banner
Add text here
Escondido Sunrise Rotary; Meeting to Serve our Community in Person and via Zoom; and “Mike Dunlap – Guatemala Project” July 21, 2022
 
 
 
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 seek new opportunities to serve…
 
 
We met again in person at the Chamber of Commerce… Great to enjoy the fellowship again and see all your smiling faces…
 
 
 
As a Club, we honored our nation with a salute to our Flag
 
 
And, an invocation was offered by Past President, Jack Anderson…
 
 
 
 
 
 
Call to order at 7:30 by Chris Miller (President Tina Pope joined via zoom)  
 
The meeting was called sans bell.  President Tina Pope, therefore, made a declaration concerning the missing bell.  She declared that it was officially now a violation carrying a heavy fine for the bell to be absconded prior to the new president taking physical possession of it.  Tina further stated that she greatly suspects that past President Richard Agnew may be behind the disappearance of the bell.  On the day of the bell's disappearance, Richard was observed arriving at the meeting attempting to covertly conceal an empty blue bag.  A confidential witness later reported observing Richard leaving the meeting with said bag in a hurried state.  The bag now appeared to be carrying a weighted item consistent with the shape and size of the missing bell..  Richard has since been attending rotary meetings wearing a facemask.  Very suspicious.  Could it be to mask his guilt?  It is suspected that Richard did not pull off this heist alone.  Fellow rotarian John Schwab, street name "Lil Johnny", is believed to have been an accomplice in the crime.  Body language experts believe John's physical responses to being questioned about his involvement reveal he is hiding something:  covering his smile without directly responding to the questions, crossing his arms and leaning his shoulders in as a method of self -preservation, and the uncontrollable tapping of his right foot only when the topic of the bell is discussed.  Suspicious indeed...  
 
 
 
 
Now, some Sunrise Rotary member milestones…
 
 
Birthdays:
July 25th  Kristine Allaband  
  
    
Anniversaries:
July 21st David & Maria Luevanos  10 Years
 
              
                                 
Rotary Anniversaries:
July 21st ; Gerry Fay
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Paul Harris Award, Kevin Svetich
 
Allen Miller was presented with his second Paul Harris award for the year.  This contribution was made in the name of his granddaughter Clara Redmond.  Mark Moss and Judy Fitzgerald also received the award.
 
Thanks to all of you for your continued generous support of the Rotary Foundation…
 
 
 
 
 
Rotarians Having Fun and Serving…
 
Mike Meuhle, The Dragon Slayer:  Crocodile Dundee has nothing on Escondido Sunrise Rotary's own Dragon Slayer.  While visiting Ft Lauderdale FLA earlier in the month Mike learned and saw first hand that  the city was being overrun by the reptilian brother to the alligator, the iguana.  Mike did not hesitate in answering the call and took up arms to hunt the invasive and evasive scaly creature that are wreaking havoc to the bird population as well as homes and businesses.  He successfully eradicated the infestation and may have single handedly prevented a State of Emergency in the city.  Although iguanas are a good source of fat and protein, Mike did not partake of the meat at the celebratory cook off. Mike is now generously offering his services to fellow rotarians who may be battling the iguanas California cousin, the lizard.  Contact him via email.  His services are free.
 
George Beitner, Maine Family Vacation:  George shared family photos from his stay in Maine with his family. He gifted Chris Lesso with Boston Baked Candy Coated Beans and Tina Pope with Lobster Droppings.
 
 
 
 
Who Are You Anyway, Barry Baker
 
Barry took us down memory lane to the 1980's when The Sunrise Rotary Club was a singing rotary.  Barry attempted to bring the Good Ole Days back and created the 1st RGT (Rotarians Got Talent) and selected several members to show off their singing skills.  It was an epic failure and heavy fines were handed down.  On the up side, the fines added up to over $750 so we are considering making this a weekly talent competition.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Grape Day 5K is Update
 
Richard reported there are already 120 participants that have registered.  This is the highest early-bird registration recorded  which he attributed to the early marketing strategies.  The total collected thus far from sponsors and registration is $10,621, with The Clash being in the lead.  Richard reminded everyone to email him with a report of additional donations/sponsorships to bring the total up to date.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Program
 
Guest Speaker, Mike Dunlap - The Guatemala Project:
   
Barry provided a thorough report on Education Co-Ed International, Guatemala Chapter, that we at the Sunrise Rotary financially support.  Barry shared that he and his wife Nancy learned about the organization and travelled to Guatemala to see first hand the conditions and what the needs were.  He and Nancy were aware of the high safety risk due to the high threat of kidnapping and other concerns due to the known corruption in the government and police.  They were provided with a 24 hour security team and were safely able to see first hand the conditions of the education system in the impoverished rural communities and met some of the staff and students at a local school.
   Barry told the history of the education system that was not properly being funded by the state and government to provide appropriate training and materials for the teachers to help them successfully teach children from Kindergarten through the 6th grade.  Since almost being exclusively supported over the last 25 years by 600 rotary clubs and 80 districts, the schools have seen an increase in student attendance, literacy increases from 1/3 to 2/3 of the population, and continued education and careers after graduating from the program.  Incentives such as scholarships, computer labs, access to textbooks and materials, and improving the reading program through Spark Reading Program, along with sponsoring a student or class has reduced the  
drop out rate.  These successes has seen an increase in income for the families of the students that received career training and higher education.  The average household income of $5 per day is increased to ten times that amount after a student gains employment with the skills gained through education.
   Barry stated that since Rotarians got involved over 25 years ago, the student population has gone from 2,500 to over 225,500 students.  Barry encouraged everyone to consider yearly sponsoring a student for a minimal amount or a class for only $2,500.
Chris proposed the Sunrise Rotary consider sponsoring more than one classroom per year.
 
 
 
 
 
Next Week’s Meeting:
Will be in person and online at the Chamber of Commerce at 7:30 AM on July 28th…
 
 
 
 
 
Thanks for Attending Today’s Meeting…
 
 
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…