Sand Point Community Block Party Photos

Thursday, June 25th the University Sunrise Rotary Club sponsored a Block Party the Sand Point Community Housing residents. Who says that Rotary isn’t fun? Here are some photos of Rotarian’s during the event.

The Chefs Steve Barton Paul Mike Lee and Ron Jeff Mushen Mike G Leslie G, Terri, and Paul IMG_5601 IMG_5595 Dr Hall Hal and Mark Dan and Eric - Copy Bob and Ryan IMG_5585

 

 

Clean up

 

Alan H Dan, Mike, and Rotaractors

Nancy Bolin’s comments on the Block Party sums up our orientation in hosting this event, “So proud to be a member of This a Rotary Club! After serving so many at Sand Point Housing’s community, I was able to deliver some of the extra food we had with the U Dist. Food Bank this morning. This gift was gratefully accepted! 

Our Week begins on Thursday

As a Thursday morning club, our week begins on Thursday but the excitement quite often happens other than Thursday. The past weeks were no exception.

June 11, President Mike Madden recognized several members whom he considered valuable to his having a successful presidential year: Tim Lenihan,  President elect; Phill Briscoe, website management; Tom Rankin, Program chair; and Ken Mallock, Foundation director.

Honorees

 

 

 

 

 

June 13th, The food drive for the University Food Bank provided ample opportunity for high jinks and shenanigans from USR members (boys! Jim Miller, Stuart Webber, and Phill Briscoe)

Food Drive1The Beast

 

 

 

 

 

On June 14th the Reverend David Storm celebrated 50 years of his ordination into the priesthood.

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June 18th, President Mike honors Merrill Mayer

Merrill

Sand Point Block Party: June 25th

Ron Espiritu, our Club’s Foundation Treasurer, is working hard at today’s meeting writing checks for next Thursday’s big event, the Sand Point Block Party; while Jeff Mushen gives club members their assignments.

 

Ron EspirituJeff Mushen

Technology and Information for All (TINFA)

TINFA For All_3The dedication of Emma Le Du cannot be overstated. When she speaks of Technology and Information for All (TINFA), the enthusiasm is palpable. It was gratifying to be made aware that USR’s support has done much to aid TINFA’s work.

The group practices the doctrine that every person has worth and dignity and is of value to self and others. Their work is with K-12 students in rural Mexico and Guatemala with stress on technology in the classroom. This has been shown to constitute a tool for better education. An additional four schools in Guatemala will soon be in the program.

Emma reiterated how much our support has helped, both in regard to equipment and in the mentoring of teachers in the use of computers.  A video showed not only the classes and teachers, but also the affection and appreciation for Emma, et al.

Comment: A happy amalgam of material support + motivation.

Chris Rivera, Chairman of the Council of State Biosciences Associations

With Washington outstanding in many endeavors, Chris Rivera, Chairman of the Council of State Biosciences Associations, gave us a view into yet another. His organization has given rise to more than 200 companies in the biosciences field. Life sciences, aka human health care, is a burgeoning enterprise, with Washington already its global leader.

His address, plus video, provided a kaleidoscope of industries, products, and procedures already in place in the state, or in the process of development, i.e.,Perkins-Cole…defibrillation…bone marrow transplant…Immunex…Amgen…Hutchinson/UW/WSU…Abbott…Lilly…Global Health Fund…Phillips…Arthritis Foundation…Samsung, NEA, and many more.

Beginning in 2009, the mission of the biotechnology industry is to save lives and secondarily to create jobs and improve the economy. Some impressive numbers were given regarding the funding of the industry and the number of employees in all aspects of biotechnology. Aid to CEOs in building businesses is accorded. To this end, capital is raised by investments including the venture capital of “angels”. There are some 100 start-ups per year. Pro bono mentors guide new entrepreneurs.

Comment: A happy marriage of aiding the sick and the economy simultaneously—and not a bad field in which to build careers.

Joe Gruber, Exec Director, University District Food Bank

foodbankLast week’s program was an occasion to make one feel good all over. A $15,003 check was presented to Joe Gruber, Executive Director of the University District Food Bank. It is our charity of choice, benefiting from Debuts and Discoveries. The bulk of the proceeds is destined for Packs for Kids, ensuring good weekend nutrition for school children in need of it.

Packs for Kids was begun at Eckstein Middle School where it was estimated that one in five children had to struggle with hunger, impairing, among other things, their capacity to study. It expanded to other schools.

A healthy diet is the norm in these packs, to wit, fresh fruit, a healthy drink, and items of that variety. Packs are taken home on Friday. An average pack, whose container is reusable, costs $4.25. Work is afoot to bring it down to $3.50.Last year $30,000 was budgeted. Now the cost is $42,000.

Our support last year was seed money for the current year. As this relatively new program expands, more awareness and thus more funds are in the offing. There seems to be plenty of support. Eight schools are now in the program, meaning that the number of packs increases each year. Sandpoint elementary is soon to be included.

Sunrise Rotary is the foundation of support. Packs for siblings is now included. It stands to reason that, if a child requires this type of support, siblings are in the same situation. There are not just a few homeless students. Others are being sought and made recipients.  Joe recalled a few anecdotes in which such help has made heartwarming differences.

Comment: Afterwards, someone told him, “Bless you for what you do.”

His answer was that he feels privileged to do it.

Need more be said?

Volunteer Opportunities

Saturday, June 13 from 11am-4pm We will be hosting a food drive for the  at the Sand Point Metropolitan Market. We will be working in hour shifts for this event. Betsy will be passing around a sign-up sheet as we get closer to the event.

Saturday, August 15 We will be participating in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Capitol Hill. The event goes from 10am to 10pm–we will be walking in one hour shifts during this time. If you’d like to participate, you can sign up here under the team “Uni Sun Rotarians”.

International Service Scholarship Banquet and Auction this Saturday

Saturday, May 9th, 6pm to 9pm

International Service Scholarship Banquet and Auction and Fireworks and Unlimited Booze. Come see and support the future of our Rotary club at UW Rotaract’s annual auction and banquet. Are there actually going to be fireworks? Maybe! But really, you should come for the booze, bartended by our very own Dan Newman. For only $25, you get a dinner from Cedar’s, entertainment from this generation’s brightest and best, and your chance to hire them before anyone else does! May 9th, 6pm to 9pm.

Please see the banquet flyer.

Purchase tickets: http://goo.gl/forms/DyzB8Uz9Cu

We Support TINFA, will you?

TINFA For All_3

GiveBig 2015 | the countdown begins

TINFA is excited to participate in GiveBig 2015 for the second year in a row!  Big GiveFrom midnight to midnight on GiveBig day – Tuesday May 5th , a percentage of your donation to TINFA will be matched by the Seattle Foundation and GiveBig sponsors. At TINFA, we work with schools in underserved areas of Mexico and Guatemala and use technology in innovative ways to support teachers and students in the classroom. We take a collaborative approach to working with the schools, and facilitate virtual exchanges (via Skype) with schools in the Northwest. Watch this video to see how your donation will make a real difference.
Know more about TINFA from TINFA on Vimeo.

Last year, we were excited to raise $3,000 during GiveBig. This year, we believe we can double that and have a goal of $6,000,   Please get ready to help us achieve our goal and increase the amount of education support we can deliver to our partner schools. Your support will go a long way in helping to make a difference in the lives of students in the schools we support.    As you get ready, we’d appreciate a like on Facebook.

Thanks for your support!

Emma


Emma Le Du Co-founder and Director Cell | 206.612.8361 Web | tinfa.org Skype | emmaledu

Trivialis et Jovialis #3 From Dr Hal

No one believes seniors. . .everyone thinks they are senile.

An elderly couple was celebrating its 60th anniversary. They’d been childhood sweethearts and had moved back to their old neighborhood. Holding hands, they walked back to their old school. It was not locked. They visited the old desk they had shared where Jerry had carved “I love you, Sally.”

On their way back home, a truck spilled out a bag of money which landed at their feet.  Sally quickly picked it up and, not sure what to do there, she counted the money — fifty thousand dollars!

Jerry said, “We’ve got to give it back.”
Sally said, “Finders keepers.”

She put the money into the back of the attic.

The next day, two policemen, who were canvassing the neighborhood, knocked on their door. “Pardon us, but did either of you find a bag yesterday? they asked. Sally said, “No.” Jerry said, “She’s lying. She hid it up in the attic.” Sally said, “Don’t believe him; he’s getting senile.” The constables turned to Jerry and began to question him. One said, “Tell us the story from the beginning.” Jerry said, “Well, when Sally and I were walking home from school yesterday….” The first police officer turned to his partner and said, “We’re outta here!”

An Amish girl and her mother were visiting a mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move apart and back together again.

The girl asked, “What is this, mother?” The mother, never having seen an elevator responded, “I have never seen anything like this in my life. I don’t know what it is.”

While the girl and her mother watched with amazement, an old man in a wheelchair rolled up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened and the man rolled between them into a small room. The walls closed and the girl and her mother watched the small numbers above the walls light up sequentially. They continued to watch until the last number was reached, and they watched some more as the numbers began to light in reverse order. The walls opened up again and a hunky young man stepped out.

The mother, not taking her eyes off the young man, said quietly to her daughter, “Go get your father.”