November 19, 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

  • December 4 – Taste of the Holidays at Home! Order early and often!!
  • December 10 – RCAS Returns to the Plaza View Room (Simulcast on Zoom!)
  • December 10 & 11 – TAY / Foster Community Movie Nights at the Eureka Theater
  • June 4-8, 2022 – The 2022 Rotary International Convention in Houston, Texas.

For Openers …

After checking in with our Visiting Rotarians and guests, we discussed our busy schedule.

Taste of the Holidays at Home is coming up on Saturday, December 4th, and event co-chairs Lisa Hemphill and Jeff Stebbins noted that we are welcoming some new vendors this year. (So far, we have 30 signed up to participate.) The committee is reaching out to non-food vendors as well, seeking donations of gift cards or discount coupons. We are continuing to accept sponsorships – visitors to our website can sign up to sponsor, and upload their logos. And of course, we are still selling the bags full of holiday cheer – please keep spreading the word!!

The TAY/Foster Families Movie Nights are also fast approaching. The events will take place on Friday, December 10th, and Saturday the 11th. We will need some help with decorating, music, and other on-site assistance. Watch your inbox.

There are still a few dates in December that we will need volunteers for Backpacks for Kids. John Gullam also sent out the Sign-up Genius requests for the first part of 2022.

Gregg Foster was recognized for being on location for the first direct flights to and from Las Vegas via Avelo Airlines. Gregg has long advocated for more destinations to our local airport, but he takes no credit (nor blame) for the name, “California Redwood Coast – Humboldt County Airport”. Gregg just calls it, “ACV”.

District 5130 Governor Dustin Littlefield (also a Sunriser) recently attended the Rotary Zone Institute, where he met with Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta. (President Ian provided photographic evidence of their meeting, complete with the caption, “Mover and Shekhar”.) Another attendee from our Club was Ashliegh Diehl, who serves as the District 5130 Treasurer. She was also able to meet with President Shekhar at the event. DG Dustin noted that next year’s Zone Institute will take place in Utah, and all Rotarians are welcome to attend. (And perhaps meet Rotary International’s first female President – Jennifer E. Jones!)

Rotary Youth Exchange Update from Haider Ajina!

Haider Ajina is well-known to our Rotary Club. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Southwest Eureka, and he is married to Sunriser Claire Ajina. And … he was the Featured Speaker at the RCAS Meeting on November 19, 2021. He serves as the District 5130 Rotary Youth Exchange Coordinator.

Haider noted that RCAS has been a long-term supporter of the Youth Exchange program, and many Sunrisers have served the program at the District level.

Haider said that our Club has offered to provide an exchange with a Rotary Club from Africa, once the program resumes for the 2022-2023 Rotary Year. We will work with the Power of One program, which is a effort to grow the number of RYE participants from African countries.

Haider told us that the recent District RYE Golf Tournament raised over $16,000 to help provide matching funds for Outbound Exchange Students.

He also discussed the District RYE Committee’s efforts to strengthen the local ROTEX program. ROTEX is comprised of past Exchange Students who share their experience and understanding of the RYE program to help current and prospective participants have more rewarding and successful Exchange Years.
For more information, visit the District 5130 Youth Exchange website (https://ye5130.org).


President Ian’s Closing Haiku …

Actions in motion
Rippling into our futures
Effect waves of change


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