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.
We meet (almost) every Friday at 7 am in the Plaza View Room
of Arcata’s historic Jacoby Storehouse.
For more information and for the meeting links, please visit the RCAS Website.
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 RCAS Calendar
RISE: “Rotary Involvement Strengthens Everyone“
- January 26 – RCAS Fellowship at the Cal Poly Jacks Basketball game
- February 19 – RCAS Charter Celebration!
- March 31 & April 1 – District Training Assembly
- May 4-7 – District Conference at Konocti Harbor Resort
- May 27-31 – Rotary International Convention in Melbourne, Australia
For Openers
Mason from the AHS Interact Club provided a brief update from his group. We then celebrated some November birthdays and anniversaries, and many of us purchased calendars illustrated by Hilla – the Rotary Exchange Student from Finland; Hilla’s Host Club is Arcata Noon. Hilla was also on hand with our own Exchange Student, Lazo, at A Taste of the Holidays!
President Vanessa showed us some photos of the Tomas Chavez family living it up on the beach in Cabo San Lucas, then Howard Stauffer provided another update on the kitchen upgrade at the Cambodia Academy. Charli Murphy (AKA Crystal Perez) showed some photos of a recent family gathering. Vanessa said that she and Pat Knittel went on a mushroom hunt in a secret spot near Freshwater.
Vanessa also provided an update on the condition of Sunriser Sarah James, who was severely injured in an accident on Thanksgiving. Corey Lewis has organized a “service train” for friends who would like to provide meals and other assistance. You can also help by contributing to a Go Fund Me page set up by Corey.
Karen Diemer’s Arcata Update!
Arcata City Manager Karen Diemer made one of her frequent (and welcome) visits to our Club to discuss the aftermath of the November elections. She also said that the city’s local ambassadors are out and about, and she told us that the project to transition our wastewater disinfection from chemicals to the use of ultraviolet (UV) lights.
Humboldt Asians and Pacific Islanders in Solidarity
Amy Uyeki was the Featured Speaker at the December 2, 2022 RCAS Meeting, and she told us about her group, Humboldt Asians and Pacific Islanders in Solidarity (HAPI). Amy said that her group is small, but is working to make an impact locally.
The group started in 2019, with an event co-sponsored by Humboldt Swing Taiko and Centro del Pueblo that focused on the conditions faced by migrants at the U.S. border, citing the similarity to the conditions encountered by those of Japanese descent in internment camps during World War II. Subsequent events included historical presentations, a “Rockin’ Ramen” fundraiser, and more. In August 2022, HAPI sponsored its first Obon Festival, highlighting a Japanese Buddhist custom honoring our ancestors’ spirits.
The group’s Eureka Chinatown Project is an effort to honor the history and culture of the first Chinese people in Humboldt County. It seeks to revive the voices of people who were systematically silenced from the 1880s through the middle of the 20th Century. These were people ignored (or vilified) by local newspapers and the community. The project intends to raise awareness of the anti-Chinese discrimination of the time, and to help guide us all to a more equitable and inclusive future.
You can earn more at HAPI’s website by clicking on this link:
In Closing
Check out the video for information on additional fellowship opportunities and more.