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, 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“
- March 25 – BIG Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup – be at the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center at 9 am to participate!
- 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
Carol Vander Meer announced that there will be a big CalTrans Adopt-a-Highway event on Saturday, March 25th. Please be at the Humboldt Coastal Nature Center at 9 am to be a part of it! There will be a big “Clean California” gathering later in the day at the foot of the Samoa Bridge.
The Rotary Club of Mad River is hosting Youth Exchange Student Amanda this year, and she was on hand to sell raffle tickets that could win you a set of hand-crafted ceramic bowls and plates. The proceeds will help her afford the annual Youth Exchange “Western Safari” trip in the spring. If she earns enough, there is also another excursion to New York that she hopes to join. The drawing will be held on March 30th at their Club meeting.
Marty Lay provided an status update on the fire truck that is destined for Ameca, Mexico. It is being made in West Virginia, and our Club has joined with others to help fund the Oaxaca-bound Bombero. We also heard that the kitchen upgrade at the Cambodia Academy is progressing well, now working on the second story of the building. We have committed funds to help provide furniture and cooking supplies for the facility.
We also heard from Chris Hemphill, who discussed the Sunday High Tea, scheduled for that weekend. Bob Judevine brandished his clipboard and solicited help in interviewing this year’s scholarship applicants. Sadly, because the projector was unavailable, we didn’t get to see the photo of Bob and Susan Johnson. We heard that it was cute, but that’s a given. In lieu of that picture, here’s one taken at the RCAS Prom in 2015:
We welcomed back Scott Heller, who told us that he and his wife Robin Meiggs will be donating a one-week stay at their home in Maui for the May Final Friday Auction. That gives you plenty of time to check under your sofa cushions and in your Mad Money Jars. Thank you, Scott and Robin – you are always so generous!
We also heard updates from the Community Service Committee and the Vocational Service Committee, Luke Scown reported on the progress on the Living Wall Project, and Romi Hitchcock Tinseth gave us the latest on the Community Garden security issue. And President Vanessa delivered the happy news that there have been no new wild cases of polio in the past 21 weeks!
COAD – Humboldt Communities Active in Disaster
Our Featured Speaker was Jen Rice, who told us about the Humboldt COAD and its efforts to help those affected by the December earthquake, especially those in Rio Dell. She noted that the COAD was formed during a period ravaged by the pandemic and fires, and the group is still in its formative stages.
Jen told us that “trying to be there for our neighbors” is what the COAD is about. She applauded the efforts of Nick Angeloff, who heads up the Rio Dell Chamber of Commerce. Each of us can still lend a hand with cleanup, providing supplies, and making donations.
For more information about the Humboldt COAD, visit their website by clicking on the logo below:
Full Meeting Video Link: