Meeting of the Rotary Club of Eureka
May 9, 2016
Lunch
Menu: salad bar, fried chicken, raviolis, mashed potatoes, gravy, mixed
vegetables, garlic bread.
Called
to order by President Jay Bahner at 12:30pm. The Pledge of Allegiance was led
by Alicia Cox and Dale Warmuth. The Invocation was led by Craig Hansen.
VISITING ROTARIANS: Jose from North Coast Rotaract,
Allesandro – Arcata Sunrise Italy exchange student. Also from Arcata Sunrise,
AJ and Romie.
GUESTS OF ROTARIANS: Bert Campton introduced Carly Robbins from
Food for People, Pete Vallerga introduced his wife, Carlotta.
BIRTHDAYS: Alicia Cox- today, Dale Warmuth- Wednesday,
Steve Jackson- 14th, Carlton Nielsen- 15th
ANNIVERSARIES: Greg and Brigette Seiler- May 12th,
Steve and Shelly Jackson- May 9th, Lane and Susan Strope- May 15th.
Rotary anniversary: Fred Van Vleck – 13 years (3 years with Rotary Club of
Eureka)
ANNOUNCEMENTS: President Jay announced that he
has 5 meetings left amidst enthusiastic clapping.
Kim
Bauriedel is hosting a Russian Student in July as part of her university
program. Some local businesses have
volunteered to act as mentors to her but anybody that is having a fourth of
July picnic, going to a movie, taking a rafting trip, etc. in July please contact
Kim and invite her to join you. Kim also said that Oolan Oodah in Russia is
looking for volunteers for 2 weeks in July and 2 weeks in August to work
together on creating a handicapped accessible park. Please see Kim for details.
Kim
noted that Rotarian Walt Shimasaki has resigned from the club for health
reasons. He is the 2nd
longest serving member of our club at 56 years.
He was Past President from 1982-1983.
He was born December 25, 1929. In
1942 during World War II because he was of Japanese descent Walt and his family
were relocated to a camp in Jerome Arkansas and later relocated to Tule, Utah.
He was released after the war and attended the University of San Francisco
Dental School. He was drafted during the
Korean War by the US army and sent to Germany where they he was given
additional training to become an oral surgeon.
After the war he married his wife Jean and they had 3 children. They
moved to Humboldt County in 1959 and he began his practice as an oral dental
surgeon. Kim drafted a letter thanking
Walt for his many years of service. All
Past Presidents were asked to come up after the meeting and sign the letter. 
Alessandro
Sarris, Arcata Sunrise exchange student from Italy, invited all Rotarians to
buy tickets to a fundraiser dinner he is making to help fund his Western Safari
Trip. You can also donate at Alessandro
Sarris Go Fund Me page.
Pat
Folkins read a cute letter from a 3rd grade class that received
Dictionaries from the club. It turned out that the teacher of the class was the
sister of Lane Strope. Pat commended
Matt Murrish for organizing the dictionary project this year and thanked Dale
Warmuth, Steve, Carlton, Bruce (and Pat) for their help in delivering the
dictionaries.
Jay
said the Boys and Girls Club project has met with some delays but he is
determined to continue to work on this past the ending of his term to see it
through.
He
reminded the club that Saturday the Madaket will leave at 10:45am with five
Rotarians from India. He invited club members to join the group. Lunch at the Indian restaurant across from
McDonalds in downtown Eureka is being funded by Jesse.
Jay
attended the District Conference in Napa over the weekend and Carlton Nielsen
is now the chair of the entire youth program for District 5130 (70+ kids). His
commitment is for 3 years- 2016-2019.
Past District Governor Dave Dillon received part of the “blame” for the
appointment as he founded the program in the 1970’s. Carlton donated $200 to
the Foundation and another $200 on behalf of Dave Dillon.
Carly
Robbins noted that Food for People’s Backpacks for Kids program is launching
their annual fundraising program for next year…. Please purchase a square in
the full-page ad the Times-Standard is donating for the project- see Carly to
sign up.
Matthew
Owen said that the City of Eureka and Gregg Sparks is organizing a clean up
event on Saturday, May 14th. This is not a Rotary event. Volunteers should meet at 11am behind Shamus
T. Bones. Linda Wise said that Recology will provide grabbers, shovels, and
rakes. Bring gloves.
SPENGLER-HOWARD RAFFLE: Sean McLaughlin won $10. Our
guest from Arcata Sunrise drew a card for a pot of $250 and won the consolation
prize of a Rotary paperweight.
GUEST SPEAKER: Lorey
Keele - Director, RCAA Community Outreach Program including Mac (Multiple
Assistance Center). The Community Outreach program at RCAA was originally
founded in the 1960’s as a result of the Federal Government’s was on
poverty. They are one of the largest
non-profits in northern California and serve Humboldt, Del Norte and Modoc
Counties. The MAC facility has gone
through many changes today serving homeless, mentally ill and high risk
clients. Their max capacity is a total
of 40 males, females and couples. It’s
meant to provide short term emergency housing for 30 to 90 days. It’s basically a lockdown facility like a
jail. More than 60% are over the age of
45 and 76% suffer from mental illnesses, 1/3 are drug and alcohol addicted. The
vast majority are long term Eureka residents, not out of the area
transplants. Many end up employed. In January of 2016 they were given a contract
to re-open their homes for families (total of 52 beds) and today have reached
capacity on those homes.
MEETING ADJOURNED: 1:30pm
Respectfully
submitted, Alicia Cox
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