Announcements and Reminders
Peggy from the Santa Cruz Sunrise Club spoke to us about Uganda and the Santa Cruz Sister Cities Delegation.  She announced that Sunday April 17th there will be a cruise on the Monterey Bay with wine tasting and noshing from 10:30-2:30 PM. Tickets are $45 single  $60 for a couple. It will benefit the Rotary clean water project in Lhuhwahwa Village, Kasese, Uganda.
Michelle announced that the invitations are here for the fundraiser on May 6th. Please take them and share with your family and friends. Kelly further announced that we need to sign up to go to the event and/or you can donate gifts and prizes. The cost is $150 per person.
 
Tim introduced the speaker today,  Constance Chandlee, a prospective member of the club.  She wrote and illustrated Dog’s Path of Life  a book promoting intergenerational discussions for the entire family. The book teaches important life lessons, including respecting self and others, gratitude and interacting with the world.  It discusses how to value and respect yourself and others. The book offers opportunity for dialogue between adults (parents) and children. 
 
 
 
 
Ms. Chandlee gave us the history of the book. She began working with horses using alternative healing techniques 15 years ago and then moved onto helping dogs at an animal shelter.  She became active in and joined the Board of Friends of Watsonville Animal Shelter. There, she helped to set up the spay neuter program for low income families. In order to raise funds for the Shelter she went to Cabrillo and took a water color class and she began painting dogs. She then sold greeting cards and prints at events and farmers markets and she also took commissions. She donated most of her art work to the Santa Cruz SPCA and is part of the Capitola Mall art tours.
Last year she had the book published. Fifty percent of the book’s profits go to the SPCA. She clarified the difference between the shelter (county funded) and SPCA (privately funded non-profit). Her books are now available at many elementary schools and hospitals. She does author presentations for free! Her website is www.thedogspathoflife.com.