President Kelly Ricker and club members Lou Gomez, Ed Harris and Walter Con represent the Rotary Club of Nipomo in donating $2,150 to the San Luis Obispo Food Bank.  Accepting the donation is Garret Olson, Chief Executive Officer of the SLO Food Bank (see the picture below with appropriate social distancing).  On a side note, Garret is a Rotarian with San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Rotary Club and he is our speaker at this Wednesday’s meeting. 

 

Garret explained to us that our donation will provide 15,050 meals!  No, this is not a typo.  It’s true, 15,050 meals.  Through the efficiencies of the food bank, their generous partners and the many, many, many volunteers, the food bank is able to provide seven (7) healthy and nutritious meals for every $1 donated.  That’s impressive.  WOOHOO!    

So, where did the $2,150 come from?  Our normal weekly meetings include breakfast that each member pays for on their own.  However, during this time of virtual meetings, club members made the decision to continue to be charged for breakfasts and donate these funds to the SLO Food Bank.  Thank you to all members who did so.   Service Above Self! 

Giving President Kelly Ricker a break, today’s meeting was opened by Past President, Harry Walls.  After our weekly prayer delivered by retired pastor, Ken Shadle, we proceeded with our virtual meeting. 

 

Do you remember those boring history classes from high school?  I do.  Well, our club is fortunate to have the always exciting and dynamic Roger Ridley to teach us a little through our Moment in History.  Today Roger covered events occurring on this day from 1190 through 2020: 

1190:  Third Crusade: Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa drowns while crossing the Saleph River

1610:  Thomas West, Baron de La Mar, is appointed governor of Virginia and; settlers arrive (from NJ), to colonize Manhattan Island

1752:  Benjamin Franklin tests the lightning conductor with his kite-flying experiment

1845:  Andrew Jackson’s parrot removed from his funeral for swearing

1962:  54 homeruns were hit on this day

1975:  New York Yankees Army Day Celebration with a 21-gun salute that blew away part of the fence and another part is set afire. 

2020:  This one is mine, not Rodger’s: “On this day in history”, we all got to see Rodger’s handsome face at our virtual meeting! 

 

Ed Harris, President Elect, presented our Rotary Minute that came from this month’s issue, on page 12, of The Rotarian Magazine.  The topic was Global Etiquette and here are a few tips when visiting other countries (and we will travel again!):  when getting off an elevator in Poland, say “thank you” to your fellow riders; in Brazil, call people by their first names; in Germany however, do not address a person who is not a friend or longtime acquaintance by their first name – address them as Mr./Ms.; in Peru, kiss a woman on the cheek when introduced, while two man always shake hands; in Japan it is considered rude to talk on the phone on public transportation.  Interesting stuff.  Thanks Ed. 

 

Our speaker today was CEO of the SLO Food Bank and member of the San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Rotary Club, Mr. Garret Olson.  Garret gave us an informative and eye-opening presentation on hunger in our county and how the SLO Food Bank works to overcome it.  He covered much information and here are my takeaways: 

 

 

Thank you, Garret, for your time today and the work you and your team do to feed the needy in our county!