Posted by Editor: FDBobko
________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
The FOGHORN 
ROTARY CLUB OF HALF MOON BAY
December 13,  2018
 
STATE OF THE CLUB
  
 
 
 
Article by  Susan Kealey and Mary Rogren
Photos by EJ Dieterle
 
(Editor's Note:  Both Susan and Mary's write-ups are somewhat similar, and both follow so you can get full details.)
 
Notes by Susan Kealey
 

Our annual meeting started with Past President Warren who spoke about the seamless transition with Paul stepping up and doing a good job. Highlights of our first six months include a change in our meeting location, former member John Parsons and associates joined the club, and we’ve added six members so far. To increase membership Warren recommends looking at the under 40s, club alums, local businesses, etc. Paul thanked Warren for all of his help. 

Question: What is the nature of our agreement with the library?  Paul responded that we are in the process of formalizing our agreement. Side note:  other groups have read about our meetings in the Review and are now starting to meet at the library as well. 

Treasurer Dwight reported that we had record-breaking receipts from the Pumpkin Fest. Our taxes are current, dues reminders go out in a timely fashion, and our budget has gone from dire to tight. 

Arancha, our Secretary likes Board meetings and is doing on the job training.

Liz reported on Community Service. We need 250 points to qualify for a District award; we now have 475 points.  Some highlights include small donations, our good relationships with partners, dictionaries are going well, we will do essays again, several members have been to district workshops and we are fine-tuning the Volunteer of the Year process.  Our partnership with Abundant Grace, serving the homeless, project is going well. The next breakfast is on the 19th this month. 

Mary reported on Youth services, aka the future of Rotary. With respect to Youth Exchange, the District is not so active. We, however, are doing a great job. A big and thank you to John Evans and Dave. Interact is a strong club, they raised $3,600 at Pumpkin Fest. We need two more Interact activities before year end. RYLA, great program—be a counselor, you’ll have a ball!  Little Coyote, Big Coyote program and others are amazing. Scholarships have also been a mainstay. John Evans spoke to what has the most impact on youth, larger scholarships?  Another idea is to provide counseling to juniors instead and help the families to get financial aid. 

Other comments. Ed Daniels was selected as our President Elect; he will take the helm after Teresa’s term.

Paradise fire, one of our Exchange Students lived with a family who lost their home. Interact is replacing pins for that student. We are looking at working with the Paradise school district. Mary has a good contact in the area and is working on helping with their prom. She is currently collecting funds, the Interact club will also be fundraising. 

Ed Daniels will report on International at a later date.

Mitone, the Cupertino Club was a dying Club, they did a demographic study and worked their membership drive with the study results in mind. It worked out very well, membership is up and they have loads of new activities. Recently 5-6 members went to Africa to do an archeological dig. They now have a diverse membership and diverse programs/activities.

 

Notes by Mary Rogren

Warren Barmore, immediate Past President, got up first and talked about his gavel transition to Paul Wrubel.   Warren noted that Paul is “a natural” and assumed the president responsibilities with ease.   Warren also discussed how Paul has transitioned the club to a new era – by holding meetings at the library.   Warren noted the many places that Rotary has met along the way – going backward, the PCC, the Methodist Church, and the Bell building.
 
Warren also noted Paul’s efforts to attract new organizational members – and encouraged members to invite past members and others in the community to participate in Rotary.  
 
Ralph Ely asked about the relationship with the library for having meetings at the venue ---- and Paul noted that he is working on formalizing a long-term relationship.
 
Dwight Wilson, our treasurer, noted the Finances have improved, but we are very “tight” and need to watch our Finances closely.  One of the key achievements this year was due to Dianne Bobko’s efforts with our accountant to bring our taxes up-to-date.
 
Arancha Casal is the new Board Secretary and is getting up to speed.
 
Liz Schuck discussed our efforts in Community Service:
  • We have made numerous contributions from our “small donations” fund. 
  • We have contributed scholarships, mentoring and career services/interviewing skill development. 
  • Our presence with Abundant Grace at the community breakfast every month is inspiring.  
  • We had a California state presence by being recognized in a statewide coastal cleanup campaign this fall.     
  • Liz has already calculated that we have achieved 250 out of a possible 485 points in community service for our Rotary fiscal year.  And the number grows every day!
 
Mary Rogren addressed our Youth Service and noted that our local Interact youth continue to be vibrant in our community.    Interact raised over $3K at Pumpkin festival in their spin art booth, that can go to scholarships and other causes.   The Interact is currently raising money for the prom committee for the Paradise students who lost their high school and homes in the fire.  We are still accepting donations for the Paradise prom – and please buy a baked good from our Interact youth.   Also, at least 5 of our students will participate in RYLA --- the Rotary Youth Leadership camp in the spring.   We are also leaders in youth exchange for our District.   Few clubs have embraced youth exchange as we have – and we are thankful for our leaders such as John Evans and Dave Dickson in supporting youth exchange.    (And Mary Rogren is now the District’s Youth Exchange Chair – assuming responsibilities from Mark Flegel.)
 
Other members of the Board will continue to bring updates at our future meetings.
 
Mitone Griffiths commented that she was recently at a Rotary meeting in Cupertino – and it’s by far the most diverse group that she has ever met.   The Cupertino club had been dying, but club members explored the demographics of the community, and invited younger members from many diverse cultures and significantly expanded their membership.
 
                                                                      
 
REMINDERS
 
Our Monthly Rotary Day at the Community Free Breakfast (held at the Lutheran Church will be Wednesday, JANUARY 30.  Please sign up with ROSE SERDY for a shift for future days (last Wednesday of each month.)