August 20, 2021

Welcome to the Sunrise Spirit –
the Weekly Newsletter of The Rotary Club of Arcata Sunrise

 


We hope that you will attend one of our lively Friday meetings,
whether or not you are interested in joining Rotary.
Usually, we meet on most Fridays at 7 am in the Plaza View Room
at Arcata’s historic Jacoby Storehouse,
however, due to the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are again meeting online.
Please visit the RCAS Website for the meeting links.


Rotary Vision:

Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change
across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.


The Calendar …

RISE: “Rotary Involvement Strengthens Everyone

  • September 12 – Out of the Darkness Community Walk to raise Suicide Awareness
  • November 11-14 – The Zone Institute, tentatively scheduled for Tuscon, Arizona
  • October 8, 2021 – The North Coast Ethics in Business Awards
  • October 8-9, 2021 – The District 5130 Conference, celebrating the 2020-2021 Rotary Year
  • November 11-14 – The Zone Institute, tentatively scheduled for Tuscon, Arizona
  • June 4-8, 2022 – The 2022 Rotary International Convention in Houston, Texas.
  • The Sunrise Scramble has been postponed for now …

For Openers …

President Ian reminded us to “Save the Dates” – first for the District Conference, which will take place October 8th & 9th. The earlybird discount is only available through August 31st, so get online and get on it! The other date is September 12th, which is when the Out of Darkness Walk will take place (virtually). Please sign up for the RCAS team online and support this important event that raises awareness of suicide and its causes.

President Ian also talked about our Club’s “Do Goodery”efforts. We started by talking about the HSU “Home Away From Home” project, which seeks to welcome students from other areas who may be feeling disconnected from family and friends at the northernmost outpost of the California State University system. Romi Hitchcock Tinseth noted that students of color often experience particular difficulties in this regard. In years past, the event has featured a pot luck meal, which allowed students and community members to mingle. However, the pandemic has limited us to providing a bag of supplies (for home and school) to participating students. Rebecca Crow noted that we will be preparing 200 bags that will include a note welcoming students; these will be distributed at several locations. AJ Gonzales reported that the Community Services Committee has donated $500 to the cause, and has enlisted support (and donations) from many local businesses.

The banner on the screen read, “The World Needs More Rotarians”, and it’s true! We planned to welcome two new Sunrisers at the meeting, but Kenneth Pocasangre was unable to attend as he was already doing service to our community – overseeing vaccinations of workers at Sun Valley Floral Farms. We’ll catch up to him next time.
We were able to induct Luke Scown, whose classification is Law Enforcement. Luke said that he has been involved in Rotary since he was young. He is looking forward to becoming even more active in the community through our Club. President Ian sponsored Luke, and he will be mentored by Craig Newman.

MIchael Pazeian then provided his thoughts on the meanings of the Rotary Motto, “Service Above Self”:

The phrase “Service Above Self” evolved from early speeches during Rotary International Meetings as far back as 1911. It soon became a motto for our organization
It is much more than a motto.
It needs to be the words we live by.
It is what should be taught to our high school students. Our high school Interactors should show this by their action to their fellow students. Give your time and energy to help others. Not for reward, but for just being of service to others. Because it is a good thing to do.
It is NOT about business or profit. It is only about having your heart and mind in the right place to do for others.
You are not an individual service worker. You are an individual who chooses to give your time, energy, and maybe some money to help others in your community.
Rotary is not a bunch of people meeting for fun – unless that fun is working together for the betterment of our community.
Rotary IS SERVICE ABOVE SELF!
– Michael Pazeian

President Ian noted that we needed to cancel/postpone this month’s Sunrise Scramble Golf Tournament, which left a hole in our budget. Still, the Sunrise Summer Sale held the previous weekend was a great success. The event has netted about $3,100 so far – there are still outstanding sale items being offered online. Thanks to Maggie Kraft and all of the volunteers who helped put this together!

Ian showed us a photo of Grandpa Chris Hemphill holding his two granddaughters, and Grandpa Cam Appleton said that his granddaughter Fallon is one and a half months old, and he was planning to babysit that night.

Craig Newman was recognized for his many donations of blood over the years. He keeps giving of himself, and we appreciate it!

Ciencia Para Todos

A chance meeting at our Club’s Sunrise Summer Sale led to José Juan Rodriguez Gutierrez becoming our Featured Speaker. José met Past President Maggie Kraft as he was browsing, and he told her about his organization, Ciencia Para Todos. This is a student-led organization at Humboldt State working to encourage greater diversity in STEM classes. Members of the group serve as role models, for young people. Although their focus is on POC youth, they want to inspire all young people.

To that end, the group has written a children’s book on environmental topics as well as other educational materials to encourage youngsters to engage in science. These include a game called, “El Increible Viaje Del Agua” or “The Incredible Journey of Water”, In another game, students pretend to be bees as they pollinate flowers around the classroom (“Las Abejas Trabajadoras” or “The Working Bees”). They have also prepared a poster about the trout cycle, bilingual lesson plans, and more.

José told us that the group meets every Friday from 12-1 pm.

For more information, check out the Ciencia Para Todos website by clicking on the logo below:

 


President Ian’s Closing Haiku …

Inclusivity
Ciencia ES Para Todos
Language is the key


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