The Rotary Club of Arcata Sunrise

Volume VII, Issue 21 — December 4, 2007

Club President 2007-2008: Lori Breyer

Editor: Dick Johnson

editor@arcatasunrise.org

104 D Street ● Eureka

Notes From Our Last Meeting

Cam Appleton read a letter from Jayme Tauzer, our Outbound Exchange Student who is currently in Switzerland. Jayme said that she has a new host family, and they all will be taking some ski vacations soon. Although it is a 40-minute train ride to her school each day, Jayme has time to play basketball. She also signed up for the Christmas play - which will be performed entirely in Swiss German!

A Taste of the Holidays - 2007

Taste of the Holidays Captain Wendy Madsen thanked us all for helping create another wildly successful event. The numbers are far from final, but Kathy "Money Maven" Fraser said that the gross as of last Friday was $17,413. If you still have money and/or tickets to turn in, please do so right away. Scott Heller has been doing a great job of helping Sunrisers turn in the dough - but he shouldn't have to work so hard!

Kathy Moxon was in charge of the raffle, and she had a few deliveries to make last Friday. Marge Fitzpatrick won coffee and a cookbook, so Sunriser Hubby Hal was dragooned into taking it to her, and he was charged a $5 delivery fee to boot!  Sunriser Spouse Barbara Giannini won a fishing trip, so Sir Charles paid for the delivery. Kathy noted that Sunriser David Neyra is very into fitness, so she suggested that he ride his prize to work - a beautiful 14-inch pink bike, complete with training wheels! Kathy then told us that Harry Johnson's donation to the raffle - a wheelbarrow packed with goodies - was not picked up by the time things were wrapped up, and Kathy was concerned since it wouldn't fit into her car. Fortunately, David Kiff wrestled the wheelbarrow into his vehicle, thus saving the day.

Scott Heller sent the Spirit a late report stating that 41 Sunrisers sold at least ten tickets, and 14 sold more than that! Those 14 included our two perennial champs - Dan Johnson and Brian Stephens. This year, Brian edged out Dan for the title, selling 90 tickets. Thank You, Brian!  Scott also said that two non-Sunrisers helped sell tickets this year − Susan Dean of West Coast Plumbing and Mad River Rotarian Ryan Sundberg of Sundberg Insurance. Thank you both!

Our thanks extended, of course, to Wendy, who did a superb job chairing the event!

Do YOU Have a "Burning Desire"?

Dan Johnson said that the committee for the Spring Fundraiser will begin to meet more frequently now. "If you have a burning desire to be a member," he said, "Let me know." The event will take place on Saturday, March 22nd. Be sure to mark the date in your new 2008 calendar.

In Other News ...

Bob Johnson reported that, back on Saturday, November 10th, a crew of Sunrisers joined with the Friends of the Dunes to work on the Stamp House. The building was purchased by that organization to serve as their new Education Center. Several of us showed up to peel vinyl covering off the cement floor, scrape and sand the walls, then paint. We had a good (and somewhat tiring) morning.

Lynda Moore announced that the District is accepting applications for an Ambassadorial Scholarship to be awarded for the 2009-2010 academic year. John Duser, the Chair of the District 5130 subcommittee, has posted a letter on the District website, explaining the process. In the letter, he references documents available on the Rotary International website. Here are those links: First, a brochure on the Ambassadorial Scholarship Program - http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/132en.pdf.  The link to the page that describes the application process with links to the application form and the Ambassadorial Scholar's Handbook can be found HERE. If you know of someone who would like to study abroad, and who would make a good representative for our District, please pass on the information.

President Lori announced that she and her fellow Club Presidents have accepted a mutual challenge to encourage their members to donate blood. Donations typically ebb in the winter, but the need does not. If you donate, please tell the folks at the Blood Bank that you are a Sunriser. (Actually, you'll need to be more specific.) Also be sure to let Lori know. As Bob Johnson said, "Let's Leak for Lori!"

This weekend is the 375th Arcata Invitational Basketball Tournament, according to George Cavinta.  His math may be off, but the event is real. Be ready to sign up for a slot - Saturdays are especially helpful. And if you could provide a dish for the Coaches' Party, which will take place at the Hotel Arcata on Friday night, let President Lori know. Saturday morning there will be a pancake breakfast, with the proceeds going to sustain Arcata High's College and Career Center.

Leslie Lawson volunteered to help Michael Boreing organize this year's Foster the Spirit program, where we provide gifts for older foster children. We will be helping fulfill the holiday wishes of about 20 to 25 teens and pre-teens, so watch for the Wish List at our next meeting.

We elected new Directors for our Board last week. Congratulations and thanks to Barbara Browning, Scott Heller, and Donnie Rosebrook. The trio will take office next July.

Although we were running late, President Lori took time to acknowledge the arrival of Gabriella Cavinta, who was both on November 6th at about 5:15 pm. Proud Papa George said that she weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces. "Are you sleeping?" Lori asked. "No, not at all," replied George.

Project Amigo

For our Final Friday Foundation presentation, Romi Hitchcock Tinseth spoke again about Project Amigo. Although the time was a bit short, she reminded us that the contributions that we make to the Rotary Foundation help to support the program. Based in Colima, Mexico, Project Amigo provides services and opportunities to poor children in the area. Your support makes possible the educational programs, material support, enrichment activities, and even medical, dental, and vision services.

Our Club has helped improve conditions at the Queseria Migrant Camp, and the program also supports the Maria Angela Orphanage.

Rotarians from around the world come to Colima to participate in the program's special work weeks. Several Sunrisers helped during one of Project Amigo's Vision Weeks. They helped check for glaucoma and matched glasses to those who needed them.

You can sponsor a child in the program for only $95 per year. Perhaps this could take the place of a gift for that person on your holiday list who seems to have everything.

Project Amigo students tend to maximize their opportunities - so far, the program has helped five students graduate from college; one is in law school and another is an MD! Be sure to visit the Project Amigo website for more info.