Hi-Jinx Bulletin - 11.18.24 Mtg

 

Pres. Velyn Anderson called the meeting to order, Paul Kartzke led us in the pledge, and Ken Clark led singing of the Smile song, God Bless America and the welcome song. Special guests were District 5340 Gov. Dianne Crawford and her chief assistant, Ava Payne.

 

KEY HI-NOON DATES


• Nov. 25 DARK / Thanksgiving Week

• Dec.  7  Holiday Party at Richard Weston’s

• Dec. 10 Brother Benno’s Food Service

• Dec. 12 North County Food Bank

• Dec. 13 Jefferson Wrapping Party                                            

• Dec. 14 Holiday Bike Build Day

 

Please see Treas. Viveka Kjellgren ASAP.

 

This year’s holiday party will be at Richard Weston’s home on Sat., Dec. 7, beginning at 5pm. Address in Clubrunner. There were sign-up sheets at the meeting for attendees volunteers to help set up and clean up, and to bring food items to augment the prime rib and turkey being provided by Maria and Richard Weston. The Westons are looking for several volunteers to assist in planning, set-up and clean-up. The party will include singing carols and a white elephant gift exchange—with steals (value $20-$25). For more information and/or to sign up, contact Tommy Hersant, thersant@me.com or 760-855-5758 cell. Rotarians and adult guests are welcome to attend. Potential members especially welcome!

 

                  • Remember, we are DARK next Monday. Happy Thanksgiving! We will be back at the Westin, our regular location, on Dec. 2.

                  • Pres. Velyn said Terry Green’s wife, Mary Lou, has advised that he took a bad fall and is having a tough time. She wondered if anyone might know of a good rehab facility in the area and said cards also are welcome.

                  • George Sullivan thanked those who donated funds for desks for students in a rural village in Kenya that his niece is supporting. He had hoped to maybe get funds for 10 desks at $45 each. He received enough for many more when 48 persons signed up to help. He collected some of those funds at this meeting. Others who pledged to donate can contact him to arrange payment.

                  • Mary Fritz-Wilson reported that the club’s Interact Club at Carlsbad High, which meets every other week, “is really organized and totally inspiring.” The Interact members are planning to do a local project and an international one, and have narrowed options down to three possibilities for each. “They are in the investigation state,” Fritz-Wilson said, and are doing research into which would be the best options.

 

               • Brother Benno’s: Our next date to help serve breakfast at Brother Benno’s in Oceanside will be Wed., Dec. 10. Sign-up info to come.

               

 

               • North County Food Bank: Our next date to pack food will be Dec. 12, from 1-4pm. Sign-up information to come.

               • Jefferson Christmas Shopping: Julie Walker still needs a couple more volunteers to shop (on your own schedule but before Dec. 14) for a Jefferson School family-in-need. There will be a wrapping party at Mary Fritz-Wilson’s home on Dec. 13, or shoppers can do their own wrapping. Wish lists and further info to be available soon next week. Contact Walker at jm.walker05@gmail.com to sign up as a shopper (leave email message).

               • Holiday Bike Building Project, Dec. 14, at the Carlsbad Boys & Girls Club downtown. With professional assistance, we will build 40 bikes to be given to kids in need in the Barrio , along with helmets and locks. Mary Fritz-Wilson has the bikes in boxes in her garage and needs help transporting them to the build site. Contact her at m.fritz.wilson@gmail.com if you can help transport the boxes to the Boys & Girls Club.

 

                  Kreisberg asked members to share anything special and/or their Thanksgiving plans:

                  Yvonne Finocchiaro is excited because her 99-year-old mother will be here for the holiday.

                  Viveka Kjellgren shared that 26 years ago the day before Thanksgiving, she and Per moved to the United States.

Helen Wells and her ukulele group will be performing at the Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving dinner.

                  George Porter is jazzed that his grandson will be here, from Texas.

                  Mimi Gaffey said her family is scattered far and wide, but Mimi, who has an Arabian horse, also has a “barn family” and they get together for Thanksgiving.

                  A guest/potential member said that for eight years, he has run a Thanksgiving 5K in Encinitas and is looking forward to this year’s run.

Kreisberg had us sing the short birthday song to Paul Kartzke and Beth Garrow, recognized George Sullivan’s 55th and Rick Huenefeld’s 46th anniversaries this month, and Helen Wells’ third Rotary anniversary.

 

 

 

District 5340 Governor Diane Crawford presented CHNR Past- President Jeff Segall (2023-24) with a citation recognizing the club’s support of the End Polio Now campaign during his year as president. She also presented him with the Rotary Foundation banner for CHNR achieving the 100% Foundation Giving Club during his year: 100% member participation and $100 average giving.

 

DG Crawford was introduced by Pres. Velyn Anderson as “a bundle of enthusiasm,” and Crawford did not disappoint. She is a member of the Southeast San Diego Rotary Club and has been a 20-year member of District 5340’s leadership team, leading to her current position as district governor.

 

She was born on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin (French side) and said she was most inspired by her mother, who raised seven children, sometimes working three jobs, determined that her children would have a good education. After the last of seven children graduated, Crawford’s mother didn’t relax, returning to St. Martin where she made a big difference in many ways, including starting the first Lions Club and the first senior center, serving as a translator because she was fluent in five languages and doing so much more to help others and to improve her community.

 

“She was the kind of person who would silently go about doing things,” Crawford said. So silently, that it wasn't until after her mother’s death that Crawford and her siblings learned all their mother had accomplished and that she had received the National Order of Merit, one of the highest honors awarded by France's president in recognition of distinguished civil or military achievements.

 

Prior to her mother’s death, Crawford said she had been a RHINO: Rotarian in Name Only. When she returned home after her mother’s death, Crawford said she started to look around to see how she could be more involved. People are always saying someone should do something. “Well, you're the someone,” she said. “Service is one thing you don’t need a license or a degree for...While others are talking about problems. Rotarians are out there, doing.”

 

She stressed the importance of membership. Not for quantity but for quality. And she reminded us that the Rotary Foundation is the engine that drives Rotary, encouraging us to support it as much as we can. She urged continued support for the End Polio Now campaign. “Never underestimate what one club can do, or one person, like my mother.”

 

DARK Nov. 25 - Thanksgiving