Rotary Club of Cameron Park - Weekly Bulletin
This Week
Meeting Date and Place
April 14, 2005, 12:00 PM...... Cameron Park Country Club
Words of Wisdom
Words of Wisdom by Mike Dugan....Greeter Art Cort
Program
Speaker: Brad Howard, Past District Governor.
Program: Polio Eradication, the Hidden Beneficiary.
Last Week
Bill Kennedy, a volunteer with the Court Appointed
Special Advocate Program (CASA) discussed the
activities of CASA in El Dorado County. CASA El Dorado
is a non-profit organization serving abused and
neglected children in El Dorado County. They have 75
volunteers from the western slope of the county and 50
volunteers in the South Lake Tahoe area. Each
volunteer is matched with a child and meets with them
at their home, school or wherever support is needed.
Additionally, volunteers act as advocates representing
the best interests of the child in court. The program
began in Seattle in 1978 when a judge there recognized
that attorneys in court cases involving parents were
representing the interests of the adults and the State, but none specifically addressing the
interests of the children. In 1990, the U.S. Congress encouraged the expansion of CASA with
passage of the Victims of Child Abuse Act. Today more than 900 CASA programs are in
operation, with 70,000 women and men serving as CASA volunteers.
Bill and his wife have been active in CASA El Dorado for the last ten years. In that time, they
have acted as advocates for four children. Meeting regularly with these children over an
extended period can serve as a powerful influence on the future of the young people and affect
the direction of their lives. CASA serves children aged from one day to 18 years. 75% to 85% of
cases involve parental drug abuse. Teenaged boys present a particular challenge. Seen as too
old and hard to control, they are not likely candidates for adoption and often go from one foster
home to another. Many have lived in up to five different foster homes. Most of these children
want to return home, despite the fact that one or both of their parents is the cause of the abuse.
These young people are victims of abuse and/or neglect and should not be confused with
delinquents. In fact, a primary objective is to deter them from delinquent behavior.
The problem of child abuse and neglect has reached alarming proportions in this country and
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Rotary Club of Cameron Park - Weekly Bulletin
continues to grow. In El Dorado County, there is a shortage of volunteers. In Placerville, the
court recently asked for a volunteer to appoint to a case and was told that none were available.
There are now children in this county who are not getting the support that they so desperately
need.
Volunteers undergo a thirty hour training program before they can be assigned to a case. CASA
volunteers are ages 21 and over; can give 10 hours or more per month (up to six hours a
week); monitor the child’s life with foster parents, counselors, social workers and teachers; and
report directly to the court. Most important! They are consistent adults in these children’s lives.
Anyone who can meet these needs is urged to volunteer. Call CASA in Placerville at (530) 6216789.
In addition to needing volunteers, Friends of CASA are needed to lend energy, time and talents
in support of the CASA program. They also assist in public relations, community education, and
creating good will within our community. Next month, CASA will be raising funds through their
annual Box Lunch Program on Wednesday, May 11, 2005. For only $10 per lunch, they will
deliver a box lunch to your place of business. For more information, go to http://www.
casaeldorado.org/ or call (530) 621-6789.
Presidents Corner
ROTARY MOMENT:
In addition to the scheduled program, the club heard a
first hand accounting of the aftermath of the December
26, 2004, tsunami from Reuben Jessop. The son of CP
Rotarian, Rube Jessop, Reuben is a freelance financial
consultant who had been working in Thailand for the
German government for one month prior to the
tsunami. His job involved helping small businesses in
Thailand under grants from Germany. Immediately after
the disaster, the German government redirected his
efforts to help small businesses to recover. In only eight
weeks, he helped 500 small businesses get restarted
with small loans. At this time, many other small
businesses are still in need, but funds for this purpose have been exhausted. Tsunami relief
funds are mostly going to help individuals and little is available for businesses in need.
On December 26, Reuben was fortunate to not be an area hit by the tsunami. He did, however,
see the immediate aftermath. He saw thousands of coffins piled high and waiting for DNA testing
to identify victims. He told of how many of the population were not familiar with the dynamics of
a tsunami and, when the sea went out prior to the tsunami, many people ran out to catch the
stranded fish. Rather than run for high ground, tourists watched, thinking it was not an unusual
local phenomena. When the waters rushed in at 600 miles per hour, many of these people were
washed out to sea. It all happened in less than 10 minutes and the number of victims will never
be known. At the conclusion of Reuben’s remarks, Rube pledged $10 in honor of Reuben`s
efforts and the efforts of others who aided in the tsunami relief effort.
Wine at Serrano:
Verne Sanders called for volunteers to help publicize Wine at Serrano. Individuals are needed
to work on mailings and to take posters and brochures to merchants. Volunteers are also being
sought to help set up and to help clean up on the day of the event. Iain Marshall urged
everyone with a business to take an ad in the program. Card sized ads are available for $75 and
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Rotary Club of Cameron Park - Weekly Bulletin
large two page ads go for $1,000. Intermediate size ads can be had for a proportionate rate.
Contact Iain to place an ad. Tickets are available through Anne Eckert and all members are
obliged to sell at least six. Those who haven’t already secured tickets, should contact Anne.
Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 on the day of the event.
Announcements:
In response to whining about the early hour, Steve Long and Dave Sargent have agreed to
delay the Teacher of the Year presentation at Ponderosa High School from 6:30 am to 7:20 am
on Wednesday, April 13, 2005. Support of this program is important and members are
encouraged to attend.
At the Board meeting this week, a standing Grant Advisory Committee was established. Bob
Dorr has agreed to give an orientation to the committee to help them get started.
Maggie Davis has agreed to serve as the club’s Sergeant-at-Arms at the District Conference in
May.
Bob Edwards reports that all agreements are in place to build the centennial project
Observatory. All that’s needed to begin work are two weeks of dry weather.
Noted Rotarians
The Quest for red continues. Ron Losel’s number came
up in the weekly lottery and he had the opportunity to
draw the red chip and claim $530. With only two white
chips in the bag and months since anyone has cashed
in, it seemed like it was time. Not so, as Ron drew white
and gave the pot a reprieve to grow for another week.
FINES, HAPPY BUCKS, GUILTY BUCKS AND MORE:
Filling in for the wayward President Gary and PE Billy
V, Past President, Dee Russo showed the members
how a meeting should be conducted. Dee revealed the
real reasons that she bid for the Fine Free Badge last
month. This being the last day with the badge, Dee
acknowledged that she recently made another trip to
Las Vegas. Purportedly for business, she managed to have lots of fun. The real reason she got
the badge was her anticipation of selling one of her stores, which just occurred. She didn’t talk
about how much she got for the store, but her grin told it all.
Dee then auctioned the Fine Free Badge for next month and there was strong sentiment
against Dave Sargent getting his mitts on it. Dave bid up the price and in the end yielded to
Maggie Davis. One can only wonder what mischief she plans for the month.
Jim Sevarese was so touched by the presentation last week of a framed “Declaration of
Rotarians in Businesses and Professions,” he forgot to take it with him. He was allowed to
retrieve it this week for only $10.
Dee’s efforts to fill the club coffers with birthday and anniversary fines didn’t produce much this
week. Without collecting a cent, she wished a Happy Birthday to Bell Ringers Bob Edwards,
Mike Neal, Pete Nolan and Terry Wilson. A youthful 77 year old Rus Lloyd was good for $7.
Although a Bell Ringer, Terry Wilson contributed $10 to celebrate his 30 year anniversary with
New York Life, following 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. When Dee tried to coerce Maggie Davis
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Rotary Club of Cameron Park - Weekly Bulletin
for celebrating a third wedding anniversary, she quickly learned the first reason that Maggie bid
for the Fine Free Badge. Isn’t immunity wonderful?
Submit News about your fellow Rotarians
Do you have news about a fellow Rotarian? If so, you may submit that news to our Club
President by pressing Here.
Birthdays
In April
Doug Bisbee
Gary Coverdale
Bob Edwards
Rus Lloyd
Mike Neal
Pete Nolan
Terry Wilson
Anniversaries
In April
Bob and Cathy Blum
Maggie and Michael Davis
Upcoming Calendar
April 14… Speaker: Brad Howard, Past District Governor
Program: Polio Eradication, the Hidden Beneficiary
April 21… Program: Area 6 Speech Contest finalists. Note: this will be an evening meeting at
CPCC, beginning at 6 p.m.
April 28… Speaker: Hillary Pratt
Program: Self Defense for all ages
Upcoming Words of Wisdom
April 14, 2005, Mike Dugan Words of Wisdom…Art Cort Greeter
April 21, 2005, Maggie Davis Words of Wisdom…Nancy Dixon Greeter
April 28, 2005, Dave Bunje Words of Wisdom…Ruth Cameron Greeter
The Last Word
The next Board meeting is scheduled for noon on
Tuesday, May 10, 2005, in the Board Room at the
Western Sierra Bank Building in Cameron Park.
Put May 20 to 22, 2005 on your calendar for the annual
District 5190 conference. Three corporate sponsors are
being sought from each club in the District. Anyone
interested should contact Pres Gary. Gary is hoping for
a good turnout from CPCC and is promising a fun and
comfortable host suite. Gary Reynolds announced that
the club has signed up two foursomes for 100 years of
Rotary Golf Tourney will be held on the Thursday.
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Rotary Club of Cameron Park - Weekly Bulletin
Mark June 11, 2005, on your calendar for Wine at Serrano. The committee for this event is
looking for volunteers to take Wine at Serrano posters to the wineries.
Bob Blum asks that donations made for the Observatory project be mailed directly to the
Rotary Community Foundation, PO Box 1791, Cameron Park, CA 95682.
Indicate on the check that it is for the Observatory project.
Photography and artwork through the talents of Mike Neal
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