Rotary Meeting, June 14, 2022
PRESIDENT BOB MILLER (VP, Business Services / First Community Credit Union) brought the meeting to order as the countdown to the end of his term continues.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
PRESIDENT BOB introduced JIM RELLES (Relles Florist) who celebrated Flag Day by reading an excerpt of JOHN PHILIP SOUSA’s lyrics to The Stars and Stripes Forever: The red and white and starry blue Is freedom’s shield and hope…hurrah for the flag of the free, may it wave as our standard forever.”
The lyrics are as follows:
Let martial note in triumph float
And liberty extends its mighty hand
A flag appears ‘mid thunderous cheers,
The banner of the Western land.
The emblem of the brave and true
Its folds protect no tyrant crew;
The red and white and starry blue
Is freedom’s shield and hope.
Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom’s nation.
Hurrah for the flag of the free!
May it wave as our standard forever,
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with mighty endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.
Let eagle shriek from lofty peak
The never-ending watchword of our land;
Let summer breeze waft through the trees
The echo of the chorus grand.
Sing out for liberty and light,
Sing out for freedom and the right.
Sing out for Union and its might,
O patriotic sons.
Other nations may deem their flags the best
And cheer them with fervid elation,
But the flag of the North and South and West
Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom’s nation.
Hurrah for the flag of the free.
May it wave as our standard forever
The gem of the land and the sea,
The banner of the right.
Let despots remember the day
When our fathers with might endeavor
Proclaimed as they marched to the fray,
That by their might and by their right
It waves forever.
WELCOMING GUESTS
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS GIULIANO KORNBERG (Executive Director, Sacramento Philharmonic) introduced our meeting guests: MARK FARROW (CEO, Epic Experience) and Visiting Rotarian JR ALWARD.
MEETING SPONSOR
RUTH TESAR (CEO, Northern California PET Imaging) donated her time to Epic Experience, a local agency that empowers adult cancer survivors and helps their healing process. CEO MARK FARROW founded the organization in 2012 after his son’s testicular cancer diagnosis. Epic offers hope to adult cancer survivors through peer support groups, virtual exercise classes, regional meet-ups, and camping excursions. Most recently they began offering Thrive Virtual Reality sessions – while patients are receiving treatments they enjoy custom videos with mindfulness voice-overs and calming, yet empowering experiences like horseback riding, stand-up paddleboarding, and white water rafting.
CELEBRATING OUR NEWEST MEMBER
JAMIE FURLONG (Legacy Investment Real Estate) introduced MIKE POLIS (Legal Counsel, Wilkie Fleury) as a returning member of the Rotary Club of Sacramento. MIKE is an active community volunteer and summer school instructor at UC Davis who also operates a 60 acre ranch in Woodland with his family. He has one college-aged son and one Class of 2022 graduate from UC Davis and is very pleased to be returning to our Club – as he says “Rotary is a phenomenal organization!”
COMMITTEE SPOTLIGHT- SACRAMENTO CENTURY CHALLENGE- ARE YOU READY TO RIDE?
JAMIE FURLONG (Legacy Investment Real Estate) and TODD KOOLAKIAN (Director of Philanthropy, Sacramento Children’s Home) got the Club geared up for the 2022 Sacramento Century Challenge, scheduled for October 1. Online registration is open and so far we have 112 riders and 11 teams. This year we are happy to count Banner Bank as a presenting sponsor ($10,000). Other sponsors include Kaiser Permanente, Williams & Associates, California Lawyers Association, and Northern California PET Imaging. Sponsorships are still available and will be featured on the Sac Century jersey at $2,500 and above. Volunteers are also needed, if interested please contact SARAH HODGE (Association of California Water Agencies).
                 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • VIRGINIA WADE (Retired, SAFE Credit Union) reminded the Club that we are in need of additional volunteers for Loaves & Fishes lunch service on Thursday, June 30. The morning shift is from 7:30 am to about 10:30 am & we need 7 volunteers; the afternoon shift is from 10:45 am to around 1:00 pm & we need 9 volunteers. The location is 1351 North C Street, Sacramento.
  • PRESIDENT BOB encouraged everyone who can help with this Saturday’s American River Parkway Clean-Up to come to Discovery Park (1600 Garden Hwy) from 8:45 AM – 11:00 AM. (The event has canceled after the meeting)
LET’S GO FOR A RUN
JIM RELLES donated in honor of his 53rd wedding anniversary
MIKE POLIS donated in honor of his son’s college graduation
GUEST SPEAKER
Chair of the Day KELLEY MORAN (CEO, Bajrang Yoga) introduced ALEXIS SMITH (Executive Director, Room Redux).
ALEXIS explained the mission of Room Redux: improving the lives of children who have faced physical or sexual abuse by transforming their bedrooms into a safe place. Because abuse often occurs in a child’s own room, the room can be linked to feelings of fear and aversion – causing the child to avoid it entirely. Room Redux organizes 1-2 renovations each month and since their founding in 2019, they have completed 19 room transformations.
The agency receives referrals from law enforcement agencies, child protective services, UC Davis, and agencies including Stand Up Placer. Nominated children must be under the age of 18, living within or near Sacramento, safe from their abuser, and in a permanent placement.
Each room’s renovation budget is $2,000, much of which can be offset by supporters purchasing needed items from Room Redux’s Amazon Wish List. Youth whose rooms are transformed receive a new mattress, books and art supplies, school supplies, and items to engage the senses – including aromatherapy, light projectors, sound machines, luxurious fluffy pillows, and stuffed animals.
Room Redux also relies upon volunteers to complete the bedroom transformations; to inquire about volunteer opportunities, simply fill out this form! https://sacramento.roomredux.org/volunteer/
THANK YOU
Hearty thanks to Greeter JOHN WOOD (Principal, McGee & Thielen Insurance Brokers); Wine reception host SURRENDER SINGAL (Retired, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) and Photographer VIRGINIA WADE.
UPCOMING MEETINGS AT A GLANCE!
06/21/2022 – You won’t want to miss a visit with KATHY LESTER – Sacramento Police Chief – Learn about the good and bad in Sacramento from our Chief of Police!
06/28/2022- Recognition Day!