Meeting Notes from January 30, 2024

Meghan Burton opened the meeting at 12:30

Ramon Ware shared some jokes for our inspiration moment and had us all laughing.

Visitors

John Walker introduced Irina Shteinbok, who is checking out ways to serve in the community.

Greg Smith is our Rotarian in the Wild this week. Meghan shared a photo of him at the Matterhorn.

This week’s eggs for St Lukes celebrated the 49ers going to the Super Bowl!

Mark your calendars: First Tuesday happy hour is next week at Milan Italian Restaurant. There’s easy parking and it’s always a lot of fun.

Jean Marc Blanchard updated us on our project in Cambodia. He was able to tack on a visit last fall while he was on a business trip to Thailand.

We gave a $750 grant to Food For the Hungry, Cambodia. It’s all about enhancing food security, expanding education, and empowering the farmers in a community in the very north of Cambodia. They face serious challenges there because low economic opportunities with no higher value activities available other than subsistence farming.

A large part of our donation went toward providing clean water to an elementary school. We provided the means to build a tank, filter, hand washing station, and a toilet. Local villagers supported the labor to help build and maintain the facilities.

Our club grant also supported reading materials for Kids Club - to keep kids in school and off the street. The structure of Kids Club was built by villagers with villagers’ materials.

And finally, the Farmer Empowerment and Savings Club helps small-holding farmers be more efficient, alleviating poverty and empowering women. The savings club gives them a safe box and a ledger. This club is very successful and has become a social service provider in the community. They have even started side businesses. Our money is being used well.

He also visited the Phnom Penh Rotary Club, so he presented the flag to Meghan Burton.

30 for 30

Kirsten gave $100 in honor of AnnMarie Valle who is in attendance today. She can’t come often but we don’t know what we would do without her.

Grady Jeter honored Rotary for our peacemaking efforts in preventing war, remembering the bloody Vietnam conflict. And Jean Marc Blanchard matched his donation.

Nicholas Welzenbach celebrated the Chiefs - you can take the kid out of Kansas but not the Kansas out of the kid. (Editors note: Go Niners!)

The 21st Annual CrabFest and Auction!

The event is sold out and there is a wait list, so if you won’t be using your ticket please contact Suzanne Boxer Gassman or David Wells.

Lisa Cheskin says, “fight your friends to bid on the auction!”

That great presentation from Jean Marc Blanchard on the good we do around the world? We get to do that because of the auction!

To bid, please see the catalog at https://events.readysetauction.com/rotaryclublosgatos/crabfest2024/catalog/items

If you haven’t yet registered on the auction site, please do BEFORE the CrabFest. That said, there will be CrabTechs available onsite on Saturday to help.