This is the second year that we are the fastest growing Club in the District. We are now the third largest club just behind two clubs of which, one is over 100 years old and the other 30. I attribute this to the Passport concept, the fun we have at our mixers and, more importantly, our fantastic members.
When I am out and about, whether it's for business, pleasure, or Rotary events & meetings, I always proudly wear my Rotary pin. I am continuously asked ‘what is that emblem?’, ‘I recognize that!’, ‘I know someone in Rotary!’. It's a real conversation starter. It's an opportunity to talk about all of the wonderful things that Rotary and its members do in the community and worldwide. I like to ask, ‘have you ever heard of Polio?’. So many are surprised to hear what Rotary and the Gates Foundation have done and are doing. I get a chance to introduce and/or re-introduce people to Rotary. I tell them how much fun it is while knowing the work that Rotary accomplishes is so important. I also talk about how I have met so many wonderful people that have truly become such dear friends.
Having previously been a member of a club that had a substantial time and financial commitment, when I would talk about Rotary, people became nervous and wouldn't join. But now I introduce them to the concept of Passport, how it is structured differently and how it has quickly become the gateway for those that want to participate. I must admit, the positive response still surprises me.
Wow! What a great party with Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe performing to Live Music. It was like being at a dinner show at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas!
Everyone was all ‘gussied-up’ in their formal wear and looked spectacular. We were one of only three clubs in the District that had two tables. Thank you Passport Members for making a great showing!
What makes me very proud:
While Passport does not have its own projects and fundraisers, many of our club members contributed to the Foundation by attending and/or volunteering at the various clubs throughout the year thus earning individual Service Hours. What a great way to meet other Rotarians, other Clubs, have Fun and, contribute to the Foundation. Take advantage of those opportunities when you see an email from Andrew Avalos regarding volunteering.
We have many individual members in Passport that contribute regularly to the Foundation through donations, by becoming a Paul Harris Fellow and/or joining the Paul Harris Society- I thank you for such! If you want to know more about your Foundation and how to participate, please contact Carol Langley, our Foundation Chair.
Here's what some of our members had to say about the night...
“I am always inspired by the amount of philanthropy and generosity that Rotarians continuously provide their communities and world! This night was no exception! The awards ceremony celebrated these accomplishments and inspired me to do more! Amazing people and fantastic friends! A great night.” - Christie Harrison
"The 2016 Foundation Dinner "Red Carpet" affair was the best yet. The theme was a wonderful impetus for merriment and fellowship and the entertainment thoroughly enjoyable during what was a scrumptious dinner. Ed Futa went deep with a wonderful keynote address and call to even greater service to the Foundation." - Janice Gage
"What a fun and exciting evening to dress up and celebrate 100 years of the Foundation's existence. My favorite part of the night was hearing Brian Gladden speak about a Reverse Grant that will be used to help combat human trafficking right here in the Sacramento area. I can't wait to learning more about how Rotarians will be able to create a better living environment right in our own backyard." - Leigh-Ann Reinero
Join us to celebrate the holidays! Meet and mingle with old and new members...take photos with Santa...and in the spirit of Rotary, support our community!
Bring a $10 - $25 gift card (Target, Wal-Mart, etc) to be donated to Lilliput Children's Services, a Northern California non-profit specializing in foster care and adoption services. As you all know, foster children have many needs, but at this time of the year, wouldn’t it be a beautiful gift if we could help them buy something special for themselves?
$247 million in the coffers, Rotary could continue its global mass immunization plan. On a single day in 1990, 380,000 vaccinators operated 60,000 sites in South America. As a result, 5 million children were immunized on that day. However, there was little time to celebrate, as mammoth efforts in not only Africa, but Asia and Europe were being undertaken. In 2002, 500 million children were immunizes in 93 countries.
One of the greatest challenges to PolioPlus was not geographic, but political. Many polio-endemic regions were combat zones, and Rotary couldn’t enter. Rotary and its partners persisted and were able to demonstrate the value of immunizations to all sides in the conflicts. “Days of Tranquility” were established when combatants laid down their arms so Rotary could enter the country with vaccines. Often, the combatants even helped with mobilization.
As the work continued, it became apparent that the original funds were only a fraction of what would be needed to end the disease.
Another month has passed and it's time to submit your volunteer hours. Whether you volunteered your time with another organization (local food banks, St Vincent DePaul, Girl Scouts, etc), donated blood, or helped out another Rotary club with an event or community service, you can submit your hours at the link below.
