RB Sunrise Rotary adds Three Paul Harris Fellows

The Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary club has added another three Paul Harris Fellows to its ranks.

The Paul Harris Fellowship Award is one of the highest honors Rotary can bestow upon an individual. Recipients are typically Rotarians, professionals and community leaders who are recognized for their outstanding contributions to those around them.

The honor and recognition accompanies a donation of $1,000 or more in the name of the recipient to Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fund in support of Rotary’s world-wide programs.

At this past Tuesday morning’s breakfast meeting, the club honored:

• Irene Dunny, wife of club Executive Secretary Jim Dunny
• Rod Weiss, who since joining Rotary this past October has been extremely active as the RB Sunrise Vocational Service Committee Chairman
• Jessica Barbee, daughter of outgoing club president Nasrin Barbee

At the ceremony, past club president Carl Kruse observed, “Today’s event is particularly exciting. In addition to being the largest group to ever receive Paul Harris Fellowships at one time for our club, we’re also helping the Barbee family to have a full set of Paul Harris Fellowships.” Ms. Barbee’s sister Cindy, father Ralph, and mother Nasrin all previously received the same award.

Since its inception, the Paul Harris Foundation has been dedicated to doing good for those who may not be able to help themselves. The first grant in 1930 provided seed money for what became the Easter Seals Foundation. “We can only hope our efforts here today also have that kind of positive result.” said Kruse.

The 65 business and community leaders in the RB Sunrise Rotary meet for breakfast every Tuesday at 7am at the RB Country Club on Greens East Road in RB. Professionals from throughout the region are invited to attend for some of the finest camaraderie to be found in north county, and prospective members are always welcome.

More information about the RB Sunrise Rotary can be found online at http://www.rbsunrise.org/.

RB Sunrise welcomes three new Paul Harris Fellows at the morning breakfast club. From left, Irene Dunny, Jessica Barbee, and Rod Weiss were all honored. Club president Nasrin Barbee joins them at the ceremony.

RB Sunrise Rotary Initiates Two New Members

The Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary has welcomed Laura Gillig and Jacques Lord as new members:

Ms. Gillig – a Priority Banking Officer for Union Bank – is also the head of US operations for Oasis Haven, a South African non-profit organization that seeks to place and care for abandoned and HIV positive children. Mr. Lord is an environmental consultant, geologist, and professional magician.

Both are joining Rotary with just one idea in mind – to help those around them. “I seek to make a difference in our community” says Gillig, who recently moved to North County and expects this to be the last place she ever lives.

For Lord the move into Rotary is a little more personal. “I want an opportunity to serve my community” he notes, but more importantly “I need to pay back for the services that were rendered to me and my family during the aftermath of the 2007 fires.”

The Lords are almost finished unpacking after moving into their recently completed home. It is considered by building experts to be perhaps the “greenest” house in San Diego, in large part thanks to Mr. Lord’s expertise.

Now in its 105th year, Rotary has grown steadily over the years and currently has well over 1.2 million members in almost 34,000 clubs worldwide.

“These are precisely the kinds of people we want to have in Rotary” observed Nasrin Barbee as she introduced the new members and presided over her last meeting as club president.

The 65 business and community leaders in the RB Sunrise Rotary meet for breakfast every Tuesday at 7am at the RB Country Club on Greens East Road in RB. Professionals from throughout the region are invited to attend for some of the finest camaraderie to be found in north county, and prospective members are always welcome.

More information about the RB Sunrise Rotary can be found online at http://www.rbsunrise.org/.

Picture (L-R) New Rotarians Laura Gillig and Jacques Lord welcome the opportunity to give back to the community by joining the RB Sunrise Rotary Club.

RB Sunrise Rotarians learn wheelchair dancing

The RB Sunrise Rotary Club recently played host to a team of wheelchair dancers.

“We match able-bodied partners with wheelchair users, teaching them both to cha-cha, rumba and waltz,” explained club co-founder Beverly Weurding, adding “We’re big on ballroom and Latin dancing too. Because learning to dance alongside an able-body partner gives wheelchair users a sense of confidence and equality that is sometimes missing in their lives.”

“Wheelchair dancing increases muscle strength and helps those who are physically challenged to make friends and be socially active” observed club president Nasrin Barbee. By the end of the meeting, many of the morning Rotarians – ranging in age from quite youthful to advanced years – had participated in this unique springtime social.

“We’re now matching able-bodied volunteers up for our next round of classes” Weurding noted with a smile. “You should all join us in La Mesa, where all our classes are free.”

The 65 members of the RB Sunrise Rotary can be found sharing a sense of conviviality every Tuesday morning at 7 am at the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo, 12280 Greens East Road, San Diego, CA 92128. Members of the public are invited to attend these meetings. There is a $15 fee charged to those staying for breakfast.

Information about wheelchair dancing and the free classes this organization offers can be found at http://www.wheelchairdancers.org/. For additional information about the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club, visit the club’s website at http://www.rbsunrise.org/

William Valencia, Certified Ballroom & Latin Wheelchair Instructor and Beverly Weurding, Wheelchair Dancer

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