Next week: Trish Ross, volunteer chaplain at MCDH, will talk about midwife training programs in Sierra Leone.

Acting President Jody Stickel presided over today’s meeting, and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

We had two visiting Rotarians in our midst: Bob Wheat, from Fort Bragg Rotary; and Rob Anglin from Livermore.

Visiting Rotarian Rob Anglin from Livermore.

Visiting Rotarian Rob Anglin from Livermore.

Our guest, Alexandria.

Our guest, Alexandria.

We also had two guests with us today:  Alexandria (I missed her last name), who owns the Pilates studio in Mendocino; and Richard Green.

 

 

Happy Dollars:

  • Guenter shared his joy that he and his wife will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in a couple of days. He passed around an engagement photo from 50 years ago… what a beautiful couple!!  To celebrate, they will spend most of October in Japan.
  • Donna – happy that Gary’s team is in first place. I believe that would be the A’s.
  • Gary — happy! (I confess I didn’t hear why he’s happy today, but I’m glad that he is!)
  • Harold – is playing in a national football league pool – and is happy that he won the 1st week!
  • Liliana – her grandson is visiting without his parents. She also has 5 young Italians staying at her house…
  • Kathleen – is happy to celebrate her youngest daughter’s birthday today.
Guenter talks about his 50 years of wedded bliss. :-)

Guenter talks about his 50 years of wedded bliss. 🙂

Happy dollars from Liliana!

Happy dollars from Liliana!

 

Sunshine Report

Harold gave today’s Sunshine Report, as he visited our Sunshine Queen Wilma yesterday. She is getting her insulin pump settled… and she would like Rotarians to visit when we have time.  You’re always in our thoughts, Wilma!

Announcements

  • The Festival of Brotherhood is coming up — contact Jody for the dates if you are interested in participating. Since 1995, Rotarians from District 4150 in Northern Mexico and 5130, including Mendocino Rotary, in Northern California have come together every year for the annual Festival of Brotherhood.  The goal is to find and jointly fund humanitarian projects that help Mexican people in need.  This is an excellent opportunity to see first-hand the impact of our giving.
  • Bob Wheat invites us all to the annual Cowboy Party.

    Bob Wheat invites us all to the annual Cowboy Party.

    Bob Wheat announced that we are all invited to the annual Cowboy Party on October 4, 2014, at the Hughes Llama Ranch in Albion. Food, music, drink, dancing…. Raffle tickets are available for great trips. The entrance fee is a donation to one of four charities supported by the event: the Mendocino Coast Hospital Foundation, the Symphony of the Redwoods, the Mendocino Music Festival, and the Albion Little River Fire Department.  Bring your checkbook and prepare to have a great time!!

  • Bruce Lewis announced that at last night’s event for our District Governor, the President of Fort Bragg Rotary presented check for $500 for our Rotary Park project!  Thank you, Fort Bragg Rotary, for supporting our efforts!

 

Our Program Today

Assistant District Governor Linda Sinkay introduced our District 5130 Governor, Kevin Eisenberg. Kevin joined Rotary in 2000 in Calistoga, and has been very active ever since. Kevin shared a quote pertinent to this year’s theme of “Light Up Rotary:”

 “It is better to light a single candle than to sit and curse the darkness.” (Confucius)

DG Kevin shares his theme, Pride and Joy of Rotary.

DG Kevin shares his theme, Pride and Joy of Rotary.

We as Rotarians are changing the world one project at a time. “Pride & Joy of Rotary” is Kevin’s theme for our District, which goes well with “Light Up Rotary” theme of Rotary International.  Doing good for others gives you joy, and university research supports this.

Rotary is about Service Above Self, and the Four-Way Test. There are several great reasons to wear your Rotary pin in the outside world: 1) other Rotarians will approach you and take you out to dinner; 2) it’s a good conversation starter; 3) it provides a chance to share your Rotary pride and joy; and 4) through these conversations you may learn about new programs that may need Rotary’s help.

The Rotary Foundation supports club service in six areas of focus: 1) Disease eradication. 2) Maternal and child health. 3) Education and literacy. 4) Water and sanitation. 5) Economic independence and sustainability. 6) Peace and conflict resolution.

Kevin took a few moments to talk specifically about the Polio Plus program and the recent polio outbreaks coming from Waziristan and Pakistan. Nigeria and Afghanistan also have endemic cases, though they are very few. The world will be polio free in the next few years, if we keep up the momentum. Will be the second communicable disease in the world’s history to be eliminated.  Our club’s Polio Plus collection jar was passed around, with great results!

Assistant District Governor Linda Sinkay, and District Governor Kevin Eisenberg.

Assistant District Governor Linda Sinkay, and District Governor Kevin Eisenberg.

Our themes for the year.

Our themes for the year.

Raffle winners: In place of a raffle drawing this week, the raffle money was donated to Polio Plus.