Welcome: President Mary Fritz-Wilson welcomed all to the meeting, including those members who were attending via Zoom. Dave Dana led the pledge, and Eric Lodge provided the day’s Words, sharing thoughts from “old hillbilly wisdom.”
Eric Lodge
Four-Way Test Rotary Moment: Viveka Kjellgren talked about how she discovered that applying the Four-Way Test can positively impact a work environment, helping to develop cooperation among departments and those within them.
Viveka Kjellgren
Hi-Noon’s Jefferson Christmas Project: Those shopping for Jefferson School families need to deliver their wrapped items to Velyn Anderson at next Monday’s meeting or by 1pm, Tues., December 13, to her home (call first; address emailed). The receiving family’s number and child’s first name need to be on each wrapped package. One to 2 more drivers are needed to deliver the gifts to Jefferson on Wed., December 14. Contact her at VelynA@msn.com.
UPDATE: Bikes for the Barrio Project: Rotarians (friends and family welcome) will meet at the Boys & Girls Club, 3115 Roosevelt St., AT NOON on December 17 to build more than two dozen bikes for Barrio youth, under pro supervision. In addition to bike builders, HELPERS are needed to open and break down bike boxes and to organize bikes, helmets or locks. TOOLS needed: Phillips screwdriver; 4mm, 5mm and 6mm allen keys; adjustable end wrench; 10mm, 14mm, 15mm combination wrench pliers; cable cutters; torque wrench; boxcutter; and tarp or blankets to work on. DRIVERS are needed to get the bikes to the Boys & Girls Club that morning. Contact Velyn Anderson, VelynA@masn.com.
Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest: Wear your ugly Christmas sweater to our December 19 meeting, the final meeting of December and of 2022. A prize is promised.
IMPORTANT HI-NOON DATES
• Thur, Dec. 8: Tour of Aqua Farms Carlsbad. One ticket may still be available. Contact Mary Fritz-Wilson
• Tues, Dec. 13, 1pm: Jefferson shoppers’deadline for delivering wrapped gifts to Velyn Anderson (call first)
• Wed, Dec. 14: 2:30pm: Jefferson drivers meet at Velyn Anderson’s home to pick up/deliver gifts to Jefferson
• Sat, Dec. 17, 11am: “Bikes for Barrios” drivers pick up boxes of bikes from Velyn Anderson’s home
• Sat, Dec. 17, Noon: Building “Bikes for the Barrio,” Carlsbad Boys & Girls Club in the village
• Mon, Dec. 19: Ugly Christmas sweater contest for CHNR meeting
• DARK: Dec. 26 and Jan. 2
MAYOR MATT HALL will be the club’s guest speaker next Monday, December 12. Hall, who has served the community for 38 years, including the last 12 as mayor, is retiring the next day. Hi-Noon will honor him for his long service, and in-person attendance is encouraged. Friends and family welcome. Among key accomplishments during Hall’s time in service to Carlsbad are the Growth Management Plan and helping steer the city to a prudent and strategic approach with city finances, making Carlsbad one of the wealthiest cities in the county. Hall is a 29-year member of the Carlsbad Rotary Club. His talk undoubtedly will include a Carlsbad look back, and perhaps, a look forward.
Mayor Matt Hall
OKTOBERFEST WRAP-UP: Vince Ponce reported on our Oktoberfest #40, with information on volunteers, volunteer hours and total revenue in comparison with previous years. In 2018, total revenue was $42,400; in 2019: $47,000; in 2020: $48,000; in: $51,000—and this year: $65,032! Our club’s split is approximately $34,000. Long-serving Hi-Noon Oktoberfest Committee members retiring after this year: Tom Applegate, Julie Walker and Ponce. Kate Hanham is taking over as Hi-Noon co-chair, to serve with lead co-chair Bill Baer, Carlsbad Rotary. Ponce also recognized Samantha Richter and Rachel Ivanovich, marketing and sponsorships chairs, respectively, for their outstanding efforts. He then shared an Oktoberfest video, by two Carlsbad High students.
MEMBER PROMOTION: Gloria Foote presented Linda Wolf with her blue badge, noting that Wolf took a remarkably fast track from red badge (rookie) to blue, getting involved in projects and activities from day one. When asked what she had enjoyed most since she joined: “Rotarians at Work-building a fence, and how everyone worked so well together to get it done.”
Gloria Foote and Linda Wolf
CHNR HOLIDAY PARTY: LeAnn and Josh Rytz hosted this year’s party, and JoAnn Ross coordinated the event. Ross thanked Leslie and Jim Brubaker, who provided two cooked turkeys; George Sullivan, who provided a smoked turkey. Elaine Sullivan brought cranberries made using her grandmother’s recipe, and Mo Taylor cooked two large batches of homemade dressing. Jim Brubaker donned his Santa suit and presented some gifts: to LeAnn Rytz as home and kitchen hostess, Mary Fritz-Wilson as club president; and JoAnn Ross, as event planner.
Christmas party fun, from left: Mary Fritz-Wilson with
her special apron from Santa Jim; LeAnn Rytz and Santa;
JoAnn Ross receives a pair of sandals (see Roto-Rooter)
YOUTH SERVICES - Bob Kreisberg
• Model UN: Kreisberg said there will be two teams (two students each) representing Carlsbad High at the Rotaray’s 2023 Model UN weekend. Each team is given a country to represent and must learn everything they can about that country in order to represent what the country’s input would be on two resolutions. Carlsbad Rotary (evening club) will be working with our club, assisting these students as they begin preparing, in Januray, for the Model UN, scheduled for next April. Last year, Model UN resolutions involved nuclear proliferation and climate change, and participants had to respond as their country would respond.
• What Grown-Ups Do for Work: Carlsbad Rotary also is getting involved with this Hi-Noon program that supplies speakers talking about their careers to students at Carlsbad’s three middle schools.
• Pickleball: Mo Taylor has been seeking grants to fund this program that would establish a Pickleball program for youths. SDG&E is donating $1,000, and Dick’s Sporting Goods is considering an equipment donation.
ROTO ROOTER: Ed Roquette
Roquette asked Jim Brubaker’s about his Santa experience. “I learned there are three stages to a man’s life: when he believes in Santa, when he doesn’t, and when he IS Santa.” JoAnn Ross was asked why Santa Jim gave her a pair of sandals at the club Christmas Party. Ross, who usually goes barefoot, but wears sandals when shoes are required due to a foot issue, came to one Rotary meeting barefoot—and without her sandals. She was rescued by Nancy Starling, who keeps an extra pair of shoes in her trunk (!). Also recognized JR Phillips, whose UC Berkeley daughter will be doing some study abroad in Spain next semester, and whose son are avid golfers. One recently caddied for pro golfer Xander Schauffele.
Members who will be traveling this holiday season: Julie Walker will be tall-ship sailing in the Caribbean; Steve Ahlquist and his wife will be “meandering” west to east, ending up in Tennessee with their kids for Christmas; Dave Dana is heading to Florida for to celebrate with his kids and grandkids; Yvonne Finocchiaro is doing reverse travel—with 31 family members coming to her house, including her 97-year-old mother.
Josh Rytz was asked for an update their Baja home that was battered by a recent hurricane: A 50-foot wide, 15-foot tall seawall has been completed, involving a lot of rock.
PROGRAM
Sher DeWeese
TIP: Trauma Intervention Program
Sher DeWeese and Linda Wolf
Jeff Segall introduced speaker Sher DeWeese as the executive director of TIP and CHNR member Linda Wolf as one of the TIP volunteers. TIP (Trauma Intervention Program) is a non-profit, volunteer-based program that assists those who are dealing with traumatic circumstances.
TIP volunteers provide both emotional first aid and practical support, DeWeese said. “TIP volunteers are selfless. They make themselves available to go into a complete stranger’s home—to just be there for them...Most people don’t know what to do after the EMTs and law enforcement have to leave. We help them make it through the next few hours, let them know they’re not alone...We acknowledge and validate their feelings.” One recently received letter praised Wolf’s efforts during a very traumatic night for the writer: “She is an angel on Earth.”
Types of calls that TIP volunteers answer (after being contacted by first responders) include senior death, expected or unexpected death, suicide and attempted suicide, overdose, SIDS, vehicle and industrial accidents, drowning, natural disaster, fire, mass casualty, homicide, medical emergency and more.
DeWeese said TIP has more than 70 volunteers in coastal, East and North San Diego County and 14 affiliates nationwide. Last year, TIP responded to 1,162 calls in this service area. Prior to Monday’s meeting, this year’s number was 1,017, but she expected another 120 or more by year’s end. Holiday time is an especially busy call time.
TIP volunteers are a variety of ages and come from many backgrounds. No special prior training is needed because TIP has a 39-hour classroom training academy and three-month field training. Volunteers are asked to commit to three 12-hour “on call” shifts per month and to attend monthly continuing education meetings.
For more information: Tipsandiego.org
Service Above Self
Carlsbad, CA 92008
United States of America