The Rotary Club of Arcata Sunrise

Volume VII, Issue 6 — August 15, 2007

Club President 2007-2008: Lori Breyer

Editor: Dick Johnson

editor@arcatasunrise.org

Business Spotlight

Dave Neyra's Humboldt Outfitters is in the Business Spotlight this week. Formerly Bac-On-Trac, the store is leaving sporting goods behind, to concentrate on high-end clothing. Dave said that the store will feature their best-selling Humboldt Clothing line, and special orders - embroidered and screen-printed items will be created at their factory in McKinleyville. Dave said that the store is closing out its remaining sporting goods stock at a 50% discount.

Ken had another award to present. He has revived the Quiet Rotarian Award, which will be presented to one person in each club in the District this year. In appreciation for "uncommon service", Ken presented the award to John Wesa. Once again - congratulations and thank you, John!

Special Daze

Brett Johnson's birthday was August 3rd, and he spent two nights camping, and he probably did some other things that I missed.

Although Terri Clark's birthday was Saturday, August 4th, she follows the long-standing Sunrise tradition of celebrating the whole damn month. "So if you want to take me out to whatever, there's your excuse." On her actual birthday, Hubby Marty took her to breakfast in Trinidad, and that evening, he took her and three other women to dinner. Terri allowed that this may have been more of a treat for Marty than for her, but she rolled with it. After all, the evening started with martinis.

The club sang "Happy Birthday" with Susan Johnson subbing for Husband Bob on the pianna.

District Governor Ken Moulton

Ken started his presentation by thanking everyone (especially Mark and Cammy Burtchett) for the wonderful reception the previous evening. He said that he and Pam felt very welcomed. Ken noted that there was one person missing - Assistant Governor Dennis Hazelton was absent due to a medical issue - we hope he's feeling better by now.

Ken asked us to plan for the District Conference - which will be held outside the District for the first time in many years ... in San Francisco. The Conference Theme is "Mission: Possible", which represents all the "impossible" things Rotary has accomplished over the years.

In June, at the Rotary International Conference in Salt Lake City, Ken heard a speech by Bill Gates, Sr., who is "a giant of a man who asked two questions: 'Who are you?' and 'Why are you here?'".  Ken proceeded to answer these on our behalf. "I'm a Rotarian ... I belong to District 5130." To the "why" question, he replied, "We are a fellowship of business and community leaders, dedicated to Service Above Self."

Ken said that what makes Rotary the powerful force in the world today are its members - the Quiet Rotarians like John Wesa; people who are dedicated to Rotary, like Terri Clark and Harry Johnson; folks who tackle difficult logistical tasks, like Jacqueline Debets, who chairs the District 5130 Group Study Exchange Committee. It's also Rotarians such as Past District Governor John Strong, who helped establish the Cool Kids Camp, and Frank Mayhew, who is our District Coordinator for Health and Hunger issues. Endeavors such as the Peace Scholar Program, so important in our District, are also powerful.

"If you ask anyone in this room," said Ken, "why we do this, there will be one response - we always get back more than we give."

When he was new to Windsor, hired as the principal of a local middle school, Ken said, "I was invited to a breakfast that changed my life." As a result of that invitation, he joined Rotary, and found it gratifying, but it was the RI Convention in Barcelona that opened his eyes to the international aspects of our organization. In that same year, he attended the Festival of Brotherhood in Mexico, and he visited Albergue Mano Amiga, a cancer hospice in Guadalajara. Following the tour of the facility, a woman in a wheelchair took Ken's hand and said to him, "Don't forget us." Ken said that it was a defining moment for him - in that moment he said that he realized that he was "moving from membership in Rotary to being a Rotarian".

Ken said that, early this year, RI President Wilfred Wilkinson asked him and his fellow Governors-Elect to embrace his theme - Rotary Shares. Wilkinson noted that Rotarians "share our time, we share our talents, and we share our money with others who need our help".  He also asks us to share our love and our strength.

"Wilf", as Ken calls him, identified four focus areas for the year:

• First, we need to provide fresh water for the people of the world. Our District has established water projects on three continents, and we will continue to work toward this goal.
• Next, he wants us to identify and provide solutions for problems related to health and hunger issues, both internationally and in our communities.
• We should continue our efforts to increase literacy. The District Dictionary Projects and our Club's programs in Cambodia and Laos are excellent examples.
• He would like us to extend the "Family of Rotary". We can do this (and have done it) by embracing the Youth Exchange program, welcoming Peace Fellows, and supporting Rotaract and Interact Clubs.

Ken said that he appreciates what we do in all of these areas. He noted that we need to make sure that Rotary gets the recognition it deserves - through press releases, our website, and other avenues. He also acknowledged our dedication to Youth Service. "I can't think of another club that we've visited that devotes as much time and energy to young people," he said.

"Rotarians must lead," Ken noted. "We are the ones who must step up and lead the world. One person at a time, one project at a time, one challenge at a time." He told us that we must dream of ending human suffering and achieving world peace. He quoted Gandhi: "You must become the change you want to see in the world."

Ken closed with a story of his first year as a teacher in Oakland in 1965. He took his 8th Grade class on a trip to Sacramento to see the State Capitol and Sutter's Fort. Many of his students were experiencing their first steps outside their community. Upon their return to the school, one of his students - Roosevelt Green - missed his bus ride home. Ken drove him to his home in the ghetto, and he realized the vast difference between the world Roosevelt experienced every day and his own. He said that he has always wondered what impact he may have had on those kids. Ken knows the impact they had on him, and he noted that he would like to be able to thank Roosevelt for that "gift of understanding".

"Often Rotarians give generously," Ken stated, "but they don't see the results of that generosity. On behalf of [all those we help], thanks to each and every one of you."