Hi-Jinx Bulletin - 1.6.25 Mtg

The first meeting of 2025 was held at the home of Maureen Taylor, with a pizza and salad lunch in her backyard on a beautiful sunny day. Pres. Velyn Anderson called the meeting to order, Julie Walker led the pledge, and Ken Clark led us in “Auld Lang Syne” after Pres. Velyn shared some fun facts about new year’s traditions. She also introduced our guests, District 5340’s District Gov-elect Luis Carranza and  District Gov-nominee Jeb Bakke, and we sang the welcome song to them. Tommy Hersant shared a limerick about New Year's.

 

During the meeting, we broke into teams of two and attempted to answer multiple-choice questions about how New Year's is celebrated around the world. Winners, who received gift cards, were the teams of Dave Dana and Rick Huenefeld and Beth Garrow and Rocco Ciesco.

 

 KEY HI-NOON DATES


                                                     

Treas. Viveka Kjellgren has sent out the dues notices for the 3rd quarter of the 2024-25 Rotary Year. Any questions or issues: viveka@kjellgren.org or 203-984-2499

 

                  • CHNR Board Meeting: 10:15am Mon., Jan. 13 at the Westin

                  • Dine-Around hosts are being sought for the January-February timeframe. Danny Quisenberry is looking for some members who would like to host 8-10 guests at their home, a restaurant, a winery, the beach, a park, etc. Dine-Arounds provide an opportunity to get to know CHN Rotarians in a casual setting. Contact him at quiz@mbeachlaw.com or 760-994-0778.

                  • Beth Garrow announced the Polio Plus piggy bank has collected about $800 in spare change at our meetings since the 2024-45 Rotary year began. The goal remains $1,500 for the End Polio Now campaign.

                  • Funeral mass and internment for member Terry Green will be Fri., Jan. 10, 1:30pm at Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside. A reception at The Crossings in Carlsbad will follow, from 3:30-6:30p. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Children’s Hospital LA in his honor.

 

                  Yvonne Finochiaro urged everyone to respond to the online survery seeking input on our Oktoberfest, the major fundraiser each year for Hi-Noon Rotary and the Rotary Club of Carlsbad. The deadline for responding is Jan. 13. Members of both clubs have been emailed the link to the survery.

                  Finocchiaro said the leadership of both clubs is seeking input, particularly: Do we retain this event, re-invent it or cancel it? There are opportunities to voice your opinions and ideas. “We would like as much feedback as possible,” Finocchiaro said.

                  A committee from both clubs, she said, is looking at possibilities, including moving the event to September, whether we stay at the Strawberry Fields, and having a chair and assistant chair from each club instead of one chair for both clubs, as has been done all along.

                  “Do our members want to continue to do this? Are our members willing to commit?” Finocchiaro said. “We want your input, your ideas!”

 

                  The club’s annual Jefferson Elementary School Christmas Shopping Project made Christmas a little brighter for 13 low-income families. Each family was adopted by a club member, who then shopped for the children, most with funds set aside by the club for this event by the club ($100 per child), while several members signed on as sponsors and covered the shopping costs themselves. The club provided a blanket for each family member, plus a grocery gift card for each family. Mary Fritz-Wilson hosted a gift-wrapping party at her home. Below, is Cindy, our contact at the school, with those who delivered the gifts to the school on Dec.18.

 

                  Yvonne Finocchiaro recognized January birthdays, including Tom Applegate, whose birthday was this very day and Jim Brubaker who will celebrate his on Jan. 29, and we sang the abbreviated birthday song.

                  Finocchiaro then fined herself for telling us just how special her holidays were. She got to visit her mother, who is 99-1/2 years old, and she got to hug not only her mother but all the kids and grandkids. But a highlight was when one of the gals, who was married in Finocchiaro’s home last May, gave out bottles of wine with a label that said: You can drink this, but I can’t. We’re havng a baby!

 

 

               

                 

                  Luis Carranza, a member of Rancho Santa Fe Rotary and district governor-elect for our Rotary District 5340 visited our club this day, along with Jeb Bakke of Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary, who is the district governor-nominee. Carranza will be District 5340's governor for the 2025-26 Rotary year. Bakke will follow, for 2026-27.

                  Carranza shared some of what he hopes to accomplish when he becomes district governor. His emphasis will be on more support for youth programs, he said, and thanked Hi-Noon Rotary for its strong emphasis on such programs. Carranza would like to see such a focus districtwide, including a restart of the Rotary Youth Exchange prograrm within District 5340, something not done in several years.

                  He is seeking Rotarians interested in helping to invigorate and shape the district’s youth emphasis and welcomes ideas and input.