The Sunrise Spirit

The Sunrise Rotary Club of Arcata is pleased to announce their donation of  
$500 to the Arcata House.  The donation will be used to support transitional
housing which primarily serves homeless families.   This program helps
around 75 people a year; half of them are children under the age of 18.  The
transitional housing program operates three houses, all in Arcata.  The
houses each have the capacity to hold six people.  While families are living
in the houses, they are required to deposit half of their income in a trust
account that is given back to them when they find permanent housing to pay
move-in expenses, rent and deposits.  The main goal of the program is
helping families find permanent housing.  While this always involves looking
for housing, filling out applications, clearing up credit issues, etc., it
often also involves learning basic life skills like fiscal literacy,
budgeting, nutrition, and parenting.  It might also involve learning job
skills and finding a job, or learning to use basic community services like
health care, dental clinics, substance abuse treatment, child care, or
mental health care.  About half of the clients are survivors of domestic
violence, and the staff works with schools and parents to help families
overcome trauma and succeed in school.

Business Spotlight Following a one-week hiatus, the Business Spotlight has been turned back on! And this week, it shines on Los Bagels, our favorite Jewish/Mexican eatery. The clipboard will be at the flagship store at 1061 Eye Street, between 10th and 11th Streets. Be sure to say hello to the General Manager - Sunriser Charlie Jordan. Charlie says that Los Bagels is one of the area's largest suppliers of Judaica, and you can celebrate Dia de los Muertos there as well. If you're in Eureka, you can stop in at 403 Second Street (but no clipboard), and on the HSU Campus, Los Bagels is in the Depot (no clipboard here, either).	1061 Eye (I) Street, Arcata Closed Tuesdays

Financial Assistance: Big Check Time! Courtesy of Julie Vaissade-Elcock: The Sunrise Rotary Club of Arcata is pleased to announce their donation of $500 to the Arcata House. The donation will be used to support transitional housing which primarily serves homeless families. This program helps around 75 people a year; half of them are children under the age of 18. The transitional housing program operates three houses, all in Arcata. The houses each have the capacity to hold six people. While families are living in the houses, they are required to deposit half of their income in a trust account that is given back to them when they find permanent housing to pay move-in expenses, rent and deposits. The main goal of the program is helping families find permanent housing. While this always involves looking for housing, filling out applications, clearing up credit issues, etc., it often also involves learning basic life skills like fiscal literacy, budgeting, nutrition, and parenting. It might also involve learning job skills and finding a job, or learning to use basic community services like health care, dental clinics, substance abuse treatment, child care, or mental health care. About half of the clients are survivors of domestic violence, and the staff works with schools and parents to help families overcome trauma and succeed in school.
Notes From Our Last Meeting
President Lori had an inescapable meeting that caused her to be absent last Friday, but she placed the Club in the capable hands of Past President Bob Johnson. Exchange Student Jessica Bono said last Friday that she had experienced Homecoming at Arcata High. "The game was very boring," she said in her critique, "but the dance was okay." The following night (Saturday, October 20th), she attended the Foundation Dinner in Crescent City. She also carved pumpkins! Be aware that A Taste of the Holidays is rapidly approaching. All of the committee chairs would like your help, but the Wine-Pourin' Rat himself, Bob Johnson, is only a mouse-click rat-click away. Scroll down and click on the Rat, and send a message to Bob. And don't forget to bring your raffle item ($25 to $50 value) to our next meeting.	Brother Bob at the helm!
Last Friday, Howard Stauffer gave a World Community Service Committee update, focusing on our Simplified Grant projects. He showed a slide from Laos of the school that is currently under construction. We could see that the framework is in place, and progress is being made. Howard also discussed our support for the Rotary School of Monkol Borei in Cambodia. He reminded us that our Club and other Rotary Clubs are providing supplies and paying teachers' salaries, which allows poor students to attend school. Last year, our Club sponsored one classroom, and this year we are supporting two.

Firehouse Fundraiser Discussion
Tim Citro is the President of the Arcata Volunteer Fire Department. He and Fire Chief John McFarland paid a visit last week to discuss progress toward construction of the new fire station. Tim started by thanking our Club for its support and he said that the support is still needed. The Firehouse Fundraisers have earned the Department over $200,000 toward the construction of a new facility. Tim said that, although the focus has been on the originally proposed site at 11th and M Streets, the group is looking at an alternate location as a possibility. He told us that, even if the new location is selected as the best location, the project should not be delayed, and it may even accelerate the process. Enthusiasm for the M Street location ebbed when the City of Arcata closed 14th Street at Alliance, blocking a major east-west artery. The new site is on Sunset Avenue, across from the Arcata Skate Park. Regardless of which site is ultimately chosen, Tim said that his goal is to break ground within 18 to 24 months.

Foundation Friday
Last Friday, Terri Clark reminded us that the "money we give to the Rotary Foundation changes the world". She said that Howard Stauffer's WCS Report earlier proves that. Romi Hitchcock Tinseth then discussed the impact of Project Amigo, in Mexico. "Five years ago," she said, "our family decided to live it." They drove down and volunteered in Colima for a year. The Project, founded by Ted Rose and Susan Hill in 1986, has the "overarching theme" of keeping kids in school. To that end, they provide scholarships, homework clubs, and other incentives for the children. The project has the support of Rotarians from all over the world. Some come and volunteer, others provide financial support, and many do both. Jacqueline Debets then talked about the Group Study Exchange program. "GSE," she said, "is about inspiring excellence in service for young professionals." Jacqueline noted that it is an eye-opener to see how someone in another country performs a job analogous to yours. This year's Exchange will be with Nigeria. The team leader is Susan Cole, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor. Most of her team hails from Sonoma County, however there is one member from Humboldt County who works for Winzler and Kelly. Jacqueline encouraged us to be involved when the Team from Nigeria is here in April and May. You can serve as a host family, or provide a tour of your business or help provide some other educational experience for the group.