A new Rotary club is chartering in the Mission Gorge area of San Diego!  Their first meeting will be held on Friday, January 17 at 7:00 p.m. at Troy's Greek Restaurant, 10450 Friars Road, San Diego, CA  92120.  This new Rotary club is sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Diego South Bay.  For more information, contact acting president, Abraham Sultan at ibrahimsultan62@hotmail.com.  

 

Rotary and Toastmasters have launched a new collaboration to help their members broaden their networks and increase their positive impact in communities.  Rotary clubs and districts can get involved in this alliance by learning more about Toastmasters, exploring its resources and public speaking tips, or visiting a local Toastmasters club.  Read a blog post about why Toastmasters benefits Rotary clubs and learn more.

On January 7, 2020, the Art Pratt Foundation of the Old Mission Rotary Club presented a $1000 grant to Second Chance.  The non-profit works with men, women and youth who have been entangled in the criminal justice system.  Second Chance provides the life-saving resources needed to break the cycle of addiction, poverty and incarceration.  The Old Mission Rotary grant will be used to purchase transit passes that will allow program participants to get to and from work, school and support meetings.

 

 

Additionally, the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary presented a grant in the amount of $5000 to Christian Youth Theater. The funds will be used to purchases new sound equipment.  Christian Youth Theater (CYT) has offered youth training in theater arts and production.  Youth have an opportunity to audition and perform in Broadway-style musicals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rotary International President, Mark Maloney will be speaking at the Fallbrook Rotary Club on January 16.  The topic is The Future of Rotary.  There is availability for 50 to 60 guests to attend.  This would be a great opportunity for anyone wanting to learn more about Rotary's future, especially new Rotarians and prospective members.  

 

If you'd like to attend, the Club's meeting is on Thursday, January 16 at 1:00 p.m. at the Grand Tradition Estate, 1602 S. Mission Road, Fallbrook CA.  Doors open at 12:45 p.m.  The cost of lunch is $25.  Please bring exact change or a check.

 

There is a mandatory RSVP date of Thursday, January 9 by the close of business.  To RSVP, please contact Budd Sutliff at 760-822-2600 or buddsutliff@aol.com.

 

 

For those of you who tuned into the 131^st Rose Parade in Pasadena on New Year's Day, you may have seen the flying penguin float representing Rotary International.  The float received the Tournament Volunteer Trophy for Most Outstanding Display of Floral Presentation with the Rose Parade Theme of "The Power of Hope."  This is an outstanding achievement as the committee has won the Princess Trophy two of the past three years.  This year's Rotary Float Committee Chair was PDG, Wade Normura of Capinteria and Brett Morey, Past President of the Rotary Club of La Jolla Golden Triangle and Founder of Surfers Unite Rotarians Fellowship served as one of the 18 directors for the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee.

 

Thanks to the leadership of District 5340 Governor, Marta Knight, the District financially supported the efforts to build this award-winning float with a donation.  The float promotes Rotary to more than 750,000 folks, lining Colorado Blvd. and with more than 70 million viewers around the world annually.  According to Morey, "Our annual budget for the float is $170,000 a year and all financial support comes from the generosity of fellow Rotarians."  Additional contributions were received from the Rotary Club of North County San Diego 78 as well as from other clubs.  Each individual or club who donates $1,000 or more is listed as a Major Donor.