The meeting convened on Zoom with John Brantingham introducing Ed Harris's 13th meeting.   There were three guests, Jim Lewis, District 5240 Polio Plus Chairman, Brett Morey from La Jolla Golden Triangle club and Rose Parade Float Director,  Mike Laughlin from Palm Pines Rotary Club and Katherine Hudson from the Cayucos club.  Ken Shadle provided the invocation and Ron Willis led the Pledge of Allegiance.   Bill Pucciarelli and Bob Sanders had BIG Birthday brags ( Bob - Sept. 9 and Bill - Sept. 27).   Odell Lee bragged on his 51st wedding anniversary.  Congratulations (or maybe condolences)  to Nora!

 

A moment of silence was held for former member and the second president of the Rotary Club of Nipomo, Phil Henry, Jr.   His obituary noted memorials may be sent to the Rotary International Foundation in his memory.   Rotary was important in Phil's life.  

 

Jim Lewis provided the club with a brief update on the eradication of Polio.   He said there are still cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan.    He told us Africa is polio free which is a significant accomplishment because the continent has to report no cases for three years to be certified polio free.   Jim Lewis will be back as our speaker to present the entire Polio eradication story after the first of the year.   Jim also mentioned how many Rotarians are participating the District Challenge - StepupforRotary.com, which raises money for Polio Plus.   Jim thanked the club for it's past contribution to a clinic in India which helps kids with Cerebral Palsy.

 

Announcements - There will be no meeting Sept. 30.  Members wishing to do so can go to Rooster Creek Tavern for dinner on Sept. 30.   There is no group room reserved.   People will be seated and served at individual tables as they arrive.   We need volunteers to staff the Voter Center at the Edwards Barn 10/31 thru 11/3.   Contact Bill Pucciarelli at pucciarelli49@gmail.com.  The updated club ByLaws have been sent to all the members by secretary, George Dubois.  The club will vote to approve the ByLaws after three weeks.

 

The speaker was Gordon Lu, former owner of the CoffePot restaurant in Morro Bay.  Gordon Lu ( Lu Chi Fa ) was born in 1942 in Jiangsu Province of China.  He grew up there and in Shanghai HongKong and Taiwan.  As an orphan, he was shuffled from one house to another; he often was hungry, beaten and forced to beg to survive.  In 1969, he immigrated to the United States, and through hard work and perseverance realized the American dream of success.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 President Ed Harris invocated Wednesday's meeting with a short prayer.   Ken Shadle had technical difficulties and was unavailable when the meeting convened.   Jim Harrison led us in the pledge of allegiance.   Bill Pucciarelli, Cees, Ron Willis, John Brantingham and Roger Ridley all had brags.   Roger was tuning in from Cody, Wyoming!    Roger puts Rotary right up there with vacation, both are important.  We noted Bob Sanders birthday with Bill Pucciarelli singing Happy Birthday to him (not quite the same as Marilyn Monroe).

 

Roger presented this day in history from Cody, Wyoming.  Bill Pucciarelli presented the Rotary minute on the Rose Bowl Parade Rotary Float.   The float is a collaboration of Rotary zones in southern California.   It does not receive any money Rotary International.   It costs about $100-$150,000 to produce and enter a float in the Rose Bowl Parade.   The Rose Bowl float is a great public image project for Rotary, as the parade is viewed by 125 million people worldwide.

 

Announcements - The board meeting is Sept. 22 at 5:00PM.   We need to cover approximately 36 four hour shifts at the Voter Center at Edwards Barn on 10/31, 11/1, 11/2 and Election Day, 11/3.   Please sign up on line on Rotary Club of Nipomo Clubrunner or contact Bill Pucciarelli at pucciarelli49@gmail.com.   Please ask your spouse, significant other, kids, grandkids or other relatives if they will help us.   The volunteer has to be a registered voter.

 

The speaker was Sarah DeYoung from San Luis Obispo Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).   She told has there are about 225 CASA advocates in the county and they represent about 500 kids a year in SLO county.   She said CASA is always looking for volunteers.   She said the volunteers at 90% women and 10% men.   She said men are needed as volunteers because many of the kids have not had a positive male role model in their lives.  She indicated that 80% of the cases they stand up for the kids are neglect or abuse cases to get the kids removed from the home.   This is usually because the parents have problems and/or addictions and cannot care for their children.   CASA advocates hold the educational rights for the children and represent them with the school district.    She indicated that with distance learning it is difficult.    The school district is supposed to loan children without a device a chrome book.    However the chrome books are over loaned and there is a shortage.   She said sometimes lack of WiFi can be a problem.  

 

CASA now trains the volunteers on line via Zoom.  They have had three new groups of volunteer this year.

 

CASA gets their funding from two sources, grants and fundraisers.   There is going to a virtual fundraiser Oct. 23, 2020.   If you would like to participate go to slocasa.org.   CASA usually receives holiday gift cards from shoppers at retailers.   However during the pandemic, they are reaching out to the public for $25 Target gift cards.  If you would like to contribute, purchase one and contact them at the website to donate it.

 

Next week's speaker is Gordon Lu from Morro Bay.  He will tell his story of being an orphan in China, escaping Communist China and immigrating to the United States.

 

 

Saturday morning September 12 a crew of 6 showed up for the Tefft Street cleanup as a service to our Nipomo community.

Thank you Ed Harris, Ken White, Mario Igleasia, Harry Walls, George Dubois & Lee Baggett.

The group was able to trim plants, remove trash and sweep up. 

Today President Ed Harris presided over his 11th meeting of Rotary of Nipomo.

John Brantingham introduced Ed with the quip "remembering college as great because you could write a check for 39 cents and bounce it!'

 

We had Monzur as a guest again today. Welcome back!

 

Ken Shadle gave thanks and prayed for strength during these trying time and for our firefighters safety.

 

Bill Puccirelli  lead us in our Pledge of Allegiance.

 

"Conversations with Harry"

Mr Harry Walls in his continuing series interviewed club member Ken White.

An interesting story of Ken's life from childhood turmoil to successful businessman. A life of love and pain of wine collecting and parenting.

Thank you for sharing Ken!

 

Brags!

Ken White is a proud dad of a very successful son in the Finance World recently recognized by Forbes magazine as top 40 under 40.

Lou Gomez bragged that her grandson just celebrated his 23 birthday.

Peggy Hesse was proud to announce her sons 39th birthday.

Gerald bragged about none other than President Harris replacing his long cherished mug that was recently broken.

Bruce Beaudoin spoke of his continuing success with his current avocado harvest despite the extreme heat.

Harry bragged That this is a day he always remembers from his working days as it is a day he always got to take off!

 

Announcements:

George wanted to remind us if we want a donut we need to show up and support the Teffi Street cleanup this coming Saturday 9/12/2020

Ed reminded us the scheduled Board Meeting will be on a new date.

Bill let us know we need to step up and help man the Voter Service Center from 10/31 through 11/3.

 

Today's guest speaker:

 

Ken Walthers of Hancock College spoke today on the history and successes on this their 100 Year Anniversary.

He talked by poverty and the high rate of High School dropouts in the area and the college's successful Promise Program to help educate and thereby raise the standard of living of the local population.

They are able to show potential students through tours all the potential opportunities and that What you want to do Hancock is the answer.

The talk ended with questions and answers.