CARLSBAD HI-NOON ROTARY CLUB

The club meets at the Westin Resort on Mondays at noon (except Federal holidays). 
 

 Welcome to Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club!

The Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club (CHNR) welcomes Rotarians and other visitors to its Monday meetings. The club meets at the Westin Carlsbad Resort and Spa, 5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008.  A buffet lunch with salads and hot entrees is open at noon, with the business meeting beginning at 12:20 pm. 

The Club, chartered in February 1980, has over 70 members. The membership is very active and committed to the Rotary principle of "Service Above Self."  The club sponsors an energetic Interact Club at Carlsbad High School and each year sends both facilitators and students to the annual RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) conference for high school juniors and the Rotary LEAD symposium for eighth graders. The club sponsors Oktoberfest a Family Fall Festival--Oktoberfest 2025 is Number 42--including German food, German music, costume contests, games and a beer garden.  Check out the website for event specifics: www.RotaryOktoberfest.org. This event has been designed and implemented since its inception by BOTH Rotary Clubs in Carlsbad:  Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary and Carlsbad Rotary. Proceeds from Oktoberfest are shared with Carlsbad charities and used by each club for its many local community service projects.

Additionally, CHNR also supports our Carlsbad students via the AVID program at Carlsbad High School with a business and ethics conference plus college and trade school scholarships, a literacy project and book fair at Jefferson Elementary School, Junior Achievement and What Grown-Ups Do For Work, music instruction and a competition for middle school students, an essay contest for middle school students, and a speech contest focusing on the Rotary Four-Way Test for high school students. CHNR members provide extensive community:  service every weekday, all year, through meal delivery to seniors; once a month to Brother Benno's to serve breakfast to the homeless; once a month to the North County Food Bank; and a massive 20,000 food packaging event to assist the Food Bank. Additionally, the club provides financial support (resulting from our fundraising events) to a variety of nonprofit organizations in Carlsbad assisting food insecurity, the homeless, Solutions for Change, the Carlsbad Educational Foundation, Hospice of the North Coast, Casa de Amparo, the North County Food Bank, the Veterans Association of North County, La Posada, Stand Up for Kids, the Carlsbad Boys and Girls Club. We are People of Action.

During the 2023-2024 Rotary year, club members provided 1338 hours to ease food insecurity locally, 207 hours to elementary school projects, 237 hours to middle school training sessions, 1606 to high school conferences and activities, 1273 hours to senior citizen and family needs projects, and 2701 hours to international Rotary projects relating to potable water, pediatric health, Ukranian refugees, school design in Nairobi and gifts for disabled children in Mexico.  In addition to all the service members provide, they also have time to socialize and enjoy one another.  During the 2023-24 Rotary year, members had an opportunity to attend over 22 separate social events.  

Guests are always welcome at Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club . . . come to a meeting and learn more about the activities (service and social) that members enjoy.  Join us!

Next Meeting: Feb. 24 2025  
at the Westin  
Volume 7, Issue 5  
Reporter: Julie Walker  
Photographer: Nancy Starling
   
 
 
Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary
President Velyn Anderson
 
Pres Velyn Anderson called the meeting to order, George Sullivan led the Pledge, and Ken Clark led singing of the Smile song, God Bless America and the Welcome song.
 
KEY HI-NOON DATES
• Feb. 13 - Fireside Chat for New Members
DARK - February 17
• Feb. 20 - NCty Food Bank
• Feb. 21 - Poker Party
• Feb 24 MEETING: Speech Contest
• Feb. 28 - DineAround #1
• Mar.  1 - DineAround #2
• Apr 26-27 - RYLA Weekend
                                          
ANNOUNCEMENTS
            • DUES: Treas. Viveka Kjellgren will be contacting those who have not yet paid third-quarter dues: viveka@kjellgren.org or 203-984-2499.
            • OKTOBERFEST COMMITTEE: Anyone interested in serving on the 2025 Oktoberfest Committee can contact member Jenna Dotson: jdotson@RepublicServices.com. Oktoberfest is the major fundraiser for Hi-Noon and the Carlsbad Rotary clubs, and will be held Sept. 20, at the Carlsbad Strawberry Fields.
            • POLIO PIG: Our polio pig has collected $800 towards our club goal of $1,500 for the Stop Polio campaign during this Rotary year. Look for the pig when you arrive at the meeting sign-in table: He’s hungry for any spare change or even larger donations.
 
FIRESIDE CHAT FOR NEW MEMBERS
            President-elect Jim Brubaker is hosting a Fireside Chat, with light lunch, for new club members Thur., Feb. 13, 11:45am-1pm at his home. This is an opportunity to meet club board members and directors and learn more about club activities and opportunities. RSVP with Brubaker: brutwo@outlook.com or 760-845-6776...ASAP, please—and for the address. Any interested member welcome, especialy new and newer members.
 
SCHOLARSHIP RAFFLE UPDATE
            JoAnn Ross said our scholarship fundraiser is “off to a great start, but we haven’t crossed the finish line. You all get 24 raffle tickets to sell, and we need you to do that. It’s easy!” Grand prize is $5,000, 2nd prize is a four-night stay in a condo in Sedona, 3rd prize is an e-bike, and 4th prize is a wine package. The drawing will be at our Apr. 14 meeting. Last year, we gave out $41,000 in scholarships. This year’s goal is $50,000.
            Tickets are $20 each or six for $100. Sell or buy your tickets and bring the money and the ticket stubs to our meetings before the Apr. 14 drawing. For info or more tickets, contact Ross at ross93291@aol.com or 760-662-5385.
 
COMMUNITY SERVICE
            • Pres. Velyn thanked Tommy Hersant and Nate Cobb for seeing a need and helping a senior citizen who is on their home meal delivery route. They replaced her doorbell so she could actually hear it when her meals had arrived.
            • North County Food Band: Beth Garrow is putting together a team to help pack food at the North County Food Bank, Feb. 20, from 1-4pm. Members, partners and guests are welcome, but EACH needs to register. Garrow has emailed registration link and requirements, or contact her at bethgarrow@comcast.net
 
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
            • Poker Night, Feb. 21, 6pm, Richard Weston’s home. The game will be Texas Hold-em, and those not familiar with this game are invited to arrive at 5pm and join Phil Urbina, who will do a tutorial. Buy-in is $20, cash, small bills preferred. RSVP with Tommy Hersant, thersant@me.com or 760-855-5758 before the end of this month.
            • Feb. 28 and Mar. 1 DineArounds: Hosts have been set, and Danny Quisenberry had a sign-up sheet at this meeting. He asks that anyone else interested contact Tommy Hersant before the end of February: thersant@me.com or 760-855-5758.
            • Happy Hours and Pizza Night #2: Hersant is seeking suggestions for Carlsbad locations for monthly Happy Hours and also a host for the final pizza comparison testing. Contact him at thersant@me.com or 760-855-5758.
 
YOUTH SERVICE
            • Speech Contest: Our Four-Way Test speech contest for high schoolers will be the program for our Feb. 24 meeting. Students must apply the Four-Way Test to whatever topic they select for their speech. The winner will move onto the next level in the District 5340 competition. All club members are encouraged to attend this meeting: traditionally, these speeches have been amazing.
            • Bob Kreisberg shared that our club-hosted music competiton for students last week was a success and thanked Ken Clark, who was a judge. Kreisberg needs more speakers for the “What Grown-ups do for Work” program, and he said our successful Junior Achievement program at Valley School wrapped up last week.
            • RYLA HELP NEEDED: This year’s Rotary District 5340 RYLA camp for students (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) will be April 26-27, and adult facilitators are needed. Pres. Velyn has sent an invitation to members that includes lots of information about this weekend event that is for students who exhibit leadership abilities and which combines speakers, activities and events to inspire and encourage them. Our own Mike Metts has been involved in the district RYLA program for many years and can provide info: mmetts@dudek.com or 619-417-6304.
 
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
            PRAGUE 2025: A group of Hi-Noon Rotarians and spouses will be traveling to Prague, a Hi-Noon sister city, including Rick Huenefeld and Tommy Hersant and their wives, leaving on April 27. Anyone else interested can call either of them for information about the trip that will include meet-ups with Rotarians there.                                                                                                                                         
 
ROTARY BIRTHDAYS
& ANNIVERSARIES
            Pres. Velyn recognized members with February birthdays: Joan Boughton, Feb. 11; Yvonne Finocchiaro, 14th; Ken Clark, 17th; Jim Brubaker, 19th; and Tommy Hersant, 23rd. She also recognized Rotary anniversaries: hers, 14 years; Richard Weston and Wendy Wiegand, 22; Mike Metts, 23; Nate Cobb, 25; Joan Boughton, 26; Jeff Segall, 27; Kori Dolkus, 28; Julie Walker, 37 (2 clubs); Eric Lodge, 45; and Bruce Stewart, 49 years (2 clubs).
 
PROGRAM
Genealogy Made Easy
Speaker: Dee Whiting
 
            Dee Whiting got interested in genealogy many years ago when she wanted to learn more about her family roots. “Everyone makes history, but who records our experiences? How does your story fit?” She has discovered she “loves delving into tantalizing family history,” and along the way, she has found many resources, including the three libraries in Carlsbad. But there are so many other sources and options. Among them:
            1. All three of Carlsbad’s libraries offer online access to Ancestry Library Edition, FamilySearch and Findmypast. For example, Ancestry Library Edition offers access to census, vital records, immigration info, family histories, military, court and legal and more.
            2. To help individuals digitize their photos, etc, Carlsbad’s Cole Library has a book scanner, a photo and slide scanner, and also has an Ask a Genealogist program Dove Library can work with video in all formats.
            3. The La Jolla Library can help with audiotapes, and the San Diego FamilySearch Center has a photo scanner that can 34 pages per minute, front and back.
            4. North San Diego County Genealogy Society offers speakers, in person or via streaming, and arranges trips to Salt Lake Family History Library.
            5. Ancestry.com has 30 billion records individuals can access for free or with more detail by setting up a personal account. It also offers a DNA kit for a fee.                             
            6. RootsTech holds the world’s largest genealogy conferences in the world, and its site, RootsTech.org, has more than 1,500 genealogy speakers’ talks on various topics from past conferences available for streaming.
            “Genealogy without documentation is mythology,” one of her slides said. Whiting had handouts that listed resources and their access info for those who wish to begin or expand their own family research. Pres. Velyn can email it to anyone interested.
 
DARK: February 17
NEXT MEETING
February 24, at the Westin
 
Program:
CHNR Student Speech Competition
 
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Welcome
Carlsbad Hi-Noon

Service Above Self

We meet In Person
Mondays at 12:00 p.m.
Westin Carlsbad Resort and Spa
5480 Grand Pacific Drive
Carlsbad, CA 92008
United States of America
The club meets in-person at the Westin Resort (above The Flower Fields). The program starts at 12:20. Check schedule for variations.
Officers and Directors
President
President Elect
Past President
Secretary
Treasurer
Club Service Director
Community Service Director
International Service Director
Vocational Service Director
Youth Service Director
Membership Chair
Program Chair
Bulletin Editor
Scholarship Raffle Chair
Interact Chair
Foundation (TRF) RI Liaison
Executive Secretary/Director
Speakers
Dark
Feb 17, 2025
Presidents Day
CHS Speech Competition
Feb 24, 2025 12:00 PM
Courtney Snyder
Mar 03, 2025
Hubbs - Sea World
Jen Carlos
Mar 10, 2025
Sherri Singleton
Mar 24, 2025
Reducing Stress
Sub-Regional Speech Competition
Apr 07, 2025 12:00 PM
Scholarship Raffle
Apr 14, 2025 12:00 PM

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Rotary Leadership
Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick
Rotary District 5340 Governor Dianne Crawford