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Club News: May 2009
May 5th 2009 Posted in Club News
HIGHLIGHTS: Presentation Speaker: Henry Alaniz, State President of the NM Bar and Joe Conte, incoming president of the NM Bar, Presentation Speaker: Kathleen Berg, Director of the Chesed Project
April 8th Meeting Announcements
• David Lambert, guest from the Lions, spoke about the Lions and their efforts to bring eye care and glasses to 3,000 children in New Mexico. The KidSight program will be funded in part by a fashion show on May 20th. There will also be a nine-hole golf tournament on June 20th at TCC. Children’s’ eyes screening will be available at the tournament.
• Alex Linnartz will join our club soon.
• We were reminded of the upcoming District 5520 convention in early May and to take advantage of the discount at Embassy Suites in Albuquerque.
• There were many happy dollars all around.
• Marcie circulated the Chile Challenge sign up sheets ad Dolly reminded us to sign up for silent auction ASAP. The Board will meet at noon on April 9th. Bob Shaw is in charge of the golf tournament.
Presentation Speaker:
Henry Alaniz, State President of the NM Bar and Joe Conte, incoming president of the NM Bar
There are 7,000 members in the association, which provided legal services to 1 out of 3 state residents. Their state budget is 2.6 million, which has recently been cut 5%. Their goal is to provide “equal access to the justice system.”
The NM Bar conducts mock trials for high school students at the regional as well as state levels. Henry is going to Alabama for the national mock trial event. May 15t is Nm Law Day. Three scholarships will be awarded nationally to students, who write winning essays on the subject, ” Know the law before the law knows you.”
The bar members also write wills for returning vets and members of the NM fire departments.
There are public defenders whom one could call and 14 attorneys on call daily.
Their project for 2009 is a water project to get outdoor faucets to 57 homes and a school. Deborah spoke about the need for the support of more Rotary clubs since the budget for the Foundation is tight. She needs more club commitments by mid-summer. A minimum donation of $1K from our club would give us points toward a Paul Harris award.
April 15th Meeting
Good News
• Lucy Aragon had a great trip to Thailand on which trip Lucy announced she married Bruce Maldonado.
• Keith was married on April 11th and it went off well with rain, snow and sun.
• Dick was back from a 3-week camping trip at Joshua tree National Park.
• Jerry enjoyed a trip to Kit Carson Park with his granddaughter.
• Jay was away for a week on a marketing trip to airports along 1-25 and 1-40.
• Steve is off on a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• Marcie completed her taxes.
Announcements
• Incoming board meeting on April 11th to discuss international and community project possibilities, next year’s budget, and training & replacement of existing positions.
• Group Study Exchange to visit Taos on April 22nd. Lunch at Ogelvies at 12:30 to 1:00.
• Lisa called for raffle tickets. Club Assembly Meeting Notes:
1. Trish Hernandez of Taos News asked if there was interest in Rotary participating in the ‘Summer of Love’ parade. It was determined that we would pass on this event.
2. Marci, Yale, and John Crouch will be attending the District Convention on the weekend of May 71h 91h.
3. Looking for host families for the Youth Exchange Program.
4. We are sponsoring Cody Oysler to the RYLA camp.
5. Chile Challenge Update — brochure to be developed April 22nd Meeting
Announcements
• President Elect Yale Jones invited folks to come to lunch at noon today at Ogelvies to meet the Columbian Rotarians who are in NM as a part of the Group Study Exchange Program. Numerous clubs in NM sponsor the group and the contact person is Donna Pedace, Town Manager
• Leslie Martin reminded the group of the Relay for Life event coming in August.
• Guests included Ken Bair, the new director at Albertsons and Theresa, a guest dancer.
Presentation Speaker:
Kathleen Berg, Director of the Chesed Project
The Chesed Project is a part of the Taos Jewish Center serving people of all denominations. The project, “Loving Kindness,” focuses on eldercare and linking the 4,000 seniors to activities, therapeutic music, dance and the arts. The center serviced 1,600 seniors in 2008 and has a budget of $5800. Kathleen stated that depression and isolation are common among the elderly and the project focuses on activities as well as respite for the caregivers. The center has a library and resource center open to the community. “Aeupo,” is the name of the center. They also have a publication manual named “Sage Pages” which is available at the center. Jerry and Kay Miller from our clubs strongly supported this project.
ROTARY FOUNDATION WORLDWIDE NEWS
— Bob Shaw
Locally, the main thing we are doing is getting records straight and money sent in from donations. We finished arrangements for the Paul Harris Award to Kay Miller, matched the first $100 for those that committed to Every Rotarian Every Year last year, finished the final report for last year’s Simplified Grant, and discussed subjects for an additional grant next year. We also met with the folks from Espanola and ABQ about participating in their continuing South America projects.
Internationally, the big story is Polio Plus. In 2007 Bill Gates announced a $100 million matching grant with Rotary to finish eradicating Polio in the remaining 4 countries. In 2008, Gates decided the scope wasn’t enough and added $255 million while RI committed to raising another $200 million by 2012. Polio Plus is the headline story, while thousands of additional programs under the banner of Health, Hunger and Humanity causes continue.
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