The Sunrise Spirit

The Rotary Club of Arcata Sunrise

Volume VII, Issue 16 — October 24, 2007

Club President 2007-2008: Lori Breyer

Editor: Dick Johnson

Notes From Our Last Meeting

Last week, Exchange Student Jessica Bono, said missed our previous meeting because she was on the District 5130 Youth Exchange "Bluesbuster" Trip to San Francisco. "It was so fun!" she said, noting that she got a little taste of "Italia" when the group visited the North Beach area. Jessica was planning to take in last Friday's AHS Homecoming Parade, despite the rain. This weekend, Jessica heads for Fort Bragg.

Randy Mendosa reported that the Financial Assistance Committee has been very active via e-mails and other electronic communications channels. He said that we received a thank you letter from the Fieldbrook Volunteer Fire Department for providing a defibrillator. Other recent contributions include $180 to Northcoast Children's Services (our Pastels on the Plaza donation), $50 to the Sequoia Park Zoo for a "Bill's Brick" - an engraved brick to be placed in the garden commemorating Bill the Chimp, and $500 to the Volunteer Center for the Redwoods to support their intergenerational SHARE Program, which brings senior volunteers together with students in our area. Another $500 was donated to the Arcata House, and the Hospice Shop also received $500 to help defray the costs of moving to their new facility. And Barbara Caldwell, the Executive Director of the local Red Cross chapter was on hand to receive a donation. Our funds will allow the agency to acquire a computer designated for use by their volunteers.

Don't forget (if that's even remotely possible) that A Taste of the Holidays is fast approaching. Sign-up sheets are circulating at every meeting, and tickets need to be sold. Be sure to get to your buyers before Brian Stephens or Dan Johnson!

Special Daze

Mid-October is always a two-fer for Arcata Sunrise Presidents. Jim and Ann Hulsebus met at our Club, and they were married on October 13, 1996. This year, they celebrated on the 12th with dinner at the Plaza Grill, and then it was off to the Blocksburg Harvest Fair the next day.

Bob Johnson, Master of Fineology

Bob Johnson was the Finemaster last Friday, and he acted quickly before Dan Collen had a chance to leave the room. Bob noted that "if Dan is wearing a tie, he usually has a meeting after Rotary". Dan said that his campaign for the Northern Humboldt UHSD Board is going well. Bob warned him to be cautious if Kevin Hoover asks for an interview on KHUM. Apparently, current school board member Mike Pigg took a bit of a lashing recently.

Lynda Moore is trying to retire ... still. "We're offering the Human Resources position again." she said. That's Lynda's position, and she is hoping that this time they find her replacement. Bob asked what the first thing she wanted to do once she actually retires. Only one thing? I don't think so. She has art projects, golf plans, even a welding class. Get those applications in to HSU ... NOW!

Jessica McKnight played Bob's new game "Guess the Member". (it's pretty titillating when I write it out like that.) Bob had a photo of a Sunriser in a sporty car looking back at the camera. The face was blurred and swirled, but Jessica was still able to identify him as Matt Babich. Matt was heard to say as he roared off into the distance, "It's not mine ... it's my wife's!"

Interim President Tom Harris on the CR Accreditation Crisis

Our guest speaker last week was Tom Harris, who is serving as the Interim President at College of the Redwoods. Tom provided an update on the progress that is being made toward earning full accreditation for the community college.

The college was placed on probation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in July. A WASC team is expected to visit CR next month, and the commission will vote in January to determine the fate of the school. Tom said that there are three possible outcomes: CR could have its full accreditation restored, the probation could be extended, or the school could lose its accreditation.

Tom is pleased with the progress that has been made since the probation was announced. "In my career," he said, "I have never seen a better response" than the faculty and staff have put forward in the face of this crisis.