Volume XII, Issue 40: April 24, 2015

On The Calendar
May 3:   Arcata Interfaith Gospel Choir Prayer Breakfast
May 4-8:  Fireside Meetings (no Friday meeting)
May 7RISE EVENT! - The Living Rooms perform at Chapala Cafe 
May 22RISE EVENT! - Progressive Dinner Substitute (Watch this space and save this date)
May 31RISE EVENT! - Kids, Crabs, and Rotary at the Arcata Ballpark 
June 2-9:  Rotary International Convention at "Mozara's Place" (aka Brazil)
June 20:  Oyster Festival Beer Booth

Final Friday Report
Your Editor was attending the District 5130 Conference at Yosemite last Friday, so Ace Reporter Angelo Bacigaluppi kindly stepped in, sending the vital info.

President Barbara was also at the Conference (with a major role - giving a presentation and gathering awards), so the esteemable "Surprise President" Scott Heller stepped in. 

Noorth Bay Rotaractors Ashleigh Diehl and Rachel Damme stopped by to give a report on the success of their recent Fun Run For a Cause. The inaugural event was a great success, and the funds raised with benefit the La Trinidad Project in Costa Rica, which they are co-sponsoring with Our Club, the Arcata Noon Rotary, and the Club Rotario San Jose Noreste.

Acting President Scott announced that the Earth Day Adopt-a-Highway effort from two days prior was also successful.
Jessica McKnight, Cam Appleton, Carol Vander, Karen Dominguez, Brandi Easter, Howard Stauffer, and Scott himself were the participants. Thank you all!


Welcome Nick!!
Nick Torres
We welcomed our newest member last Friday. Nick Torres has been involved in the North Bay Rotaract Club, and he is a senior at Humboldt State, and a Spanish language translator. He's a fisherman, an archer, a guitarist, and a pianist, and he's a great addition to our Club. Welcome aboard!


Special Daze
Cam and Lisa Appleton have been married for 34 years and counting. Although he was dogsitting for their anniversary, Cam did manage to break away from the pack long enough to take Lisa to Larrupin's for a celebratory dinner.

Tami Camper-Dart was not at last week's meeting. She and her husband Chris celebrated their anniversary on April 25th, and there was speculation that they were off skydiving. Hmmm ... that rates a follow-up. 

Final Friday Foundation Auction
Although our ranks were sparse last Friday, the Foundation Auction for April raised over $1,500. "Props to Rachel for purchasing a prize for $75," Angelo reports, "and to Ashleigh for paying $180 for her prize!" Those Rotaractors really know how to step up!! Thank you to all who participated.

Thanks Angelo, for keeping the (digital) presses rolling!!!

Volume XII, Issue 39: April 17, 2015

On The Calendar 
April 22:  Earth Day Adopt-a-Highway! Meet at the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center at 3 pm
April 24-26:  District 5130 Conference at Yosemite!
May 3:   Arcata Interfaith Gospel Choir Prayer Breakfast
May 4-8:  Fireside Meetings (no Friday meeting)
May 7RISE EVENT! - The Living Rooms perform at Chapala Cafe 
May 22RISE EVENT! - Progressive Dinner Substitute (Watch this space and save this date)
May 31RISE EVENT! - Kids, Crabs, and Rotary at the Arcata Ballpark 
June 2-9:  Rotary International Convention at "Mozara's Place" (aka Brazil)
June 20:  Oyster Festival Beer Booth
 

Announcements
President Barbara told us that the Foster Youth Program had its wrap-up meeting, recapping the accomplishments of the past year, and looking toward continuing its work next year. 


Big Man, Big Trophy!
Barbara also posted a photo of our town's two Rotary Club Presidents. She and the Noon Club's Susan Diehl-McCarthy were seen attending a recent meeting of the Arcata Chamber of Commerce.

Apparently, Angelo Bacigaluppi has found a way to entertain himself while Michelle is off doing taxes. His team took first place in the Tuesday Night Bowling League. The team is sponsored by Mad River Brewery, which is perfect!

Claire Ajina and her husband Haider recently returned from a trip to Sweden. They were visiting their daughter Alia, who is a Rotary Exchange Student stationed there for the year. 
Haider, Alia, and Claire

Gregg and Neil

Gregg Foster was at the airport to visit with his wife, Emily Jacobs the other day, when he ran into astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson. The previous evening, Mr. Tyson gave a presentation at HSU for its CenterArts program. Gregg didn't have the opportunity to attend, but sitting and chatting with him was the next best thing.



We heard about some opportunities for hands-on service last Friday. The organizers of the Tour of the Unknown Coast contacted our Community Service Committee, requesting volunteers to help along the course. The race will take place on Saturday, May 2. And on Saturday, June 20th, our Club will be staffing a beer booth at the Oyster Festival.


Debbie and Alan Davis
Our Club lost a good friend with the passing of Alan Davis on April 11th. Alan had been honored as the AVFD's Volunteer Firefighter of the Year earlier that evening. Sunrisers will remember Alan as a perennial Spring Fundraiser presence - both in the planning and during the events. He will be missed by all.

Exchange Student Mozara Abdalla has been busy with friends lately. Last week, we met Michelle Lack, who is a Rotary Exchanger from Switzerland, and last week she spent time with another Exchange Student from Germany. In honor of Mozara having her ears pierced, her Word of the Day was "brinco", which is Portuguese for "earring".

Helping Jamie
After being orphaned at 14 and spending a few years in foster care, Jamie Carroll became an emancipated minor. She told us that soon after that, she learned about the Rotary Youth Exchange program, and she wanted to participate. She interviewed and was accepted for the program, and with the help of Rotarians (and her own determination), she was able to overcome the difficulties of entering the program given her status. Jamie was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Eureka to be their Exchange Student to Brazil for 2008-2009, and she is currently a member of the Lost Coast Rotaract Club.

President Barbara, Jamie, and Angelo


The 2015 Rotary International Convention will be held in Sao Paolo, Brazil, and Jamie plans to attend, returning to her host country. President Barbara was very excited to present a check for $1,000 - our Club's contribution to her travel fund. If you would like to help Jamie's efforts, visit her gofundme page.

Heart of Rotary
Kathy Fraser has been an important part of the Rotary Club of Arcata Sunrise for many years, and President Barbara pointed out that she has done everything there is to do in support of our Club, short of being Club President. She truly deserves the Heart of Rotary Award.  

All About Brandi
Bryan Plumley provided a Special Recognition of Brandi Easter last Friday. "For those of you who don't know," he began, "she's a free diver, a scuba diver, photographer, and spear fisherman." Brandi said that her personal activities were limited last year following the loss of her mother. But she plans to make up for it this year. 
Brandi's "friend" is a 34 pound yellowtail

Brandi has been scuba diving since 1987, and free diving since 1992. Five years later, she began spearfishing, and she has competed locally, nationally, and internationally. She enjoys catching (and consuming) delectables of the deep, and she wins awards for it!

Brandi said that the World Spearfishing Competition in Chile in 2004 was one of her most amazing adventures. There were competitors from many countries around the world, and they "took over the hotel". The hotel served breakfast and lunch, but at dinnertime, the divers would be in the kitchen to cook up their catches. 

She was introduced to scuba diving by a former boyfriend, and she started free diving because that is the only way to take abalone. 

Learning By About Osmosis
Our Featured Speaker was Andrea Achilli, who is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Resources Engineering at Humboldt State University. He spoke about the prospect of using pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) to generate power. The process is similar to reverse osmosis (RO) and forward osmosis (FO), and the power is solar energy that is captured through the mixing of fresh water and saltwater. 

Andrea noted that existing renewable energy sources produce about 10,000 terawatts of electricity per year. The annual amount currently generated via mixing saltwater and freshwater is about 20% of that, or 2,000 terawatts per year. 

Andrea Achilli
When reverse osmosis is used for desalination of seawater, the waste water has a much higher saline content than the original seawater. When this is re-used in a RO-PRO system, more energy can be extracted, reducing the energy requirements of the system as a whole. 

Andrea said that small-scale experimental models have been tested in Alamogordo, New Mexico and at the University of Nevada, Reno. One of the largest desalination plants in the world is at Ashkelon, Israel. It covers 25 acres, and uses RO technology. He noted that a PRO plant of the same size would use 16% less energy. 

He compared the footprints of PRO power plants versus other renewable energy sources. A PRO plant with an output of 14 megawatts would cover about 25 acres. A solar farm that is four times larger (covering 100 acres) only produces 20 megawatts. A proposed wind farm in Arizona that will cover 1,110 acres is expected to generate 15 megawatts. 

Andrea concluded by saying that tests of the pilot RO-PRO system showed reduced costs in desalinating seawater. In addition, the process may reduce the need for wastewater treatment, and it may help to mitigate issues surrounding high-salinity discharge. He also reiterated that PRO-based systems have smaller land footprints when compared with other renewable energy sources.



Volume XII, Issue 38: April 10, 2015

On The Calendar 
April 14:  Board Meeting at the Golden Harvest Cafe
April 18RISE EVENT! - "Run For A Cause" - North Bay Rotaract's Fun(d)raiser to benefit the La Trinidad Project in Costa Rica
April 22:  Earth Day Adopt-a-Highway! Meet at the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center at 3 pm
April 24-26:  District 5130 Conference at Yosemite!
May 4-8:  Fireside Meetings (no Friday meeting)
May 3:   Arcata Interfaith Gospel Choir Prayer Breakfast
May 7RISE EVENT! - The Living Rooms perform at Chapala Cafe
May 22RISE EVENT! - Progressive Dinner Substitute (Watch this space and save this date)
May 31:  Kids, Crabs, and Rotary at the Arcata Ballpark 
June 2-9:  Rotary International Convention at Mozara's place (aka Brazil)
 

Announcements
President Barbara talked about Committees that have recently held meetings. The World Community Service Committee met, and John Gullam said that they reviewed this year's projects, and began developing their 2015-2016 budget. Maggie Kraft has a connection with a Peace Corps worker in Macedonia, which may lead to a project there. Brandi Easter said that the Mentorship Committee met to wrap up their year, and to do a "status check".  And the Spring Fundraiser Committee did its own wrap-up. The revenue and expense situation is close to being wrapped up, and it looks like our net earnings from the event will be between $35k and $39k!


Our Rotary Exchange Student, Mozara Abdalla, spent part of her Spring Break at Pismo Beach. She was joined by Michelle Lack, an Exchange Student from Switzerland. Michelle is sponsored by the Calistoga Rotary. When President Barbara asked what she did, Mozara said, "We ate a lot." She said that they had some really good food. Michelle came up to Arcata for the weekend so they could spend a little more time together. Mozara's Word for the Day was "praia", Portuguese for "beach".

We welcomed Randy Mendosa back from Amsterdam. He had traveled there as a chaperone for the ArMack Orchestra. He had a great time, and the Orchestra took home a Silver Award at the festival held at Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam!

Special Daze 
Ed and Beth Christians celebrated their 14th anniversary on March 3rd. "We've got so much going on in our lives," Ed told us, "that we just decided, since Thursday's in the middle of the week, we'll just do the usual - dinner at Larrupin's on the weekend." Barbara asked whether that's their usual weekend hangout, but it was an anniversary special. Next year, they plan to spend their 15th in Hawaii.

Jim Schaefer spoke up, saying that he and Julie had celebrated their 29th anniversary on April 10th. It's not their wedding anniversary - it's when Julie "took me home" from a restaurant in Old Town Eureka. Congratulations to a sweet couple!

Rotary Star!
President Barbara promised us an award each week for the remainder of her Presidency, sooooo ... last Friday, she presented the Rotary Star Award to the deserving Brandi Easter!

Brandi is a great Sunriser who has served our Club in many ways over the year. Currently, she co-chairs the Mentorship Committee and serves on the Membership Committee. She is also part of the Community Service Committee. Barbara noted that she also "has a huge heart, and she puts 100 percent of herself into whatever she does". Barbara continued, "She was my sponsor, and I will be forever grateful to her for bringing me into Rotary".


Humboldt's Secret Garden?
It's not really a secret, but the Humboldt Botanical Gardens deserves to be better known. Susan MG Tissot, the HBG Executive Director, was our Featured Speaker last week. She is a former member of the Rotary Club of Vancouver, and she has also lived in Wyoming and Hawaii. She and her husband Brian have two children who are in college. Susan joined the HBG staff last year. 
Susan MG Tissot

Susan noted that, at 44.5 acres, the Humboldt Botanical Gardens are bigger than Disneyland, "but not as well-funded, unfortunately". The site features formal garden spaces with themes, hiking trails, and the Gardens offer educational and recreational opportunities. The site is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 am to 4 pm, and it is adjacent to the College of the Redwoods Campus on Tompkins Hill Road, south of Eureka. 

The Gardens were established in 1991, and boast 5 themed gardens and a 3,200 square-foot greenhouse. The group has raised over 3,200 pounds of food, which is donated to local organizations. To date, about 2.5 million dollars has been invested in the site.

Humboldt Botanical Gardens hosts many events throughout the year. It is a popular site for weddings, and Susan noted that if you time it right, you won't have to pay for a florist! They also present a "Music in the Garden" Summer Concert Series, which features local musicians twice a month in June, July, and August. They also hold their Garden Gala on the Saturday following Labor Day (this year's date is September 5). The Gala is the main fundraiser for the group, and it includes music, art, a silent auction, and local food and beverages. 

The next HBG fundraiser is much closer, however. They will hold their Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, May 2nd, from 9 am to 3 pm. However, members get a special opportunity to purchase a day earlier, starting at 5:00 pm Friday, May 1st. If you're not a member, you can sign up that evening and take advantage of the early deals. 

Susan told us that the dedication ceremony for Sara's Garden will take place on Saturday, May 16th at 1:30 pm. This garden is dedicated to the memory of Sara Goosby, and it features many of her favorite plants. 


Volume XII, Issue 37: April 3, 2015

On The Calendar 
April 14:  Board Meeting at the Golden Harvest Cafe
April 18:  "Run For A Cause" - North Bay Rotaract's Fun(d)raiser to benefit the La Trinidad Project in Costa Rica
April 22:  Earth Day Adopt-a-Highway! Meet at the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center at 3 pm
April 24-26:  District 5130 Conference at Yosemite!
May 4-8:  Fireside Meetings (no Friday meeting)
May 7RISE EVENT! - The Living Rooms perform at Chapala Cafe
May 22:  Progressive Dinner
May 31:  Kids, Crabs, and Rotary at the Arcata Ballpark 
June 2-9:  Rotary International Convention at Mozara's place (aka Brazil)
 

Announcements
Last Friday, we learned that Rotary "Kid" Kate Breyer will be part of a relatively new Rotary Youth Exchange program - STEP. That is an acronym for Short-Term Exchange Program, which provides students with the opportunity to spend a few weeks with a host family in another country. Kate will be visiting Spain this summer, which sounds like a great lead-in to college!


Our Inbound Exchange Student - Mozara Abdalla - talked about Brazilian Easter traditions last week. She said that they celebrate the holiday with a four-day weekend, starting on Thursday. Mozara said that her mother still puts out chocolate on Easter mornings for her children. "She doesn't really hide it," Mozara noted, "cause we know where it is." Later in the day, they enjoy a family lunch/dinner. Mozara said that there is no traditional food for the meal. President Barbara told her that "we have ham a lot here". Mozara said that Brazilian Easter Eggs are huge - most of the stores hang these large eggs from their ceilings. She sent her family a gift basket with chocolate. Her Easter plans included a trip to the beach with her fellow Exchange Student Michelle, who is hosted by the Calistoga Rotary. The Word of the Day was "Boa Pascoa", which means "Happy Easter".

President Barbara showed photos from recent events, including the District Training Assembly in Ukiah, the previous night's RISE event featuring Bob Johnson's "Living Rooms" at Chapala Cafe, and the Special Olympics Basketball Tournament, which our Club supported. 

She also reminded us that our SWOT project is coming soon. We will be painting and refurbishing the Arcata House Partnership's Night Shelter on Boyd Road. Once we see a stretch of good weather on the horizon, we'll grab rollers and brushes and have at it. We will also be redoing cabinets, installing a new heating system, and making several other improvements. 

The renovation of Rotary Park on South G Street is another project where we are waiting for the go-ahead. The City of Arcata is installing new playground equipment, and we will be called upon to spread wood chips and spruce the place up for the Grand Re-opening.

Barbara and Carol, with Mozara and Ron looking on
Carol Vander Meer has completed her Red Badge goals, so last Friday, President Barbara provided her with a shiny new Blue Badge. Congratulations!

Special Daze
The status of visiting Rotaractor Nick Torres is likely to change soon, and part of the reason may be his recent birthday! Nick said that he "celebrated" by doing homework. He will be graduating in December, so his homework days are limited.

We also celebrated the 11th birthday of Rotary Kid Mary Crow. Her birthday party included gymnastics and tumbling.

Rotarian of the Month
President Barbara named a very deserving Sunriser as Rotarian of the Month for March - Susan Jansson! Barbara reminded us of the many reasons for her selection. Susan serves on our Board as the Director of Community Service, she co-chairs the Financial Assistance Committee (with Kathy Fraser), and she will be our Club President for 2016-2017. 

Susan volunteered to chair our Spring Fundraiser Committee, leading us in our first year without the support of the Arcata Volunteer Fire Department. "She believed in our Club," Barbara noted,"and she knew that we could do the Spring Fundraiser on our own. She provided extraordinary vision and leadership for the event, and helped create a fun, fabulous, and hugely successful event!"

Speaking of the Spring Fundraiser ...
Although we're not quite ready for a final recap of the Spring Fundraiser, Susan acknowledged the work that each member of her Committee put forth:
  • Bob Johnson coordinated the initial fundraiser survey of our Club, and served as the Event Emcee
  • Howard Stauffer was at every meeting, reminding Susan that the event needed to raise funds
  • Barbara Browning provided support at every stage of the event, from planning to execution
  • Charlie Jordan coordinated the Live Auction
  • Kathy Fraser stepped in to help with the models
  • Orrin headed up the clean-up efforts
  • Brenda Bishop wrangled the entertainment
  • Rebecca Crow was in charge of greeting and seating guests
  • Lori Breyer ran a "seamless back room"
  • Laura Montagna and George Cavinta created fantastic decorations
  • Craig Newman handled ticket sales for tables and individuals and served as general troubleshooter
  • Janice Newman prepared the slide show, and followed up with thank you letters to everyone who donated to the event
  • Dustin Littlefield ran the bar, and concocted special Wonderland-themed drinks
  • Ray Noggle was a one-man rescue team, getting needed supplies at the last minute and he bribed Ian into doing all the dishwashing that night
  • Cam Appleton coordinated the Raffle
  • Romi Hitchcock Tinseth put together the Silent Auction
  • Gregg Foster handled publicity
  • Scott Heller was everywhere and did everything, including securing the SmartCar donation and hanging the ceiling decorations. 
Susan closed with a question: "Let's do it again next year - are you up for that??" The answer she received was a resounding "Yes!"

The Return
Although he had "been away for a while", Bob Goodman returned for last Friday's meeting. He spent quite a bit of time in the Bay Area recently, visiting his two daughters who are attending school there. He said that they are all "healthy and happy". 

Bob realized the difficulty in running five businesses simultaneously, so he sold his restaurant and his juice bar (to different buyers). He said that the new owners of the restaurant are enthusiastic, and they have interesting plans for moving forward. Bob acknowledged that the experience was fun, but he would never do it again. 

A1AA Volunteer Driver Program
Our featured speaker was Dan Birmingham, who runs the Volunteer Driver Program for the Area 1 Agency on Aging (A1AA). The agency provides services for seniors and people with disabilities, and it helps their families, caregivers, friends, and neighbors as well. It also serves as an advocate for the needs of seniors. Funding for the A1AA comes from local government agencies, foundations, and individual donations. There are 33 Agencies on Aging in California, and the A1AA serves Humboldt and Del Norte counties. 

The organization started the Volunteer Driver Program in 2011, when it noted that our community has gaps in filling the transportation needs of seniors. The volunteers take riders to medical appointments and trips to the store, covering Humboldt County from Scotia to Trinidad. 

Dan noted that the program benefits drivers as well as riders. The riders receive transportation that is safe, reliable, and provided at a low cost, and the drivers provide a level of companionship. They also don't have to wait for the driver to return after the appointment or errand, since the driver remains with the rider. Drivers receive the sense of satisfaction that comes with providing a valuable service that helps their community. They receive reimbursement for their mileage, and they develop new skills. 

In 2013-2014, the program provided 35 drivers for 183 riders, logging a total of 1,872 rides. Over 32,000 miles were driven, for a total of 2,014 hours provided by volunteers. This year, the program has expanded to 40 drivers serving 310 riders. Dan said that the program is always seeking additional drivers. 

To be eligible for the program, riders must be at least 50 years old, or disabled, and they must not require physical assistance getting in and out of vehicles. Dan does an intake interview with each prospective rider to assess their suitability. Riders pre-purchase ride tickets, and provide advance notice of at least one week. 

Drivers must have a valid California drivers license, with a "clean" driving record. They also must pass a criminal background check, and their vehicle must be safe, clean, and insured.

One driver who has been with the program for quite a while is Sunriser Kathy Fraser. She told us that she is actually a second generation driver - her parents once served as volunteer drivers in a similar program. Kathy said that she has met many interesting people while volunteering, most of them older than her, but some were younger. She reminded us that the population served by the program needs help. When you can no longer drive, your independence is limited. 

Kathy said that she appreciates the flexibility of the program and the fact that you can sign up for shifts online. Although she and her husband Bill will be leaving the area in July, she plans to look for a similar program in their new home of Reno. To thank Kathy for her service, Dan presented her with a chocolate bunny with a cart.
Dan with Kathy's Bunny

To volunteer, or for more information, contact Dan at the A1AA Volunteer Driver Program. His phone number is 707-442-3763 x306, and the email address is vdp@a1aa.org.

Volume XII, Issue 36: March 27, 2015

On The Calendar 
April 2RISE Event! - The Living Rooms performing at Chapala Cafe
April 2:  Arcata Chamber of Commerce Mixer
April 14:  Board Meeting at the Golden Harvest Cafe
April 18:  "Run For A Cause" - North Bay Rotaract's Fun(d)raiser to benefit the La Trinidad Project in Costa Rica
April 22:  Earth Day Adopt-a-Highway! Meet at the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center at 3 pm
April 24-26:  District 5130 Conference at Yosemite!
May 4-8:  Fireside Meetings (no Friday meeting)
May 22:  Progressive Dinner
May 31:  Kids, Crabs, and Rotary at the Arcata Ballpark 
June 2-9:  Rotary International Convention at Mozara's place (aka Brazil)
 

Announcements
Acting President Bob Johnson wielded the gavel last Friday in the absence of President Barbara. He asked Mozara to come up and tell us about her recent trip to Hawaii with 20 other Rotary Youth Exchange Students. The group hit the beach at Waikiki, but when Bob asked, "Are there any stories you want to tell about that?", Mozara declined. Bob said, "That must have been something to watch." It was warm there, though, and Mozara returned with a tan. Bob noted that Mozara's grandfather passed away over the weekend. To honor his memory, the Word of the Day was "
avô", which means "Grandfather".

Special Daze
Bryan Reeser's birthday was March 2nd, and he told us, "I got that birthday thing wrong". Bryan is a CPA, and his birthday falls in the middle of tax season. He did break away with his family to drive to Tomo's, had lunch, then it was back to work. 

Tami Camper-Dart's birthday arrived two days later (March 4th), and she didn't remember what she did, "so it must have been fun". She actually had to work a lot that day, so she moved the celebration to the weekend. She spent time with friends and her family, playing cards and having a good time.

March 19th was Matt Babich's birthday. He went to a friend's home for a tri-tip dinner, and it was "a friend party and a dog party - the dogs destroyed the back yard while [we] destroyed the living room".

And Brandi Easter's birthday was on March 21nd. "I went away," she told us, "for my annual gathering of women at Southport Landing." She had a good time with good folks. 

Finally, we jumped the gun a bit for Charlie Jordan's birthday - it wasn't until the next day (March 28th). "I get to go to the Bay Area and see my hubby," she said. Mark just returned from a 14-day trip to Hong Kong and China, so she was looking forward to reuniting. 

Angelo and Michelle Bacigaluppi's 15th anniversary was March 25th, and (like Bryan Reeser) Michelle is inundated during tax season. She worked until about 7 pm, then "we went out for a quick dinner" and they shared some champagne before heading home to the kids. 

World Community Service
John Gullam provided an update on the activities of our World Community Service Committee. He told us that our Club's contributions have helped provide clean water for about 80 households in Pakistan's Swat Valley. We supported the Swat Valley Initiative in this project, and we have worked with that group in the past to provide assistance to the region. John stated that he is passionate about Rotary's water projects, since safe water is essential for health and irrigation.

John noted that we often work with existing organizations, as in our Swat Valley efforts. This allows us to avoid duplication of efforts and to maximize the effective use of our funds. He also reminded us that the Rotary Foundation requires that a local Rotary Club be involved when possible, to provide on-site oversight. 

John also briefly discussed the La Trinidad Project. This project will involve funding microcredit loans to family-owned businesses in rural Costa Rica. We are partnering with the Rotary Club of Arcata and the North Bay Rotaract Club locally, and the Club Rotario San José Noreste in Costa Rica. The project will also include an infrastructure improvement component. John said that President-Elect Howard Stauffer is working with Noon Club President Susan Diehl-McCarthy to organize a February 2016 trip to the project area. 

John would like input from Sunrisers regarding existing international projects and ideas for new projects as the Committee begins to develop its budget for 2015-2016. He noted that most such projects have a timeline longer than a single Rotary year, and we are willing to commit our resources for a longer term when needed.

Paul Harris Fellows!

Trula and Terri
Foundation Chair Terri Clark reminded us that, although the Rotary Foundation was begun soon after Rotary International was formed, it really took off after the death of Rotary Founder Paul Harris in the late 1940's. The Foundation has always been rated among the top philanthropies, due to low administrative costs. Paul Harris Fellowships recognize people who have donated $1,000 or more to the Foundation, and our Club also presents Fellowships to deserving individuals, both in our Club and outside. Last Friday, Terri presented a Paul Harris Fellowship to our Outbound Rotary Exchange Student for next year, Trula Rael. Terri noted that even though Youth Exchange is not a Foundation program, it shares the goal of peace through understanding. 
Terri with Rebecca and Brandi

Terri also recognized two women who are already Paul Harris Fellows, but who have continued to contribute to the Foundation. These dedicated Rotarians are Brandi Easter and Rebecca Crow. Thanks to both of them, and to all of you who support the Rotary Foundation!


 


Auction Time!!!
Our Final Friday Foundation Auction raises money for the Rotary Foundation thusly: a Sunriser (or another generous person) provides a prize to be auctioned off. The bidding is frenzied and confusing (to Your Editor, anyway). A winning bidder is named, and the purchase price is donated directly to the Foundation - no handling fees, no percentage of the gross, none of that stuff applies. The credit for the purchase is split evenly betwixt the supplier's and the buyer's Paul Harris Sustaining Accounts. Brother Bob Johnson was once again our auctioneer. 

Here are last week's results:
Auctioneer Bob with Flamingos and Terri
  • Janice Newman provided a Flamingo-festooned planter stand. Joyce Hinrichs picked that up quickly.
  • A Jazz Festival package, including four all-event passes and several one-day tickets was donated by Jackson & Eklund. Matt Babich bought that, following a brief telephone consultation with a powerful individual.
  • Ian Schatz came in with the makings for a Brazilian drink. (Yes, a Potent Potable ("potável poderoso" in Portuguese - although I don't expect that to be the Word of the Day anytime soon.) Scott Heller will be enjoying that soon, unless he already has done so.
  • A gift certificate to the Sushi Spot, perhaps with a flamingo hat, was donated by Terri Clark. Visiting Rotarian Cindy Sutcliffe was the winner.
  • I can't do it justice in words, but a beautiful handpainted vase (and you have to pronounce it vahzz in this case) was Karen Burgesser's contribution. Carol Vander Meer emerged with the winning bid.
  • A bright pink collection of pink flamingos - veterans of a recent trip Down the Rabbit Hole - were donated by our Club. Maggie Kraft won the whimsical prize. 
  • Julie Schaeffer provided a Paul Mitchell Curling Iron/Comb appliance, along with lovely earrings. Another Julie (Vaissade-Elcock) was the winner. 
  • Our last prize was one of Maggie Kraft's Happy Birthday Packages, including a cake! Janice Newman will be celebrating her win all month long!!
Thank you to everyone who donated, won, and/or bid up the prices. Thanks to you, the Rotary Foundation has another $850 to do its great work!