giving money to kids korps

Well, I couldn't make it to the annual convention being held in LA, even though it was just 100 miles up the road from me. There's WAY too much going on in my life, and I just couldn't spare the four days. SIGH! But in the interests of doing my part, I instead sent out this press release.

RB Sunrise Rotary Helps Kids Korps Open RB Branch

Finishing up their fiscal year on a high note, the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary announced a $2,500 gift to Kids Korps of Solana Beach.

Dedicated to teaching children and teenagers the meaning of community service, Kids Korps helps a community’s youth develop leadership skills while introducing perspective on how every individual can make a real difference in the world.

“Rotary International is all about finding ways to help those in need – be it locally or worldwide.” says Rotary club president Steve Sayler. “In Kids Korps we’ve found a group that is built around the idea of getting kids – from 5 to 18 – to volunteer to make things a bit better.”

Some of the projects Kids Korps volunteers can expect to be involved with include:

• Serving meals to the homeless at soup kitchens
• Painting over graffiti
• Building shelters for homeless families
• Planting trees

“For these kids, this is a chance to get started immediately, helping themselves by helping others” says Dr. Kendra Jeffcoat, an educator and president-elect of the RB Sunrise club. “For us it’s a farm team. Because while Rotary International has RotorAct clubs at colleges and InterAct clubs in high schools, we still need a way to reach out further to those younger than the high school level.”

“We see this as a way to help instill positive values that will guide childrens’ choices throughout their lives, simultaneously strengthening their academic and social skills.” Dr. Jeffcoat continues, adding “to us, the Kids Korps philosophy of cultivating caring and compassion in children leads directly to Rotary’s 4-Way Test, which asks of everything a person thinks, says and does, the following:

• Is it the TRUTH?
• Is it FAIR to all concerned?
• Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
• Will it be BENEFICIAL to all Concerned?

We’re delighted to be in a position to help the youth at RB High School to get their chapter of Kids Korps off the ground.

More information about Kids Korps is available online at http://www.kidskorps.org/. More information about the RB Sunrise Rotary is available online at http://www.rbsunrise.org/.

From Left –RB Sunrise Rotary Community Services Director Nasrin Barbee delivers the funds necessary to start the RB High School chapter of Kids Korps to incoming senior Maddie Baca and Kids Korps organizer Veronica Baker.

Rotary Picture Disc

How cool - the Rotary in Pictures CD is out for the year 2007, and our club has about 20 photos being distributed worldwide. While I wish it was for better reasons (the Witch Creek Fire was the main impetus), it's still great from a publicity standpoint to be getting this exposure.

RB Sunrise Rotary Selects Final Abraxas Student of the Month of 2007-2008

RB Sunrise Rotary Selects Final Abraxas Student of the Month of 2007-2008

As part of its ongoing partnership with Abraxas High School, the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club announced their final Student Of The Month award for the 2007-2008 school year at this morning's breakfast meeting.

The presentation to graduating senior Amadeo Gonzales was made at the club’s weekly breakfast meeting by teacher Dave MacLeod and Rotary/Abraxas liaison Rex Teets.

“Students typically take 15 credits per quarter as a minimum towards graduation from Abraxas” explained Mr. MacLeod. “Mr. Gonzales is graduating this semester after completing a quarter in which he took 48 credits, completely of his own volition!” The announcement of Gonzales’ achievement was greeted by a standing ovation by the members of the RB Sunrise Rotary. He was also given a gift certificate and an award in honor of his achievement.

The Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary club can be found online at http://www.rbsunrise.org/.

From Left to Right – Teacher Dave MacLeod, graduating senior Amadeo Gonzales, RB Sunrise Rotarian Rex Teets.

RB Sunrise Rotary Selects Abraxas Student of the Month

This was just sent to the local media

RB Sunrise Rotary Selects 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 at this past week’s breakfast meeting.
The presentation to graduating senior Maryelle Co was made at the club’s weekly breakfast meeting by teacher Gary Beare and Rotary/Abraxas liaison Rex Teets.

Co is graduating a full quarter earlier than expected, and has been highlighted at the school for sponsoring the first student-run blood drive ever held at Abraxas. Coe was given a gift certificate and an award in honor of her achievement.

The Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary club can be found online at http://www.rbsunrise.org/.

From Left to Right – Graduating senior Maryelle Co, RB Sunrise Rotarian Rex Teets, Abraxas teacher Gary Beare

For additional information, contact:
ROB WEINBERG
rob@marketbuilding.com
858-673-9960

Exciting things are afoot

We're getting things lined up for the new year. A new electronic newsletter is being developed. A new website (with a web master who hopefully has more time than I ever did). A marketing committee and a budget to work with. And a president who "gets" marketing.

Members of the club are starting to talk about this stuff. There's a new "new member" kit being developed. And there's an air of excitement about the club that I haven't seen since I started four years ago. Good stuff - I'm glad to be a part of it.

Of course, part of it is our visibility. We're on Rotary's web site. We're in the year in pictures video, with Kendra Jeffcoat on the cover and in the ad in the Rotarian selling the video. Mike Miller's in there too.

And we're in the paper a lot - I'll take some of the credit for that, with help from Carl Kruse, Nasrin Barbee and more people that could possibly be mentioned.

But it's not just the publicity or the visibility - it's a feeling like the club is being reborn. We went through a lull, and now it feels much better. I'm enjoying going to meetings again - I don't think I'm the only one, either.

Looking towards an electronic future

It's kind of cool being the head of the publicity committee (actually, I'm the entire publicity committee, but that's another issue) for my Rotary club. Nobody breathes down my neck to make deadlines, my words appear in the newspaper (and sometimes my name as the source of the photographs), and the club members appreciate the work I do.

Yesterday there was a lot to appreciate - 14 articles published in the past 21 days, most of them with photos. There are four more stories to write this week (Friday's project) and others in the works. Hopefully it's helping the club and the overall effort.

On a sadder note, we had a memorial for Marc Aaron this past Sunday. Lots of people turned out to drink beer and eat (his recipe) hot wings at the Tilted Kilt (owned by his best friend Tony). And I understand there's already been a decent initial donation to the Marc Aaron fund set up at the Temecula Valley Bank in Rancho Bernardo.

Finally, four of us sat down after yesterday's meeting to strategize a new website and other technological issues. Seems we're going to test Club Runner, which will help us get our site back on track. We're also going to develop an electronic newsletter (Martin and Michael working together, instead of it just sitting on Martin's shoulders) and begin implementing YouTube, FaceBook, LinkedIn and other technologies.

Kendra is getting off to a good start - I'm very impressed with her already, and she hasn't even taken office yet.

A busy few weeks

Wow - three weeks flew by really fast, and nobody even noticed I hadn't made an entry in my blog. Should I be relieved that nobody's breathing down my neck, or upset that nobody reads the silly thing. Well...either way.

Sent out a bunch of publicity, including this:

RB Sunrise is there for Joslyn Center

Ever eager to help the RB Community, the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary has contributed $1,000 to the Joslyn Center of RB.

The Joslyn Center for Senior Citizens sponsors everything older residents could possibly want in a community center. From exercise programs to tax help, seniors in RB know they’ll find it all under one roof.

Operating entirely without tax support for operating expenses, the Joslyn Center sometimes finds it a challenge to meet their budgetary needs. “We usually don’t have any extra dollars for upgrading old equipment or buying new.” says Arlene Cawthorne, Executive Director of the Center. She adds “We are planning on using this $1,000 donation to purchase new computer equipment to improve our efficiency as well as providing additional services for our membership.”

“We’re delighted to be able to help the Joslyn Center meet such a critical need” says Steve Sayler, president of the RB Sunrise Rotary Club, noting “Rotary always tries to be present when there’s a need anywhere in our community.”

The Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary club can be found online at www.rbsunrise.org.

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The memorial service is being held for Marc Aaron this saturday at the Tilted Kilt, owned by his friend Tony Laureti. 4-8 pm, by Petco Park. I miss Marc - he was one of the good guys. There will be a notice about the service and the memorial fund in the Pomerado Papers this week. It reads as follows:

A “CELEBRATION OF LIFE” in honor of Marc Aaron will be held from 4-8 pm on May 18th at the Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery, 310 10th Avenue, by Petco Park in downtown San Diego.

Originally from Philadelphia, Aaron passed away on April 15th after a short illness. The president of Bob Worner, Ltd., he was active in the San Diego North Chamber of Commerce, RB Sunrise Rotary, BNI and numerous other community groups.

A memorial fund has been set up for his family. Contributions should be made to the HELENA AARON IN MEMORY OF MARC fund, and mailed to Temecula Valley Bank, 16469 Bernardo Center Drive, San Diego, CA 92128.
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This weekend we'll also have our club's reverse drawing. Tickets are only $100 each, and we're selling 200 of them. I just bought lucky number 175 for my daughter. More later - gotta go walk the dog.