“Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world goes on.” – Mary Oliver – American poet

 

“Reading gives us somewhere to go when we have to stay where we are.” – Mason Cooley – American aphorist, professor

 

“Don’t let others decide who you are.” – Dennis Rodman – American Basketball Player

 

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut, Ed Purry)

 

Today’s “Zoom” CU Sunrise club meeting included our District Governor Julie Dobski live from Bloomington, Illinois and Rotary Cadre Wade Nomura live, awake and enthusiastic from Carpintera, CA.

 

After Oktay’s timely and moving reflection dedicated to today’s front-line workers, healthcare professionals and those families who have lost loved ones to the Coronavirus, the entire meeting was dedicated to Wade Nomura’s presentation.

 

 

PROGRAM

 

Wade is indeed an active and an exceptional representative of Rotary. While serving as Mayor of Carpinteria, California, he is also currently the Rotary International technical coordinator of Cadres for Water, Sanitation, Community and Economic Development in English and Spanish speaking countries. He is active in his community, a TV show host and producer, Rose Bowl Parade committee member, and a past BMX Champion and designer of Nomura BMX bikes. 

 

Wade began by explaining what his role as Rotary Cadre involves and what the various area of focus that are in Rotary Global Grants. His main focus this morning was on a Rotary Global Grant in Puerto Rico.

 

This Rotary Global Grant for Puerto Rico in the amount of $248,000, is to be used for economic development and agricultural projects. After hurricane Maria, Puerto was a devastated and isolated island. Puerto Rico has a history of importing 85% of its food and the strong need to become self-sustaining became overly apparent after Hurricane Maria. Historically most of the past agricultural lands on the island were used as plantations for sugarcane, tobacco and coffee.

 

This grant was designated for 50 farms scattered throughout the main island, the farms ranged from 15 to 70 acres, to help fulfill the need to feed the people of the island with locally grown crops. This grant’s emphasis is to help bring back family farming, grow a range of different food and teach men and women how to farm and prepare the variety of food.  The money went to these 50 farms which include family farms, co-op farms, restaurant owners, community farms and volunteers.

 

Each farmer selected how they would use the money. Wade gave several examples such as to purchase a tiller, purchase a large refrigeration storage unit, water irrigation, livestock, grafting and protecting and reforesting water sheds devastated by Hurricane Maria. Several slides shown during Wade’s presentation were of the various farms and locations he visited. The grant money has grown to nearly $300,000 and has a future phase to impact the larger cities on the island. 

So much information was presented and gained from this morning’s meeting. The information included a better understanding of Rotary Global Grants, how funds are distributed, and how we as Rotarians may be able to help throughout the world, and in our own community, during these difficult times.

 

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  May 7th May 14th May 21st May 28th
         
Reflection Michelle Barbey Keith Brandau Eddie Bridges Paul Conforti
Notetaker Penwell Hodson Conforti Perry

 

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)

 

*The following meeting dates and speakers are included for reference purposes only.  At this time, it is not clear which speakers will still be available to speak on the listed dates.*

 

May 7th – Debbie Hensleigh (Phyllis)

May 14th – Champaign Rotarian Craig Rost will speak about the Clinton Lake Sailing Association

May 21st – Jean Driscoll (Bob)

May 28th – TBD (Charlie)

June 4th – TBD (David)

June 11th – TBD (Cary)

June 18th – TBD (Ondine)

June 25th – Pass the Gavel ceremony