is to inform you that, recently, all club presidents
and secretaries with email addresses listed in the RI
database, received correspondence from our data department
stating that they should report their incoming officers for the 2012-2013
Rotary Year via Member Access by
31 December 2011.
To ensure clubs are aware of this process, we are asking
that you please reaffirm this message by posting a notice either in your
newsletter or directly on your district website. If there are any questions on
how to use Member Access,
please feel free to direct them to either Jim Damato (copied) or me.
Thank you for all the hard work you have put forth, so far, and
Happy Holidays!
Most people are mirrors, reflecting the moods and emotions
of the times; few are windows, bringing light to bear on the dark corners where
troubles fester. The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into
windows.
-Sydney J. Harris, journalist and author (1917-1986)
Prayer for Veterans Day God of peace,
we pray for those who have served our nation
and have laid down their lives
to protect and defend our freedom.
We pray for those who have fought,
whose spirits and bodies are scarred by war,
whose nights are haunted by memories
too painful for the light of day.
We pray for those who serve us now,
especially for those in harm's way.
Shield them from danger
and bring them home.
Turn the hearts and minds
of our leaders and our enemies
to the work of justice and a harvest of peace.
Spare the poor, Lord, spare the poor!
May the peace you left us,
the peace you gave us,
be the peace that sustains,
the peace that saves us.
Christ Jesus, hear us!
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer!
By Ryan Hyland Rotary International News -- 8 August 2011
Ron D. Burton, a member of the Rotary Club of Norman, Oklahoma, USA, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International in 2013-14.
Ron D. Burton, a member of the Rotary Club of Norman, Oklahoma, USA, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International in 2013-14. Burton will become the president-nominee on 1 October if there are no challenging candidates.
Burton retired as president of the University of Oklahoma Foundation Inc. in 2007. He is a member of the American Bar Association, as well as the bar associations of Cleveland County and the state of Oklahoma. He is admitted to practice in Oklahoma and before the U.S. Supreme Court.
"This is an exciting time to be a Rotarian," Burton says. "I believe we are well poised to capitalize on our strengths as we embrace the [RI] Strategic Plan and the Future Vision Plan. My vision is to have every Rotarian appreciate what it means to be a Rotarian. With these two tools, we can make that happen."
Active in his community, Burton is a founder and past president of the Norman Public School Foundation, and founder and past board member of the Norman Community Foundation. A recipient of the Silver Beaver Award, he is a past vice president of the Last Frontier Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Burton believes that Rotary's promotion of high ethical standards is one of the qualities that sets it apart from other organizations.
"It assures those dealing with us that we can be trusted," he says. "Most of us are in a business or profession that already has a code of ethics. Vocational service in Rotary just adds to that responsibility. We have an obligation to go above and beyond to make sure that all our actions are above reproach."
A Rotarian since 1979, Burton is vice chair of the Future Vision Committee and a member of the Polio Eradication Advocacy Task Force for the United States. He has served RI as director; Rotary Foundation trustee and trustee vice chair; International Assembly moderator, assistant moderator, and group discussion leader; and district governor.
His other service to Rotary includes chair of the 2011 New Orleans Convention Committee, vice chair of the Investment Advisory Committee, liaison trustee of the Vocational Service Committee, Permanent Fund national adviser, and regional Rotary Foundation coordinator. He was aide to 2006-07 RI President William B. Boyd.
Burton has received the RI Service Above Self Award and The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service, Distinguished Service Award, and International Service Award for a Polio-Free World.
Burton and his wife, Jetta, have two children and three grandchildren.
Be a Vibrant Club: Your Club Leadership Plan is a collection of best practices intended to strengthen clubs — the first priority of the RI Strategic Plan.
Rotarians can make their club more vibrant and engaging by developing a club leadership plan that includes the best practices of effective Rotary clubs. For your club leadership plan, consider adapting these best practices in ways that work for your club:
Developing long-range goals or a strategic plan that addresses the elements of an effective club
Convening regular club assemblies
Maintaining open lines of communication
Involving all club members
Ensuring continuity in leadership
Amending bylaws to reflect current club practices
Providing opportunities for networking and socializing
Offering regular, consistent training
Assigning committees that support your club’s needs
If there is a sin against life, it consists perhaps not so much in despairing of life as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life.
-Albert Camus, writer, philosopher, Nobel laureate (1913-1960)
All Rotarians are ambassadors of Rotary and their clubs. This is especially relevant during Membership and Extension Month in August, when the focus is on building strong, vibrant clubs by inviting prospective members to join Rotary. Interested in growing your club but not sure how to get started? Here’s an easy three-step plan to bring to your next club meeting.
1. Start with Rotary Basics The colorful Rotary Basics guide (published in the August issue of The Rotarian and Rotary regional magazines) gives an overview of what Rotary clubs do. Order copies from shop.rotary.org for members to share with prospective Rotarians and club guests. Include your club’s contact information with the guide or direct prospective members to www.rotary.org/join, which includes a link to the Prospective Member Form.
2. Handle prospective-member inquiries Club presidents receive inquiries about membership either directly from candidates or via Prospective Member or Rotarian Referral forms forwarded from Rotary International. As always, invitations for membership are at the discretion of your club. Consider creating a brochure or elevator speech to provide an overview of your club. If you develop a standard welcome e-mail to initiate correspondence with prospective members, include:
Welcome and thank-you to candidate for his/her interest in Rotary
Overview of the club, including a brief outline of Rotary’s mission and humanitarian goals, a recent club/district service project, and typical club/district activities
Meeting information, including the name, meeting time, and location
Additional resources, including links to club/district websites or Rotary publications
Follow-up information about the club’s next steps in the membership process
3. Send prospective member kits Follow up your welcome letter with the Prospective Member Information Kit (423), which provides basic information about RI, The Rotary Foundation, and the responsibilities of club membership. Have a club leader contact the prospective member to ensure they’ve received the kit and to answer any questions about Rotary membership.
‘Reach Within to Embrace Humanity’ is 2011-12 RI theme
By Joseph Derr Rotary International News -- 17 January 2011
RI President-elect Kalyan Banerjee [asked] Rotarians to Reach Within to Embrace Humanity during the 2011-12 Rotary year.
Banerjee unveiled the RI theme during the opening plenary session of the 2011 International Assembly, a training event for incoming district governors.
He urged participants to harness their inner resolve and strength to achieve success in Rotary.
"In order to achieve anything in this world, a person has to use all the resources he can draw on. And the only place to start is with ourselves and within ourselves," Banerjee said.
Once Rotarians find their inner strength, he continued, they can accomplish great things in their communities and around the world.
"Discover yourself, develop the strengths within you, and then unhesitatingly, unflinchingly, go forth and encircle the world, to embrace humanity," he said.
Most Rotarians know that for several decades, Rotary has operated with four Avenues of Service: namely Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service, and International Service. But an unusual thing happened at the 2010 Council on Legislation! The proposed enactment to add a fifth Avenue of Service was approved by the Council after being rejected at previous Councils.
The new avenue is called New Generations Service, and there is some confusion and concern about the impact of the change. The proposer of the enactment did not file a statement of support, and therefore, we do not have a written statement of the proposer's rationale. However, it seems to me that the purpose and effect is to focus more attention on the Rotary programs for youth and young adults.
Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless
means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral. -Paulo Freire, educator
(1921-1997)
Lynette Aspen will speak at our lunch meeting about the nursing program at Evergreen College. She has a meeting back at the college at 1PM and will begin her program at 12:15PM. Please arrive early enough to get and pay for your lunch before Lynette's presentation begins.
Graduated with BS in Nursing from the Medical College of Georgia. I worked as an RN in pediatric & adult oncology. I worked in hospitals on the East coast & at Stanford. In 2002, I graduated with my MS degree from UCSF. I joined the full-time faculty at Evergreen in 2003, where I taught Medical-surgical nursing, mental health, pharmacology & leadership management. In 2007, I took on the leadership position of Dean of Nursing & Allied Health. In addition to the RN program, I oversee the Nursing Assistant program, health education & family consumer studies.
A second speech contest to accommodate more of the interested students from our club,will take place at the County Offices tomorrow night. Volunteers are needed: contact Nick Leon.
"When a tree stops growing, it is ready to die . . . A Rotary club is like that: It is moving ahead only when it is growing. When the growing ends, the knife-and fork club begins."
As you can see from the smiles - our club's Fishing in the City with Dorsa School 3rd grade students
and Interactors was declared a success by one & all!
See the Photo Album tab for the day's photos courtesy of Bob Krauth
Friend or foe? Social Media is an enfant celebre of the 21st Century, but most are not aware of its immediate and long-term impact on personal privacy and security. Santa Clara County Chief Trial Deputy, Ray Mendoza will present an eye-opening program on what has become for most an intricate part of everyday life and communication.
Raymundo G. S. Mendoza received his Bachelor of Science Degree with honors in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley in 1983 and his Juris Doctorate Degree from Hastings College of the Law in 1986. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1986. He is also admitted to practice law before the Federal Court, Northern District of California, and the Supreme Court of the United States.
As Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney since 1986, he has served in numerous roles including the Misdemeanor Unit and Juvenile Gang Unit, Homicide, Special Operations, Sexual Assault, General Felonies, Narcotics Units, Community Prosecution and has supervised the General Felony Trial Team. As a community prosecutor, he worked closely with elected officials, police officers, community leaders, school administrators, probation officers and community based organizations (CBOs) to suppress and prevent gang violence. He helped obtain the federal grants for Weed and Seed Sites in the Washington, East San Jose and Burbank Areas. He has given numerous anti-gang, internet safety, internet crimes against children, cyberbullying and youth leadership presentations to law enforcement and community organizations throughout the United States. He is currently the Chief Trial Deputy, supervising the felony trial calendar and extraditions. He also handles selected high profile prosecutions for the District Attorney’s Office.
He has served as a member of Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, Northern District of California: 1992-1996 & 98-2000. He is the past president and current Board Member of the Breathe California. He has served on board for Eastfield Ming Quong, a mental health provider to children. He is an active member of the California State Bar, The Santa Clara Bar Association and the La Raza Lawyers Association. He has taught trial practice courses at Santa Clara University Law School. He is also an instructor at the San Jose Police Academy and the National District Attorneys Association.
Sep 4 Program: Social Media-Friend or Foe? - Raymundo G.S. Mendoza
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) today will declare the South-East Asia region of the World Health Organization as polio-free, an important milestone in the worldwide effort to eradicate polio. The 11 countries in the region — Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste — are home to 1.8 billion people and represent the fourth of six regions worldwide to be officially certified polio-free.
This landmark didn’t just happen on its own, but embodies a lot of hard work by many dedicated volunteers. We recently contacted chairs of National PolioPlus Committees in the region to learn how their countries became polio-free and how Rotary took part in the process. The results were enlightening.
Sri Lanka
In Sri Lanka, N. R. Gajendran shared how a cease fire was negotiated in the Sri Lankan Civil War, called “the days of tranquility,” so that immunizations could be carried out across the country. The government had planned to do a National Immunization Day (NID) only in areas not impacted by the war, which meant about a third of the country’s children would not be vaccinated.
But after consulting with UNICEF, Rotary leaders and UNICEF established contact with the rebel party, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who still controlled some areas of the country, to pursue a cease fire. The rebel leader responded that if Rotary and UNICEF could persuade the government to stop the war for two days, they would be willing to lay down their guns too. “Our war is not with the children,” a letter from the rebel leader stated. Consequently, the immunization efforts reached approximately 95 percent of the country, and were conducted in about 5,000 midwife areas and 10,000 centers.
Subsequent NIDs became days of tranquility. Colombo proved to be the most challenging area, but with Rotary’s support, children typically not accessible to government care workers were reached. The last confirmed case of polio in Sri Lanka was in 1993.
Bangladesh
Salim Reza, who had been on the Bangladesh Rotary Polio Committee for 20 years, said the biggest challenge to his country becoming polio-free was ignorance, a lack of education, and poverty. Awareness programs supported by Rotary, WHO, and UNICEF led to a greater awareness of polio eradication and a much increased participation in National Immunization Days. The most recent immunization day had a 99 percent rate of coverage.
Most Rotarians actively participate in the Immunization Days, and the national committee has worked together with the government since the start of the program, along with WHO and UNICEF. Through TV and radio, efforts are made to reach out to children who need to be immunized. Seminars are also arranged in different parts of Bangladesh.
Nepal
Ratna Man Sakya shared how in Nepal, mobilizing health workers, securing commitments from political leaders, and organizing volunteers all over the country helped combat significant challenges. These included the rugged geographic terrain, a shortage of manpower, and a large reservoir of wild polio virus across the border in India. Nepal held its first National Immunization Days in 1996. The last indigenous case of wild polio virus was detected in 2000. Sakya noted the biggest success story is how Rotary, the Government of Nepal, WHO, UNICEF and other supporting agencies have been working hand in hand to eradicate polio in the country and keep it polio-free.
On Thursday, May 23, 2013, Lieutenant Governor, Jeff Orth visited the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen with a special mission; to present the club's Presidential Citation for 2012/13.
The 2012-13 Presidential Citation recognizes Rotary clubs that achieve an array of accomplishments that help them become stronger, deliever effective service, and enhance their public image. Club President, Joyce Puopulo, submitted the application on behalf of the club in recognition of the achievements of club members in all the Areas of Service.
Over the past 60 years, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has been a driving force behind life-saving blood cancer research. However until there is a cure, there is more work to be done – and LLS needs HEROs like you to get there. HEROs is a new LLS fundraising program specifically created to Help Escalate Research Opportunities that will lead to these cures.
Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen Warehouse Food Sort on Wednesday, 5/25/2011, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the San Jose Distribution Center. Please refer to the address of the location listed at the end of this email.
We are looking forward to having your group come and volunteer with us. We value you spending time with us and we strive to start your volunteer experience on time. Please plan on arriving no sooner than 10 minutes prior to and no later than 10 minutes after your scheduled sorting shift time. Specific to evenings and weekend food sorts, due to training and securing of our warehouse, we are sometimes unable to accommodate late arrivals as registration closes 20 minutes past the schedule sorting shift time.
ENTRANCE FOR FOOD SORTING
San Jose Distribution Center: Weekday Monday to Friday - use front administrative entrance. Evening and Weekend - use warehouse entrance located on side of building.
Rotarians have been finding a number of ways to help victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan that killed thousands and left hundreds of thousands more homeless. In response to the disasters, The Rotary Foundation established the Rotary Japan Disaster Recovery Fund , which will support long-term recovery projects in the affected areas. More than US$500,000 has been donated since the fund opened on 11 March. "It is encouraging to know that our overseas Rotary friends care about us," says Yuzaburo Mogi, president of the Rotary Club of Tokyo. "I am confident that the people of Japan will overcome this great disaster, and we are hopeful that we can get over the various difficulties soon."
Rotary SJEE will begin meeting on Thursdays, as of April 7, 2011
Founding member, Jerry Erich would have been happy - he wasn't pleased when, in order to meet at the SJ Country Club on Alum Rock, our meeting day was switched from Thursday to Tuesday. He told me he nearly left the club.
We miss you Jerry!
Yesterday at the Interact District Council meeting the Interactors had a leadership mini-training on criticism. The Interact Governor and Lt. Governor asked several questions on how leaders deal with criticism and what it means. They pointed out that leader are targets for criticism and then asked District Council how they deal with criticism and what meaning do they give it. After the discussion they shared how to avoid criticism and quoted Aristotle who said,"To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing."
I was so motivated by the Interactors and by the fact that they understood that criticism just comes with the territory and to embrace it and to know that actions speak louder than words. I'm reminded of the Chinese saying, "Words don't cook rice." My hats off to the Interactors.
Spring begins this March 20, 2011 with the Vernal Equinox. Vernal translates from Latin to mean Spring. The Equinox happens twice a year, once in the Fall and once in the Spring. The word Equinox translates from Latin words aequus which means equal and nox which translates to night. The location near the equator will have the most equal amount of daylight and nightime at this time.
When is the first day of spring 2011 in the US? The northern hemisphere of Earth is scheduled to have the first day of Spring on March 20, 2011. Spring may not feel like it everywhere, but at least there is a warming trend as we get closer to the Sun.
Gardeners will be gearing up to get ready to plant. If you are in the colder climates it is a good time to start your plants indoors for transplanting when it warms up enough.
By Victoria Brown
I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you that we have a board meeting and club assembly next week so there will be no speaker. This is not the time to bring a guest. We will be finishing up the preparation for our crab feed next weekend. Please come with your donated raffle item (remember, think something that you would like to win that isn't to expensive), and the good news on your ticket sales. If you can't sell the tickets, please bring them back so that others can. But really really try to sell those tickets, they are the key to the crab feed being successful.
The club Crab Feed held at the Alviso Yacht Harbor last Sunday was a resounding success. Many thanks to all who worked on the event and all our delightful guests.
Ariana Lena is a 9th grade student at Mt. Pleasant High School. She was selected from over thousands of students throughout the United States, to be one of nine to represent our country in the "People to People Student Ambassador Program." People to People was founded by President Dwight D Eisenhower in 1956. The mission of the organization is "To bridge cultural and political borders through education and exchange, making the world a better place for generations. The tuition for the program is $7000.00. Ariana is raising the money through various donations and hopefully the Rotary will be one of them to donate.
Gail Anne Osmer American Indian Education Center
The Abundance Company provides coaching and consulting services for motivated entrepreneurs and organizational leaders who want to make a positive difference in the World.During the past few years, I have given presentations to dozens of organizations such as yours.
Titles and descriptions of the three core presentations are:
"Are You on Your Way to Oz, or Still Stuck in Kansas?-- 6-Step Strategic Path to Turbocharge Success" ".This presentation details the steps involved in creating a powerful one-page "success-driven" business plan that can actually be used to run and grow a business, a department, a sales position, or career.
"The Spark, The Flame and The Torch--3 Purposeful Steps to Build People, Productivity, and Profits".This is my passion, for this process transforms people, teams, and organizations.It also engages employees and clients in a way that builds loyalty.and is a great process for any organization that wants to motivate and inspire all levels employees-and it's especially effective for motivating younger generations.and helping them to step into their "leader within".An alternative title could be :"How to Build Inspiration in Uninspiring Times".
"Running on a Full Tank-Gain Time, Productivity, and Fun With 'Energy Management'".
This looks at eight areas in ourselves, our environments, our habits that hold us back from reaching our goals-and gives tips for dealing with these areas.
The presentations are jam-packed with great information, and are motivating and inspiring.Here are some of the comments I've received:
"I gave you only about 30-45 minutes to present some life and business changing ideas and you did that and more!! You gave us "12 Keys to Running on a Full Tank" and the group was spellbound...The response and comments I heard afterwards were so positive and I look forward to having you back again." -- Christian Entrepreneurs Organization
"Lynnea spoke at our Association's Business/Networking Luncheon The topic was "Building A Powerful Business Plan in Five Steps." The feedback I got was very positive from the attendees. They thought it was a very informative and motivating speech.It was inspiring." -- Professional Realtors Association
"Terrific.You really gave us a lot to think about."--Campbell Rotary
"That was great!Just what we wanted for our business clients."--Keypoint Credit Union
"You gave me a kick-start to look at what I needed to change in my life." -- Attendee
If you're interested in any of these topics, I'd be glad to visit your organization and give one of these presentations.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Max Trescott is an author, General Aviation advocate, and the 2008 National Certificated Flight Instructor of the Year. Based in the San Francisco Bay area, he runs Glass Cockpit Publishing, speaks at aviation events, and gives flight instruction in advanced glass cockpit aircraft.
Max is passionate about preserving and growing general aviation in the U.S. so that it remains available for future generations, according to his Max Trescott on General Aviation blog. He has urged pilots to act to help save the Reid-Hillview Airport, which is being studied for possible closure by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. He's called upon the FAA to adopt more aggressive safety standards for general aviation. He also urged pilots to submit comments on the FAA's NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking) to require ADS-B equipment in aircraft by the year 2020. In his comments to the FAA, he said that the current proposal could be improved upon so that it delivers the right benefits at the lowest cost.
Here is the latest information from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Another new case of polio has been found in Chad. Polio continue to break out where infected people travel from country to country. This is why we MUST eradicate polio in the 4 endemic countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria. As long as the wild polio virus is there, infected people who travel (and lots of them travel) to other countries take it with them and infect folks there.
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We HAVE to let everyone in all of our cities and towns that polio is still active in the world...and until we eradicate it, polio can return here!!
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That's why our District Governor, Roger Hassler, is encouraging all of us to GET THE WORD OUT!! On Sunday, March 20th, Governor Roger is holding an End Polio Now Walk in Santa Clara County. As he stated in his letter to all Club Presidents, the purpose of this walk is: "to develop public awareness for Rotary's effort to eradicate polio from the face of the earth; to provide the opportunity to develop donations from commercial and individual sponsors to fund the purchase of vaccine to protect the worlds children from this terrible disease; and to allow Rotarians the opportunity show their personal resolve in the effort to End Polio Now."
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I encourage you to promote this Walk in your clubs. And I know that other areas of our District are planning events to promote awareness of our efforts to End Polio Now.
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Thank you for helping to bring an end to this dreaded virus!!
"I do moot courts because, every once in a while, I need an injection of hope," she said. "And I see performances like the ones you gave today and I have so much hope. You were magnificent." Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, 2/2/11
That's just the feeling I get from attending our club's annual speech contest for high school students...an "injection of hope."
See you there!
Mid-year in the Rotary year is a time to evaluate the past six months and plan for the next. SJEE members' partcipation is strongly encouraged Tuesday, January 11 - there will be a board meeting and club assembly at The Ranch.
Comedian and Author of, 'Won't Do Stand-Up in a Wheelchair' (Wyatt-Mackenzie, March 2010) Sandi was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1995. When her doctors told her that she was advancing so rapidly that they expected her to be in a wheelchair within 5 years. Sandi began to look for any other possibilities. Realizing right then and there, that there were two things she did not look good in, one was green, the other was wheelchair's. Sandi stumbled upon a well kept secret; stem cell research. They had been doing stem cell transplants for Multiple Sclerosis in Europe, for years. The science had her convinced. It was an alternative. Besides, the drugs the doctors had been giving Sandi, were no longer working. It was a no brainer, she moved to San Diego and volunteered at the Scripps Green Hospital, for an experimental autologous stem cell transplant (using her own stem cells). During her transplant, her lung was accidentally punctured. Sandi now swears that it was a $10.99 box of comedy tapes that she purchased at Costco, that kept her alive that night. Now, it is comedy that keeps her sane. Since the transplant she has had no new lesions, no new symptoms, and best of all, most of her old Multiple Sclerosis symptoms are gone. Conclusion: The transplant worked! Who's laughing now?
Active & honorary club members, spouses & friends are invited to a holiday party at the home of Marisa and Richard Otto on Sat. Dec 18.
The fun starts at 6pm - bring a dish to share as well as a "white elephant" gift to trade. For details and to RSVP, contact Adrian Diaz at addiaz@hotmail.com
The Flying Twenty was originally formed in San Jose in 1939 with a membership of nine enthusiastic flyers. It has been operating since then with the intent of promoting flying and aviation safety while keeping costs to a minimum. The Flying Twenty has traditionally provided some of the least expensive aircraft in the Bay Area.
The non-profit club was incorporated under the laws of the State of California in 1949. It is operated by a board of directors elected by the membership each semester. A paid accountant handles all monthly billing. The club aircraft and hangar are located at the Reid-Hillview Airport (RHV) in San Jose, Ca.
Best wishes to one and all as we celebrate the beginning of a new year.
And to those lucky enough to attend the Rotary Roundup with Trail Boss (RI President, that is) Ray Klinginsmith; say "Hi" from Rotary SJEE as you start the year "kickin' up your boots, and having FUN" with President Ray at the Saddle Rack on January 2.
The International Slow Food movement is a non-profit organization comprised of more than 100,000 members worldwide, dedicated to promoting Good, Clean and Fair food throughout the world. We savor epicurean delights, and enjoy fine food and wine tasting events, culinary classes and regional gourmet specialties, while working toward improving access to Real Food. Our members support local organic farmers, artisan producers and vintners. What could be more fun than sharing a passion for good food and wine with other people who feel the same way? The South Bay Chapter, originally the Silicon Valley Convivium, was formed on 27 October 1997 after its founder was introduced to Slow Food during lunch with the owner of Sassicaia Winery in Bolgheri, Italy. The diverse group consists of gourmands of all ages and backgrounds, including leading food educators, restaurant owners, vintners, and food merchants. Our Chapter, one of the first five created in the U.S., runs activities promoting Real Food, and organizes meals at restaurants, social events, tastings, cooking courses, winery tours, films and lectures.
Trustee chair's message: December is Family Month
Rotary International News -- 1 December 2010
Family Month also includes the family of Rotary, which consists of all Rotary International districts, clubs, Rotarians, programs, and The Rotary Foundation, says Foundation Trustee Chair Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar.
November is Rotary Foundation Month. Your support of the Annual Programs Fund through the Every Rotarian, Every Year initiative makes it possible for The Rotary Foundation to continue its work of Doing Good in the World.
To be the leading provider of vital health, education and employment services to families, children and seniors living in low-income housing communities. Our goal is to help keep family members employed, children in school, and seniors active.
Vision
Project Access envisions that all residents of affordable housing communities have the opportunity to achieve self-sufficiency and maximize their full potential.
Who We Serve
Project Access has continuously delivered programs and services to residents by way of Family and Senior Resource Centers established in the affordable housing communities where the residents live, as well as through providing outreach and referral services.
The individuals that Project Access serves are the "working poor." They live on the edge of poverty and are often one paycheck away from losing the roof over their heads. They are children and adults living in affordable housing, who have qualified based on their low-income status. Many of our clients have annual incomes as low as $10,000 per household. The demographic make-up of our clients is 74% Hispanic/Latino, 9% African American, 8% Asian, 3% Multi-Racial, 3% Caucasian, 2% Persian, and 1% Other. The age range of those we serve is 51% children ages 18 and under, 44% adults age 19 to 54, and 5% over age 55.
Paul Richardson, an Ohio native has been with San Jose State University since 1999: as a Resident Director, Marketing & Membership Manager, Associate Executive Director, Development Director, and now the Executive Director for the SJSU Alumni Association. His experiences within Student Affairs and Advancement have afforded him the ability to work collaboratively across all sectors of the campus.
Paul received his undergraduate education from Bluffton University in Music Performance; Music Education K-12, with a minor in Peace Studies. Richardson then went on to purse graduate work at Kent State University where he completed a Masters degree in Human Development with a focus on minority identity development.
Dr. Paul Kassing, Interim President of SJSU "News from San Jose State University"
Don W. Kassing is currently serving as Interim President of San José State University. As a former president of San José State University, he headed the oldest and one of the largest universities in the 23-campus California State University system. Appointed in 2004, Kassing moved the university forward in numerous key areas. Under his leadership, the campus engaged in university-wide strategic planning, increased enrollments and efforts to increase student success, received high commendations from its accrediting agency, stabilized athletics funding, and greatly increased private giving to the university. In 2006-07 San José State received more than $50 million in private support, leading the 23-campus California State University system in giving, and bringing the university's three-year total for giving to $100 million. As president and in his former role as vice president for administration and finance, Kassing led the development, construction and successful opening of two major campus facilities: the award-winning Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, based on a first-of-its-kind and highly successful partnership with the city of San José; and Campus Village, a state-of-the-art residence complex for students, faculty and staff, the largest such project in the California State University system, and the focus of a renewed sense of community on the campus. Before his appointment to the presidency, Kassing had served for more than a decade as vice president for administration and finance and as chief financial officer. As CFO, he had responsibility for all business and financial affairs of the university. His previous 18 years in higher education included service as vice president for university relations and administrative services at Murray State University, in Kentucky, and vice president for development and public affairs at Western State College of Colorado. He also served for two years as president of the Granite City Campus of the Belleville Area College, Belleville, Illinois. Before that, he worked for 11 years in private industry, including eight years in corporate finance and operations management for Brown Group, Inc., and three years with General Motors Corporation. Kassing holds an M.B.A. and a B.S. in Economics from St. Louis University. He is married with three children and eight grandchildren.
October is Vocational Service Month in the Rotary World. As the second of the five Rotary Avenues of Service, vocational service has a focus on the following three areas:
1. Adherence to and promotion of the highest ethical standards in all occupations, including fair treatment of employers, employees, associates, competitors, and the public.
2. The recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, not just those that are pursued by Rotarians.
3. The contribution of vocational talents to solving the problems of society and meeting the needs of the community.
In additional to the role and impact of vocational service in our local communities, club members around the world have the option to put their vocational skills to work as a
Rotary Volunteer
in their local as well as international communities. Volunteer opportunities from around the world can be viewed on ProjectLINK (http://www.rotary.org/en/ServiceAndFellowship/ProjectResources/ProjectLINK)
Enjoy this video on Vocational Service created by Rotary District 9800, Australia:
Rotary has a lot to celebrate during New Generations Month in September. New Generations Service became the fifth Avenue of Service after a decision by the 2010 Council on Legislation in April.
As a service to the many people in the Bay Area who are searching for jobs, the Cupertino Rotary Job Search Support Group was formed. For the ninth year we are pleased to offer this support to those who face this difficult task. The Cupertino Rotary Job Search Support Group has been recognized for its excellence and service to others with two official acknowledgements: a Certificate of Recognition from the California State Legislature and another from the State Governor.
Cupertino Rotary Job Search Support Group
Are you looking for a job or know somebody who is? For the ninth year, Cupertino Rotary will be hosting the free Job Search Support Group every Tuesday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 PM from August 24th, 2010, to June 7, 2011, in the Cafeteria at Monta Vista High School, 21840 McClellan Road. Parking is available in the staff parking lot. You may enter and exit this free program at any time. If you have questions about the class, you can call instructor, Jim Gibson, at (408) 735-0663 or e-mail JimGib007@aol.com.
Several Rotarians have asked me how I chose the RI theme for my presidential year, so let me explain. After reviewing all the past themes, I decided to search for a few words that would fulfill two objectives – to give outsiders a glimpse of our purpose, and at the same time to make Rotarians proud of their membership.
I searched for words to describe the passion, the creativity, and the generosity of Rotarians. And as I sought the right words, I kept in mind that Rotary is a spirit of service as well as an organization of Rotary clubs, and that we need to share our core values of service, fellowship, diversity, integrity, and leadership with other people and organizations. I considered many words and phrases. The four words I finally selected to convey Rotary's current mission and highlight our achievements describe what Rotarians do best, which is Building Communities – Bridging Continents.
I hope you agree those four words aptly reflect who we are and what we do as Rotarians. We are a unique organization and certainly one of the best in the world. We build the spirit and resources of our local communities in an important way, and we are a prominent player on the world stage with PolioPlus and our international service projects.
Rotary has changed the world, and Rotarians will continue to change it in a positive way. The formula is simple: For us to succeed, all we need to do is to focus our best efforts on doing what Rotarians are passionate about and what Rotarians are the best in the world at doing, which is Building Communities – Bridging Continents.
Diaper Drive For Family Wellness Court of Santa Clara County
The Commission on the Status of Women is partnering with the Indian Community Center, the Jewish Federation and the Northwest YMCA for the 60 Days of Diapers Campaign. We need diapers in all sizes, especially 4, 5 and pull-ups for local children in Family Wellness Court (FWC). FWC is an innovative, collaborative effort assisting 200+ families achieve and maintain sobrie
ty, overcome personal obstacles and become better parents. We salute FWC and... the parents who are working hard each day to be better. Help us raise $5000 worth of diapers so we can show the infants and toddlers of FWC that they deserve a future that is clean, safe and healthy… starting with a fresh diaper.
Drop-off locations
Indian Community Center 525 Los Coches Street, Milpitas, CA 95035
Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley 14855 Oka Road, Los Gatos, CA 95032
Northwest YMCA 20803 Alves Drive, Cupertino, CA 95014
I'm hoping to see you this Tuesday, July 20, at the Ranch. President Eric will not be in attendance and I have the pleasure of running the meeting. We have some surprises and a great meeting on tap. I know the nationally renowned speaker Nancy Oliveira is outstanding, Griff has a surprise, and we have some birthdays. So invite and bring a guest and join the fun Tuesday.
You can see my Rotary photographs, including our honoring of Nick Leon at: http://www.evergreentimes.com/. Page 18. I also have July 4th story and photos on Pages 1 and 10.
Our new club president, Eric Peterson, has called the first club assembly of this Rotary year.
"Our meeting this week will be a Club Assembly for club members to discuss this year in Rotary.
We will meet offsite at LaPerla Mexican Restaurant located at 1150 McGinness Ave, San Jose 95127. [near Story Road, 1 signal east of Capitol Expressway]
Gather at noon with the meeting starting promptly at 12:15."
Our meeting [this] week will be a Club Assembly to discuss this year in Rotary. Please keep in mind that Club Assemblies are not an appropriate time to bring guests.
Also, for this meeting we are going to meet at LaPerla Mexican Restaurant located at 1150 McGinness Ave, San Jose 95127. (
http://laperlataqueriasj.com/
) Jose and Ana are the restaurant proprietors and they provide excellent food in addition to having a separate meeting room for our use.
So if you are interested and want to have a say in what we are going to do this year please make it to LaPerla this coming Tuesday July 13th. Gather at noon with the meeting starting promptly at 12:15.
Please let me know if you are not going to make it. Otherwise I hope to see you then.
A new Rotary year is set to begin, and with it a number of changes to the way clubs and districts do business.
The annual per capita dues that Rotary clubs pay to Rotary International will increase to US$50 in 2010-11, as established by the 2007 Council on Legislation. The 2010 Council approved a $1 increase for the three subsequent years, setting per capita dues at $51 for 2011-12, $52 for 2012-13, and $53 for 2013-14.
The 2010 Council, which met in April, took several other actions that will go into effect 1 July:
E-clubs will become a permanent part of Rotary International after years of participating in a pilot project. Districts will be allowed up to two e-clubs, which are defined as Rotary clubs that meet through electronic communications. Some of the pilot e-clubs have been meeting solely through online forums, while others have combined electronic with in-person meetings.
New Generations Service will join the other Avenues of Service -- Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service, and International Service. Before starting a project, Rotarians are asked to think broadly about how their club and its members can contribute within each avenue.
Rotarians in North America will have the choice of receiving either an electronic or print version of The Rotarian magazine. Rotarians living at the same address may qualify for a joint subscription.
Following are some changes that will primarily affect Rotary districts and clubs:
: to expose the sham or falseness of <debunk a legend>
Come one, come all to the debunking of President Nick Leon as the gavel descends on his final club meeting. (Oh, he couldn't find the gavel?)
Main Entry: 2gavel
Function: noun
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1835
: a mallet used (as by a presiding officer or auctioneer) for commanding attention
That's OK, Nick. Just use your knife on the water glass. Have you got their attention yet?
Main Entry: at·ten·tion
Pronunciation: \ə-ˈten(t)-shən; sense 4 often (ə-)ˌten(ch)-ˈhət\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English attencioun, from Latin attention-, attentio, from attendere
Date: 14th century
1 a : the act or state of applying the mind to something b : a condition of readiness for such attention involving especially a selective narrowing or focusing of consciousness and receptivity
Well, good luck with THAT!
... and best of luck as you conclude your second year of service above self as president of the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen (of course, "three time's the charm!")
In this final newsletter for the year 2009-2010, I would like to thank you, the Rotarians of District 5170 for your continued support. One of the fond memories I will take from this year was visiting each one of the clubs in our district and learn-ing about all the wonderful humanitarian projects, both interna-tional and community, in which our clubs participate.
Our District is the 33
rd
largest district in the world and we currently rank #6 in the world in total giving. We currently rank #15 in the world in per capita giving @ $149.39 per Rotarian. At the $200 level, our district would rank at #5 in the world in per capita giving. We are a generous group of Rotarians but we also live in a very affluent area.
The Rotarians of District 5170 truly have a passion to help humanity and it is very gratifying to be part of such a wonderful organization.
Diane and I would like to thank you for your kindness and generosity this year and we look forward to being part of District 5170 in the future.
The Future of Rotary is in your hands, one child at a time,
This week's program, The Story of a Dream: the Birth & Challenges of an Eastside Vineyard, will be presented by Mark Capalongan, winemaker, and owner of Big Dog Vineyards, as well as engineer and owner of three Silicon Valley engineering and high tech manufacturing companies.
Early in the last century, the Spring Valley area nestled high in the hills east of San Jose above Milpitas was filled with orchards,sugar beets, strawberries, peas, and an abundance of other crops. In the last 100 years not much has been grown here, and the hillside land has largely returned to grazing.
When well-known local winemakers in the Bay Area suggested that Mark plant vines in the area in the mid-1990s, he conducted a complete site survey that included weather and soils, which was sent to experts at UC Davis.When the analysis came in, they were almost giddy with excitement calling the terrior (soils and weather) some of the best they have ever seen for growing Cabernet Wine grapes.
Although hilltop installation was expensive and arduous, and the grape yield remains small, the quality of the fruit is exquisite, ripening slowly in the warm days and cool evenings.The resulting wines have made this difficult and long effort worthwhile.Quality starts and ends in the vineyard.
Big Dogs Winery has produced now award winning Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc wines from this vineyard since 2001.The commitment remains to these two varietals, and just a few hundred cases are carefully handmade the old fashioned way in this unique family winery which overlooks the San Francisco Bay.
As most of you know, we have made the decision to go from ten areas in our district down to nine. Although we have discussed this issue with the clubs involved, we have not given this information wide spread acknowledgement.Therefore, the below list is being disseminated to all PDG's, Presidents, President Elects, and Avenue Chairs.I would ask that this information be published in the clubs.
First to recap the changes:
Old Area 9 has been eliminated, old Area 10 will now be new Area 9. The old Area 9clubs will be realigned as follows:
AlmadenValley to Area 6.
Santa Clara and San JoseWillow Glen to Area 5.
Sunnyvale, SunnyvaleSunrise, and STAR to Area 8.
It should further be noted that the Rotary Clubs of Warm Springs, and Fremont Sunrise, have decided to merge as of July 1, 2010.
Barbara Dahlgren, guest presenter for this week's club meeting, is a former newspaper columnist, humorist, free-lance writer and speaker, whose articles have appeared all over the world. She and her husband, whom she affectionately calls Zorro, have been married for over forty years and have three adult children. Her recent book Zorro and Me: Adventures With A Masked Man Welding A Sword, is a testament to their philosophy - just because our journey down life's highway may have some bumps in the road, that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the ride. Laughter is good medicine and those who can laugh at themselves are the healthiest people around!
General Orders No.11, WASHINGTON, D.C., May 5, 1868
The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land. In this observance no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.
We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.
If other eyes grow dull, other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain to us.
Let us, then, at the time appointed gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with the choicest flowers of spring-time; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from hishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.
It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to lend its friendly aid in bringing to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.
Department commanders will use efforts to make this order effective.
The American Leadership Forum & Reviving California
Chris Block, guest presenter for the June 1 program, is the CEO of the American Leadership Forum, Silicon Valley. Part of a national network, the mission of ALFSV is to build a better Silicon Valley community by joining and strengthening leaders to serve the common good.
One of its major initiatives is Reviving California, a project of its Common Good Collaborative, in partnership with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and in collaboration with Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network. Some of the published background information about the initiative is as follows:
California has been laboring under the weight of governance and fiscal policies that inhibit change and progress. Californians have lost faith in our political leaders. And, yet, possibilities abound to reassess our values as a state, to craft a future that responds to the hopes and dreams of all Californians.
This is an exceptional moment in history and an opportunity for Silicon Valley to take a leadership role in reforming California. Silicon Valley has the resources, visionaries, and political clout to help move a reform agenda that will serve the common good. There has never before been greater awareness of the problems combined with the feeling of urgency that the public is experiencing today.
Specific goals of Reviving California include:
to bring together diverse groups into common dialogue and collaboration;
to remain an actively engaged community with a strong vice for the common good;
engage on the issue of California reform in 2010 and beyond;
and to be a conduit for Silicon Valley ideas and input to those proposing reform.
The origins of opera can be said to have its' inspiration from the early plays of the Greeks and Romans, but opera as we know it, championed by a few and not understood by most, had its start in the late 16th Century.
Although as a compnay Opera San José is relatively young on the opera scene as it was founded in 1984, it is unique as the only full year resident opera company in the nation.
This week's program presenter is Larry Hancock,
Opera San José 's General Manager and a founding member of the Opera's staff, As an instructor, he has taught voice, music appreciation, music theory, and conducted chamber voice ensembles. He was a choral conductor in the Roman Catholic Diocese of San José for twenty-four years, and more recently served as director of music at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Menlo Park.
Mr. Hancock also lectures on opera for groups including the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at San José State University, the American Association of University Women, The Delphian Study Club, The San José Opera Guild, Metropolitan Opera productions in New York, and, most recently, productions of the Santa Fe Opera Company in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Mission and Background The Eric Drew Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization"Our mission is to save lives and reduce suffering by providing advocacy and education to seriously ill patients and their families" We at the EDF are dedicated to assisting people struggling with serious and terminal illnesses in forming strategies to navigate the complex medical systems, locating financial assistance programs, raising funds and finding elusive treatments that are not offered or available at their local facilities. By giving patients and caregivers the tools and resources they need to advocate for themselves, we enable them to develop their own strategies for managing a health crisis. By helping patients locate treatment options and negotiate with hospitals and insurance companies, we help them get the treatments they need.
LEADERS CREATING LEADERS: HEROES FOR THE EAST SIDE
East Side Heroes, a non-profit founded in 2003 by Enrique S. Flores to support underserved youth with mentors and scholarships, has raised over $125,000 in its five years of operation to provide scholarships, some for students in private schools. It's overall mission is to improve the quality of life of at-risk youth, young adults, and low-income families by encouraging the mentees to develop and establish community improvement projects that meets the real needs of their surrounding community.
Enrique Florese, the son of Mexican immigrants who lived in the heart of east San Jose (Story & King), is a graduate of the Alum Rock School District., and, thanks to generous scholarship and tuition remission programs, Bellarmine College Preparatory. and Santa Clara University, . He wrote his autobiography, From E.S.S.J., to S.C.U., and Back at 20 years old, ; founded East Side Heroes nonprofit at 23; received his Masters Degree at 26, and married at age 27; At 30, Enrique is the Director of Youth Services for the YWCA of Silicon Valley and a substitute "Substance Abuse" teacher at the Elmwood Correctional Facility.
Thanks to Rotary and its partners, the number of polio cases has been slashed by more than 99 percent, preventing five million instances of childhood paralysis and 250,000 deaths. When Rotary began its eradication work, polio infected more than 350,000 children annually. In 2008, fewer than 2,000 cases were reported worldwide.
But the polio cases represented by that final 1 percent will be the most difficult and expensive to prevent for a variety of reasons, including geographical isolation, worker fatigue, armed conflict, and cultural barriers.
That's why it's so important to generate the funding needed to finish the job. To ease up now would be to invite a polio resurgence that would condemn millions of children to lifelong paralysis in the years ahead.
The bottom line is this: As long as polio threatens even one child anywhere in the world, all children – wherever they live – remain at risk.
Representatives at the 2010 Council on Legislation approved an enactment 28 April to add a fifth Avenue of Service: New Generations.
After adopting an amendment to change the name from Youth Service, as originally proposed, to New Generations, the Council narrowly supported the addition to article 5 of the Standard Rotary Club Constitution. The 263-250 vote was received by surprised gasps and applause after a short debate.
New Generations joins Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service, and International Service as the foundation of club activity. Before starting a project, Rotarians are asked to think broadly about how their club and its members could contribute within each avenue.
"It's a significant change – a historic day in Rotary," said Council Chair Mark Daniel Maloney. Rotarians have always strongly supported youth activities even though they were never part of the four Avenues of Service. I think this strengthens our commitment."
The Avenue of New Generations recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults involved in leadership development activities, community and international service projects, and exchange programs that enrich and foster world peace and cultural understanding.
Representative Ronald P. Sekkel, of District 5170 (California, USA), proposed the enactment by saying that New Generations is the future of Rotary. Opponents argued that youth services are already covered by the four Avenues of Service. One representative said that adding a fifth avenue could decrease emphasis on the other four avenues.
Representative Emile M. Rijcken, of District 1900 (Germany), said the new avenue is well deserved. "The volume of activity in youth programs shows how strong Rotary can be," she said. "The addition of New Generations to the Avenues of Service will contribute in an enormous way toward public opinion."
During nearly four decades the U.S. has fueled its policy of a war on drugs with over a trillion tax dollars and increasingly punitive policies. We have made more than 38 million arrests for nonviolent drug offenses. Our incarcerated population quadrupled over a 20-year period making building prisons this nation's fastest growing industry. More than 2.3 million of our citizens are currently in prison or jail—far more per capita than any country in the world. The United States has 4.6 percent of the population of the world but 22.5 percent of the world's prisoners. Every year we choose to continue this war will cost the United States another 69 billion dollars. Despite all the lives we have destroyed and all the money so ill spent, today illicit drugs are cheaper, more potent, and much easier to access than they were 37 years ago at the beginning of the war on drugs. Meanwhile, people continue dying in our streets while drug barons and terrorists continue to grow richer than ever before.
THE AUTISM SPECTRUM: WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT WE DON'T KNOW
Autism Spectrum Disorders, sometimes called Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), is typically defined in the dictionary as a range of neurological disorders that involve some degree of difficulty with communication and interpersonal relationships, as well as obsessions and repetitive behaviors. Those at the spectrum's lower-functioning end may be locked in their own world, while those at the higher-functioning end may be able to lead independent, but socially awkward lives.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that autism now affects
1% or 1 in every 110 children ( includes 1 in 70 boys and 1 in 315 girls). This number represents a 600 percent increase in the incidence of autism in the past 20 years, and a 57 percent increase in the four year period from 2002 to 2006!
Guest presenter, Dr. Michael Gennette, Executive Director of AchieveKids, is a licensed psychologist with more than 30 years experience including past Deputy Director of San Benito County Mental Health, Vice-President of HOPE Rehabilitation, and former Chair of the Santa Clara County Commission on Developmental Disabilities.
BAY AREA EARTHQUAKES: WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?!
When The Bay Quakes is an interesting film produced by USGS that begins with footage of the 1989 World Series Games in San Francisco, just before, during, and after the now infamous Loma Prieta Quake.
Scientifically, earthquakes are caused when tectonic plates move against each other. Thousands take place every year, and have always been a fascinating subject of conversation, however, recent events during the early months of 2010 - in Chile (February), Tawian (March), Turkey (March), Indonesia (April), and Mexico and Calimexico (April), - have compounded our interest factor.
About eighty percent of the earth's largest earthquakes (and resultant tsunamis) take place around the Pacific Basin Ring of Fire. (The Haitian earthquake, outside of the Basin, was somewhat atypical. Poor construction and building codes magnified its disastrous impact.)
Particularly in light of the recent clustering of major quakes, predictions abound about the likelihood of a "big one" in California..There are fascinating facts that shed light on the when, where, and why of the minor and major earthquakes in our own backyard.
Kent Fogelman, a geophysicist since 1977 at the US Geological Survey in Menlo Park, will give an overview and share valuable information in a world context about earthquakes in the Bay Area. Student of the seismology and tectonics of southern Alaska for the first 20 years of his USGS career, Kent is now with the USGS National Strong-Motion Program (NSMP)
The NSMP has over 1,000 seismic recorders in more than 700 sites (in 33 states and the Caribbean), used in its primary Federal role of recording each damaging earthquake in the United States (on the ground and in man-made structures in densely urbanized areas) to improve public earthquake safety.
ShakeMaps provide near-real-time maps of ground motion and shaking intensity after significant earthquakes, and is used by federal, state, and local private and public organizations for post-earthquake response and recovery, public preparedness exercises, and disaster planning. Kent's responsibility includes manager of a near-real-time acquisition system that automatically downloads and processes the earthquake data utilized in the generation of ShakeMaps.
During a trip to Niger on a Volunteer Service Grant, Ernie and Sally Montagne of Arizona, USA, saw firsthand how The Rotary Foundation's humanitarian efforts are helping to break the cycle of hunger and poverty. "The Rotary Foundation is our vehicle of choice to enable ordinary Rotarians to make a lasting difference in the lives of thousands of villagers in Africa," says Ernie. Contributions to the Annual Programs Fund through the Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) initiative are the primary source of funding for Foundation programs, including those that helped support efforts in Niger. These programs cover more than 160 countries and geographical areas on seven continents. Here is a small sample of projects made possible through EREY:
In the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, Rotary clubs helped create Nueva Esperanza, (New Hope), a sustainable community in Honduras for poor families devastated by the storm. Using a Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) Grant, Rotary clubs in Honduras and California, USA, provided books, computers, and medical equipment for Nueva Esperanza, helping families put their lives back together.
With the help of a Rotary Foundation District Simplified Grant, the Rotary Club of West Jacksonville, Florida, USA, built a baseball field designed for local children with disabilities. The unique turf allows players using wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches to easily maneuver across the field with the help of an on-field "buddy" -- a volunteer, parent, or friend. (See this story in a clip from RVM: The Rotarian Video Magazine, volume 4, issue 1.)
A 3-H grant sponsored by the Rotary clubs of Calcutta Metropolitan, West Bengal, India, and Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, helped establish a half-mile concrete walkway in Nabapally, India, that serves as an escape route for villagers during annual monsoons.
At the Rotary District 5170 District Conference in Monterey last weekend, our Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen President, Nick Leon, was presented with the Ward Garing Award. This award, named for the late Ward Garing in recognition of his long time service to Youth Exchange and Rotary, is awared yearly to the District 5170 Rotarian who has distinguished himself with more than 15 years of service beyond the club level with commitment and dedication to the youth programs of Rotary. Well done, President Nick!
HIV/AIDS is a disease that has ravaged many lives in many countries around the world. One aspect of the illness that is particularly tragic is the impact on children.
Over two million HIV-infected pregnant women give birth to 700,000 HIV-infected infants each year. The life expectancy of these babies is an average of three years. Almost 400,000 of these infections can be prevented with a single dose of an antiretrovirals.drug, nevirapine, given to the mother.
The Rotary Club of Los Altos has taken on the challenge of eliminating pediatric AIDS in Africa with the Children Aids Pevention (CAP). The CAP Project is designed to encourage Rotarians to raise funds to facilitate HIV testing and counseling, provide life-saving drugs, and for education and training.
Guest speaker, Ester Ng, a member of the Rotary Club of Los Altos CAP Board of Directors, will provide details about this important work.
Ester, born and raised in Hong Kong, and is a graduate of the University of Hawaii and Cal State U in Los Angeles, and works as a financial planner.
A History of Healing Originally acquired by Jose Quintín Ortega and Ignacio Maria Ortega in 1865, then by George Roop in 1866, Gilroy Hot Springs was known as a place of healing. Until 2003, the elderly, the sick, and even vacationers traveled from near and far to relax in -- and drink-- the soothing mineral waters.
During its heyday in the 1880s through the 1920s, the resort attracted San Francisco Bay area business and civic leaders as a destination retreat from their demanding lives. The large hotel, the Lick House sleeping annex, the Club House, the individual cabins, and the soaking tubs hosted up to 500 guests with fine dining, dancing, gaming, and relaxation. Its extensive grounds provided close connection to nature.
Get "the rest of the story" from Friends of Gilroy Hot Springs speaker, Laura Dominguez-Yon, at our next lunch meeting, March 23.
Wine as a commodity is as old as recorded human history. It's cultivation in the Americas is linked to the Mission Period, as the Catholic Church needed wine as part of their religious service. Today's program will be presented by Cindy Adams, Certified Sommelier, the Tasting Room Manager for The Guglielmo Winery in Morgan Hill.
Cindy has extension training and a wealth of experience in the taste and choice of wines.
Her presentation, Wining Constantly, gives an entertaining overview of the vineyards and wine making, and includes the care and selections of wines. There will be optional wine tasting from the Guglielmo Winery* wine list..
*The Guglielmo Winery, one of northern California's notable wineries, was founded by Emilio Guglielmo in 1925, and continues to follow the family tradition under the leadership of his grandsons, George, E., Gene, and Gary Guglielmo.
They have kindly participated in both of our club's fundraising events, A Taste of the Valley.
Last year at RotaCare we achieved some remarkable new highs. We provided free medical care to almost 9,000 individual patients and had over 19,000 visits. Along with celebrating our 20th anniversary, we also opened a new clinic in Concord. We would like to thank you for your part in reaching these milestones!
RotaCare is a community service organization that provides:
· FREE quality healthcare services for those who are uninsured
· Rewarding volunteer opportunities for those willing to share their valuable time · Flexible giving programs for those able to share their good fortune
As a reminder, our clinics are entirely volunteer driven and supported solely through locally based philanthropy. We receive no funding through government programs. RotaCare clinics are located in Concord, Daly City, Gilroy, Half Moon Bay, Monterey, Mountain View, San Jose, San Leandro, San Rafael, and Santa Cruz. The clinics are open one to three evenings per week.
Providing 100% free medical care isn't easy. Without your ongoing help and support, we couldn't continue to do it.
Had you wondered why our web site and newsletter were without videos for a while? "Technical difficulties;" which a query to and answer from ClubRunner overnight solved. I needed to update my version of Adobe Flash.
If you have trouble viewing the videos on our web site or newsletter, a free download may solve your problem too:
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
Seth Donnelly, high school history teacher in the Mountain View Los Altos School District for 10 years, world citizen, and member of Haiti Action Committee, has traveled to Haiti eight times over the past five years on human rights and economic development projects.
His last (five-day) trip in February 2010 was to bring medical supplies, distribute funds, and meet with Haitian activists in response to the recent Haitian earthquake. As part of a 15 person team who stayed in the Project MediShare Camp near the Port-au-Prince Airport, and travelling via truck to document the situation and distributed resources, Seth will share his insights via a video journal and on-site experiences.
THE WORK OF FEMA, THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Mr. Casey De Shong, an experienced External Affairs Specialist of FEMA working out of the Region IX office, also has additional expertise in working with Congress. His presentation will give an overview of the work of FEMA, the federal agency charged with building and supporting the nation's emergency management system
As a Federal Agency with a broad range of activities, FEMA has about 3,700 full time employees who work at their headquarters in Washington D.C., and other offices around the country. There are also nearly 4,000 standby disaster assistance employees who are available for deployment after disasters.
The Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa is now accepting reservations until April 5, 2010 for the nights of April 22-24. The special rate is $149.00 per night plus taxes and parking. Please call the hotel directly at 1-831-372-1234 or 1-800-554-9288 and mention Rotary District 5170 Conference for this special rate.
Facilitated by Club member and Supervisor, Dave Cortese, Santa Clara County has proclaimed February 2010 as World Understanding and Peace Month, very special in the Rotary calendar.
The month also includes the anniversary of the first meeting of Rotary on February 23, now designated World Understanding and Peace Day.
The proclamation, signed by all five members of the Board of Supervisors, refers to the raisin d'etre for the founding of Rotary: a way to promote international understanding, goodwill, and peace.
WHEREAS, Rotary International was founded on February 23, 1905 in Chicago, Illinois by Paul P. Harris, an attorney who wished to capture, in a world fellowship of business and professional persons, a way to promote international understanding, goodwill, peace and community improvements through the fellowship's educational and humanitarian programs; ....
United Way Silicon Valley creates lasting and measurable change in Silicon Valley by focusing on the three key building blocks of life: Income, Education and Health. We bring stakeholders together to generate philanthropy from all segments of our community, marshal resources, forge community consensus, and build coalitions and partnerships. The combined result is far greater than the sum of each individual component. United Way's focus is to improve the Education, Income and Health of every Silicon Valley resident:
~ Enable everyone to give and invest the funds where they are needed the most and have shown measurable results,
~ Engage people to advocate to change systems on behalf of those whose voice may not otherwise be heard,
~ Empower everyone to volunteer to maximize their impact on the lives of others.
Presenter Maria Nguyen, Director, Vietnamese Folk Arts Institute
A SNAPSHOT OF VIETNAMESE AMERICAN HISTORY
Santa ClaraValley:Thung Lung Hoa Vang
California has had a long history of Asian immigration, beginning with Chinese arriving during the California Gold Rush, Japanese with a small start in 1869, and then Koreans and Filipinos during the early 1900s searching for work.The Vietnamese and others from Southeast Asia (Laos and Cambodia) were to come later, spurred by the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975.
Almost all ofthe new immigrants left Vietnam under duress; often on boats, leaving behind homes, property, and family members.Immigration into the state started as a trickle as escapees moved from boats through camps and transitional host countries.
In 1975, a few hundred arrived in San Jose via Camp Pendleton.By the following year, 2500 would make San Jose their home.The much sought after field for employment was the growing electronics industry due to work opportunities that required minimal English language skills.
There were four thousand who became naturalized as U.S. citizens in 1980.There was steady growth into the "Valley of the Yellow Flowers."* By 2000, the Bay Area, California would claim the second largest Vietnamese population in the United States, with Santa Clara County registering 40,000 Vietnamese voters.San Jose claims the largest number of Vietnamese living in a city outside of Vietnam.
While traveling in India, club member Richard Dorsay and his wife Dorothy, are making every effort to perform "random acts of kindness." Read of their successess as of Jan 30:
Dear Friends,
Four acts are completed.
1. $20 from Ruth bought a pen and 2 sweets ( something the children never have) for all 50 of the children of a primary school in Norhtern India . I have their address and photos.
2. 6000 Rupees to a 16 year old boy whose father died last year and who his teacher says is an excellent student who would ot be able to get into university without taking a prep course. I gave the money to his teacher to pay for the prep course. He is he oldest son and he will help pull his family out of poverty
3. 3000 rupees to a mother of two to take a computer course to learn skills that will allow her to get a job and support her two small children.
4. 500 rupees to a school in Kerela for the to use for writing books and pens that they do not have.
Thank you for allowing me to do these acts of kindness, I loved it. I will give a full accounting when I return.
Love, to you all.
We are in Varanssi now where Bhudda preached his first sermon and in a hotel on the Ganges river.
The Rotary Club of Victoria Falls would like to extend a word of appreciation for the approval of MG71437. The club is very much excited by this new new development which will see us carryout to furnish the classroom (desks and chairs) block that we built last year. We are very pleased with the effort that your club and yourself are putting to make all these projects a success.
A Two Hundred Year Overview: African Americans in Santa Clara County from 1776 to 1976.
Few realize that the history, participation, and contributions of the African American community in Santa Clara County has spanned well over two hundred years. The community has never been large, but the involvement, particularly in light of the national political and social racial climate, is quite commendable.
The program is interactive and includes four presenters:
Henry Gage, Sr. , Mr. African American Community in San Jose in the 1970s, past President of the NAACP and ESUHSD Board Member;
Daniel Hoffman, Esq., Civil Rights Advocate, colleague of Inez Jackson and Webster Sweet, participated in the founding of The Freedom Train;
Clarissa Moore, Curator, Moore African American History Exhibit; and
Yollette Merritt, Director, Community Arts & History Support
This week our club's Annual Speech Contest will take place. To accommodate all of the contestants, please arrive early, serve your lunch, and be ready to come to order by 12:00pm.
'Building Communities -- Bridging Continents' is 2010-11 RI theme
By Donna Polydoros Rotary International News -- 18 January 2010
After taking the stage to the tune of "California, Here I Come," RI President-elect Ray Klinginsmith announced the 2010-11 RI theme, Building Communities -- Bridging Continents, during the opening plenary session of the 2010 International Assembly. Klinginsmith said he arrived at the theme after reviewing RI themes of years past. He noticed that only a few spoke to non-Rotarians.
"As a result, I decided to search for a briefly stated theme that would fulfill two objectives: the first to explain Rotary to non-Rotarians, and the second to validate our work for Rotarians," he said. "The words I have selected to describe Rotary's current mission and to highlight our achievements are what we do best: Building Communities -- Bridging Continents. "
Rotary clubs and districts worldwide are mobilizing resources to deliver urgently needed relief to the millions affected by Haiti's devastating earthquake.
The United Nations estimates that more than half of the buildings in the capital have collapsed. About 200,000 people are dead and millions more homeless.
"Rotary had an incredible infrastructure established before the quake, which has made our relief efforts very effective," says Dick McCombe, past district governor and Haiti liaison chair. "We're flying in supplies through backdoor channels and doing things a lot of agencies can't do."
Reflections: If any of the words in the New Year prayer stir a response, I want you to know Who helped me in writing them. And I invite you to expand and reflect of the words and phases. (Stand by -- the chaplain's about to "preach".)
Reflections: for example:
God: Rotary recognizes diverse expression of deity. You have your own; but you have to start
somewhere. For me, for one thing, it personalizes what I am trying to say, and to "listen up"! Now go from there!
We're . . . : not just the club members, but the collective "we."
Like it is!: (have fun with this one!
Hurting: don't get hung up on this, but I am mindful that certain rules of the club keep us from being "dues paying" members (but still try to live the motto, vicariously support the cause, etc).
Top of the hill: now that's a phrase that can really set you off.
Lofty goals of Rotary: speaks for itself; engenders the next words:
Ought, could and should be!: doesn't get and bigger, better, loftier, higher than that! And, as Rotarians, that's where we should be doing. BECAUSE:
Service Before Self. end and beginning of reflections -- except for AMEN
When I think of all the members who have graced us with their membership/presence in the past, my prayer is to come again to the East/Evergreen hill top again.
Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee members present a huge teddy bear, greeting parade viewers with an equally large wave of welcome to the Tournament of Roses. The fuzzy bear is clad in a doctor's white coat, and sports a reflector and stethoscope to remind the world of the organizations' commitment to eradicating polio worldwide. Rotarians have been spreading their attitude of "Service Above Self" and care for others since 1905 – epitomized by the large bouquet of roses being offered by the smiling bear.
For more photos, information and to view a real-time camera of our float being decorated, visit
www.rotaryfloat.org
"However, after five years of folly it was difficult at first for the boy, now a young man, to settle down and become wise. He was dreadfully lonesome particularly on holidays and Sundays. He pondered the question of finding a way to increase his acquaintance with young men who had come to Chicago from farms and colleges, who knew the joys of friendliness and neighborliness without form or ceremony but it took a long while for his thinking to produce results." Paul P. Harris "My Road to Rotary" 1947, chapter 32.
http://www.whatpaulharriswrote.org/library/myroad/MyRoadToRotary/MRTRChapter_32.htm
from the text version by DGE Don Murphy.
Your assignment, if you chose to accept it, is to read chapter 32. It's short, and will help you increase your interest in how Harris got the idea, and also in other Global History of Rotary found from this page. I suggest that reading Harris will lead you and other Rotary leaders to a love of Rotary's Global History. Please pass this on to your club. Since you are a subscriber to RGHF's features, you can now upgrade to a full membership for only $30 US at
www.rghf.org/new
Best wishes for the holidays, Jack Selway, Founder & CEO of RGHF
After 75 years, the Rotary Club of Garrettsville-Hiram faced a declining membership and dwindling enthusiasm. But by celebrating family, the club's 10 members not only strengthened their club, they also helped their community.
The Empower the Family service project, now in its fifth year, supports activities that engage and honor families while enhancing Rotary's image. Its centerpiece is the annual Family Week Celebration, which includes a music festival, carnival, and school-sponsored art, essay, and speech contests. In addition, residents of this small Ohio, USA, town are encouraged to Put Family First one evening and spend time exclusively with their families.
According to club member Amy Crawford, the project has succeeded on many levels: "We have more community involvement with the club. We've brought people from surrounding areas together. And we've attracted newer, younger members with children of their own to the club."
It's actually "over the light rail tracks and through the signal on Gay Ave" as we head to Foothill High School's Family Learning Center, Tuesday, Nov 24.
We're gathering to assemble Thanksgiving food bags for the hard-working participants in the Learning Center's programs.
It's always inspiring to be involved in a "hands on" project and fun to see how quickly those bags get filled this year!
Most are not aware that India has more drug and alcohol addicts thank any other country in the world. This is understandable when one is aware of the overall population figures, particularly in light of world numbers, but it is rare for one to comprehend the catastrophic impact of these problems on the communities and country as a whole.
Binush MJ is founder & Ministry Director of Life Challenge International (LCI) ( http://www.lifechallenge.com/). LCI's mission is to provide recovery for people struggling with addiction issues, conduct prevention programs through awareness and to train counselors. LCI runs residential & outreach centers in 10 locations in India & Myanmar, and recently began outreach efforts among South Asians in the US. There are now local chapters in San Francisco Bay Area, as well as Chicago. LCI is also involved in a joint project with San Jose City College designed to offer a distance education program ICAC (Internationally Certified Addiction Counselor) for the training of counselors in the field of addiction studies.
Have you "forgotten" to contribute to The Rotary Foundation? Your annual gift (preferably as a "Double Sustainer with a donation of $200.00) supports Rotary's goal of advancing international understanding, goodwill, and peace. Rotarians have the power to change the world. For example, you can help finance a well for a village that lacks clean water, improve the environment, or provide scholarships to educate the next generation.
Remember, if you donate by the end of November, you can participate in the annual drawing on Dec. 2 for a free trip.
There are many options for giving, including credit card contributions. For details or to find out the history of your giving status, please contact Secretary Ruth (
bookof@att.net
).
Santa Clara is one of 17 out of the 58 California counties that have some degree of archives program, and one of only four in the state with more elaborate
cataloging and preservation protocols
. The mission of the Santa Clara County Archives is to collect, preserve, and make available the historical records of Santa Clara County government. The Archives' goals are to be a center for research and information about Santa Clara County and to foster an appreciation and understanding of the county's history and development.
Michael Griffith, County Archivist, was hired in 2006, and in April 2006, the Santa Clara County Archives began operation. Although we do not have original documents from 1776 when San Jose was recognized as the first civic pueblo in what later became the State of California, there is an amazing collections of documents and artifacts, some dating back to the nineteenth century. Hidden treasures, now collected and appropriately preserved, what a legacy!
The Santa Clara County Archives is located at: 1875 Senter Road, San Jose 95112. The Archives phone number is: 408/ 792-1895. For a current listing of materials available for research, click on the OAC link(http://www.oac.cdlib.org) and then click on Santa Clara County Archives under List of Contributing Institutions.
The Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen was among several clubs that petitioned San Jose Mayor, Chuck Reed, to proclaim Oct 24, 2009 as World Polio Day in recognition of Rotary's goal to End Polio Now.
As President, I have observed that nothing happens by magic. All the accomplishment of the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen happens because someone steps up and takes the lead. We take action individually and seek support from our fellow Rotarians, who I'm proud to say support us and make our dreams a reality. We work together and support one another to make a difference in our community and our world in a powerful way. Rotary is good.
All we do happens because as individuals we come together to work together to accomplish our goals. The axiom, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts applies. I applaud and acknowledge each San Jose East/Evergreen Rotary Club member because I know nothing happens by magic. Thank you for providing the "magic."
I would like to mention a special thanks to Thom Harney for his magic. Thom's articles and updates in the Evergreen Times help to spread the word about our outstanding club. His articles in the community newspaper announce our upcoming events as well as past accomplishments. He has become our written voice throughout the area. Kudos to Thomas Roy Harney.
In addition to our own District 5170 Interactors who have made End Polio Now the focus of their 2009/10 fundraising (see video on our club home page), read about other efforts to reach the goal of eradicating polio.
By Dan Nixon Rotary International News -- 22 October 2009
Creative Rotary club and district fundraisers, together with the generosity of individual Rotarians, have propelled Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge almost to the midpoint in funding. As of 21 October, $99 million has been raised for Rotary's challenge through efforts like these:
Caroline Cocciardi, passionate art student and researcher, has produced a documentary film, which was recently featured at the Carmel Art & Film Festival, Mona Lisa REVEALED. Passionate about the life and work of the artist, Leonardo da Vinci, Ms. Cocciardi's film documents French photographer-inventor, Pascal Cotte, who succeeded in photographing Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" at a resolution of 240 million pixels, 8 times higher than any professional camera to date. His breakthrough images uncovered five centuries of secrets never been seen before in high definition video quality, and provide a rare privilege of seeing Mona Lisa as very few people in the world have ever seen her.
The Rotary SJE/E Annual Fishing in the City day on Oct 4, 2009 was all about the 3rd graders at A J. Dorsa school who learned about water ecology, tying a hook on a line and casting. About 18 fish gave their all to help make the day a great success.
Club members and friends Nick, Ruth, Marcella, Bill, Joyce, Audrey and Manny as well as 82 Interactors from Evergreen Valley, Piedmont Hills, Independence, Mt. Pleasant, Andrew Hill, Santa Theresa, and Foothill H.S. joined the effort to support the 3rd grader's efforts and make the day enjoyable.We also had representation from the Silicon Valley Rotaract.
This October marks 95 years since Jonas Salk, developer of the first safe and effective polio vaccine, was born. Saturday, 24 October, is World Polio Day – a perfect opportunity to join the fight to end the disease.
District Governor Loren Harper has approached membership this year a little differently than District Governors of the past. Traditionally, there was a District Membership Chair who had Functional Area Representatives focused on the membership concerns of their respective areas. This was a geographical focus on the needs of the clubs but didn't really address the special needs clubs had based on their size, especially the smaller clubs.
The clubs wanted to be able to share ideas on how to grow their clubs. This year, in addition to the District Membership Chair as a resource for all the clubs, the smaller clubs now have available to them the Small Club Assistant Governor, Darrell Monda. He is chartered to work with those clubs whose membership is at 25 or under. Darrell can be contacted at dlmonda@earthlink.com.
Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.
Although Labor Day is a secular day, a number of organizations and houses of worship express good wishes for the day with prayers:
A long-time champion of human, civil and immigrant rights, Richard Hobbs, Esq., possesses a deep compassion for the underserved, underrepresented and marginalized persons and communities. He began his service to the underprivileged as a Peace Corps volunteer in Afghanistan and Ecuador in the early 1970s, and has continued this service into the 21st century. From 1996 to January 2005 he served as Director of Citizenship and Immigrant Programs for Santa Clara County, taking the lead in developing what is known nationally as the "Santa Clara Model of Immigrant Integration," which included the naturalization of 100,000 low-income immigrants.
Sandra Clifford flies for Entrepreneurs Fund III in the San Francisco Bay Area. With 20 years of aviation background, Sandra has taught,mentored and inspired many aviators who fly throughout the world. As the current Women in Aviation San Francisco Bay Area Chapter Co-President and San Jose State University Alumni Representative,Sandra has been instrumental in addressing university curriculum standards and helping restructure uiversity programs to better serve future transportation needs. As the new Sholarship Chair for Women in Corporate Aviation and the Scholarship Chair for the Aero Club of Northern California, Sandra hopes to direct scholarship funds to individuals who will positively influence our dynamic aviation transportation industry.
Richard Nichols has worked as a Gang Task Force trainer and consultant for more than 15 years. He has a wealth of experience and information to share, and an on-going enthusiasm to address the needs and issues.
California Youth Outreach (CYO) is dedicated to reaching out to all gang impacted youth, families, and their communities with education services, intervention programs and resource opportunities that support a positive and healthy lifestyle.
Originally founded as Breakout Prison OutreacH, CYO was established by Pastor Tony Ortiz, a legend in his own right, to provide support and give hope to youth victimized by drug abuse, violence, and gang lifestyles. In 1998, the Agency began doing business as (dba) California Youth Outreach (CYO) to better reflect its mission and program services. Through its evolution, CYO has developed the ability to provide cost effective youth and gang intervention services by hiring staff members who have themselves undergone rehabilitation and successfully overcome gang lifestyles.CYO was a leader in partnership with the City of San Jose in establishing the Mayor's Gang Task Force.
CYO's bilingual/multicultural staff members understand the impact negative lifestyles have on youth's lives and are effective role models who promote healthy lifestyles, free of violence, drugs, and gangs.
To make sure each Rotary Club in District 5170 that needs help in doing any World Community Service Project has all the help it needs.
A World Community Service (WCS) project is born when Rotary clubs from two or more countries join together to accomplish a community service project. The WCS program links Rotary clubs needing extra help with clubs in other countries that are willing to provide funds, materials, and technical and professional assistance. Typically the Rotary Foundation provides part of the required funding in the form of a Matching Grant. More information about the WCS program is here on the Rotary International web site.
By now, hopefully you have all received a SAVE THE DATE for RotaCare's 20th Anniversary Celebration. Because of Rotarians like you, RotaCare opened its doors to the medically underserved and has been providing free medical care for over 20 years. We hope you will join us at our celebration on October 29th at the DoubleTree Hotel in San Jose . If...your club is interested in sponsoring a table at the event, the sponsor sheet is attached for your reference.*
The Board of Directors and members of The Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen are honored to welcome District 5170 Governor, Loren Harper and Assistant Governor, Jose Radzinsky to our club meeting August 18, 2009 within a month of the 43rd anniversary of our club's charter.
August is Membership and Extension Month, a time to reflect on your club's membership. Are your numbers increasing? Is your membership diverse? Brainstorm with your club on how to recruit new members. The Club President's Manual (222) contains an appendix worksheet on strategies for membership recruitment. Use the resources below to help your club improve its member retention and recruitment:
By Ryan Hyland Rotary International News -- 11 August 2009
Potential club members are everywhere. But to get them to join Rotary, clubs must use creativity and imagination, says Past RI President Cliff Dochterman.
"Rotary International leaders keep emphasizing membership growth and extension because Rotary's very survival depends on it," says Dochterman, a member of the Rotary Club of Moraga, California, USA, and author of The ABCs of Rotary, a resource for new members. "If Rotary is to grow, we all must take action."
Dochterman believes clubs can thrive by seeking new members, retaining current ones, and sponsoring new clubs in the community. He offers the following tips:
Very few realize that San Jose has an unique treasure: a town clock that is still "hand wound" twice a week, and one of the finest town tower clocks in the United States.
The Nels Johnson Century Clock, noted for its outstanding quality and similar to the clocks in the San Francisco Ferry Building and Big Ben in London, is the only one of the three that is still mechanical and not powered by electricity. Many consider the clock the oldest piece of "high tech" equipment operating in Silicon Valley. If San Jose was a European city, it is most likely the clock would be considered a civic "crown jewel". Guest speaker John Mitchell, one of the founding members of the Preservation Action Council of San Jose, has a fascinating story to share about the history, legacy, and future of this local treasure. For more information, visit www.sjclocktower.org.
Speaker Note:
John Mitchell, a San Josean for almost 40 years, has been an active member of the local historic preservation community including an initiator in the establishment of Grant Ranch as a county park, one of the founding members of the Preservation Action Council, and author of historic novels.
The San Jose Clock Tower was originally built in 1892 as part of the first federal building in San Jose. The building served as the San Jose Post Office from 1892 to 1933. The Clock Tower originally had a Seth Thomas clock, but the clock and tower were destroyed in the 1906 Earthquake.In 1908, renovation of the Clock Tower began with installation of a Nels Johnson Century Tower Clock and bell. While the Tower Clock was installed by Johnson and continues to work today, the restoration of tower was not completed and the bell remains sitting next to the clock where it can't be heard.
What Joining the Legacy Society Means to Me by Susi Cherry, GDB volunteer docent & Legacy Society member
excerpt:
The word "Society" means association, culture, fellowship and camaraderie. Together these words define Guide Dogs for the Blind. Within this organization, staff and volunteers alike come together to form a unique fellowship. It was an easy decision to join the Legacy Society. I love tradition. I love to give! I love the culture, the fellowship and the camaraderie at GDB. All these elements are what make Guide Dogs for the Blind so unique. Many of my friends, with their wonderful Guide Dogs, have opened my eyes to show me the value and independence that a Guide Dog offers.
As a volunteer docent on the California campus, I have seen the first time Guide Dog users put down their canes, hold their heads high, grab the harness handle and venture into a brand new world, with amazing confidence. They are a team! I have also seen experienced Guide Dog users make the difficult decision to retire their guides, after years of trustworthy service. They return to the GDB campus to meet and train with a new tail-wagging friend - a friend that allows them to see again, to move more freely and confidently in the sighted world.
Source: Community Connection The newsletter for volunteers of Guide Dogs for the Blind, November 2007
Get your ticket orders and money to Treasurer Griff no later than the Aug 11th meeting. (Include a check for your dues too if you haven't already paid!)
5th WEST AFRICA PROJECT FAIR COMMUNITY HEALTH AND POLIO IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM
November 04 - November 11, 2009
Cotonou, Benin
This journey will be a landmark event in your Rotary experience. It combines your attendance at the West Africa Project Fair, with hands-on participation in polio eradication and humanitarian field work. This may be your last chance to give the two drops of a vaccine that will change a child's future. Filled with high Rotary purpose and accomplishment, this trip will introduce you to new friends, and give you new opportunities to create humanitarian projects while advancing Rotary's objective of world understanding and peace.
Download the full brochure from the download section of the rotarysjee.org web site.
The Club Leadership Plan, though not mandatory, is the recommended administrative structure for Rotary clubs. It is based on the best practices of effective Rotary clubs. These best practices include:
Developing long-range goals that address the elements of an effective club and annual goals to support them
Convening regular club assemblies
Involving all club members in the activities and fellowship of the club
Maintaining open lines of communication
Ensuring continuity in leadership
Providing regular, consistent training
The plan can be customized to fit each Rotary club's needs. Resources for download
Club Leadership PlanPublication that explains how to implement the Club Leadership Plan
Club Leadership Plan executive summary RI Board policy for the Club Leadership Plan
Club Leadership Plan implementation worksheet A resource to help your club transition to the Club Leadership Plan
Club Leadership Plan presentation (PPT) Slides and speaker notes to introduce the plan to your club
Every year, the Rotary baton passes to a new team of Rotarians, but whilst leaders in Rotary change, leadership does not, and in this process of continuity, Rotary manifests its greatest strength. You will add fresh ideas and energies to those who have gone before, so that you can pass on to your successors a better district and stronger clubs. Now is your time. It is for you to grasp the opportunity, for The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands. This is the theme I have chosen for the coming year. I have full confidence in each of you to ensure that the visionary fires of Rotary will burn more brightly at the end of our year.
excerpted from John Kenny, 2009‐10 RI President Birmingham, England 24 June 2009
Update on Amy Hong Independence HS 2004) whom I've been mentoring and our club has endorsed for an Ambassadorial Scholar 2010-2011:
JULY 12, 2009 From: Russ Hobbs, Ambassadorial Scholarship Chair "Congratulations on being one of the six finalists in Rotary District 5170 for study in 2010-2011. "
At only 23 years of age, Amy Hong's life already is a testament to international humanitarian service. Her outstanding academic and communication skills, strong work ethic, and genuine commitment to service have taken her around the world: tutoring peers at Piedmont Jr. H.S. and the Choir Academy of Harlem; interning with an Argentine NGO that promotes educational equality; winning a human rights fellowship to Copenhagen; working with the UN's Population Fund; and doing outreach to teen moms in Rio de Janeiro.
Your community has been hit hard by the downturn in the economy. Several local factories and businesses have had to close. What do you do when members of your club lose their jobs?
At 11:38AM on 8 June 2009, Dr.Essam Eldin Abdel-Azim, Cairo, EGYPT wrote: The board must sit down with this member and help him/here through: 1-Help to get a job, restlessly. 2-Waive the club dues, temporarily. 3-Assign the member to manage one of the projects of the club, and the club pay the member for this temporarily, until this member can get a new job. Then this member may pay again what was paid to him/here in installments. This must be done as confidential as possible between the club board (not all other members) and this member.
At 3:02PM on 5 June 2009, RTN. SYED AZMATULLAH RC: CHENNAI PHOENIX RD: 3230 wrote: The members who lose jobs, may not be showing interest in Club activities or paying Club dues. The Board should talk to such members and understand their problems. The Board may, if possible, help them get jobs and, if not, defer their payments till they get jobs which should not be more than six months. After all, Rotary should continue its services.
Join Rotary International on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , and YouTube . Here you can find videos, news, discussions, and thousands of other people from around the world interested in Rotary.
Social networking sites aren't just for teens and people in their 20s. The greatest growth in Facebook comes from people ages 35-49. And from December 2007 to December 2008, Facebook experienced more growth in visitors ages 50-64 than those under age 18, according to a new Nielsen report called " Global Faces and Networked Places ."
Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self.
"As the flowers rest on the decorated graves and the sunlight shines on the beautiful sailboats, Uncle Sam whispers in my ear about how we should care for the soldiers and remember the ones that have died. Swimming pools open, BBQs fry. Today is the day to think of what they have done for us. There are blurs of red, white and blue marching down the street and flags are lowered at half-mast. But we should always remember and never forget what set us free, from this very day on."
The Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen was chartered in 1966 under the provisions of Rotary International.
The Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen is part of District 5170, which is comprised of more than 4,000 members covering the counties of Alameda, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Benito, California. The Club is made up of men and women representing a wide cross-section of local businesses professionals and community leaders.
The club meets Thursdays at 12:15pm at The RanchGolf and Country Club for fellowship, lunch, and interesting and informative programs dealing with topics of local and global importance.
You are graciously welcomed to join us at Rotary. As a member, you access an elite group of 1.2 million members in 32,000 Rotary clubs located in more than 200 countries. You choose from many meaningful service projects directly impacting our local community and the world.
You save one real child at a time, give hope to one real person at a time, complete one real project at a time.
Incoming club officers attend district assemblies to prepare for their year in office. District assemblies are also an opportunity for club leaders to meet with district leaders (the district governor-elect, incoming assistant governors, and district committees), who will support club projects and activities.
Participants include presidents-elect, incoming secretaries and treasurers, and committee members.
On his return visit May 12, Roger Abe will be able to talk more freely about the budget situation, elaborate on volunteer opportunities, and talk about birding and other areas of interest.
Since there were questions about the Youth Science Institute, he has invited Aurea De Franco to share his time and provide further information about the YSI. Aurea is YSI's Resource Development Director.
Alum Rock Park
, founded in 1872, was the first municipal park in the U.S. state of California. Located in a canyon in the Diablo Range foothills on the east side of San Jose, the 720 acre (2.9 km²) park offers 13 miles (21 km) of trails, varying from fairly level along Penitencia Creek to sharp switchbacks climbing to the ridges to the South Rim Trail and the North Rim Trail. The narrow floor of the canyon includes a visitor center, picnic areas, a playground, and sand volleyball pits. The ridge trails offer superb views of Santa Clara Valley and of the canyon in which the park is located. Trails in the park also connect to the Bay Area Ridge Trail and the Boccardo Trail, which leads into part of the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority's property. Equestrians and mountain bikers have access to some of the park's trails, while others are reserved for hikers only. High school cross-country meets from schools around the area (such as Independence High School , Andrew Hill High School and Evergreen High School) are held at the park often.
Saturday, April 25, 2009, Rotary SJEE refurbished play and learning areas at the Family Learning Center at Foothill High School. The day was acclaimed a great success! WE: refurbished sandboxes; hung outdoor shelves and coat racks; put a bench around the Learning Tree; arrange the library at the Family Learning Center; weeded, pruned and raked leaves
Greg and I joined club members Nick, Ruth, Griff, Adrian, Audrey, Yollette and Dave at the Marriott Hotel on Sunday, April 19, 2009 for the District Celebration closing session. It was a morning that was both bittersweet and encouraging in nature.
On November 7, 2006, Dolores Carr was elected as the first woman to serve as District Attorney in Santa Clara County's history.
Over the past twenty-five years, Dolores Carr has worked in private practice, was a Deputy District Attorney for 15 years, and was a Superior Court Judge from 2000 to 2006. She served as the Supervising Judge of the Family Division, and most recently was the Supervising Judge of the Unified Family Court. She was appointed to the Board of Reappraisers for the California State Bar in 1991 and until 2004 was one of 9 attorneys in the state responsible for developing questions for and supervising the grading of the California Bar Exam.
With thanks to the National Geographic website, here are a few interesting items about St. Patrick's Day:
In the United States, it's customary to wear green on St. Patrick's Day. But in Ireland the color was long considered to be unlucky, says Bridget Haggerty, author of The Traditional Irish Wedding and the Irish Culture and Customs Web site.
As Haggerty explains, Irish folklore holds that green is the favorite color of the Good People (the proper name for faeries). They are likely to steal people, especially children, who wear too much of the color.
Colonial New York City hosted the first official St. Patrick's Day parade in 1762, when Irish immigrants in the British colonial army marched down city streets. In subsequent years Irish fraternal organizations also held processions to St. Patrick's Cathedral. The various groups merged sometime around 1850 to form a single, grand parade.
Today New York's St. Patrick's Day parade is the longest running civilian parade in the world. This year nearly three million spectators are expected to watch the spectacle and some 150,000 participants plan to march.
Dublin's St. Patrick's Day parade is little more than 75 years old. This year festival organizers will launch 15,000 pounds (7 metric tons) of fireworks to cap their celebration, which is expected to draw 400,000 spectators.
Welcome back to Joy Engstrom from a visit to Cabo San Lucas where she vacationed with family members and attended a meeting of the Rotary Club of Cabo San Lucas with fellow Rotarian, Sara Calkins who was also vacationing in the area with her husband, Greg.
We hope, Joy, that you have an update on our Elefante Blanco Project.
Vocational Service focuses on: Adherence to and promotion of the highest ethical standards in all occupations, including fair treatment of employers, employees, associates, competitors, and the public. The recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, not just those that are pursued by Rotarians. The contribution of your vocational talents to solving the problems of society and meeting the needs of the community.
During March, Rotarians are encouraged to focus on this important avenue of Rotary service. Discussions on vocational service can lead to projects that not only develop the ethical consciousness and vocational skills of Rotarians but also the talents within their communities. Vocational Service is an opportunity to begin year-long vocational service activities, ranging from Rotary discussions to awards to community projects.
This year let's make a special effort to visit Eastside high school seniors to make sure they're informed of our club's vocational scholarships.
Here is a sampling of less-familiar quotes worth hearing again:
Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder. -George Washington, 1st U.S. President
As to the Presidency, the two happiest days of my life were those of my entrance upon the office and my surrender of it. -Martin van Buren, 8th U.S. President
An honorable defeat is better than a dishonorable victory. -Millard Fillmore, 13th U.S. President
I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice. -Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. President
Above all, tell the truth. -Stephen Grover Cleveland 22nd U.S. President
You can not stop the spread of an idea by passing a law against it. -Harry Truman, 32nd U.S. President
You ain't learnin' nothin' when you're talkin'. -Lyndon Baines Johnson, 35th U.S. President
If anyone tells you that America's best days are behind her, they're looking the wrong way. - George HW Bush, 40th U.S. President
I. PURPOSE The Rotary Clubs of District 5170 sponsor the Richard D. King Annual Youth Speech Contest each year with three goals in mind for the Club Members and each Speech Contest Participant: To increase personal knowledge and awareness of the importance of being able to speak effectively before a group. To increase public knowledge of what Rotary is and does throughout the world, especially among young people. Through this knowledge, we hope that they will learn, as we have in the past, "He profits most who serves best." To increase participation in the contest and to provide all high school contestants an opportunity to win prizes as top public speaker, or runner-up, in District 5170.
The prizes are awarded with "no strings attached." However, it is hoped that the award might be used to further the student's education. Our goal as Rotarians is to recognize and to support these young people who are tomorrow's leaders.
In his February message, RI President Dong Kurn Lee talks about February being World Understanding Month and about how his personal experiences studying outside of his native Korea helped shape his views about Rotary's fourth Avenue of Service -- International Service.
I am very happy to announce that Mike Donohoe will be our program speaker next Tuesday. Mike has a very impressive background in his profession and civic service. He was also a former board member of the Rotary Club of San Jose East.
His program will be very timely: County of Santa Clara Update - After 30 days what have we discovered? The looming budget deficit, the state's contribution and services for the most needy in our community. What reasons exist for hope?
Our Feb 11 SPEECH CONTEST meeting will take place at The Ranch Golf Club . Please arrive early at 11:45 a.m. - we have many participants this year; the meeting will begin promptly at 12:00 noon.
I look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday.
Directions (Southbound) 4601 Hill View Top Lane, San Jose Ca 95138 408 270-0557.
1.Guests using 101 South take the Hellyer exit.
2.After exiting, turn left crossing over the freeway then at the 4-way stop turn left onto Dove Road (curves left).
3.Proceed on Dove Road 0.6 miles then turn right onto Hassler Parkway.
4.Continue on Hassler Parkway for 0.9 miles (up the hill) until you reach the top of the hill and then make a right onto Hill Top View Lane.
Celebrate Rotary Awareness Month by training members on Rotary history, programs, or how to raise awareness of your club's projects among your community.
Or, ask members to share a personal story or experience that they have had because of Rotary. Every Rotarian has a Rotary story that can be educational and inspiring. The new year is a good opportunity to renew inspiration for the rest of the Rotary year.
Our club will be "dark" on Tuesday, Dec 30 and will resume meetings at the National Hispanic University on Jan 6.
As club members think about their New Year's resolutions, one should be about club dues. If you pay on the twice-a-year-plan, please remember to bring your check to the Jan 6, 2009 meeting.
December 31st is almost here and many Rotarians will be making their calendar year-end contributions to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International to do both good in the world and qualify for 2008 charitable tax deductions.
Deadlines to receive a 2008 tax receipt:
Mail: Contributions sent by mail to The Rotary Foundation, 14280 Collections Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693, must be postmarked by December 31, 2008 and received by January 7, 2008.
Online: Credit card contributions made online through Member Access by midnight December 31, 2008 CST (link to:
Rotarians must pre-register their unique email address online and receive confirmation of registration in advance to be able to contribute online.
Fax: Complete a TRF Global Contribution Form with credit card information and securely fax it to: 1-847-556-2139 by midnight December 31, 2008 CST. Download the TRF Global Contribution form:
If you have any questions, please contact the Foundation's Contact Center at contact.center@rotary.org or call 1-866-9ROTARY
(1-866-976-8279).
Thank you for supporting The Rotary Foundation's programs and mission of advancing world understanding, good will and peace during this special time of year. May your 2009 be full of peace, joy and Rotary.
After learning that our club would not be able to return to meeting at the San Jose Country Club next month, we needed to retrieve items we had stored there. President Adrian and President-elect Nick visited the country club last week and recovered not only boxes of currently used materials but mementos of the club's past as well.
Among the mementos were collections of club banners shared by past visiting Rotarians. It was great to see them again at our meeting December 9, 2008.
The best moment, though, was the reunion of a crystal award with its recipient, Jerry Erich. The inscription reads:
With my appreciation for your service to Governor Gayle Tully and Rotary International during Our Vintage Year where "Mankind Was Our Business."
2001/2002 District 5170
To which we all added "So say we all!" Congratulations again, Jerry!
In December, focus on your family and involve them in Rotary service, says Lee in his message. Also, he says, remember that there are many families and children who need help around the world.
As Rotarians, he says, "We cannot and will not rest until all children, everywhere, have the chance for a long and healthy life."
November 2008 Message from the chair -- Celebrate the Foundation this month
Dear family of Rotary,
November is a very special month on my personal Rotary calendar, and I hope that you share my enthusiasm. All Rotarians can take great pride in the achievements of our Foundation, from our work for polio eradication to our Rotary Centers for International Studies to projects that improve lives every day. And now, we are building on those efforts through our Future Vision Plan.
As a Nigerian, I have seen how The Rotary Foundation is making a difference in my homeland. As Rotary Foundation chair, I have the opportunity to see our Foundation in action throughout the world. I can assure you that your generous contributions to the Annual Programs Fund and Permanent Fund are doing good in myriad ways.
But our contributions to the Foundation go beyond financial support. Rotarian doctors and dentists are serving as volunteers to bring health care to remote, underserved areas. Rotarian families are welcoming Ambassadorial Scholars and Group Study Exchange teams into their homes, establishing lasting international friendships. And millions of children are receiving the precious polio vaccine during National Immunization Days that Rotarians help organize, promote, and carry out with an eye on good stewardship practices.
As you observe Rotary Foundation Month, keep in mind the many ways that you can contribute. Through our combined support, the Foundation will continue to do good in the world for decades to come. Jonathan Majiyagbe Foundation Trustee Chair
Those present at the District 5170 Avenues of Service Thursday night, got a preview of the Rotarian who will speak at our club this coming Tuesday, Oct 21. We can all look forward to an inspirational visit.
SALIU OSIFUEMHE AHMED
Saliu Osifuemhe AHMED is the Immediate Past District Governor (2007/2008) of District 9120 Nigeria. Born some 43 years ago in Auchi, southern Nigeria, Saliu Ahmed is a consummate civil engineer with specialization in highway and transportation systems. He practices under the name of ARK CONSULT, a private professional practice that offers consultancy services in general engineering, planning and project management.
He joined Rotary on January 25 1994 when he was admitted into the Rotary Club of Kaduna, the second oldest club in District 9120. Prior to this, he was admitted into the Rotaract Club of Kaduna (community based) in 1991 and served as its president in the 1992/93 Rotary year.
While in the Rotary Club of Kaduna, he was elected and served as President in 2001/2002 Rotary year, when the Rotary International theme was "Mankind is our Business". He has also held several service positions, including the Director of Club Service, Asst Director of Community Service and Asst Director of International service at various times. He has also been chairman of several club committees and sub-committees.
After October's first rainful the previous night, the sun reappeared for the annual charity benefit for Elefante Blanco, Saturday, Oct 4. Beginning at the train station in Sunol, guests enjoyed champagne, catered foods and music while they bid on a sampling of auction items.
Our guests at A Taste of the Valley, Sep 14, 2008 were lavish in their appreciation of our new venue at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, the well-presented auction items and the delicious foods and beverages. A good time was had by all--even the weather cooperated!
Thanks to help from Rotarians and Interactors, even the volunteers were able to enjoy the event.
Of note: Gerda Weber's "happy 5" was to celebrate her Great-nephew, Sebastian's progress after having a stem-cell replacement procedure. For up-to-date information, click on his name under Club Links.
Speaker, Marjorie Matthews, Director of County of Santa Clara Office of Affordable Housing gave an informative talk about
Destination: Home, Housing Our Community.
Santa Clara County and San Jose officials have formulated a 10-year plan to end homelessless. At the core of the plan is the strategy of providing housing first, followed by the other services that the chronically homeless need to deal with their individual challenges.
Marjorie told that on a January night in 2007, 7202 homeless individuals were counted during an all-out effort at a census of this population in Santa Clara County. The majority of the people without homes are mentally ill or have problems with substance abuse or both.
Given the amount of funding to currently provide resources for people who remain homeless, the team estimates that an additional $25 million will be enough to pay for housing.
For more information, consult: destinationhome.ning.com
Dist 5170 Interact Cinematographer, Mahita Penke, Lt. Gov, Charlene Nguyen and Gov. Stephanie Bui as well as Dist Interact Chair, Lee Fort enthusiastically recounted their experiences as participants in an International Humanitarian Project in Panama City this July 2008. All of the speakers at our July 29 lunch meeting agreed that the trip and the work they accomplished had positive life-changing effects. It was inspiring to hear their stories.
Eric Peterson's parents were out on a visit from Tulsa OK so Eric brought them along to our July 29 meeting. Now we know where Eric gets his charm and good looks!
Club members Nick Leon and Sara Calkins reported on their experiences at this year's Rotary International Convention which took place June 15-18, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Audrey Clark was formally inducted by President Adrian as a member of the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen at our lunch meeting on July 8, 2008. What a terrific way to start our new Rotary Year!
Adrian Diaz was inducted as club president 2008/09 of the Rotary Club of San Jose East/Evergreen in a ceremony at the club's lunch meeting on July 1, 2009.
Roy Avila, Director, Community Affairs at COX Enterprises, KICU TV informed and entertained club members at our June 24, 2008 meeting with his professional and personal opinions of the forthcoming change in TV broadcasting.
We were certainly glad to welcome charter member, Jerry Erich, at our June 10 meeting. He's back from a delightful stay in Hawaii. Great to see good friend Audrey Clark, RC Alviso too!
Guest speaker, Steve Moorleghen of PG&E gave club members at our June 10, 2008 lunch meeting the low down on a process to use a renewable natural gas supply available right here in California.
Members of Rotary SJEE visited Toyon School on Monday, April 21, 2008 to distribute personal dictionaries to all the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students. See our Photo Journal on-line at www.rotarysjee.org.
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Our first MeetUp will be at Round Table Pizza, Thursday, January 31, between 6 and 8PM.
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Too bad Scrooge and Marley didn't have the Rotary 4-Way Test!
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Celebrate soon-to-be PDG Jeff Orth and welcome soon-to-be DG Orrin Mahoney..JPG)
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The importance to a Rotary club to continue to grow its membership cannot be stated strongly enough. A club will develop a culture over time. With growth, there probably will be some change in the culture. However, as the new members join, any changes that might happen will be a slow evolutionary movement. Then again, since most social groups grow by attracting like minded new members, there may not be any discernible change. The point is that all members of a Rotary club should embrace growth and participate in recruiting.
via George Takai on Facebook
A number of clubs lay claim to first admitting women, but the club that admitted a woman and was therefore expelled from Rotary leading to the lawsuits and court decisions that forced Rotary’s hand, that was the Rotary Club of Duarte California District 5300. 
Chris Block, guest presenter for the June 1 program, is the CEO of the American Leadership Forum, Silicon Valley. Part of a national network, the mission of ALFSV is to build a better Silicon Valley community by joining and strengthening leaders to serve the common good.
Mission Statement
A World Community Service (WCS) project is born when Rotary clubs from two or more countries join together to accomplish a community service project. The WCS program links Rotary clubs needing extra help with clubs in other countries that are willing to provide funds, materials, and technical and professional assistance. Typically the Rotary Foundation provides part of the required funding in the form of a Matching Grant. More information about the WCS program is here on the 
