Welcome: President Jeff Segall offered some day-in-history facts, Ken Clark led the Smile song, Mimi Gaffey led the pledge, and Clark led singing of God Bless America. Gloria Foote offered Words, reading from an article titled “In Praise of Hard Knocks.” The message was that we earn success because we have overcome failure(s).
IMPORTANT DATES
• Sept. 21: North County Food Bank 1-4 pm – Beth Garrow
• Sept. 25 Mtg: Okt Overview – Kate Hanham
• Oct. 2 Mtg: Okt Opportunity Tix & Final Info
• Oct. 7: Oktoberfest!
PAUL HARRIS RECOGNITION
Mimi Gaffey recognized Wendy Wiegand for completing her eighth Paul Harris fellowship. Each Paul Harris represents a $1,000 cumulative donation to Rotary International for charitable RI efforts worldwide. Wiegand said she didn’t realize she had accomplished another Paul Harris because she uses auto-pay, with a designated PH amount donated monthly via a credit card. Anyone interested in finding out more about auto-pay should contact Gaffey.
Wendy Wiegand and Mimi Gaffey
MEMBER RECOGNITION
Pres. Jeff recognized JR Phillips for two excellent suggestions: (1) that the club do a community needs survey and (2) proposing a fundraising idea that while simple in application, can be financially effective. Both ideas are now being fine-tuned by club leaders.
FOUR-WAY TEST MOMENT
Pres. Jeff said no member signed up to share a Rotary Four-Way Test Moment. He asked that we consider doing so: sharing how an element or elements of the Four-Way Test have made a difference in your life, business and/or career.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
• North County Food Bank food packaging, Thur. Sept. 21, 1-4pm. Location is at 3030 Enterprise Court, Suite A, in Vista. Each person volunteering must sign up for this individually. Beth Garrow has emailed sign-up information or contact her at bethgarrow@comcast.net
• Bikes for the Barrio/Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad: We lost our contact with the vendor that provided bikes the last couple years. If you have any contacts with bike shops/vendors, please contact Beth Garrow.
OKTOBERFEST — OCT. 7
CARLSBAD STRAWBERRY FIELDS
One of Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary’s two major fundraisers
All members are expected to participate in some manner
• Sept. 25 Mtg: Okt Co-Chair Kate Hanham will provide an overview of this year’s Oktoberfest, including several changes and upgrades.
• Oct. 2 Mtg: Rotarians will be able to purchase Oktoberfest Opportunity Drawing tickets, and final Oktoberfest information will be given.
Hanham thanked everyone who has signed up as a volunteer, but alas, signups are lacking for the 4:30-8pm meal service areas. She again had signup sheets or volunteers can sign up via Signup Genius. Adult family and friends are welcome to sign up. Oktoberfest does not have an admission fee, but the Strawberry Fields has a $10 entry fee. Those who sign up as event volunteers will NOT have to pay that entry charge (any guests will, however). To contact Hanham: chanham@mentara.com
• Samantha Richter handed out Okt meal tickets. Each member paid for six meal tickets with their dues, and the idea is to get more people to Oktoberfest by handing them out to family, friends, co-workers, etc.
YOUTH SERVICES
Youth Services Director Bob Kreisberg explained that the overriding theme of everything the club does under the Youth Services umbrella is sharing with local youth the message that they can take on mountains, and while they may not be able to climb every mountain, they can move mountains.
Kreisberg said the club is hosting four middle-school students at the LEAD Conference that will take place in mid-October, and adult volunteers are welcome and needed. This is a two-day, overnight activity that helps youths better realize their potential through creative activities and via influential speakers. Contact Kreisberg for more info: bob@opusproductivity.com
ROTO-ROOTER
Phil Urbina put lawyer Danny Quisenberry “on trial,” asking the club “jury” to decide guilty or not after Urbina told how Quisenberry got Urbina to go on stage with others who were dancing to a band by saying Urbina’s friend-and-band-member had invited Urbina up. Quisenberry defended himself, saying the band member had invited everyone up on stage, hence Urbina was invited. Apparently it’s true that a lawyer who defends himself has a fool for a client: the jury voted in Urbina’s favor.
JR Phillips was asked to share about his sons: one is attending a Cal State maritime college, with the goal of becoming a ship’s captain; the other is in college in Oregon and is a member of its top-rated golf team.
Nancy Starling was asked about her recent journey overseas that occurred because she was the top bidder on a South African safari at a fundraiser. She took her son and two grown grandsons, and because it was a trip of a lifetime, they expanded it to three weeks to include more locales, including Jerusalem. They eventually traveled almost 25,000 miles.
Tommy Hersant shared about his just-completed dual-purpose trip to Ireland: as chair of the Carlsbad Sister City Committee, which is looking for another connection, and as a CHNR member looking at a possible sister club connection.
Raegan Matthews was quizzed about jello shots—at a Napa winery? Yes, she confirmed. The winery offered jello shots before the wine-tasting began.
Helen Wells was asked about her granddaughter, a new high school grad who has always wanted to go to Italy and who figured out a novel way to get there without much expense. After searching possibilities online, she took an au pair position with an Italian family with three young children. She doesn’t speak Italian, but the parents want their children to learn some English.
Velyn Anderson was recognized for participating in the recent club Happy Hour at Rick Huenefeld’s home, even though she doesn't drink. However, she does mingling and hors d’oeurves quite well.
After the day’s schedule speaker (see below), Urbina fined Pres. Jeff for thanking Urbina for providing the meeting’s second program of the day as Roto-Rooter.
PROGRAM
Birdwatching Part 1, with Rick Grove
(Birdwatching Part 2: Field Trip in November)
Rick Grove
Member Rick Grove said birding/birdwatching is the observation, study and enjoyment of birds. It is popular because it combines well with other pursuits, can be done anywhere, offers the opportunity to contribute to science—and is calming. “Birding forces me to slow down, be patient and to observe. It’s a great stress reliever,” he said.
According to the US Fish & Wildlife Service, about 45 million Americans are birders. Not much equipment is needed: binoculars, field guides and a range map are the basics, but a spotting scope and a camera are helpful additions.
Birds are everywhere, Grove said, noting that one day in his yard, in the Calavera area, he saw 73 individual birds, representing 15 species. He noted some major individual annual birding records have been set in San Diego County.
Birds are living dinosaurs, Grove said, and evolutionary biologists have come to recognize that birds are the only surviving members of dinosaurs called “Theropods,” which included two-legged dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus Rex and Velociraptors.
There are approximately 10,500 bird species alive today, but only about 800 can be found in the contiguous US. However, bird populations are declining dramatically, he said, with climate change having a lot to do with that.
Grove discussed different species and bird migration, explaining how birds navigate—and how sometimes, a bird gets lost. “Which is what makes birding fun! Discovering a bird where it’s never been seen before!”
He introduced member Samantha Richter, who had with her Blue, a North American Kestrel, a small member of the falcon family. Blue, she said, is one of four wild birds that can be visited at the Agua Hedionda Discovery Center. Because he was raised by humans, Blue must stay there. “He doesn't know how to be a bird,” she said, and could not survive in the wild. He was wearing a hood in order to keep him calm.
When asked about best bird feeders to draw birds to your yard, Grove said they don't have to be sophisticated or expensive. He suggested visiting the Wild Birds Unlimited store in the Bressi Ranch area of Carlsbad. He recommends the merlin.com app for new birders and suggests adding it to your smart phone. The app is great for new birders, he said, and includes bird call information and can actually ID bird calls.
Samantha and Blue, a Kestrel
Birdwatching Part 2 with Rick Grove:
In November, there will be two opportunities for those interested in taking a birding field trip with Grove as the guide. Dates are Nov. 18: time, location to be determined; and Nov. 19, on the Agua Hedionda Discovery Center trails, beginning at 8am. More information to come.
NEXT MEETING September 25, 2023
Speaker: Brooke Tafreshi
SD County DA’s Community
Partnership Prosecutors Program
Service Above Self
Carlsbad, CA 92008
United States of America