Hi-Jinx Bulletin-5.19.25 Mtg

        Pres Velyn Anderson called the meeting to order, Ken Clark led singing of the Smile song, God Bless America and the welcome song. Julie Walker led the Pledge.

 

 KEY HI-NOON DATES

 

• DARK Monday, May 26, Memorial Day

• NO NOON Meeting, Mon., June 16 (see next)

• 2025-2026 Installation Dinner, June 16, Monday evening, 6-8 pm, at the Agua Hedionda Discovery Center. This replaces the regular noon meeting, and all members and their guests are encouraged to attend. A Sign-Up Genius registration site has been set up for dinner sign-ups.

 

        Mimi Gaffey presented Wendy Wiegand with her ninth Paul Harris award, recognizing her continuing support of the Rotary Foundation, which enables Rotary to do all the good it does worldwide.

     

 

        Mike Metts, Rotary District 5340’s RYLA chair and longtime Hi-Noon member, introduced the eight Carlsbad students who Carlsbad hi-Noon sponsored for the three-day RYLA Conference in Idyllwild. RYLA offers speakers and techniques in leadership and ethics to high school juniors from all over SD County who already exhibit leadership qualities. Metts introduced each student and then asked each to tell us “one thing’ they got out of the conference and “one thing” each already had but into use. It was clear that Hi-Noon's funds making it possible for these eight to attend RYLA was money well spent.

        Metts lamented that for the first time in his 26 years participating in the RYLA program there was not one facilitator from this club. Pres-elect Jim Brubaker pledged there would be at least two next year.

        

 

        Bob Kreisberg introduced the first place winners in our club’s Middle School Essay Contest, and each read their winning speech for us. The speeches needed to focus on the second arm of the Rotary Four-Way Test: Is it fair to all concerned?

        First through third-place awards were given for each grade: sixth, seventh and eighth. Kreisberg presented each first-place winner with a certificate and $100 from the club. He thanked Maureen Taylor and Emily Gray for helping to judge the 62 submissions.

        

 

        • Brother Benno’s Food Service: June 11, 6:30am, at Brother Benno’s in Oceanside. Contact: Paul Kartzke, pkartzke@gmail.com

        • North County Food Bank: June 19, 1-4pm. Contact: Beth Garrow, bethgarrow@comcast.net

 

        Poker Night Recap: JoAnn Ross not only hosted the May 15 poker party at her home and prepared dinner (with an assist from Nancy Starling and her son), but she was the big winner.

        

        

 

 

        Rick Huenefeld, the club’s international services director, and his team provided an update on CHNR’s work internationally this Rotary year.

        The Hi-Noon International Service Committee has been focusing on five areas of the world: Mexico, South & Central America, Europe, Africa and Asia, with one committee member spearheading our efforts for each, except Asia, where the committee has a vacancy.

        Mexico (Phil Urbina): Collaboration with Club Rotario de Tijuana (Club CRdT), including a club contingent that attended a CRdT meeting and support for a blanket drive for 400 disabled children.

        South/Central America (Ed Rouquette): Collaboration with Club Rotario de Santa Ana in El Salvador and support for Las Cuevitas School rehab project, providing financial support for ceiling repairs, paint and making windows functional. Hi-Noon also funded a playground project at the school. A special-needs school received Hi-Noon financial support for school supplies.

        Europe (Tommy Hersant): Established relationships with the Prague Rotary Club and the Karlovy Vary Rotary Club, supported a photovoltaic electrical system for a youth therapy center in Poland, provided financial support for water and food supplies for women and children refugees from Ukraine, and for the Peace Shelter, providing housing for those refugees.

         Africa ( Bob Stonebrook): developing relationships with African rotary clubs, including support for a water project in one community, providing support for a school garden project and working on a Uganda mental health project for youths.

        Asia: currently inactive. Lots of needs, but Hi-Noon’s focus will be on water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as youth and education.

        “We remain committed to doing good globally, even if in small ways,” Huenefeld said, “in developing an International Service team capable of thinking globally, acting regionally and establishing club-to-club relationships....We are making good progress.”

        He is seeking another committee member to work Asia and Oceana (Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific and Indian ocean islands). Contact him for information: rick.huenefeld@gmail.com

       

 

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