Visalia Breakfast Rotary - Visalia Breakfast Rotary News

June 4th - Heart Healthy Program
June 4th, 6:30pm - Social / BBQ Planning @ Marty Prah's home (bring beverage and appetizer)
June 5-7th - District Conferency in Monterey (not too late to sign up and room are now cheap)
June 10th - BBQ-ing at Camp Royal at Sequoia Lake
June 20-24th - Rotary International Conference in Birmingham, England (Matt's own personal sacrifice for the Club!)
June 27th - Promo-Demo Dinner @ Holiday Inn

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May 28th, 2009

VBR Regular Club Meeting

Dale Bruder introduces our COS Scholarship recipient, Kenny, who will be attending the COS Automotive Technology program beginning in the fall. Kenny received a $500 scholarship from the Club.

Marty Prah announces that the Club will be barbequing for the sixth year up at Camp Royal. Camp Royal is a high school leadership program ran by District 5230. Marty and his fiance, Cindy, will host a dinner planning "social" at their home on Thursday, June 4th, which is also open to anyone just wanting to drink some wine. Bring your favorite beverage and an appetizer. Glick's Meat Market has donated (at their cost) 85 pounds of marinated tri-tip and we will be cooking the meal on Wednesday, June 10th. Call Marty if you want to get involved.

In June '08 at Camp Royal, Mark Brackett and Glenn Black headed up the cookin' crew. We left Visalia with about 10 Rotarians at 2pm, cooked 40 chickens for 160 people and all of the fixin's, and finished up eating with the kids at 5:30pm.

Lance Walheim was our program this morning. Lance was an Editor at Sunset Magazine a few years back and has since wrote many horticulture books including "Lawn Care for Dummies" and "California Home Landscaping". Lance also spoke to us about water conservation and specifically how to ensure that we are not over-watering our yards.

May 21st, 2009

VBR Regular Club Meeting

Sharon Jasma announces to the Club the great success of the 4-Way Test Program that she attended yesterday morning. Josie Eivens organized the event which was ethics training for all 6th grade students at Royal Oaks Elementary School. Approximately 12 Rotarians and other volunteers participated and taught the students how to apply good ethics to difficult situations.

Although President Dennis was talking about something else, what he's really thinking in this picture is "Only 41 more days until this nightmare ends". Dennis has done a great job!

Our speaker today, Neil Crosby, speaks to the Club about the current plan of the Obama Administration to reform the healthcare system. Specific topics that he covered were the "Single Payor System", which essentially gives Medicare to all of the US population, and mandatory insurance coverage by Health Insurance Companies to all.

May 20th, 2009

4-Way Test Program at Royal Oaks Elementary School

Gary Heffelfinger reviews ethical situations with the 6th graders at Royal Oaks during our 4-Way-Test Program.

Kevin Daniel takes time out of his busy schedule to work with the kids as well.

Cindy Myers had a great time working with the kids. "I found the kids engaging, interested and truly enjoyable"

Marv Hansen also works with the kids. In all, we had three different crews work for one hour each and worked with every 6th grader at the school.

Here Cal Sisto introduces a conflicting scenario for the kids. The students then take the scenario, apply Rotary's 4-Way Test and come up with ethical solutions. Josie Eivens, seen here in the background, organized the program for the Club. Great Job!

Rotary wife, Dawn Kneeland, works with the kids and shows them what she looks like at home when Matt's talking. yyyyaaaaawwwwnnnn!

May 14th, 2009

Washington Elementary School Reading Program

Sam Romero reads at Washington Elementary. We normally have 5-7 readers per month that come in and read a book to the class and then donate the book. Great interaction between the students and Rotarians.

Paul O'Donnell (not O'Connell) reads with the kids.

Another great volunteer, Jim Preston, reads to the students.

Bob Dickey also volunteers his time. Ed Sullivan also showed up a bit later and read to the students.

May 14th, 2009

VBR Regular Meeting & Annual Club Assembly

Mike Clancy and Jim Preston present their annual "dualing propositions" presentation on the state's current propositions. Mike and Jim are each assigned (whether or not they agree) to champion opposing views on each subject to give the club a balanced argument for and against each proposition.

President-Elect, Matt Kneeland, introduces the new Board of Directors for our 2009-10 year. We've got a lot of activities for the coming year and the Board spent time this morning conveying those ideas to the Club. A Great year coming!

Todd Martin, our new Membership Chair, talks to the Club about our goal to increase our membership from 75 to 85 by the end of March 2010. A lofty and attainable goal. Great job Todd.

Bob Dickey, our Fundraiser Chair for the upcoming Golf Tournament and Crab Feed, October 16th, discusses some of the new items that we will feature at the event. Among those, we are definitely interested in seeing the new Sushi Tent & Sake Shots happen.

Only 6 more meeting (from today) for our glorious President, Dennis. We've had a great year, typically laughing at Dennis's expense. Hold on Dennis, your almost there!

May 7th, 2009

Regular VBR Meeting

Lindsay Mann, CEO from Kaweah Delta Medical Center spoke to the club this morning about the hospitals current and planned expansion. On Friday, May 1st, the hospital opened what is now called the Acequia Wing which will house the new Emergency Dept, a maturnity floor, and a cardiac and vascular surgery suite.

Here Lindsay talks about the new wing, as well as the further expansion and plans to open at least 2 additional wings which will, ultimately, replace the entire existing hospital.

Mark Perry and his two guest today, Donivan Crawford and Michael Stewart from the Boy Scouts of America, announced that the Scouts will be having their 5th annual Boy Scouts Golf Tournament. The tournament will be held on May 29th at the Valley Oaks Golf Course.