President Wendy Wiegand called her final meeting of the year to order, via Zoom, Alesia Clark led the pledge, and Harry Peacock led recitation of the Four-Way Test and the Welcome song. Words were by Maureen Simons, who shared some food for thought, including: The past cannot be changed, Everyone’s journey is different, Things get better with time, Happiness is found within, Kindness is free. Guests were Patty Johnson and Paul Kartzke’s daughter, Laura Williamson.
Wendy Wiegand
ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Dark June 29 & July 6: no meeting
• Food Delivery Volunteers Needed June 30, 10am: CHNR past president Mike Pfankuch is donating a large amount of food to local organizations that serve residents in need. Volunteers are needed to help load and/or deliver food, and trucks or SUVs also are needed. Contact Maureen Simons if you can help: (760) 822-4478.
• Demotion Dinner has been scheduled for Aug. 7, from 6 to 10pm in the Sunset Ballroom at The Westin.
• Polio Plus Match deadline is June 30. Donations made by this date to Rotary International’s Polio Plus campaign will be matched, two-to-one, by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The Gates Challenge is for $100 million to take out polio once and for all. Go to endpolio.org/donation to make a donation. Rotarian donations qualify towards Paul Harris fellowships (but not the matching funds).
• District Governor’s Awards Dinner, a free virtual event, is on June 29, 6-9pm. Our club will be receiving a Presidential Citation, and President Wendy “would love to have all members” virtually attend this event. Register at Rotary5340.org and select this event.
• Rotary International Convention, also a free virtual event, continues through June 26. https://www.riconvention.org/en/honolulu
ROTARY RUMBLES 7 & 8
Yvonne Finocchiaro invited all to participate in Rumble #8 to be held June 23 at noon at Senior Grubbys in the village and recognized those who participated in Rumble #7 at Tip Top Meats: Tom Applegate, Jim Brubaker, Mike Ferguson, Yvonne Finocchiaro, Mimi Gaffey, Jani Jackson, Paul Kartzke, Jan Nadler, JR Phillips, Lisa Rodman, Jeff Segall, Maureen Simons, Mo Taylor, Phil Urbina and Wendy Wiegand.
2019-2020 YEAR IN REVIEW
President Wendy thanked everyone for all the extra efforts during this unusual year, and she received thanks from all for her leadership and creativity and flexibility. The 2019-2020 directors gave their reports:
• CLUB SERVICE—Jos Magaña
Magaña recognized the many ways Club Service works behind-the scenes: newsletter, website, photographer, social, programs, PR/publicity, Roto-Rooter coordinator, Sunshine chair, song leader and meeting responsibilities coordinator, thanking all who helped this year by name.
• TREASURER—Bryan Geisbauer
Geisbauer reported the club met all its financial obligations for the year, but he warned that the budget for the coming year could take a hit due to the pandemic and new rules coming out as a result of it. “We will be looking at club operations to help offset charitable giving, if possible,” he said, plus new or revised options for charitable giving. Dues statements went out this week, and he noted that 22 members are past due with their 3rd and/or 4th quarter dues for the current year: 25 percent of the membership is not current. He stressed that dues are so very important to CHNR being able to meet its obligations and asks all to pay promptly. Those who are past due can send him a check or contact him for a credit-card invoice. Next due dates for dues: July 1, October 1, January 1 and April 1. There is a special COVID-19 Membership Plan, and those who wish to take advantage of it need to contact Geisbauer before July 1 (info below):
COVID-19 Membership Plan
• SECRETARY—Lisa Walsh
Walsh reported 21 club members are on track for perfect attendance, and another six to eight who are close. She reminded that attending club committee meetings counts towards attendance and that committee chairs need to send her the names of those at their meetings. Anyone who needs a make-up card for attending another Rotary club’s meeting should contact her.
• COMMUNITY SERVICE—LeAnn Rytz
During the current Rotary year, the club projected 15 projects but actually completed 23, with almost 2,000 hours worked by 767 volunteers. In addition to Brewfest, Oktoberfest and Jefferson Christmas Party, projects included Brother Beno’s breakfasts, senior meal deliveries, protective mask assembly, meal-in-a-bag assembly and mask contributions for two local hospitals....and more. Rytz thanked the members of her team, by name, and said she has opportunities to assist on her 2020-21 team. Anyone interested is asked to contact her for information.
LeAnn Rytz—Community Service
• INTERNATIONAL SERVICE—Steve Ahlquist
International projects included Mexico House, Guatemala school computer and wi-fi, Hands for Peace and Polio Plus. The club’s all-time giving for the Rotary International Foundation is at $458,931, with 60 Paul Harris fellows, eight benefactors, four bequest society members, four major donors and 18 Rotary district donors.
• YOUTH SERVICE—Raegan Matthews
Matthews reminded that as of the 2019-20 Rotary year, Youth Service was separated from Vocational Service. Youth Service includes a long list of projects, although a number of those planned for this year did not happen due to the pandemic, including Model UN, the RYLA weekend and one of the two Raising Readers events. Other projects under Youth Services, several of which were able to go forward, include the Four-Way Speech Contest, Interact Club, the LEAD conference, student music competition, $20,000 in scholarships, dictionary project and Youth Protection Certification. Matthews also welcomes hearing from members interested in working in this area in some manner.
Raegan Matthews—Youth Service
• VOCATIONAL SERVICE—Rick Grove
This avenue of service got quite impacted by the pandemic, with the AVID conference canceled and the Lunch & Learn and the Member Spotlight activities halted after only a few months. Instead of the AVID conference for students, the funds allotted for it were given out as AVID leadership awards to 11 students. The awards total included a $500 donation from one club member.
Rick Grove—Vocational Service
• BREWFEST—JR Phillips
Subbing for Phillips was Sam Ross, who reported that Brewfest 2019 cleared almost $35,000 and drew almost 1,500 persons. He said 63 volunteers worked a total of 228 hours on this fundraiser. Since it began in 2014, the event has raised $196,000. Ross said an update on 2020 Brewfest will be coming soon.
• OKTOBERFEST—Vince Ponce
Ponce reported that the 2019 fundraiser, put on in conjunction with the Evening Club, cleared almost $54,000 (divided among the two clubs for charitable giving). There were 293 volunteer shifts and 915 volunteer hours. The 2020 Oktoberfest Committee has been working for several months on a new plan for this year—due to the pandemic and the uncertainties associated with it. Instead, the committee will replace the formal onsite event with a month-long Oktoberfest celebration that involves partnering with area restaurants and pubs. Ponce praised how well the two clubs worked together to develop this new plan for the current circumstances, one that will benefit the community, the two clubs and the restaurant/pub community, with a focus on keeping everyone safe.
Vince Ponce—Oktoberfest Co-chair
Oktoberfest 2020 goals in choosing
a new direction due to the pandemic
INDUCTION OF 2020-2021 CHNR BOARD
Gloria Foote
President Wendy turned the meeting over to Gloria Foote, who inducted the 2020-2021 board via Zoom since the Demotion Dinner has been postponed (see Announcements, above). Foote noted this is the club’s 40th induction and offered her thanks to the four past presidents who will be taking the helm as club president in the coming year, one for each quarter. In order, they are Yvonne Finocchiaro, Maureen Simons, Lisa Rodman and Pat Hurley (pictured below, being inducted via Zoom). Foote inducted them as a group, noting, “You’ve done it before, and we know you can do it again. You are four amazing past presidents who will make sure our year is another outstanding one...We also appreciate that you will need our help. We are still here and here to help.” After the induction, Wiegand added her thanks: “I personally want to thank the four of you for stepping up so quickly. We are going to have an amazing year.” First-quarter president Finocchiaro also thanked Wiegand for her leadership during a year full of challenges.
CHNR’s 2020-21 Presidents Four
After Foote inducted the rest of the board, Wiegand then offered some parting words, calling her year as president “an incredible learning experience—and a growing experience for me personally.” Noting it definitely was a year of challenges, primarily from the pandemic, she thanked everyone for their support and help. “Not just my board, but the membership, too. You all reached out to me with special words and encouragement. I could not have made it through without you. This IS the greatest club in the universe!
The CHNR 2020-2021 Board and Directors
