Newberg Noon Rotary Club President Om opened our joint meeting with Newberg Kiwanis…with a bit of teasing of their Club President, Jack Maxwell, former Newberg Noon Rotarian, who stated that for service to our communities…”We are a team….Rotary and Kiwanis!”
Paula Radich was GREETER today!
FYI – Kiwanis International is an international service club founded in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, and is found in more than 80 nations and geographic areas. The Newberg Kiwanis Club’s primary focus is on service to the youth in our community…and globally.
After Jim McMaster led us in the Pledge, Om obviously enjoyed “playing the room” and had each person introduce themselves, identifying whether Rotarian or Kiwanian. We also had Judy Robinson’s daughter, Andrea Johnson, Tigard Rotarian…and Densie Bacon’s guest, Bayaon Ware. Bayoán grew up in the Chicago-area. In 2011, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Oberlin College. In 2013, he earned a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Relay Graduate School of Education. “I am blessed to be welcomed into the strong community of Newberg and look forward to serving with and learning from the wealth of knowledge it has.” For an expanded “bio” on Bayaon, and his role as Community Visioning Coordinator with the City of Newberg, go to the City’s website.
Introductions all around the room were followed by a few brags/announcements from the following:
Dale Welcome touched on a water project in-the-works in Uganda.
Auggie Gonzales: Dates for Rotary Guatemala Mission Project are March 1 thru 8. Spanish not a prerequisite but helpful. Contact Auggie at: [email protected] if you have questions or are interested.
Leah Griffith: City got the Christmas Tree UP…now it is almost time to light it! The 34th Holiday Tree Lighting will be held on Saturday Dec 1st with Santa arriving at 5:15. This event, put on by the Library, is supported by the City, CPRD, PGE and noon Rotarians and Interactors. This years marks Leah’s 27th…and last…Tree Lighting as the Library Director and also Mayor Andrew’s last as he finishes his 12 years in office.
Leah also reminded us of of our primary fundraiser, the AUCTION* coming up in March…needing EVERYONE’S HELP! SO SIGN UP!
Walter Want spoke of the upcoming City Open House for the Waterfront Project, mentioned at the City Club meeting….Newberg Riverfront Master Plan meeting, Public Safety Bldg, 401 E Third St. December 4, 2018 at 5:30 PM.
Mike Caruso: The theme of the Rotary Institute in Reno was: ‘Partnerships Work’ and it focused on how Rotary has realized that working with “partners” has so many benefits over working alone. The partners who shared with us at the Institute were groups like, Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI), The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Peace Corps, Institute for Economics and Peace, as well as several larger corporations and universities. Regarding the Rotary Club of Paradise, California, every night at the gala reception there is a table centerpiece which goes to the highest bidder at the table for auction with the proceeds going to Polio Plus. This year the proceeds went to help the victims of the Campground Fire that demolished Paradise. The total raised was $10,000.
Heather Lewis: Key Club International at NHS is having their Annual Holiday Help Drive requesting donations of personal care and hygiene products to the NHS Resource Room. All donations can be dropped off at the NHS Main Office. The drive will end Dec. 16th.
Prez Om: It has been agreed among board members that every third week of each month we raise money for Polio Eradication. Recent stats: Number of Wild Poliovirus Cases Globally as of November 20, 2018…New Cases Last 7 Days 0…YTD – 2018 27.
THEN….we had a little additional FUN in raising some more $$$ toward Polio Eradication….in another “Wine Walk”…as opposed to a “Cake Walk”…but basically the same rules! Mike Caruso gave some background information on Rotary’s Polio Plus [now…Eradication] efforts started in 1985…then got the needed 20 players assembled, both Rotarians & Kiwanians…Paula Radich handled the music, and around they went….with Judy Robinson and Walter Want apparently vying for “best moves”! AND THE WINNER WAS….Anne Lee, Kiwanian at left in ORANGE, who came away with a great bottle of wine…cheerfully presented to her by Mike Caruso!!
FOLLOWED BY…..Jim McMaster offered a special donut to Om……Uh….Jim……what’s the green stuff on/in the donut!?
Then Jim elaborated on the barkdust spreading activities of the 17th…also giving us a bit of history and update on the Chehalem Parks & Recreation District…”Parks & Rec.”..from his 39 years’ perspective. 21 parks in the County…in Newberg & Dundee. The latest park going in costing about $700K. The Cultural Center is owned by Parks & Rec…and is going to experience expansion with a “warming kitchen” to make meal prep much easier. Additional expansion in the works at the Aquatic Center site…Jim also spoke on the emergency at the POOL on the 20th, having to do with the equipment…resulting in emergency crews called…taking action…and resolving the issue[s]….all very professionally. Jim then re-introduced Matt Compton from Parks & Rec., with an in-depth update as to sports activities in Newberg & Dundee. Hundreds of students are involved! For additional details, check their website. Matt also gave KUDOS to fellow activity coordinator, Julie Petterson [not present], regarding the MANY kids in the programs she oversees.
Upcoming: The program for Nov. 28. will be Todd Engle & Corey Forte giving an update on the CNA Program at Friendsview in cooperation with Newberg High School. The Membership Committee will meet that day from11 AM until Noon…and the *Auction Committee will meet after our regular meeting from 1 PM – 2 PM….both at CCC.
The program for Dec. 5, will be the Classification Talk by new Rotarian, Patricia “Trish” Hornback, PhD.
NOTE: Newberg Kiwanis have invited us to join a holiday celebration with them on Thursday Dec. 20th at their noon meeting at the Cultural Center. THEREFORE there will NOT be a regular Noon Rotary meeting on Wed. Dec. 19th.
Being her usual INSPIRATIONAL self, President Om closed out the meeting by having Kiwanian President Jack Maxwell ring the Rotary bell!
Let the Four Way Test of Rotary be YOUR…INSPIRATION!
Respectfully submitted in Rotary Service,
Rick Kaufman
Newsletter Editor
