Marc Nimetz joins RB Sunrise Rotary

Marc Nimetz may be the newest member of the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary, but with 24 years as a Poway resident, he brings a LOT of local experience with him when he walks through the door each week.

“Early on in my career I worked 70 hour weeks for my employer. This taught me to work for myself AND to help those with less than I have,” he says.

The young entrepreneur opened his own Farmers Insurance Agency in 2011 and never looked back.

“Now that I’m controlling my own destiny and reaping the fruits of my own labor, it’s time for me to give something back. And THAT is why I joined Rotary.”

“I want to help this community that has given me so much for so long. This is my home and these people are my family, and I wouldn't trade it for anyplace in the world.”

“We truly are privileged to live in such a wonderful area – rich with culture, history, and talent. I see it as the responsibility of everyone who enjoys and appreciates Poway and RB to lend a hand, both personally and professionally. And I see it as my own responsibility to lead by example.”

You’ll find Marc and the other 50+ business and community leaders in the RB Sunrise Rotary meeting for breakfast every Tuesday at 7am at the RB Country Club on Greens East Road in RB. Professionals from throughout the region considering membership in the club are invited to attend for a free breakfast and some of the finest camaraderie to be found in north county.

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

4-way speech contest - sub-regional finals

This morning's excitement focused around the sub-regional finals for the 4-way speech contest.

Joining us were (from left) Julian Stanley, Ashley Hope, Erin Singer, Emyle Rogers, Kathryn Markham and Danielle Ashmun. Ashley Hope will go onto the regional finals, having claimed first place with her presentation about broken promises.

Holiday lights for seniors

Arlene Wolf (left) reviews holiday lights with Mary Stanton of the RB Sunrise Rotary club. Stanton was part of a team that volunteered to help residents of Seven Oaks senior community to install their holiday lights. It's part of the club's annual efforts to improve the Rancho Bernardo community.

RB Sunrise Rotary Selects Eric Matthews as Abraxas Student of the Month

As part of its ongoing partnership with Abraxas High School, the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club announced their Student Of The Month award for September 2011 at this past week’s breakfast meeting.

The presentation to Eric Matthews was made by principal Rudy Casciato, teacher Keith Leighton and Rotarian Trudy Armstrong.

“Here was a guy who had dropped out of school,” explained Leighton to the room of 50+ professionals. “Now he’s back into everything that school has to offer, is doing great things, and is earning credits right and left towards graduation.”

“Eric will be attending motorcycle maintenance school in Arizona upon graduation,” his teacher proudly announced.

From Left to Right – Abraxas principal Rudy Casciato, teacher Keith Leighton, student Eric Matthews, and Rotarian Trudy Armstrong at the breakfast honoring Eric’s academic accomplishments.

Peter Jackson joins Star-Studded RB Sunrise Rotary

Peter "I'm not a hobbit" Jackson was inducted this past week as the newest member of the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club.

Jackson joins longtime members Michael "I'm NOT the actor" Rennie and James "The other one" Stewart in the 50-member club.

"I've enjoyed community involvement in the past, which has mainly been by way of coaching youth sports" says the owner of Sign Distinction in Sabre Springs, "and as I go through the start-up phases of our new business i was searching for a way to continue that involvement on another level. I could think of no better way than by joining Rotary."

"Rotary is one of the most giving community organizations it has ever been my pleasure to work with," he says, adding "I'm proud to be accepted as a member here."

Peter Jackson is welcomed to the RB Sunrise Rotary club by Membership Chair Karen Mortimer

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.

Interacters get scholarships

RYLA alumni Kate Anderson and Leanna Hansen joined us at breakfast this morning at the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo. Each received a $750 Interact scholarship.

This fall Leanna will be attending Montana State University as an enrollee in their honors college with a triple major in Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Community Health. She was the Interact Communications Officer for the past two years at Scripps Ranch HS, and also won the RB Sunrise Rotary 4-way test competition.

Kate is attending the University of Colorado (Boulder), where she will be majoring in Integrated Physiology, minoriing in Spanish, and expects to earn an Advanced Degree in Physical Therapy. During the last two years Kates served as Junior President and then President of the Scripps Ranch Interact Club. Over the past two summers she was also a Rotary Exchange student in both Germany and Italy.
Seen here (left to right) are Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotarian Alison Farrin, Kate Anderson, Leanna Hansen, and Interact Chair Phil Schneider

Appearing in native garb at this morning's meeting were past president Kendra Jeffcoat and her husband Jay - both recently returned from American Samoa, where Kendra spent a week teaching.They were our featured speakers, taking the club on a journey of discovery about this fascinating Pacific island/American protectorate. A fine time was had by all.

And despite the fact that he's a member of Kiwanis, Jay is a good guy who lets us poke fun at him. He's also got GREAT legs!