Hi-Jinx Bulletin of April 8 2024 Mtg

President Jeff Segall opened the meeting, and Ken Clark, led the club in the Smile Song and America. Gloria Foote shared Words, and guests were introduced.

 

IMPORTANT DATES


 

Mimi Gaffey presented Terry Green with a Paul Harris award, in recognition of $1,000 donated to the Rotary Foundation in his honor by two anonymous donors plus some matching CHNR points. Also presented with a Paul Harris was CPD Chief Mickey Williams, see next item.

 

 

            Jeff Segall and Paul Kartzke presented CHNR’s Rotarian at Heart award to Carlsbad Police Chief Mickey Williams, in recognition of his contribution to and many years of keeping Carlsbad safe. Williams is retiring after 29 years with CPD, the last two as chief. Williams said Carlsbad’s support and relationship with the police department “is second to none. It really helps the people who wear these uniforms.” Recent months have been hard, he said, with three officers violently assaulted. The latest assault has left a Carlsbad officer with a brain injury that will require physical therapy over many months, but community support has been great. CHNR member and Carlsbad City Council member Melanie Burkholder praised the chief for his professionalism and patience on the job: “We owe him not only a debt of gratitude but a standing ovation.” Which the club gave him. Segall and Mimi Gaffey also presented Chief Williams with a Paul Harris award, from the club.

 

 

JoAnn Ross reported $33,000 collected so far, via the club’s raffle for scholarships (to academic and trade schools). Only $17,000 needed to reach the $50,000 goal, with the drawing on April 22. Ross asked all to make an effort to sell (or purchase) their tickets. “We hope you will give us a boost. If you haven’t sold yours, please try.” Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce will let Rotarians sell raffle tickets at its Apr. 17 mixer, and Ross needs some volunteers. “It should be an easy sell,” she said, when potential buyers learn we are only selling up to 3,000 tickets. “$33,000 is great...but let’s hit $50,000 and have great scholarships!”

 

            This year’s event will be larger, covering more area at the Strawberry Fields, and with offsite parking and a shuttle service to be offered this year, Hanham said. The committee still needs somene to lead the raffle being added this year. For info: chanham@mentara.com. Dan Sweeney from the evening club and co-chair for sponsorships with Paul Kartzke, said 20% of the goal of $75,000 reached so far. Rotarians are being asked to offer at least one lead for a potential sponsor (and he and Paul will make contact) or to make a donation towards that fundraisng goal. 

 

            • 2 FIELD-TRIP ROTARY MEETINGS: Pres. Jeff has scheduled two off-site Rotary lunch meetings, for Mon. May 6 and Mon. June 10. The former will take place at the Carlsbad Police and Fire Training Center, focusing on active-shooter survival. The latter will be at One Safe Place, operated by SD County and the county DA’s office. Lunch will be offered for each of these field-trip meetings. Do not show up at the Westin on those dates—and no Zoom.

            • Pres. Jeff recognized April birthdays: Maureen Simons, Julie Walker, Maureen Taylor and Mark Erlander. Also Rotary anniversaries this month: Kurt Filipovich, Julie Gibbs, Tommy Hersant, Michael Oliveri, JR Phillips, Vince Ponce and Linda Wolf. 

 

• Brother Benno’s Food Service—Wed, Apr. 10, 6:15-8am at Brother Benno’s Center, 3260 Production Ave, Oceanside.

• North County Food Bank—Wed, Apr, 18, 1-4pm. Each participant must register in advance. Watch for signup info from Garrow.

• Rotarians at Work Day—Sat., Apr. 27, 8am-noon at the Army Navy Academy. A barbecue after. Rotarians, family, friends welcome. Contact Garrow: bethgarrow@comcast.net

Garrow recognized Bob Stonebrook, the club’s behavioral health leader, for getting a partnership with Brother Benno’s and maybe also the North County Food Bank.

 

• RYLA Weekend: Apr. 12-14 in Idyllwild. Contact Mike Metts if interested in being a team leader for the high school juniors attending this leadership conference. Metts: mmetts@dudek.com

• AVID Conference at the Weston for 40 local students: Apr. 19, 8:45am-2pm, with lunch. Table leaders and facilitators needed. Ken Clark: rkenclark@gmail.com

• Music Competition Finals: 3pm, Apr. 20 at Dove Library in south Carlsbad. Four regional students competing, including CHNR’s winner (recently accepted to Juilliard). Kreisberg invited all to attend and support these finalists. The winner will receive $2,500; the other three will receive $500.”

• PARENT THANK YOU: Kreisberg recently received a letter from a parent whose daughter CHNR sponsored at the recent Model UN program. “My daughter...and had an amazing time. I want to thank you for bringing so much joy to her and putting on a life-changing event. We always said (she) would one day change the world, and there is no doubt she is on the right path...(She) was born with cystic fibrosis and had been in the hospital for much of her early years. (We) were determined to make sure CF wouldn’t stand in the way of her aspirations and encouraged her to believe that anything is possible...Our hope was that one day she would find the passion and spark to believe in our everyday words. She has found that with the Carlsbad Speech & Debate team and your Model UN. Thank you for giving these children the opportunity to learn and grow through conflict resolution and team work!”

 

            HAPPY HOUR: 5pm, Thu. Apr. 11 at Eureka Bar & Grill at 6021 Innovation Way, Suite 111, Carlsbad.

            DINE-AROUNDS: Danny Quisenberry is looking hosts for late April/early May Dine-Arounds. Hosts plan a gathering for 8-10: it could be a home dinner, pizza party, potluck, etc; or at a restaurant or a winery, or maybe a beach picnic, etc. Contact him: quiz@beachlaw.com or 760-994-0778.

 

            Kreisberg “thanked” Pres. Jeff for stealing his material when he recognized April birthdays and Rotary aniversaries. He then “tagged” George Porter, whose phone rang during the meeting.

            He recognized Samantha Richter, who not only was selected as the chamber’s Young Professional of the Year, but recently got engaged.

            Now out of material, Kreisberg asked for volunteers to share some happiness in their lives, and we learned:

            • Julie Gibbs has a new granddaughter, right here in Carlsbad. “I get to spoil her rotten and pay back her mother!”

            • Ed Rouquette’s daughter, who lives in Seattle, is "ready to move back to Carlsbad” once her townhome sells.

            • Gloria Foote has two grands who both will be getting married in July.

            • Vivkea Kjellgren has a brand new hip.

            • Mary Fritz-Wilson will be following Kreisberg’s suggestion for checking the new Rotarian magazine’s ideas for Interact activities.

            • Tommy Hersant and his wife soon will be traveling, including visiting the Carlsbad Sister City of Karlove Vary in the Czech Republic and taking CHNR donations to the city of Lubin, Poland, to be used for the Peace Shelter for Ukrainian widows and orphans ($2,000 from the CHNR International Committee and $1,000 from individual donors).

            • Velyn Anderson has 20 grands, with #21 on the way.

            • Mark Packard topped that: he has 22 grands.

           

 

 

           

            Per Kjellgren, husband of CHNR’s Viveka Kjellgren, shared some history and statistics about Sweden, which has a diversified and well-educated population, and a wide variety of major industries. Exports include automotive, telecommunications, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, iron, steel and more. Among the country’s familiar company names are Volvo, Skanska, Electrolux, IKEA, AstraZeneca and Spotify.

            The Swedish Chamber of Commerce (SACC) was founded in NYC in 1906 and has a rich history of promoting trade realations between the two countries. It has a number of chapters in the US, including in San Diego.

            In line with its mission of promoting, advancing and protecting direct commercial realations across various sectors, SACC-USA sponsors an annual SACC Summit dedicated to fostering economic expansion and business collaboration between the US and Sweden, among other efforts. This summit will be held in San Diego in 2025, Kjellgren said.

            SACC-USA also has a talent mobility program that assists companies searching for talented Swedish interns/trainees and Swedish and Finnish citizens in search of a practical training program.

            The SD chapter’s mission is to serve as a regional trade facilitator and as a one-stop-shop for clean tech and life sciences businesses in Southern California. The chapter’s vision is “to be recognized as Southern California’s most trusted and utilized organization to promote trade and facilitate business opportunities between Sweden and the US through the exchange of business, trade, investments, technology and culture.”

            Kjellgren said SACC of SD has a board of directors, on which he serves, and an interns program, and the chapter is working to develop local programs and partnerships, and hosts forums at the House of Sweden in Balboa Park. The area chapter also is involved in cultural celebrations.