The Nighs have again graciously opened their beautiful home for the Holiday party- 4pm on December 8th 

 

Doug reminded everyone of the ways to contribute to Rotary International

 

We will be trying a new meeting schedule starting February 2025

We will meet the Second and fourth Thursdays at Seascape for lunch and the first and third Thursdays at Cantine at 530

 

This Thursday’s meeting is at Seascape

No meeting on Thanksgiving

 

The Rotary International Peace Conference

 

Clubrunner is a good resource for calendar events

 

We made a $2,500 donation to the Veterans center at Cabrillo.  Nelson related that people told him our donation inspired them to give or give more.

 

Rotary International is having its Peace Conference January 24-26 in Rohnert Park/Santa Rosa.  Doug and Lowry are going- registration appears to still be open.

 

We ran into a logistical problem so we will not be doing a holiday lights display at the fairgrounds this year. 

 

Craig passed around a detective sign up sheet.

 

Bill Witmer was the Detective, but Interrogator may be a more apt word.  Drawing from who-knows- what and better-not-ask experiences- he had us place rope nooses around our wrists with a partner and figure out how to escape without removing the nooses.  Twister for hostages?  Still- it earned fines from everyone.

 

Our guest speaker was Casa Clarita Cortes, the Director of Recruitment for CASA- Court Appointed Special Advocates in Santa Cruz County. CASA is a national association with branches nationwide.  It trains volunteers for appointment by judges to work one on one with kids 12-18 years old in the juvenile justice system and foster care/dependency.  CASA has been in Santa Cruz over 30 years. The judges and juvenile probation officers in Santa Cruz are strong supporters of the program.  About 200 kids per year get a CASA advocate.  The volunteers work with the kids and appear in court (usually once) and prepare reports for the judges which are considered in determination of probation, placement and other issues/options.  Beyond the court system, CASA volunteers serve as positive role models and try to redirect kids toward better futures,  Though CASA volunteers may only take on one client at a  time, many of the relationships with their youth continue long after their service.

 

It is a very helpful and rewarding public service and they are always looking for qualified volunteers. 

 

Win won the lottery and donated his prize to polio plus