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Welcome to Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club!

The Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club (CHNR) welcomes Rotarians and other visitors to its Monday meetings. The club meets at the Westin Carlsbad Resort and Spa, 5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008. A buffet lunch with salads and hot entrees is open at noon, with the business meeting beginning at 12:20 pm.

The Club, chartered in February 1980, has over 70 members. The membership is very active and committed to the Rotary principle of "Service Above Self." The club sponsors an energetic Interact Club at Carlsbad High School and each year sends both facilitators and students to the annual RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) conference for high school juniors and the Rotary LEAD symposium for eighth graders. The club sponsors Oktoberfest a Family Fall Festival--Oktoberfest 2025 is Number 42--including German food, German music, costume contests, games and a beer garden. Check out the website for event specifics: www.RotaryOktoberfest.org. This event has been designed and implemented since its inception by BOTH Rotary Clubs in Carlsbad: Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary and Carlsbad Rotary. Proceeds from Oktoberfest are shared with Carlsbad charities and used by each club for its many local community service projects.

Additionally, CHNR also supports our Carlsbad students via the AVID program at Carlsbad High School with a business and ethics conference plus college and trade school scholarships, a literacy project and book fair at Jefferson Elementary School, Junior Achievement and What Grown-Ups Do For Work, music instruction and a competition for middle school students, an essay contest for middle school students, and a speech contest focusing on the Rotary Four-Way Test for high school students. CHNR members provide extensive community: service every weekday, all year, through meal delivery to seniors; once a month to Brother Benno's to serve breakfast to the homeless; once a month to the North County Food Bank; and a massive 20,000 food packaging event to assist the Food Bank. Additionally, the club provides financial support (resulting from our fundraising events) to a variety of nonprofit organizations in Carlsbad assisting food insecurity, the homeless, Solutions for Change, the Carlsbad Educational Foundation, Hospice of the North Coast, Casa de Amparo, the North County Food Bank, the Veterans Association of North County, La Posada, Stand Up for Kids, the Carlsbad Boys and Girls Club. We are People of Action.

During the 2023-2024 Rotary year, club members provided 1338 hours to ease food insecurity locally, 207 hours to elementary school projects, 237 hours to middle school training sessions, 1606 to high school conferences and activities, 1273 hours to senior citizen and family needs projects, and 2701 hours to international Rotary projects relating to potable water, pediatric health, Ukranian refugees, school design in Nairobi and gifts for disabled children in Mexico. In addition to all the service members provide, they also have time to socialize and enjoy one another. During the 2023-24 Rotary year, members had an opportunity to attend over 22 separate social events.

Guests are always welcome at Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club . . . come to a meeting and learn more about the activities (service and social) that members enjoy. Join us!

Hi-Jinx Bulletin-4.14.25 Mtg

DARK last two weeks in April

(4/21 - Easter; 4/28 - Rotarians at Work)

Next Meeting: May 5, 2025

at the Westin

Volume 8, Issue 11

Reporter: Julie Walker

Photographer: Nancy Starling

Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary

President Velyn Anderson

Pres Velyn Anderson called the meeting to order at Pine Community Center. Ken Clark led us in the Smile song, the singing of This is My Country and the Welcome song. George Sullivan shared a Four-Way Test comment about how he helped start the senior volunteer program at Carlsbad PD, a program that meets every aspect of the Four-Way Test, and how now, that program has spread throughout law enforcement agencies in the county.

2025-2026 CHNR ELECTION

President-elect Jim Brubaker introduced the slate of officers for the Rotary year that begins July 1: President: Brubaker; President-elect: Kori Dolkas; Secretary, Ed Rouquette; Treasurer, Viveka Kjellgren; Club Service, Tommy Hersant; Youth Service, Julie Gibbs; Vocational Service, Christian Chapman; International Service, Rick Huenefeld.

Brubaker then called for nominations from the floor. When there were none, Yvonne Finocchiaro made a motion to close nominations, seconded by Tom Applegate. Finocchiaro then moved that the slate be approved as presented, seconded by Mary Fritz-Wilson. The motion carried. The new board will be installed in June.

MEMBER SALUTE

Pres. Velyn shared an email she received, recognizing Nate Cobb for his longtime service driving the Produce Good van twice and still doing so—delivering fresh produce to those in need in SD County. In the email, Cobb was praised as a very dedicated, service-oriented person whom they are extremely thankful to have as a volunteer.

4TH QTR DUES

Treasurer Viveka Kjellgren has sent out the fourth quarter dues notices for the current Rotary year.

KEY HI-NOON DATES

• Apr. 17 - North County Food Bank

• Apr. 21 - DARK / Easter

• Apr. 26 - Rotarians at Work Day

• Apr. 26 - 27 - RYLA Weekend

• Apr. 28 - DARK / due to Rtns at Work Day

• Apr. 29 - Jefferson Elem Book Fair

• Sept. 20 - Oktoberfest

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• DARK April 21 and April 28

• Interact Book Collection: This was the final day to donate books for Interact’s Africa project. Thank you to all who donated.

• Switchfoot Bro-Am surf event will be June 19-21 at Moonlight Beach—an annual SD event put on by the Switchfoot Bro-Am Foundation: dedicated to giving back to the SD community via grants to non-profit organizations that serve homeless, at-risk and disadvantaged youths. Area Rotary clubs, including Hi-Noon, help put this event on. Volunteers' sign-ups going on now: https://www.broam.org

YOUTH SERVICE

• RYLA WEEKEND Apr. 26-27: Mike Metts welcomes adult volunteers to help with this event that is for high school students who have exhibited leadership qualities. Contact Metts at mmetts@dudek.com

• JEFFERSON BOOK FAIR: Maureen Taylor needs volunteers to help during the book fair on Apr. 29 as well as volunteers to help set up the afternoon of Apr. 28. Contact her at formo72@hotmail.com

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Rotarians at Work Day, Apr. 26: Beth Garrow has set up a SignUpGenius for sign-ups. She needs at least 30, but so far has only 10. This year’s projects will be at the Buena Vista Ecological Preserve/Lagoon: trash pickup, weeding and cattail trimming, with gloves, tools and trash bags provided. Friends and family welcome, but sign-ups needed. bethgarrow@comcast.net

• Brother Benno’s Food Service: Next date is May 14, beginning at 6:30am. Signup info to come.

• North County Food Bank: Next Food Bank opportunity will be May 21, from 1–4pm. Signup info to come.

• Senior Meals: Meals on Wheels has taken over the senior meals program in Carlsbad and hopes the club’s team will continue to assist with deliveries. There are a variety of options, including weekly, bi-weekly and monthly options. A new form will need to be filled out. Contact Pres. Velyn for more information.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

• Happy Hour: The club’s next Happy Hour will be Thurs., May 15, at Blackrail, beginning at 5:30pm.

• Poker Night May 16: JoAnn Ross will host the May 16 Poker Night, starting at 5:30pm, with dinner provided. A percentage of the winners' pots will be donated to a Rotary charity of their choice. RSVPs needed.

PROGRAM

SCHOLARSHIP FUNDRAISER WRAPUP & DRAWING

Chair JoAnn Ross said this was our most successful scholarship fundraiser yet. Although her goal of $50,000 for scholarships remained just out of reach, the campaign did bring in $46,000 for the scholars. Ross recognized Velyn Anderson as the top ticket seller of the final week, bringing in $400. Grants received for the fundraiser will be used to cover prizes and expenses. Ross thanked her committee members, asking them to stand and be recognized. She then thanked the club members for their support of this event.

Winners in the scholarship drawing were:

1st place / $5,000: Leslie Brubaker

2nd place / Sedona condo vacation donated by

Yvonne and Carm Finocchiaro: Jeff Weber

3rd place / e-bike: W. Stonebrook

4th place/ wine basket: Vicki Prosser

Wendy Savalza, one of our 2023 scholarship recipients—and a speaker at our recent AVID Seminar for middle-school students—shared how our scholarship and others made it possible for her to attend college.

Wendy Salvaza

Salvalza grew up as one of five siblings, one with Down’s, and with a single mom. Going to college was not going to be an option, she figured, “but I wanted to be an educator, and I knew I needed to go to college.” She worked extra hard in school, even while participating in sports and activities, and getting top grades.

With her excellent academics and excelling in many other areas, she was accepted to many colleges. And with financial aid from CHNR and others, she attended Cal State San Marcos, where she pushed herself, completing a four-year degree in two years, including attending summer classes.

“Scholarships enabled me to go to college,” Savalza said, thanking CHNR for “the work that you do; the compassion that you hold . . . I will now be going to for my Master’s at the University of San Diego.”

Christian Chapman and his scholarship team will be interviewing candidates for this year’s scholarships (college and trade schools) starting later this week.

NEXT MEETING

DARK last two weeks in April

Next Meeting: May 5, 2025

at the Westin

RI Theme 24-25

Velyn Anderson President 24-25

Rotary International Honors

Army/Navy Academy Award

Bob Stonebrook Rotarian of Year 23-24

BMW of Carlsbad, Major Sponsor

Mark Ealy, Wealth Management Group, Major Sponsor

Service Above Self

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