“Together, we see a world where people unite & take action to create lasting change - 
across the globe, in our communities, & in ourselves.”
  
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Club News
 
Meghan Burton opened the meeting and Dan Snyder led the pledge of allegiance. 
 
Barry Cheskin shared some inspiration on leadership, drawing from Captain Picard from Star Trek. 1. Speak to people in a language they understand. 2. When you are overwhelmed ask for help. 3. Don’t play it safe. 
 

Visitors and Guests

Adam Arella from Arella Sports
Dessy Bonev, Stefka’s daughter, UCSC student
 

It’s time to think about Crabfest!

This is our biggest fundraiser and our philanthropy depends on it! Suzanne Boxer Gassman and Greg Gentile are chairing it this year. 
Lisa Cheskin is looking for donations for the auction. Sport events, restaurants, vacation homes, etc. Do you have season tickets or a vacay home? Talk to her! We need everyone on board!
 
The Moot Court club at LGHS needs a sponsor. Interested? Contact Dan Snyder.
 

Rebuilding Together 

On October 28th we will be painting a trailer home to help someone in need. To sign up, click here  before Oct 1.
Contact Kristen Bridges with any questions.
 
 
Dawn Hogh from Cancer CAREpoint undated us on our grants. We have supported them since 2010, giving $35,000 over the years. Our most recent grant was for the wig bank. They have provided 145 wigs to women since the beginning of this year. Wigs cost $120-$150 each at wholesale prices, which is too much for many patients. No one wants to be identified by their disease. Patients get a boutique experience and we make this possible. She thanked us for our support. 
 
Ann Peterson from Live Oak Adult Day Services updated us on our grants. They have been around since 1983, taking in those with mild to moderate dementia during the day to enhance their life quality and give them socialization. It also gives the caregivers a much-needed break. We helped them open their 4th location right here in Los Gatos. Our club helped them furnish it with our grant and we also provided volunteers to help set it all up. She thanked us for our support.
 
 
Meeting called to order by President Meghan Burton.
 
Pledge led by Doug Brent.
 
Inspiration from Barry Cheskin who has been talking about leadership during his inspirations. This week he was reflecting on his visit to the Kennedy Library and Museum during a recent visit to Boston. During the Cuban Missile Crisis
Kennedy was faced with unbelievable challenges but these three rules of leadership got him through without causing a disaster:
  1. Stay calm
  2. Never lose focus
  3. Take your time

 
 

Visiting Rotarians:

Kim Foster Rotary Club of Oregon city. Kim is past president of his club and exchanged flags with Meghan.
Andrea Perdichizzi Rotary Club of San Jose
Steve Solberg Rotary Club of Santa Cruz and Boy Scouts
 

Guests:

David Hom Los Gatos High School
Mary Jane Vitkovich Retired
Laura Meyer Retired
Cary Wilson Darling Fischer, just moved here from Houston

Rotarians in the Wild

This week’s picture was Barbara and Marty Fishman and family (with elephants) in Botswana. Looks like an amazing trip. 

September Birthdays:

Erin Harnett September 6
Meghan Burton September 11
Gae La Torre September 16
Gary Allison September 20
Paul Christensen September 20
Nancy Consentino September 27
Nicholas Welzenbach September 27
David Karwowski September 29
 
 
President Meghan Burton brought the August 29, 2023 club meeting to order at 12:30, and Mike Norcia led all in reciting the pledge of allegiance.
 
John Pencer provided the inspiration. For some time we have all known the three keys to healthy longevity: exercise, diet and sleep. More and more, a fourth key to healthy longevity is coming to the fore: social connection. Not the Facebook kind, but the kind of in-person social interaction we have at Rotary meetings. John reported that for a senior, loneliness is more harmful to health than the impact of smoking would be. So, connect and come out to a Rotary meeting!
 
Mike Norcia brought a guest, Teri, who is on the path to becoming a Los Gatos Rotarian. Welcome Teri!
 
In reviewing club business, Meghan noted:
  • The Rotarian in the wild this week was a photo of Tom Picreaux on a tour of Glacier National Park.
  • Meghan also thanked the not-so-wild Rotarians: Jeff Blum, Dick Konrad, Jeffrey Barnett and John Walker for representing our club at a Monte Sereno event at Lake Vasona where we were prospecting for new members. DG Hung Wei also stopped by our booth.
  • Meghan then showed off the picture of this week’s St. Luke’s eggs by Kathy. This week it was a tropical theme. Meghan noted that the St. Luke’s team specifically commented that these eggs brighten the day of those who receive them each week.
  • With a photo of the news article in the The West Valley Outlook, Meghan talked about the value of the SafeRide program - getting kids who need to get home to actually get there, and anonymously. And, pointed out that in the article, it said: “Special thanks to the Los Gatos Rotary Charitable Foundation for its $500 donation to provide partial funding for the SafeRides program.”
  • First Tuesday will be at the home of Randy Cobb and Kathie Benko in Los Gatos on September 5th. Members, spouses, significant others and prospective members are all invited! Look at Meghan’s email later this week for more details.
  • There is an opportunity to help with food distribution at Second Harvest in Campbell at 8:30AM on Friday, September 15th. Again, look at Meghan’s note this week for more details. The Rotarian contact for this event is Rachelle Lopp.
 
Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, August 15, 2023 
 
Meghan Burton began the meeting at 12:30
 
Pledge: Nicholas Welzenbach
 
Inspiration: John Pencer. He talked about how walking 30 minutes, 5 times per week is extremely beneficial to health. Reduces hypertension, diabetes, strokes, cancers, etc. It also promotes cell growth in the brain. So go out and walk!
 
 
Guests: Jeff Blum introduced Eleann and David Yick. John Colwell introduced his wife, Betty. 
 
Rotarian in the Wild: Andrew Howard who was backpacking in Tuolumne.
 
Rotarians at Work: West Valley Community services had a successful shopping day to fill backpacks for back to school and 800 backpacks were filled for Pacific Clinics for back to school supplies.
 
Thank you to Kathie and Randy for the busy turtle eggs decorated for St. Luke’s to celebrate back to school.
 
Upcoming Events:  Annual adult club BBQ at Vasona Park on August 22 at 5pm.
 

Announcements: 

Membership Update by Jeff Blum, he is asking for volunteers who would like to help with any part of this committee, and for Rotarians to reach out to prospective new members. He is always available for any questions from new red Badge members about the process.
 
Climate Action Council: The District is looking for a Climate Champion Ambassador from each club to be part of this council. They meet via Zoom for one hour, once per month. See Meghan if you are interested.
 
No 30 for 30 this meeting.
 
Club Information

JOIN US

We meet every Tuesday at 12pm and welcome visitors.
See our "Weekly Meeting Schedule" to the right for details.
Meeting Location:
​Shir Hadash
20 Cherry Blossom Lane, Los Gatos, CA, 95032
 
 
Questions? Contact:
Mailing Address:
PO Box 1018
Los Gatos, CA  95031
September 2023
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Upcoming Events
 
 
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Our Weekly Meeting Schedule
Kyle Santoro
Oct 10, 2023
Documentary Filmmaking
Joe Simitian, SCC Supervisor
Oct 24, 2023
County Update
Community service
We assembled back packs full of essential back-to-school supplies for Uplift Family Services in August.
 
We helped assemble 24,000 meals with Rise Against Hunger at Saratoga High School in April. 
 
We assembled activity kits for isolation patients at El Camino Hospital for our February service project
 
We helped prep materials for solar kits for Lighting For Literacy at our December service project
 
We collected a record number of toys for Toys For Tots in 2022!
Above, volunteering at Second Harvest Food Bank!
 
Filling backpacks for Back-to-School drives. The Rotary Club of Los Gatos participated in 3 back to school drives this year: Pacific Clinics, West Valley Community Services, and Jewish Family Services.
 
Cleaning the Los Gatos Creek
 
Collecting and sorting books for Stanford Children's Hospital
 
Donating food to the homeless at St. Luke's Church Los Gatos every Tuesday.
 
Our Fall 2022 service project with Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley.  
 
Packing PPE equipment for the elderly at one of our Summer 2022 meetings. 
 
Our Leigh High School Rotary Interact students volunteering at Second Harvest.
 
Donating bikes to Good Karma.
 
Sorting items donated for fire evacuees in Summer 2020.
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Rotary International 2022/23 Theme