Meeting brought to order at 12:30 by President Mike Norcia.
Pledge of Allegiance led by the visiting guests from the US Marines Corps.
Inspiration was provided by Jean-Marc Blanchard and focused on being selfless.
Guests:
- Beth Albers, introduced by Mike Norcia.
- Jaya Basu
- John Walker, guest of Marlon Smith
- Monique Blanchard, wife and guest of Jean-Marc Blanchard
- Two members of the US Marine Corps
Visiting Rotarians: Julia Anderson, Red Badge member from the Los Gatos Morning Rotary
Blue Badge: Jean –Marc Blanchard received his Blue Badge from Marty Fishman. Welcome Jean-Marc!
Rotarian Birthdays for the month of November: Henry Vitkovich, Sue Heller, Ensy Afdari, Suzanne Boxer-Gassman, Stefka Bonev, Russell Couch, Nava Fathi, Avis La Grone, Anjana Bose, Greg Smith, Ileana Aguilar, LeRoy Neider, Thomas Rossmeissl and Terri Trotter. Happy Birthday Rotarians!
Rotarian Anniversaries: John Colwell (57 years), Russell Couch ( 3 years), Greg Smith (9 years), Ed Stahl (56 years), Neal Mudgett (7 years), Hal Rosen (6 years), Gordon Levin (8 years), Margaret Smith (7 years), Tina Orsi-Hartigan (21 years) and David Hubbard (4 years).
Announcements
An ad was placed in the Los Gatos Weekly to publicize our Club. It contained a QR code for folks to scan if they are interested in learning more about us.
Our annual President’s Brunch will be held this coming Sunday, December 4 at 10:00am at the Cinnabar Golf Clubhouse. Henry Vitkovich spoke about the event and reminded us that we will be collecting toys for Toys for Tots. Two Marines also spoke about the Toys for Tots Program, its history and about how the toys are collected and distributed. Anyone interested in volunteering to help the Marines distribute the toys at the San Jose Christmas in the Park can sign up on their website at: https://www.toysfortots.org/.
The Los Gatos Christmas Parade this Saturday, 12/3 at 11:00am. We need walkers and a volunteer to be the crab. Contact Mike Norcia if you are interested.
Our December First Tuesday event will be held on Tuesday, December 6 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at John Pencer’s home, 1705 Husted Drive, San Jose, 95124. Please bring a drink or an appetizer to share. Dessert will be provided.
Club Roster hard copies are now available. You can pick one up at our weekly Tuesday meetings.
Spread the Warmth is a District wide effort in conjunction with Pacific Clinics. Please bring new or gently used blankets, coats and jackets to any meeting through December 20.
West Valley Community Services Gift of Hope Holiday Program will take place on December 10 at the West Valley Presbyterian Church (191 Bollinger Rd, Cupertino, 95014). If you would like to volunteer to deliver gifts to the families, there will be two shifts: 8:30am – 11:30am and 1:30pm – 3:30pm. You can contact Bobbi Bornstein if you are interested or need more information.
Good Karma Bikes Holiday Bike Event in conjunction with Sacred Heart Community Service and Silicon Valley Rainbow Rotary will be held on December 21 from 8:00am to 5:00pm at Sacred Heart Community Services, 1381 South First Street, San Jose, 95110. They will need logistical help to distribute bikes in three hour shifts. You can sign up to help at http://goodkarmabikes.org/volunteer/
Marty Fishman talked about the world wide endeavor of Giving Tuesday, the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving that focuses on donating to non-profit organizations. This is a great time to donate to the Rotary Foundation if you haven’t done so already. Last year our Club reached $47,000 in donations – this year our goal is to reach $50,000. We are currently at $22,935.
30 for 30
Doug Brent donated $100 in honor of three 3 wedding Anniversaries: (1) Lisa and Barry Cheskin, (2) his own 39th Anniversary (which he thought it was) and (3) - for his own 40th Anniversary, which it actually was!
Ed Stahl donated $30. He recently returned from a fabulous cruise to Ensenada.
Marty Fishman just got back from a great trip to Guatemala and donated $100 to the Charities Foundation.
Judy Rodriguez thanked the Club for the new hard copy Club Rosters.
Randy Cobb donated $50 in honor of his Mother who passed away on Thanksgiving.
John Colwell donated $100 in honor of the Michigan football game last weekend.
Sue Heller donated $30 in honor of her Thanksgiving celebration with family and friends, including a guest visiting from Ukraine.
Avis La Grone donated $100 in honor of her 64th wedding Anniversary.
Patti van der Berg donated $30 and shared that the Peninsula Food Runners Organization was chosen by the Mercury News to participate in their Holiday Wish Book program.
Program: Committee Profiles
Doug Brent and Tina Orsi-Hartigan talking about the Interact Clubs at Leigh High School and Los Gatos High School. The students work together to fundraise and perform local service projects. They are also learning the value of service-above-self. Avis La Grone helps out with the Leigh HS group and Terri Trotter helps out with the Los Gatos HS group as well.
Avis La Grone talked about Vietnam Project in general and the Interact students’ involvement with the Vietnam Project as well. The students are taking the skills they learn and are making great contributions long after they graduate high school. Mike Norcia played a video about the Rotary Vietnam Project from our District 5170.
Mike Norcia closed the meeting at 1:30pm.
No lunch meeting next week.