Nasrin Barbee - Multiple Paul Harris Fellow

Congratulations to Nasrin Barbee for achieving her fourth Paul Harris fellowship! In addition to being the most prolific fundraiser in the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary club, Nasrin has personally donated $4,000 to the Rotary Foundation. Every member of her family is also a Paul Harris Fellow.

In this photo, Foundation Chair Carl Kruse awards Nasrin with her new Paul Harris pin.

Paul Harris Stays In The Family

Governor Elect-Designate Carl Kruse (third from right, with mustache) is joined by his entire family and Governor Larry Sundram (right) for the awarding of a Paul Harris award for granddaughter Kate Voeller (second from right). This represents the sixth PHF award to Carl's family and makes it a 100% Paul Harris Family!

Meet Jonathan Zabrocki - owner of Zabrocki Realty Group and the newest member of the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary. This morning he was welcomed into our club by Membership Chair Jana Markley (Center), past president Carl Kruse (Right), and a standing ovation from the other 63 members of RB Sunrise.

RB Sunrise Rotary adds Three Paul Harris Fellows

The Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary club has added another three Paul Harris Fellows to its ranks, and they're doing it BIG!

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:

• Past President Mark Berdan
• Past President Kendra Jeffcoat
• Realtor Sue Herndon

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 very pleased to honor Kendra's reaching the Double Fellowship level and Sue's achievement of the Triple Fellowship level.

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/.
Left to Right - RB Sunrise Rotarians Craig Brown, Carl Kruse, Kendra Jeffcoat, Mark Berdan, and Sue Herndon

Steve Redd Does Good...Again!

Congratulations to Steve Redd for getting his second Paul Harris award. The Paul Harris award is given when $1,000 is contributed to the Rotary Foundation, either by the individual being honored or in their name. The money is used for helping to defeat polio, develop clean water projects, electrifying Africa, helping those who have never walked to acquire wheelchairs, and a host of other worthwhile programs for which Rotary International is known.

Well done, Steve!

Man of the hour - Carl Kruse

Past president and future district 5340 governor Carl Kruse (right) is awarded yet another Paul Harris award.

I've heard of generous, but c'mon, Carl - you're putting the rest of us to shame!

NICELY DONE!

We proudly provide the newest tile in Poway's Veteran's Park.

'Nuff said.

RB Sunrise Rotary Initiates Three New Members

The Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary has welcomed three new members to their midst:

• Scott Bramwell, Managing Director of Cornerstone Wealth Management
• Kathy Weyer, President of Performance Partners
• Terry Green, President/Chief Development Officer of the Palomar Pomerado Health Foundation

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.

“We’re in every community, in every country. We’re men and women, every age, every nationality. We’re your neighbor and your friend. And we’re leading the way to make the world a better place.” noted past-president Carl Kruse as he introduced the new members to the club.

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 Scott Bramwell, Kathy Weyer, and Terry Green welcome the opportunity to give back to the community by joining the RB Sunrise Rotary Club.

(L-R) RB Sunrise Rotarian Carl Kruse collects congratulations from State Assembly Member Nathan Fletcher, RB Rotarian Marty Judge, and RB Sunrise Rotarian Rob Weinberg

RB Sunrise Rotary Names Carl Kruse “Hats Off Volunteer”

At this past weekend’s “Hats off to Volunteers” event in Webb Park, Poway Councilman Carl Kruse was feted by members of the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary for his community-minded spirit and willingness to volunteer. And volunteer. And volunteer.

“Carl is one of those people who seems to be all places at the same time,” observed club president Nasrin Barbee. “In addition to being past president of the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary club, he’s been on every committee imaginable in our organization, coaching and guiding both new members and veterans alike. He also did a stint Assistant Governor for Rotary International District 5340, which covers San Diego County and parts of Imperial County.”

Kruse is currently the District Governor's Chief of Staff and the District Membership Chair. In addition to having been Assistant Governor, he also helped Rotary International in the recent past as the Club Foundation Chair; was named Rotarian of the Year in 2009; and earned the prestigious Rotary Presidential Citation in 2007. He’s been a Facilitator for the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA); helped a team of the region’s top teenagers to fulfill their leadership potential at the Leadership, Ethics and Determination conference (LEAD); and volunteered to travel to India at great personal expense to aid in that country’s Polio Immunization efforts.

“I’m tired just thinking about it!” Barbee laughed.

With 1.3 million members in over 33,000 clubs worldwide, Rotary International requires a considerable regional administration to support individual club communications, membership development, successful community and international service projects, support of the The Rotary Foundation, and the development of leaders beyond the club level. International headquarters in Evanston, IL, relies on people like Carl Kruse to make things happen successfully.

“Carl has played a significant role within the District 5340 administration during his 14 years in Rotary.” said president-elect Al Watson. “Here is a man who truly lives his life according to Rotary’s Four Avenues of Service-Club, Vocational, Community, and International. He’s an inspiration to us all.”

Carl, whose vehicle license reads SERVIZ, in keeping with Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self”, adheres daily to the motto “Rotary is a Journey, Not a Destination”.

Carl Kruse and the other 64 members of the RB Sunrise Rotary club meet for breakfast at 7:15 am every Tuesday morning at the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo, 12280 Greens East Road, San Diego, CA 92128. Professionals in the community exploring membership are invited to attend an initial breakfast meeting at no charge. Members of the public are always invited to club meetings, with a $15 charge for those staying for breakfast. Visitors coming to just hear club speakers (starting at 8:00 am) are welcome at no charge.More information about the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary club is available online at http://www.rbsunrise.org/.

It's Noon and I'm still in my pajamas

Well, last night was the demolition party for club president Kendra Jeffcoat, and what a night it was. Starting with the cocktail hour at the Radisson Suite Hotel in Rancho Bernardo, the RB Sunrise Rotary Club showed they're always up for a grand old time. And though it got a bit cozy in the room, the 60-some members, spouses and guests all had a great time. Kendra even brought her dog Trevor for the occasion.

Past President Carl Kruse acted as Master of Ceremonies, and there was much of the usual fun and frivolity from one of these events. Past president Steve Sayler said a few words - I wonder what they were. Then President-elect designate nominee in waiting Mike Miller said a few words, and he's wondering what they were.

From there we went into a skit poking fun at Jay Jeffcoat, Kendra's husband and resident member of Kiwanis, starring Jim Roth and Carly Bohnsack. President elect Nasrin Barbee carried on in a blonde wig about what a selfless person Kendra is.

Then we were on to a video showing Kendra's entire life (though given that almost everything the woman owned was lost in the Witch Creek Fires 18 months ago, most of what was in the video had to be fabricated. I'm still not sure if she was really a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model or if, maybe, they were making that part up!)

Turning to a serious portion of the proceeds, Carl Kruse brought on councilmember Carl DeMaio to officially declare yesterday "Kendra Jeffcoat Day" within the city of San Diego. Of course, it was after 7pm by the time we heard about this, so it probably should have been called "Kendra Jeffcoat's 15 minutes of fame", but there it is. Why don't they tell you it's your day at 6am so you can make the most of it?

Carl (Kruse) was also busy getting swag from Senator Dianne Feinstein, the Rainbow Girls (who helped set Kendra on her path 40 years ago) and a ton of other people. All this was witnessed, by the way, by our district governor, governor elect, governor designate, governor designate elect, and the pool boy working next door who just happened to wander in to see what all the hollering was all about. Nice job, Carl!

As the party-goers munched on steak and salmon, salad and dessert (and drank a LOT of wine, which is probably why they didn't notice the pool boy!), new officers were installed for 2009-10. The outgoing officers were thanked (with more wine!) and Kendra was showered with gifts, including at least two books of jokes. Given her track record in the humor department, I frankly found it surprising that only two of us gave her joke books.

Lots and laughing, joking and good-natured ribbing were trumped, though, by the evening's last three events:

1) Jay Jeffcoat was made a Paul Harris Fellow, which makes him a Rotarian in spirit, even if he insists on calling himself a Kiwanian.

2) Kendra made one of the nicest speeches I've heard in a very long time - one that obviously came from the heart about how much working with this club had meant to her and how the past year has changed and improved her life.

3) Carl read a poem. Unlike the past when he would write a poem of his own, though, Carl read the following:

“Heavenly Father, up above
Help me live the words I love,
Help my Rainbow Dreams come true
In everything I say and do,
Bless those who have faith in me
That the girl they want, is the girl I’ll be.
And when the sunset ends the day
Our living Rainbow will guide the way.”
Amen

This is a poem that Kendra wrote when she was involved with Rainbox many years ago. To this day, "All of our girls still say it at every meeting". reports Sara Lee Martin of Rainbox.

When Carl was done there wasn't a dry eye in the house. It's no wonder I love this club so much!

Carl Kruse appointed to Poway City Council

Congratulations to our own Carl Kruse, who has just been appointed to fill an 18-month opening on the Poway (CA) City Council.

Carl is a past president of RB Sunrise Rotary. The entire story can be found at
http://www.mylocalnews.com/nws/index.php?/main/content/carl_kruse_appointed_to_poway_city_council/

Getting back into the swing of things

Okay, it's been a while since I've done a post. Sorry 'bout that. Like everyone, I've been focusing on business and trying to keep the boat from capsizing. Things are still hairy out there, but it's time for me to start reporting again.

This morning we had Jim Ponder of Turnkey Strategic Relations (Escondido, CA) come speak to our club. Good stuff. He's a wise man who has been on the entrepreneurial side of things and now coaches business owners in how to make the most of their opportunities. He brought his delightful daughter Kelli with him, who works side-by-side with her dad and is learning the industry from the inside-out. I applaud them both.

Kendra Jeffcoat's year is quickly winding down and Nasrin Barbee is gearing up to take over. Don't look now, but I think they're planning something to celebrate the transition. Meanwhile, we've got the demotion party (or Demolition party, as past president (and potential city council member) Carl Kruse likes to call it) on June 12.

Our little club continues to grow, and a public thank you was provided this morning both to Jim Dunny (webmaster/club secretary) and to Jana Markley (membership chair) for all their hard work and success in growing our club. Add to this a story that appeared in the Pomerado Newspapers about our guest Cindy Barbee (okay, I had something to do with that - I admit it) and it was a busy day.