January 4, 2023
Evening meeting
Volunteers for this meeting:
Greeter: Jim Reid
Pledge: John Mullin
Inspirational Message: Benita Page
Scribe: Judy Lutticken
A/V: Dave Brooks
Front Desk: Pat Chafee, Joel Doss, Mark Alberts
Sgt. At Arms: Joel Doss and crew
Photographer: Bill Brehm
The meeting was called to order by President Jim Reid and began with recitation of the Four-Way test.
Pledge of Allegiance – John Mullin gave an interesting and animated history of the Pledge of Allegiance that drew both laughter and a deeper understanding/respect for our Pledge.
Mark Alberts was the Greeter. We had one visiting Rotarian, Ron Kohn of the Golden Triangle Rotary Club. The wives and significant others were introduced by their husbands, friends, and relatives. Joel Doss sang the Welcome Song.
Benita Page gave an Inspirational Message based upon the Three Questions by Leo Tolstoy.
There were quite a few Announcements.
Vines & Vittles: Alan Turner announced the Community Enhancement Program, County Supervisor Joel Anderson has dedicated $18,000. Vines & Vittles also received $18,000 from the City of San Diego - $36,000 total. Thanks to the grant writings of Barb Alberts and Charlene Zettel.
Alan also announced the date for Vines & Vittles is June 1, 2024. Extra help will be added to V&V to help reduce work for the volunteers such as an Event Coordinator. For example, a member finds a committed beer vendor, informs the Event Coordinator, and it will handle it from there.
Our President, Jim Reid, announced the contract with The Heights is completed with no price increase. Patrick Chaffe and Alan Turner also served on President Jim’s committee.
Upon the request of many members, primarily our working members, there will be more evening meetings through June 2023.
Club Board Changes: Bill Brehm is handing over the Sgt. in Arms to Joel Doss as Bill will take over the Director of Large duties.
A Transportation Committee will be headed by John Mullin to provide rides to and from the Rotary Meetings for those who need it.
Bob Vaughn, Rotary Foundation, presented the Paul Harris Fellowship Award to Ken Heinz, the 6th pin (Congratualtions, Ken). He reminded fellow Rotarians the goal contribution to the Rotary Foundation is $100 dollars per year (this is not to be confused with the Rancho Bernardo Rotary Foundation).
Changes in the Meeting Format:
The President will lead the Pledge of Allegiance
The Inspirational Message will be given only for Red Badge needs
Positive Notes: No Fines. No Boos. Only Happy Bucks by Athenea! However, you can still fine yourself!
Announcements will be very limited. Any announcement of your project should be given to our President by Monday (week of the meeting) so it can be placed on the slide presentation.
Family of Rotary: Unfortunately, Don Glover has been ill during his holiday trip to Boston. Sonny Googins has pneumonia. We all wish you both a speedy recovery and looking forward to seeing you at our Rotary meeting.
Athenea Luciano shared two thank you notes for the Matching Gifts: One was a cute “Hand Turkey” note from Vista Hills and the second was from Abraxas High School Garden mentioning 20,000 lbs of produce was given to various charities.
President Jim Reid modeled his fabulous camel coat again. John Mullin reported the current “The Camel Coat” fund is $570.00!
Happy Bucks: Ms. Personality, Athenea, charmed members to fill Joel’s golden basket. There were $$$ for a variety of Happy Moments. For instance: PJ donations; cars all fixed and running; last to present an Inspirational Message, and many more. Thank you.
Jim Hyldahl introduced our Speaker Bob Lutticken, Abraxas High School Garden Update.
Bob Lutticken first gave a brief history of Abraxas – a school for those students who do not function well in the normal High School. Abraxas started in a single room at Poway High School with 4 students. Now, it has its own campus with a student body of over 218 students plus a Transition Program for ages 18-22. After a brief explanation of aquaponics, he then emphasized how the Abraxas Garden offers the students vocational skills, developmental skills, health skills, and culinary skills. Slides were shown of students building the planter boxes, the aquaponic beds, the fish pond, maintaining the garden. Pictures of the Summer Crop and the Winter Crop were amazing. The students now learn what “Farm to Table” means as they cook in a ‘state of the art kitchen’. They cook their produce, learn to set the table, and actually sit down and enjoy a meal together - for many, this is a new experience. He shared some of the hardships his students face. For fundraisers, jars of pesto, salsa, and Sriracha are sold – all made by the students and from the garden’s produce. It was an enlightening and entertaining presentation.
Bob also offered to give any Rotarian a tour of the garden – just contact him. Abraxas is located at 12450 Glenoak Rd. Poway, Ca.; contact information is on their website.
As President of the RB Rotary Foundation, Athenea presented Bob Lutticken with a Matching Gift check for $3750.00. He thanked our club for this Ultima 20,000 gallon filter which was recently installed and said this filter will increase the amount of nutrients available in the pond and, in turn, will increase the productivity of the garden.
Terry Heck presented Bob with a book on Survivors, which Bob signed. The book will be donated to the Bernardo Heights Middle School Library.
Next meeting; David Wambaugh: Lives Lost Because of the Stigma surrounding Mental Illness and Suicide. (President Jim said that our speaker calendar is filled for the next 6 months!)
A full and fun filled meeting. Thank you all present.
Meeting adjourned with the sound of the bell.