March is Literacy month

MARCH - LITERACY MONTH 
Some of the successful literacy projects in our district include the Guatemala Literacy Project that has been going for years.  Our club has participated financially in this project. We also donate children's books to the library in the name of our guest speakers.  Many clubs in our district give out dictionaries, and/or provide reading tutors to grade school pupils.  There are many literacy needs in our own community and world-wide that Rotary can help with to increase the quality of education, and the quality of life.

Rotary District Conference, June 18-21

Here's a great idea for a social event.  Register for the 2015 District Conference in Kelowna, BC, and join other members of our club, and those from around the our district for a weekend of fun, fellowship, and Rotary inspiration.  Kelowna is a beautiful place.  Bring the whole family and make it a family vacation.  Many of us will be staying in the University if British Columbia's dormitory, right next to the center of conference activity.  There's a picnic Thursday night to kick things off, lots of optional Friday activities to explore the Kelowna area, and the famous home hospitality that night. Saturday and Sunday morning will be filled with Rotary sessions and information.
More information and the registration form can be found at:
http://conference2015.rotary5060.com/video.php?videoname=kelowna_conference.html

If you have never been to a district conference, this would be a good time to see what fun they are. Our club will reimburse your registration fee, and maybe some of the other expenses.  Let's get a good representation from our club to Kelowna this summer.

Bike Expo - Seattle

We had a great turnout to work at the Seattle Bike Expo last weekend.  Thanks to Joan Wright & son Tyler, Jill Courtney, Tom Hanson, PJ Jones, Lisa Tidd & husband Scott, Diana Oltman, Alan Walker, Kathleen McNalty, Craig Robertson & Dan Moody.

Sign up now for the Spokane's Bike Expo on April 10-12, and Wenatchee's Expo on April 17.

Rotarian of the Month

Carol presented the February Rotarian of the Month to Joan Wright.  Joan is a past president, and has been the leader in our Challenge Scholar program.  She was instrumental in our club's attaining the "Be the Change" grant, and participates in the century bike ride activities.  Way to go Joan.

Program - Classification Talk

Norm Sturm, one of our newer members, gave his classification talk.  Norm grew up in Puyallup, WA, and went to UW on a football scholarship.  His dream of becoming an architect did not materialize, so he spent time bouncing around various ventures and jobs.  He has a passion for serving people, which has led him to work with Serve Wenatchee Valley, the Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary.  He and his wife Janice moved to Wenatchee 3 years ago and love it here.  They have three grown sons.

Announcements

A Prosperity Summit will be held in Wenatchee on March 4th.  The focus will be on the alleviation of poverty in our area, with guest speaker Donna Beagle.  The club will reimburse the $25 registration fee for members who would like to attend.  This fits in well with the Be the Change grant our club received.  Contact Alan Walker fir details and registration information.

The Board will meet next Monday (9th) at 7:00 am - Wild Huckleberry.  Anyone is welcome.

Sign up now to work at the Spokane Bike Expo April 10-12, and the Wenatchee Expo on April 17 to promote our Century Bike Ride. We need several people to work the different shifts.  Contact Alan Walker to sign up.

Calling all mentors - here are the training dates:       RSVP to Joan Wright
Monday, March 9
Wed., March 11
Monday, March 16
Wed., March 18
The sessions will run from 6-9:00 and will be held a the Wenatchee Brethren Baptist Church on 535 Okanogan Ave, downstairs in eh fellowship room.

March 11 - we want to get a big turnout of Sunrise Rotarians to attend the Rotary North meeting at noon, where District Governor Bruce Falkins will present the "Service Above Self" Award to a local Rotarian. Our own Maggie Nelson received this prestigious award when she was a member of the Upper Kitittas Rotary Club.  Call Robb Tidd if you plan o go so they can have enough chairs and food.

From District Governor Bruce Falkins:

It is with great sadness that I advise you of the passing of Past District Governor Jim Adamson senior (DG 1976-1977).  Jim is survived by his wife Carol and son Past District Governor Jim Adamson jr. and Carol (DG 2005-2006) and several Grandchildren.  Jim was a member of the Rotary Club of Leavenworth Washington.  Jim touched countless lives within Rotary and without as a teacher, principal, coach, Rotarian and friend.  We will miss him.

Family of Rotary

March Birthdays - Wayne Massing, Joanne Rosenthal, Alan Walker, & Joan Wright

MarchAnniversaries - Erin Cass (Shane)

Jim Adamson's father passed away on Feb. 24.
Jim & Carol Adamson returned from 2 weeks in Mexico.
Jordan Carrell has officially resigned to move to Seattle area.
Gary Looney has packed up for the move to Arizona, thanks to the help of Alice Thompson, Craig Robertson, and Kevin Love.

Program - Life Choices

Irene Bazan of Life Choices talked about that agency and it's work in the valley.  Although this editor was not in attendance it was reported that the program was controversial and offensive to some of our members.  Although Rotary International is a non-religious, non-political, and non-governmental organization, and our club strives to have informative programs that reflect this policy, we can't always predict what the speakers will do or say.  There will be surprises sometimes, even though we (and the program committee) select and screen the programs for appropriate and informative topics. We also try to provide an opportunity for countering  view points when dealing with controversial or political topics.

The next few weeks should provide refreshing and entertaining programs that highlight fun and inspirational things going on in our valley.

Program - Operation Welcome Home

Jim A. introduced Kari Strain, Services to the Armed Forces Coordinator for the Red Cross in Eastern Washington.  She has experienced military deployment with her husband and two of her sons, so has a passion for veterans.
This part of the Red Cross assists service people and their families through call centers, classes for families coping and reconnecting, and help for families of newly deployed soldiers.  They coordinate the Mail for Heroes program, the Armed Forces Day programs on May 16, and the Vets History Project that interviews WWII veterans.
In Operation Welcome Home, the Red Cross organizes receptions and honors service men and women by welcome home events.  These could include motor escorts, dignitaries, presentations, etc. involving the families and entire communities.  Kari showed pictures of a couple Welcome Home events, and talked about how special they were for the soldiers and their families.

Challenge Scholar Mentoring Program

Thanks to those who came to the mentor meeting Monday morning.  Joan Wright laid out the draft of our mentor application and timeline for training.  We are looking for members willing to do two years with one of our future Challenge Scholars.  Those attending were Joan, Erin McCool, Jim & Carol Adamson, Norm Sturm, Milt Herman, Patty Rush, Rani Sampson, Jim Huffman, Diana Oltman, and Dan Moody (Leavenworth).  Training sessions will be held on the evenings of March 9, 11, 16, and 18.  If you would like to be involved in mentoring, and/or working on the Challenge Scholar committee, contact Joan Wright.

Program - Soaring Over Wenatchee

Jim introduced Greg Brizendine, an East Wenatchee Rotarian, who talked about his experience in the Cascade Soaring and Gliding Club.  Greg has been a airplane and glider pilot for years.  He discussed the joys and challenges of gliding, and the specifics of how gliding works.  He mentioned the tows, finding air currents, the smooth, quiet ride, and the landing.

New Member Inducted

We inducted Kevin Love into our membership today.  Kevin was a member of our club for 20 years before taking a new job in Chelan.  He served as our treasurer for many years.  Now that he has retired, he has decided to rejoin our group.  He was a bookkeeper/accountant for the fruit industry for his career.  Kevin is married to Lynn, and they have 2 grown daughters.  They both enjoying skiing and traveling.  We're glad to have Kevin back in Sunrise Rotary.

Rotarian of the Month

Carol presented the Rotarian of the Month for January to Maggie Nelson.  Maggie is one of our newer members, but has been a Rotarian for over 5 years in Cle Elum.  Maggie has been appointed to our Board to fill a vacant position, and elected to the Board next year.  She has volunteered to help with secretarial duties while Joanne winters in Florida, and to be a Challenge Scholar mentor. Maggie is also taking the Rotary Leadership Institute training sessions for three Saturdays.  You will find Maggie coming toour meetings early to greet others.  Congratulations Maggie!

Program - Joyce Wade on Goodwill Industries

Jim introduced Joyce Wade who talked about Goodwill Industries, and how they help people with learning disabilities transition into the local workforce.

Program - Packing Friendship

Carol introduced Gerry Jessup, retired fruit marketing manager, who told us about "Packing Friendship", a program where local churches provide weekend food to low income students.  Church groups buy, store, pack, and deliver the food to schools, which then distribute the bags to the students.  There are currently 19 churches that serve 22 schools and 340 kids in the valley.  The group has also started a summer program at Lewis & Clark Elementary.  The cost is $4 per bag, with last year's total coming to $44,000.  Money comes from donations, fundraisers, and grants.  Our club donated $450 last week to the program.

Visit from Brazil

Tom Utigard brought one of our former youth exchange students from Brazil this morning.  Paula Mota was hosted by our club 14 years ago.  Her year here was cut short when the attacks of 9-11 caused her and many other YE students to return home early.  Paula is here for several days on vacation and will travel to Cabo with the Utigard's this month.

Program - GWATA

GWATA?  What's' that all about?  Jim Huffman introduced Jenny Rickel, President of GWATA (Greater Wenatchee Area Technology Alliance).  Jenny has a career in telecommunications, and is a partner in her company, which sells infrastructure to cell companies. GWATA has over 100 members.  The group supports local businesses and entrepreneurs, and is a catalyst for bringing people together for technology related issues.  They have started a new social media club that meets every third Thursday of the month at Pybus.  They have organized several technology conferences and collaborations on town.
Their annual Innovator Awards Luncheon, which will be March 24, recognizes people that are doing innovative things with technology in our communities.

New Member

We are glad to welcome Jim Richardson as the newest member of our club.  Jim is the President of Wenatchee Valley College.  He is transferring from the Wenatchee Club due to schedule conflicts. Jim has been in our community for 10 years, and a member of Rotary for over 18 years.

Program - Joan Wright

Member Joan Wright gave her classification talk, outlining her past personal and professional history in words and pictures.  Joan grew up in Ellensburg and Quincy.  She participated in cheer leading in high school, and gymnastics at CWU.  Joan has taught swimming, and coached coed soccer and basketball.  She taught school at Richland, and then came to Wenatchee as a high school administrator, and then asst. superintendent for the district.  During that time she earned her Doctorate degree.  Joan now works for WSU as a teaching consultant.

Joan and her husband Tom have two sons, a granddaughter, and a dog.  She enjoys traveling the world, having adventures in many countries
.  She has served as president of our club, and is the long-time chair of the challenge scholarship committee.

State of the Club Report

Wenatchee Sunrise Rotary 2^nd quarter accomplishments:

• Highway clean-up on Make-a-Difference Day.
• Celebrated Polio Awareness Day at the museum with area Clubs
• Raised extra money for Polio Eradication $1500.  This means we were able to immunize 250 children.
• Applied for the “Be the Change” Grant and got it.  Able to fund another challenge scholar next year and expand on our mentoring program.
• Great social at Berthas’
• Participated in a small fundraiser –Chuck A Puck-
• Kick off for Salisbury Fund $50,000 match.
• Started a new international project by learning about and contributing to the Stove Team Nicaragua Project.
• Had a salute to the VETS ad in the Wenatchee World.
• Helped the Wellness Place move to a new location.
• Bike Ride committee is up and going strong with a new Facebook Page for Bike Ride in June.
• Contributed to an Eagle Scout’s Community Project.
• Had annual Christmas Party at the Country Club.
• Held a kids Christmas Party.
• Elected new officers for 2015-16 year.  Erin McCool V.P., Lisa Tidd, Treasure, Joanne Rosenthal, Secretary.   Board Members – Taro Masuda, Ted Fukuzawa, and Maggie Nelson
• Brought in 3 wonderful new members, Stacey Speers, Kathleen McNalty, and Diana Oltman, bringing the grand total this first 6 months to 8 fantastic new individuals to our club. 

Rotarian of the Month

Carol gave the "Rotarian of the Month" for December to Jim Adamson.  Jim has been in Rotary for 27 years, and has served as club president, district trainer, district governor, GSE team leader to England, PETS committee, hosted exchanges students, writes the blog, and is a mentor for a challenge scholar.  Carol said he has helper her throughout he first 6 months of her term.

Rotary Awareness Month

So, January is designated as Rotary Awareness Month.  Let's see what we can do to increase our basic knowledge of Rotary.  For those newer to Rotary, there are some great training material on the RI web site (www.rotary.org).  Click on "My Rotary", then log on (or register if you haven't already).
Now click the "Learning and Reference" at the top to display a variety of topics.

Another way is to sign up for the Rotary Leadership Institute training, which is done over three Saturdays in Wenatchee (Jan. 17, 31, and Feb. 14).  Register on the district web site (www.rotary5060.org).