Escondido Sunrise Rotary; Meeting to Serve our Community via Zoom; and “Russ Filbeck, Master Chair Maker, and President Jimmy Carter; Sharing a Love for Craftsmanship” … November 19, 2020
Editor’s Note…
As we all try to conduct our professional pursuits in new ways, it’s appropriate to remind ourselves of who we are as a Serving Organization… Our accomplishments, our fellowship and the reminder of our many successes is valuable as we await the time we can gather together again…
So, we met via Zoom… On November 19… Sunrise Rotary members talking about service and connecting through fellowship in new ways…
President Chris opened the meeting… Even with a gavel and the familiar chime of a gavel striking a bell… 22 Sunrise Rotarians joined the Zoom meeting… Nice job all of you for joining us…
Past President Brian Murphy led the salute to our Nation’s Flag…
Membership Chair, Joe Holtz offered an invocation…
Guests and Visitors:
Nancy Murphy joined us online today… Welcome Nancy
Now, some Sunrise Rotary member milestones…
Birthdays:
November 19: Geni Holtz
28: President Chris Miller
Anniversaries:
None this week…
Rotary Anniversaries:
November 21: Past President Dave Herbert, 24 years… It’s great to serve with you Dave!!
Sunrise Rotarians Having Fun…
Past President Mike O’Malley was visiting Vegas recently; and lo and behold, he spent some time with Elvis… Great job, Mike, tracking down the ‘King’….
Past President Mike Muehl carried out the dastardly deed of shooting Rudolph… Say it ain’t so, Mike… What will Santa do without his lead deer??
Some more 5K participant photos; Past President George Beitner’s son, Owen and his bride, along with their soon to be baby, completed the 5K… And, some friends of George’s in Kona, Hawaii, proudly completed the event and earned their medal…
Past President Jim Ponder and son, Garrett, enjoyed some father-son time in Mammoth… Fishing one day and skiing the next… Only in California…
Keep your ‘fun’ photos coming to President Chris…
Sunrise Rotarians Serving, and Announcements:
Past President Scott Putnicki shared information on the Golf outing details for Monday, November 23… Should be fun… Scott sharing golf details…
Salvation Army Bell Ringing
Club Secretary, John Schwab chairs the Salvation Army bell-ringing effort in his spare time… John briefed Sunrise Rotary members on available time slots at Major Market. Dates are November 28, December 5 and December 12… Choice times are still open… Contact John and get signed up!!
Bikes for Kids
Past President Rich Aeling, reported on the upcoming ‘Bikes for Kids’ project. A subsequent email from the President, reported that the bike build will not be held on December 5 due to Covid concerns… Watch for details and the chance to build a bike or two for the kids at Camp Pendleton…
Another opportunity to give to fulfill our commitment for the bikes; a $70 gift will fulfill the cost of a bike… Contact Past President Rich Aeling to commit your gift…
Community in Unity
Soon-to-be-President, Tina Pope reported on the virtual event this year. In cooperation with the California Center for the Arts, there will be activities at the Center and the ‘Northern Lights’ celebration, along with a drive-by drop off of PJs for Rady Children’s Hospital… PJs can also be delivered to Aelott A/C at 812 West Washington… More information is set to come out.
Tina reporting on the event…
Update your Rotary Calendar
President Chris shared some upcoming Rotary events… Mark your calendars.
In addition to the above dates, President Chris shared that the Target gift shopping with youth from the Boys and Girls Club will be different this year with gifts purchased for the kids from their wish lists… All ten youth will be from the Boys and Girls Club as the YMCA program is on hold due to the pandemic…
Christmas Gift Exchange
President Chris shared that the gift exchange will be on Thursday December 17, and will be virtual. If you are to participate, your wrapped gift (with your name attached) will be kept safely at Aelott Air Conditioning… On the day of the event, the two most honest club members (President Chris and Past President Rich Aeling) will open the gifts during the virtual party, and ‘stealing’ will take place. Now, the editor is uncertain if any beverage-related gifts will have any remaining liquid within them after these two ‘Santas’ open them…
High Fives:
Past President Mike O’Malley proudly announced that Cathy was being honored by the North County Philanthropy Council for her work with the Escondido Community Foundation… Congratulations Cathy!!
It was also announced that Past President Kelly Mayberry continues in Rotary Service on the District Interact Committee… Nice work Kelly!!
Program:
Past President Brian Murphy introduced our speaker, Russ Filbeck. Russ and Brian have a long standing relationship in wood working, especially chair-building… Russ, after time in Navy submarines, has been an instructor at Palomar College in woodworking…
Russ Filbeck in his shop, sharing with Escondido Sunrise members…
Russ spoke specifically about his interest in Appalachian ladder back chairs. He has researched the history and culture of chair-making in that region; and, he has written a book about the art of chair making…One of the chapters in Russ’ book focuses on another chair maker that we all know, former President, Jimmy Carter. Russ became familiar with President Carter’s interest and work in the craft of chair-making and contacted him.
Russ was ultimately given the opportunity to travel to Plains Georgia and to meet with the former President (also a Navy submariner)…
Through this relationship, he learned of the Carter Center and three efforts to raise funds for philanthropic causes. Russ offered to build a chair for auction at the Center’s annual fundraising event.
One thing leading to another; he ultimately created a dining room set; table top and chairs for auction at the Center, which garnered a $600,000 bid at the event.
Russ has continued to support the Carter Center with his chairs, while enjoying a relationship with President Carter. After some time, President Carter came to San Diego to visit Russ in his workshop. They enjoyed the camaraderie of crafting furniture, and Russ’ wife also enjoyed time with Roslyn Carter making period dresses for dolls.
Russ shared the interesting aspects of his love for chair-making and the friendship that ‘happened’ with our former President…
Photos of Russ and his workshop…
Next Week’s Meeting:
Our program will feature Pat Downing speaking on the Anza Desert…
The next meeting will be via Zoom on Thursday, December 3…
Support for our Escondido Community …
Our great community and the success of its businesses is all of our responsibilities… Support the businesses that are doing all they can to survive during this challenging time… Take out some chow… Be ready to support them when the economy begins working again…
The ‘Giving Arch’ on Grand Avenue and Centre City Parkway reminds us that Escondido is a caring, giving community…
To all; be safe and be well…. God Bless those men and women that carry the load at our medical facilities, and God Bless the first responders… May our governmental leaders be wise, thoughtful and smart as this pandemic is overtaken by our hard work and collective support…
Online Meetings:
Technical Support for Online Meetings:
Our on-line meetings continue to be technically managed by President Elect Richard Agnew… Thanks for that Richard… And, Richard is prepared to support all of our attempts at joining the on-line meetings… Look for his email with details and links to log on to the upcoming Zoom meetings…
Watch for emails defining the next online meeting. The system works fine, dependent upon your technical support available through your PC or laptop…
SEE YOU SOON… ON LINE OR IN PERSON….. Next meeting; Thursday December 3; 7:30 AM… Check President Chris’ or Richard Agnew’s email for the Zoom Link…
