Speaking at the La Jolla New Generations club

Last night I spoke before the La Jolla New Generations club. I showed about 30 people, all under the age of 40, how to develop their own electronic newsletters (a specialty of my marketing agency).

It was odd being in that room. Typical Rotary groups are almost all on the other side of 40 (sometimes quite a bit further on the other side!), and these were all fresh new faces, firmly planted in Generation Y.

Here were people who, according to FORTUNE Magazine, have their own rules. Yet unlike so many who grew up in the 1980s, these guys understand the need to give back to the community and help those with less than them. It was quite refreshing.

Afterwards, I sat with their new PR Chair (they had new officer elections last night, and even had two people running for PR Chair. Quite a change from me being appointed when I walked out of the room). This young woman, Brittany Catton, was delightful, energetic and truly interested in making an impact on the world around her. I applauded her enthusiasm.

Still, having a beer with her when she hardly looked old enough to drink (she was) made me feel like a fossil. Of course, learning that she was born the year after I graduated from college probably didn't help.

She spoke of developing a presentation to go to various clubs and show them how to get young people into their clubs. I think it's a wonderful idea, and shared some thoughts on how to make it happen on a wide scale.

It all made me wonder, though, why out of 61 clubs in district 5340, there is only one club with a focus on those under 40. Rotary as a whole has got to get their act together and start listening to people like Ms. Catton, and recruiting more like her, or else over the long-term our group is destined to die out.

This morning's meeting

Today's meeting was a sad one as we said goodbye to Garth Miller - one of the founding members of the RB Sunrise Rotary.

Garth was treasurer for 12 years and one of those people everyone had nice things to say about in life, as well as afterwards. From what was said at the meeting, I will not be the only one who will miss him.

Our speaker today was Jim Flood of Personally Fit - appropriate given that we all partied way too much during the holidays. He spoke of fitness, dieting, and the like. Everyone resolved to do better this year - a promise that should last until the posting of this blog.

Then past president Carl Kruse and incoming president Kendra Jeffcoat and I agreed to go green for the PETS meeting in Los Angeles next month and we're going to all ride up together.

Along those lines, I also sent an outline of my presentation to Dr. Helene Kalfus so that the district board knows what I'll be talking about. Next I have to tweak my presentation to update it a bit.

Before that, though, I need to get organized for a speaking gig at the new club in La Jolla. I'll be there tomorrow night. Haven't spoken before a club in about a year - gotta work out the rust before I go to PETS.

And now...off to bed.

In memory of Garth Miller

I turned on my email this morning, only to be greeted by a very sad note from past president Carl Kruse. Garth Miller, whom I believe was our club's oldest member (85), died yesterday.

Garth was the epitome of the word gentleman. He always had a ready smile, was soft-spoken and with his black sweater and grey hair, he always reminded me of Robert Young in Father Knows Best...only without the patches on his elbows.

I will miss Garth very much. He has always been a bright spot for me at the RB Sunrise Rotary, and made it a little easier to attend a 7am meeting.

getting ready for PETS

I've just signed up for PETS 2008. That's the President Elect Training Seminar - a four-day training session for around 450-500 incoming club presidents from California, Nevada, Arizona and other places. Two years ago we had the guy from Jerusalem!

This will be my third one, and by the time I leave everyone knows my hat (though they sometimes forget my name, I think).

Next on my agenda is to update last year's presentation. I need to send a summary to Dr. Helene Kalfus (coordinator of the speakers) prior to a meeting on 1/19/08. I'm also going to create a shorter version for a breakfast I've been asked to speak at in El Cajon on January 31.

RB Sunrise Rotary gets third award for best press efforts

Photo – RB Sunrise Rotary Publicity Chair Rob Weinberg stands before the club’s three awards for “Outstanding Publicity” in Rotary District 5340.

For the third year in a row, our club has been awarded for the best press efforts in district 5340. I take personal pride in this, since I'm the club's publicity chair. This press release was just sent out to all north county (San Diego) media outlets. Imagine getting publicity for getting publicity - a new definition of chutzpah!

Nevertheless, this is what I do. Apparently, someone thinks I'm pretty good at it.

December 26, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RB Sunrise Rotary Recognized For Third Time

The Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club has been awarded one of Rotary District 5340’s highest honors for the third year in a row.

At this year’s annual District Council meeting, club president Steve Sayler was on-hand for announcement of the club’s naming as recipient of “Outstanding Public Relations” award for the third time.

“There are 61 Rotary clubs in the district, so our receiving one of these awards would be impressive enough.” noted Sayler. “Receiving it twice was phenomenal, and getting it yet again is nothing short of overwhelming!”

Past president Carl Kruse credited “a non-stop commitment to give back to the community on every level, and a willingness to tell that story at every opportunity” for the club’s success and growth. The RB Sunrise Rotary club has grown by approximately 30% over the past two years.

Rotary’s presence is seen regularly in all community publications serving Rancho Bernardo and North County. Their award-winning website can be seen at www.rbsunrise.org.

The public is also invited to review the blog of Paul Gorman, one of the club’s newest members, as he traces his adventure in joining and participating in Rotary. It can be found at www.redbadgerotarian.blogspot.com. Another blog, maintained by club publicity chair Rob Weinberg, is tracing a year of a more established Rotarian. That one – entitled THE ADVENTURES OF ROB THE ROTARIAN can be found at rbsunrise.blogspot.com.

“Potential new members are invited to join us for breakfast any Tuesday morning at the RB Country Club” says membership chair Debbie Abel. “We’ll be happy to buy them breakfast, and hope they’ll get to know us better.” The club meets at 7am, with meetings over by 8:30.

Rotarian - January 2008 issue

My new copy of THE ROTARIAN arrived in the mailbox last night.

I was particularly excited by this issue, since my column on how to market your Rotary club was on page 19.

Along with my piece that appeared in the September '07 issue on how to help realtors to market themselves, I should have a little extra visibility when I show up for PETS this year.

RB Sunrise Rotary Parties For A Good Cause

Our club's holiday party was anything but dull. We got several dozen of us into one house (Nasrin's place is GORGEOUS, but no surprise there - she's an architect, for heaven's sake!) and then spent the night having a grand old time.

Naturally, as the club's publicity chair I figure no opportunity should be wasted for trying to get the word out about what we're all about. Therefore, this story was just sent out to the local press.

RB Sunrise Rotary Parties For A Good Cause

One thing the RB Sunrise Rotarians know how to do is to do well by doing good.

Whether they’re delivering dictionaries to third graders in San Diego, building homes for needy families in Tijuana, or helping US soldiers in Iraq to communicate with their families at home, this group of professionals never stops looking for ways to help make the world a better place.

So it comes as no surprise that they were thinking of feeding the hungry, even as they celebrated the holidays amongst themselves. 80+ members and spouses were in attendance at the sumptuous home of Poway-based architect Nasrin Barbee.

“We’re having an auction tonight” intoned veteran Rotarian Mike Moffett “with every dollar raised going back to help our community and the less fortunate.” With those words, Moffett and chief elf Jim Roth supervised an auction that raised almost $2,000.

Items donated by, and then auctioned to members of the club, included gift baskets, etched vases, and fine wine. Moffett and Roth provided an entertaining and interesting dialogue as the steady parade of auction items – some apparent and others disguised as mystery gifts – came up for sale.

As in past years, the highlight of the sometimes spirited auction event came when the contribution of Fred Nasseri (Unicorn Jewelry) was put on the block.

“People were getting a bit crazed to bid for Fred’s package.” observed club president Steve Sayler, adding “They know he’s a classy guy, and he always donates something sure to fit into any lifestyle.” Nasseri’s contribution to the evening – a pair of his and hers wristwatches – alone generated 10% of the evening’s proceeds.

As the RB Sunrise Rotary party wound down for the evening and checkbooks were put away, club vice-president Kendra Jeffcoat noted: “Many of us got to buy things tonight, but the real winners at the auction were the members of the community that we’ll be able to help with the extra money we’ve raised.”

The RB Sunrise Rotary meets each Tuesday morning at 7:15 am at the Country Club of Rancho Bernardo, 12280 Greens East Road, San Diego, CA 92128. Prospective members are invited to attend these meetings as guests of the club.

The public is also invited to review the blog of Paul Gorman, one of the club’s newest members, as he traces his adventure in joining and participating in Rotary. It can be found at www.redbadgerotarian.blogspot.com. Another blog, maintained by club publicity chair Rob Weinberg, is tracing a year of a more established Rotarian. That one – entitled THE ADVENTURES OF ROB THE ROTARIAN can be found at rbsunrise.blogspot.com/.

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