My note this week is a short one. We have a club meeting with home grown talent at the center. Randy Erford (pictured to left) is going to surprise us with his unique brand of entertainment. We will have the 50/50 in hopes of breaking our string of losers, and lots of information from committees. PLUS, everyone is invited to create a unique Thanksgiving background for everyone else to see. Not sure how to do it (like me)? Contact Barry Tobias at btobias@cisco.com and beg him for help!Our speaker last Monday was Katina Kooi from Youth Service Bureau (pictured in the top, row center in the image below). Her presentation on helping kids get back on track, or managing a tough home situation, was enlightening. One important point came out of the Breakout Room discussion afterward; most of these young people have the same needs as many of the homeless people our club helped. Those items, clothes, coats, shoes ─ all are needed. Many kids only have what is on their back. Katina said they accept donations of these items and keep them on hand.
We heard about a lot of ways our club is helping people in our community, from helping children in need and the elderly all alone, to promoting literacy, to providing oranges to those needing food, to ringing bells. We are an active club with a focus on service! Every member is encouraged during this period of Thanksgiving to determine where they can serve others in need. Every Rotarian participating would be a wonderful thing this season!
The Thanksgiving Holiday gives us an opportunity to reflect on the blessings in our lives. This year has provided a definite challenge for all of us, from social isolation to fear of infection to loss of friends and other loved ones. When looking for blessings, I thought of a mixed one, a shift of the ordinary. I have gotten to know so many in this Club a lot more through our video adventures (see image from November 16 meeting to right) than if we had our ordinary meetings all year. This Club is a collection of amazing people with incredible talents, knowledge, and experiences. I am blessed and thankful for relationships with all of you!Our next newsletter will feature the big news that we received today. District 6460 Governor Maura Donnelly informed us that Club member Neal Miller's nomination has been approved, and he will serve as the 2023-2024 District 6460 Governor. Please join me in congratulating Neal.
Rotary Quote of the Week:Rotary is not just a club that you join; it is an invitation to endless opportunities. We believe in creating opportunities for others and for ourselves. We believe that our acts of service, large and small, generate opportunities for people who need our help, and that Rotary opens opportunities for us to live a richer, more meaningful life, with friends around the world, based on our core values.
-- Holger Knaack, Rotary International President (pictured in the image to the left with President Dave at the PETS meeting)