The Wheel – October 26th 2022

Rotary News

Rotary Direct: We have 21 participants that have our donations electronically our donation taken out automatically and it is easy and adds up fast. Please consider donating this way. See Leonard Hansen, Secretary Matt or myself for more details.
We received a progress report about District Designated Funds (DDF) which is our return of area funds from 3 year ago that were our regional funds sent to RI.  A grant approved that sent $62,151 to Mexico for a Rotary Microfinance Grant.  These loans are to be made to women of heads of households ages 18-68 to help them start a business or expand an existing one.  We are making a difference in the world from our area clubs

Leonard Hansen, our Foundation Chair announced that we received some funds for Rotary International and are well on our way with over $18k towards our goal of $30k.

The Emergency Food Bank with needed donations each month and this month they are collecting boxed mashed potatoes for the holiday season. To learn what they need this month, please see their webpage at Calendar (stocktonfoodbank.org).  We truly thank you kindhearted and generous Rotarians.We  are donating turkeys for September & October so you can make arrangements for turkeys or take the easy route and give a donation and Leonard has the signup sheet for that or we are also seeking boxed mashed potatoes and stuffing.

We are happy to announce that there are applications for membership to our club.  If you have an objection, please contact secretary@stocktonrotary.org before NOVEMBER 5, 2022.  For membership rules from the club Bylaws see in the member resource tab of the website.

Faye Giovenetti, (Giovenetti Insurance Agency, Inc.) has been in insurance for 35 years and was a 15-year member of Stockton East but took a break from Rotary in 2013.  She supports various non-profits in our area and, is interested in working with teenagers, social media, projects, and events.  She has already signed up to work on our mid-winter event.

Jared Foster, (Solana Solar) is currently an owner and business entrepreneur in the energy industry.  Jared developed Guardian Alliance Technologies, here in Stockton, which is used for peace officer hiring background checks.  The service now has over 16,000 users.  He was involved with the original Downtown Alliance, is a Leadership Stockton graduate and Delta Chamber President.  He says he picked Stockton Rotary Club to give back to the community that has been so good to him.

Miguel Lara, (Keller Williams) was trained by Bob Blower to work in the real estate industry!  Small world he says of Stockton, but he absolutely loves living here.  His extended family moved here from the Santa Monica area starting in 2001 because it’s a great place to raise a family.  Miguel volunteers at Saint Mary’s Dining Room and is always promoting the value of service to others they provide.  He is joining our club because of Rotary’s service above self and the fact that Rotary is the place to do something ‘significant’.

Dorita Ivy, is a Stockton native with ancestors that came to the central valley from French Louisiana.  She is with Xpert Home Lending and in the home mortgage industry for 39 years.  She has participated on committees at church, but Stockton Rotary is her first choice to branch out in the business and service community.  As a history buff she feels a strong connection with elders in our community.

Kristen Bietwhistle is the president and CEO of United Way in Stockton.  Kristen told me that she has been planning to join Rotary for years and finally when sponsor David Midura called to invited her to hear a speaker, she knew that this was the right time to get involved.  Kristen has a background in healthcare with Kaiser Permanente and she mentioned something about tennis.  So fellow tennis players, give her a warm greeting when you see her next.

Traci Miller was our speaker on October 19^th and immediately put in an application.  She is the interim superintendent of Stockton Unified School District.  She has her hands full at work where she is calling everybody to get behind the ‘purple line’ and committing to do their best when they cross any school threshold.  As a real “Okie” she is a college football lover and is passing that on to 6 grandchildren (all boys)

Club Announcements

Spanos Interact Club:  Club members will be sending holiday cards to veterans and the armed services.  If you have unused Christmas cards, please bring them to a Wednesday Rotary meeting.  Or if you want to donate a new box, the students would be most grateful.  Beto Beas and Graham Tweedy will collect and take the cards to Spanos School.District Governor 5220 for Rotary Year 2025-2026 has been announced and we are so happy to congratulate our own member, Jay Hislop!!!!

SGCC General Manager and Member Rick Schultz assured us that we shouldn’t worry about the recent news about the Country Club. They have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Sharon Tweedy, Rotary Read-In Committee has an announcement. Rotary Read-In is reaching out to previous readers to assess the plan for February whether virtual as last year or in person

Liz Hull, Membership Chair – announcement about a Smiley face sticker added to your badge to show you brought in a new member.

TJ Hull ~ Mystery Bus trip – Mystery Bus trip was held this weekend.

Update on the El Salvador project – Marcella’s project and due to supply chain issues, the wheelchairs are delayed so the trip is being delayed until March 2023.

Foundation Dinner is November 5th at Doubletree in Modesto $75 per person. We have a full table of 8 attending and need 2 more for a table.

All City Thanksgiving is in the works for November 22nd to be held here at the Stockton Golf & Country Club and the cost is $40.00

Christmas/Holiday Evening event- On December 7th at 5:30 pm also at Stockton Golf & Country Club in lieu of our regular lunch we will have an evening event much like last year with heavy appetizers and a non-hosted bar. More details to come but special entertainment is: Atomik Tommy McClendon performing and interviewed about being a rock star.
December 14th is the children’s luncheon for being planned also here at the club and more details to come

Rotary International News: World Polio Day is next week the 24th
RI Survey – The 2022 Rotary All-Member Survey is your chance to tell RI about your experience as a member. What you like and dislike. Survey is sent to all members by email from International President Jennifer Jones at the beginning of the month and have you replied yet?
International Motorcycle ride/Drive event Ride for Rotary in India and will be January 13-28th

Other announcements: Cathy Wooton will be moving to Pocatello, Idaho and will be working for Idaho State University, wishing Cathy best  wishes for all of her new endeavors!

Presidential Project for Literacy: President Colleen sent an email to all members seeking advisors/volunteers for my President project that she is just beginning. It is involving tutoring from high school students for elementary students, and we are partnering with the Library & Literacy Foundation and San Joaquin A+ and she needs help because this is not my area of expertise-so educators and interested others, please help me and we are on the ground level currently but have funds available immediately for use. Thanks so a few of you that are volunteering for this, and she could use more for my committee. Thanks to those who have already reached out to help.

Program