----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meetings in June 2013
June 12, 2013
Today's speaker was George Wiley, SLV Board of Education, advocating for the SLV Foundation for Education. He and Cathy Ritchie spoke today about the need to revitalize this organization. They are looking for people to join and contribute to the Foundation. Next is the meeting 6pm, Tues, June 18, Room 12 at the SLV USD offices iin Quail Hollow. Karen was very animated in recognizing our member for various contributions over the past year: Judy for driving Rotacare contributions, Priscilla as secretary, Carol for Foundation, Don for selling so many car raffle tickets, Mike & Janet for moving to SLV and Thomas for singing. Our collection for contributing to the victims of the Oklahoma tornados raised $193. One of the winners of the Rotary Laptops is Austin Kuhr, he came to our meeting today with his sister Lauren.
Mike Holton Oklahoma Collection


George Wiley Cathy Ritchie


Carol says $3 ! Bob, Karen & Mary


Karen awards the laptop computer to Austin

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 5, 2013
Today Linda and Mary reviewed their process for selecting speakers for the past few months: April, community service; May, water. They led the discussion in suggestions for topics in our upcoming meetings, mainly to assist Cameron in pulling together future programs. Communications, transportation, vocational appreciation, history were among the suggestions from the members. Karen reminded the club that our new governor Angie Hasler would be visiting July 31 - please be sure to attend. Also announced: July 3rd meeting, swearing-in of new president Heather Henderson at the Felton Presbyterian Church. Mary went on to win one of our largest raffle pots ever!
Mary & Linda

----------------------------------------------------------
Meetings in May 2013
May 29, 2013
Jay Saber was the winner of the Fiat Spyder raffle. He bought one ticket for his girlfriend who came home from the hospital on her birthday in her mother's Fiat Spyder! Today District Lt Gov Jeff Orth recognizes Charlie for the progress in membership this year; and he presented Karen with the Presidential Citation award. Speaker John Ricker of the Santa Cruz County Department of Environmental Health talked on the future of water in the San Lorenzo Valley. Assessment summary: quality is improved over the past couple decades but quantity has been in continuous decline and is now unsustainable. The deficit is attributed not to overpumping but rather to paving over groundwater recharge areas; read "development". There are difficult choices to be made in the coming years.
Karen recoqnizes Thomas John Ricker


District Lt Gov Jeff Orth Jeff recognizes Karen


Jeff Recognizes Charlie

----------------------------------------------------------
May 22, 2013
President Karen and President-elect Heather announced we will be awarding 3 $200 scholarships to SLV seniors this year in addition to the 2 $1,000 scholarships already committed. Today's speaker was Jim Mueller, SLV Water District General Manager. He described the Emergency Intertie Project that will enable connecting the Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, SLV, Mt Hermon and Lompico water districts in case of emergency or other mutual aid use. This project is using funding provided by "Prop 50" which started out at $13 million, but has been reduced to $5.5 million!
Karen and Heather making announcements Jim Mueller

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 8, 2013
President Karen presented one of the two laptops awarded to SLV students in the essay contest. Melissa Allen was the winner. President-elect Heather presented some of the highlights of the recent District Presidents' meeting, she and Karen sold 6 auto raffle tickets there! Heidi Luckenback was our speaker today, discussing water resources and growth in Santa Cruz City and Soquel Creek Water district. There is an increasing problem with salt water intrusion into the aquifer shared between these two jurisdictions. Two factors are now impacting the most: required cut-backs in ground water pumping and restrictions on surface water usage to leave water for fish. The two districts are partnering on the proposed desalination project as the best alternative to allow for State Sanctioned growth here! Rock and Hard Place.
Heidi Melissa & Karen


Heather

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 1, 2013
A few business items were noted today: Joe Griffin recruited volunteers for the Club's next Community Service workday May 18 at the Felton Community Center; Club members would finalize and pick the laptop computer essay contest winners; and Linda Fawcett announced that the "debunking" of out-going president Karen would be at Joe and Linda's house the evening of Wednesday, June 26. Today's speaker was Jim McKenna board member and current president of the Resouce Conservation DIstrict. This organization was formed through the merger of 2 soil conservation districts in Santa Cruz County - Redwood and Pajaro.
Joe Griffin Jim McKenna


----------------------------------------------------------
Meetings in April 2013
April 24, 2013
Today we heard from Barbara Mason, Economic Development Coordinator of Santa Cruz County. She has been in the position for 9 months and is currently reviewing the town plans for the SLV communities. She is also working on a new report on businesses in the county. Linda asked about Brookdale Lodge - there is progress to report Barbara says, plumbing has been stabilized as well as electrical and the pool. There is a roof permit in the works and the mortgage holder is working on re-pricing the property to prepare it for sale. Barbara says there has already been one offer to purchase.
Karen presented our Mt Hermon server Ellen with a set of earrings - fried eggs! The club appreciates Ellen serving us each Wednesday morning with a smile.
Tom Hart was here today, President-Elect of the Santa Cruz Sunrise Club, he was making up a meeting. He announced his Club's annual golf tournament fundraiser for scholarships - and our club board decided to sponsor a hole in exchange for all the support we've received from Sunrise.
Finally, the spectacular bloomings around Mt. Hermon are yielding to greenery, I took a couple photos of some of the blooms that remain to include in this post.
Ellen admires the fried eggs Barbara Mason





---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 17, 2013
Today's speaker was Fred McPherson who spoke on the "State of the River", the SLV that is. He has devoted years to the study and observation of our river. An educator, he is a true asset to the community. Before Fred spoke Karen regaled the club gathering with her song stylings of "When You're Smiling" and a new set of lyrics to "McNamara's Band"; she wants more singing here, couldn't hurt I guess. Here are photos of Karen leading us in "Smiling" and our friend Fred.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 10, 2013
Today's speaker was Linda Levy of the Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center. Linda also serves as the County Art Commissioner representing the 5th District. She covered lots of topics including the various means that art is promoted throughout the County. She has coordinated the Bonnie Doon Art Studio Tour which has been very popular and well-attended.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 6, 2013
Although not a meeting, today Karen and Don met at the weekly Capitola car show to show the Fiat that will be auctioned May 25. We sold 10 or so more tickets.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 3, 2013
Today we had the first of series of speakers with updates on other organizations and activities in the San Lorenzo Valley, Brenda Holmes, Executive Director for Mountian Parks Foundation. The Foundation provides funding for: visitor and nature centers; nature and cultural history events; professional interpretive staff; supplies and resources used by the parks’ more than 200 dedicated volunteers and docents; trail signs, information panels, books, guides, maps and materials that inform and broaden visitors’ park experiences; and facilities, services, special programming and other activities.
Karen honored Rotary Women Brenda


Adam Haste, guest today

------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 27, 2013
Carly Galarneau of the Family Service Agency of the Central Coast spoke today of the Suicide Prevention Service which is part of this organization. Among other facts she imparted - this Service handles 400 calls per month.
Don't forget our fundraiser car raffle, check the home page here for details.
Carly

March 20, 2013
Our speaker today was Laura Kasa of the Save Our Shores (SOS) organization. This pioneering environmental activist group was founded here in Santa Cruz county in 1978. Since the "bag ban" has gone into effect in areas of Santa Cruz county the amount of trash picked up monthly during monthly cleaup days sponsored by SOS has gone down, but still it's a huge problem. Some facts: July 5th is the worst day of the year for trash on the beaches after a night of partiers leave their crap behind all over Santa Cruz county beaches; cigarette butts are the single most picked up items of trash; 60,000 plastic bags are discarded in the USA every 5 seconds; 1 million plastic cups are thrown in the land fills every 6 hours by USA airlines; Americans discard 2 million plastic bottles every 5 minutes. Please support this organization with your time, effort, money and expertise: http://www.saveourshores.org/ .
Laura

March 13, 2013
Today's speaker was Bryan Largay presenting Safe Routes to School, an organiztion working to create a safe walking and biking path between Felton and Ben Lomond. This has been "in planning since before 2006 and should include projects in Boulder Creek as well. The group is seeking community support for grants from CalTrans and the Federal Government.
Bryan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March 6, 2013
Win this car! Karen announces the club's major fundraiser for this year - raffle of this 1980 Fiat Spider Convertible. Tickets ar $10, each club member has a supply and can sell you tickets; or simply E-mail me via this web site's Contact Us link in the main menu. The drawing will be held as part of the Felton Remembers Celebration this coming May 25, 2013.








February 13, 2013
Previous club member Jeannie Kegebein visited today announcing two upcoming fundraising activities of the Freedom Club: Crab Feed on March 3 and Casino Night March 16. Information and Tickets are available on their web site. Our new member Angelique presented some of her background to the club as part of the Blue Badge requirements. Charlie was chairing the meeting today and presented the red badge to Angelique. The main speaker today was Ama Del Lavett of the Survivors Healing Center. Now part of the Family Service Agency, this group works with victims of sexual abuse. http://www.fsa-cc.org/survivors-healing-center/
Angelique & Charlie Ama













We met for our annual Christmas Season lunch today. President-elect Heather gave a quick reminder of the Speech Contest to be held later today at SLV High School. And Georgianna Hildebrand of the Scotts Valley Rotary gave an update on the now annual trip to Uspantan, Guatemala in support of disease prevention, especially lung disease. There will be a health fair sponsored by the Rotary for oral, ear and eye health in children; also screening for tuberculosis, blood pressure and diabetes; educational stations on sanitation and nutrition; and more. The trip is set for February 1 through 7, 2013. The members of our club contributed a total of $325 toward the Uspantan trip and health fair. Piano student Schuyler Bergeron gave a short recital, he is the son of President-Elect Heather Henderson; then Dave Talbot, Mount Hermon pianist played a number of traditional Christmas carols for us to sing along with. Finally our President Karen gave some special recognition to Roger Miller for his years-in/years-out dedication to SLV Rotary and Mountain Parks Foundation and then she played Santa giving each member gifts. The pictures from the meeting give a taste of the fun.










-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meetings in November 2012









---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meetings in October 2012
October 31, 2012
The last meeting for this month was the Halloween Party planned and executed by President Karen. She had hats for us all , suitably embarrassing, to wear for the meeting. So here are some pictures of us in these favorite hats belonging to Karen (where does she get 'em?). Not in order!











-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 24, 2012
In addition to our speaker today, we had three guests: Scotts Valley Club Service Officer Georgianna Hildebrand, Rotaract member Angelique and Giants fan Ben. The meeting began with member Carol Miller describing the guided tour she and Roger had of the Golden Gate Bridge, this is something that a lot of tourists do of course, but us locals aften overlook. She really enjoyed it and recommends it to us all. President Karen announced that she was seeking input for additional community projects that the club might undertake; please submit your ideas directly to her. Our distinguished speaker today was visiting Rotarian Miguel Angel Martinez Pereyra, Past District 4890 Governor in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He described his club, district and their projects. He also highlighted 5 major projects partly funded by The Rotary Foundation that his District spearheaded. Then Karen worked the group into an even more excited state cheering on her beloved Giants who meet the Detroit Tigers tonight in Game 1 of the 2012 World Series. I'm not sure if Miguel Angel was on board and it goes without saying that since your humble correspondent remains an L.A. Dodgers fan (maybe the only one north of the Tehachapi Mountains!), I tried to remain polite throughout but probably did let loose one untoward comment. Anyway, thanks to all the Giants fans Karen raised almost $50 in fines on the spot!
Carol talking about her tour of the Golden Gate Bridge

Miguel Angel speaking on the Argentina Rotary Foundation Projects
Here Karen and Miguel Angel exchange club banners

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 17, 2012
President-elect Heather Henderson gave updates on the SLV HS Interact Club activities. And June Gilliam of Scotts Valley was our speaker today and presented an extensize slide show on the Shen Yun travelling show. This is a combination of Chinese traditional dancing and music with Western orchestration layered on top. This company originated in New York and is currently travelling the US, it will give performances in San Jose this coming January.
Heather gives the update report on Interact

June Gilliam presents Shen Yun

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 10, 2012
Today our distinguished guest was Angelee Aspacio, member of the Rotaract club at SLV High School. Judy Anderson is just back home from a cruise to Cabo San Lucas - a fine time was had by all she says. This cruise was exceptional in that it originated in San Francisco and did not require any links via airlines. Karen awarded her the precious St Patrick's day Giants hat from spring training - Go Giants! New member Cameron Haste gave a presentation of his background from Scotland to SLV. His family came from Scotland, settled in Long Beach California where Cameron went to school and college at Domingues Hills, CSU. He is currently a banker with Bay Federal. Cameron lives in Ben Lomond, the "best town in SLV" according to him! He has two children who live in New Jersey whom he sees regularly. New member Bob Fuller filled us in on his upbringing in Michigan where his father was a commercial fisherman. He attended a one-room school house where the walking trip to school from his home was "up hill both ways". He is married to Margie (34 years) and lives in Boulder Creek.
Here's the Green Giants Hat Award

Barry Zito was starting pitcher today - he struggles a lot
New member Cameron Haste fulfilling the most important Blue Badge requirement. I apologize for poor photo.

New member Bob Fuller fulfilling one of the Blue Badge Requirements
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 3, 2012
Today Karen named Priscilla Weiss "Rotarian of the Month" and awarded her the pin and a pair of earrings. The speaker today was visiting member Janet Coit. Janet and Mike Holton have been with us all summer contributing to our clubs meetings, projects and other community endeavors, including the annual River/Road Cleanup. The River/Road Cleanup is an annual project driven by the Valley Women's Club in conjunction with Save Our Shores and their annual Coastal Cleanup - Thanks Mike. In a couple days Janet is leaving to return to Florida where she is a member of the Spring Hill Rotary Club. Today she gave us a complete run-down of that club and its many projects. We expect Mike and Janet back next year, since they have a lovely new home (all redwood) to come home to on Bear Creek Rd.
Priscilla receives her pin and earrings

Janet and Mike, visiting Rotarians from Spring Hill, Florida

Janet gives details of her club's projects and accomplishments

President Karen presents Janet with two books on the redwoods of SLV and Henry Cowell Park



Rotary Double Sustainers Joe Griffin, Linda Fawcett, Karen McNamara, Carol Miller, Julie Haff, Priscilla Weiss, Cameron Haste with DG Joe Hamilton
ADG Jon Winston and Gil Gunn look on

ADG Jon introduces District Governor Joe Hamilton

District Governor Joe Hamilton addresses the group

Our club's two new members Bob Fuller and Cameron Haste with their sponsors and President Karen McNamara and District Governor Joe Hamilton

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 12, 2012
Willie Elliot-McCrae, Executive Director gave the group an update on the Second Harvest organization in Watsonville. This organization is the first food pantry in California, founded in 1972; it's the second one in the USA. Our club will be helping out Saturday, 9/22 at the "Barrel Wrap". For more information see their web site: http://www.thefoodbank.org/.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 5, 2012
The club got to meet at its regular venue today, the lovely and comfortable Birch Dining Room at the Mount Hermon Conference Center. We are very fortunate to have such a nice place for our meetings. Today's speaker was Don Broesemle, Director of Church Relations for Mount Hermon. He related some of the history of the campgrounds and how Roger Williams provided the impetus for community involvement. Rotary was one of the beneficiaries of this initiative, allowing us to have such a nice venue for our meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meetings in August 2012
August 29, 2012
This morning we met at the Henry Cowell Nature Lodge for pot luck breakfast. As usual - way too much food, but all of us enjoyed ourselves. Our speaker/guest was Daniel Williford, Henry Cowell Park Interpreter. This photo shows the poster that has been designed to publicize the Park and the San Lorenzo River Valley watershed. It's awaiting publication and should be available soon.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 21, 2012
This is the annual "Welcome New SLV Teachers" breakfast hosted by the club. Julie Haff and Sue Seeger led in preparing this breakfast meeting. Here's a photo of the teachers who attended.

August 1, 2012
The group met at President Karen McNamara's home again, since Mt Hermon is so busy these days. Yet another nice breakfast provided by Karen and she prevailed on her husband Butch to talk about his career as a nuclear engineer and rocket engineer at several companies. He is currently at Lockheed in the Silicon Valley, the result of a string of large-profile mergers over the years.
Did I mention that Karen and Butch have a lot of clocks?

The group liked that one!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 27, 2012
Two weekends in August the club's members volunteer at Day Out With Thomas The Train at Roaring Camp in Felton. It's a lot of fun and a nice fundraiser for the club.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meetings in July 2012
July 11, 2012
The club met at Rocky's Diner in Felton for Karen McNamara's installation as the club president for 2012/2013. Jon Winston the new Area 7 Assistant Govenor presided and administered the oath of office.

The jacket just fits.

Judy and Priscilla like it a lot.

Charlie and Joe look on.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 18,2012
Today the club met a Karen McNamara's home, the "House of the Clocks". Roger Miller talked to us about his time as a very busy Ranger-Docent at Big Basin Park. He related his experiences working and docenting on several of the major trails in the park: the Redwood Loop, Creeping Forest, the Dool Trail and of course the trail to Berry Creek Falls.

Karen's idea for a major fundraising event this year: raffle off her cute Fiat convertible sports car.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Photos
2012 Speech Contest Winner - Chance Pringle with Heather Henderson
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meetings in June:
June 6, 2012:
Johan Prambs, junior at SLV High presents his follow-up study on Fall Creek restoration attempts made 20 years ago. Looking at improvement in suitability for fish spawning.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 13, 2012
Julie Haff, Jeff Calden, Mike Arredondo hosted the club meeting for a tour of the new libraries at SLV High School and SLV Middle School. Cheryl Morris is Library Media Specialist for the Middle School and Jane Langdon is the Library Media Specialist for the High School.

Jeff and Cheryl in the Middle School Library:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

