By: Hermann Welm
President John “Copy Cat” Milich’s opened this meeting by reminding us that the R.I. President is Barry Rassin, of the Bahamas, and his theme for the year is “Be the Inspiration!” Our Greeter, Edgardo Carrillo, led us in the Salute to the Flag. He asked for a moment of silence in memory of the passing of Julie Disch. She was a lovely lady; she will be missed!
Mike Thelen finally got his chance to lead the group in a rendition of the Patriotic Song, “My Country Tis of Thee!”
Visiting Rotarians: Jim Vlantis of the Danville/Sycamore Club.
Other Visitors: Our Speaker, Jordan Marvin, of Rise Against Hunger; former member, Vera Packard; and McKenna Lay, daughter of Colette Lay.
Announcements:
Vera Packard announced her intention to re-join the club and promptly submitted her application. She is the Executive Director of the Lazarex Cancer Foundation, headquartered in Danville. This non-profit connects patients with various clinical trials being conducted on their disease anywhere in the US. She noted that the next fundraiser for her organization is a 5.44 K Walk/Run/Bike/Swim event at 9:00 am, on Saturday, April 27, 2019. You can register at Lazarex544K.flipcause.com and join in the fun at 50 Oak Court that morning or do your bit in your own home town!
Jim Vlantis, of the Danville/Sycamore Club announced that the 29th Annual Blackhawk Food, Wine and Film Festival will be held the evening of April 25th. It will be a “Business Formal” event. Check out their website at BlackhawkFilmFestival.com.
The April 17th Six-Club Dinner will feature Betty Yee, California State Controller, as the featured speaker. At Round Hill Country Club (cost is $39.00 per person).
Terry Koehne, who claims to still be a member of this club, although you’d never know it by his dismal attendance record (only Marc oBronzini’s is worse!), noted that he works at the County Office of Education in Pleasant Hill and frequently has trouble getting to San Ramon for luncheon meetings! Oh sure, then why can Marie Galbo, who lives in Crow Canyon Country Club, get to our meetings almost every week? Jeeeesh!
Some upcoming events were noted:
- April 18, our Scholarship Program for Cal High Seniors will be held during our Regular Meeting.
- April 25, our “Educator of the Year” Luncheon; please remember to indicate your attendance since this will be a plated lunch.
- April 27, the Sunny Glen Smoke Alarm Project will take place. Please reserve that morning for this “Rotarians at Work” activity!
- May 11, Rotary Bocce Ball in Martinez.
- May 17 – 19, Spring District Assembly, Peppermill Casino, Reno.
- August 26, organizing in progress for attending an A’s Game
- September 19, the Rotocare Gala.
Good News/Fine Free: None.
Recognitions: Chris Gayler and Glen Weber, for their birthdays (both on April 5th!); Marv Remmich for Susan’s birthday (they are going to the Carolinas); Chris Gallagher for Renee’s birthday (he’s bought her a new vacuum cleaner and some “baubles!”) And the aforementioned Terry Koehne for his birthday this past December 26th!
Program:
Jordan Marvin, of Rise Against Hunger, spoke about his non-profit’s mission of ending hunger by providing food and life-changing aid. “Lasting impacts are made by nourishing lives, empowering communities and emergency relief.” Their goal is to eliminate hunger in the world by 2030!
Estimates are that one in nine persons in the world are suffering from hunger (851 million) and that these are mostly children, under five. The program focuses on distribution of food packages thru schools as this has the added benefit of increasing school attendance two-fold and even three-fold! Sixty percent of the packages are distributed in this manner and the benefit to individuals and families is not only that they receive food, but that their children get a better education and therefor a chance at a better life (thereby avoiding hunger for their families!).
In 2018, Rise Against Hunger prepared and distributed 77 million meals to 795,000 beneficiaries. They had 70 projects in 31 countries.
The organization was founded by Ray Buchanan in 1998 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina.
They are planning a major fundraiser on World Food Day, Saturday, November 9th, where individuals and organizations are asked to sponsor an assembly table or donate $1,000 toward the cost of supplies packaged at those tables.
Raffle: The Greeter’s Gift of $20.00 was won by Chis Gallagher and will be used to purchase a higher quality vacuum cleaner for Renee!, PE Colette Lay won the chance of drawing the gold marble, however, she drew a blue marble and had to settle for the $10.00! Next week’s prize will be over $200.00!
Next Week’s Program: Sharon Wood of “New Day For Children,” which seeks to recover children caught in the despair of child sex trafficking and to restore their stolen childhoods. The Greeter will be Marco Bronzini (yeah, sure! Bets anyone?)
