Rancho Bernardo Rotary
March 14, 2024
Don Liso greeted Rotarians and their guests today with a friendly smile and warm handshake. He hadn’t been tapped as greeter since 2004 and was an excellent host!
At 12:11, President Jim rang the bell and began the meeting early at the request of The Heights. He led Rotarians in the Four-Way Test, our statement of Rotarian values, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Volunteers for the Day were highlighted and thanked:
Greeter: Don Lisio
Scribe: Charlene Zettel
A/V Dave Brooks
Front Desk: Joel Doss, Mark Alberts
Sgt. At Arms: Joel Doss, Bob Vaughn, and John Goodrich
Photographer: Bill Brehm
Introduction of guests: Don Lisio introduced today’s guests including Joanne Hyldahl, Bo Mathys (President of Poway Symphony Orchestra Foundation), Allie Sarnataro (Executive Director of Ride Above Disability Foundation), Chris Frank, and Tracy and Steve South. Joel Doss led Rotarians in our famous welcome song to conclude introductions.
President’s announcements:
The Regional Music Competition will be at 7:00pm on March 19 at Carlsbad by the Sea. Come see RB Rotary Club’s winner, Abigail Chong perform in this competition.
March 21 Rotary meeting: Bob Vaughn will auction off a beautiful wood piece – so bring a check, cash, or your Zelle account to purchase.
The Poway Symphony Orchestra will be celebrating their 20th Anniversary Concert and reception on Sunday, March 24th at the Poway Performing Arts Center at 4:00pm. Tickets for the reserved Rotary section can be purchased Friday or Saturday from 1:00-6:00pm at the box office or by calling (858) 748-0505.
The Model UN Conference is being held March 23 & 24 at the Del Mar City Hall. Please register via the Rotary district website.
Our joint Rotary meeting with RB Sunrise will be Tuesday evening April 16 at 5:30pm.
The Vista Hill Foundation Fashion Show & Luncheon will be Friday, April 19 from 10:00am – 2:00pm at the Town and Country Hotel in San Diego. Contact Barbara Crew for more information.
The RB Rotary/Seven Oaks Association cleanup is Saturday, April 20 at 7:00am till 1:00pm. Lunch will be served at noon.
Check presentation: Our own leprechaun and Foundation president, Athenea Luciano, thanked Rotarians for their generosity in supporting nonprofits that complement Rotary’s mission and values. She presented Allie Sarnataro, Executive Director and founder of the Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center, with a $3,090 check to support children with special needs. Allie introduced us to her 29-year-old therapy horse, Liberty, who provides comfort to both children and adults alike.
Who am I: Susan Lewallen entertained us with her unique story, including her practice of ophthalmology in St. Kitts followed by 20 years of medicine in Africa.
Speaker: Jim Hyldahl introduced Steve South, CEO of EDCO Waste Disposal & Recycling, a family-owned business since 1967 and RB Rotary’s key corporate partner since 2018 when Jim initiated the Club’s Clean Up program in RB’s senior communities. Steve highlighted EDCO’s commitment to customer service, sustainable communities and environmental protection with their state-of-the-art disposal and recycling technology. Some key takeaways: “If it grows, it goes”; and EDCO’s service motto, “We’ll take care of it”. We all agreed that this was a highly informative and engaging program!
In gratitude for EDCO’s partnership, Jim Hyldahl and Dan Barrios presented Steve with a Paul Harris Fellowship.
Next meeting: Roger Showley, a retired, award winning 44-year staff writer for the San Diego Union Tribune, will highlight the “History and Architecture of San Diego and Balboa Park”.
1:16pm: President Jim rang the bell to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Charlene Zettel
