Rotary and Angels team up against Polio
Mon, Aug 2 2010
| Projects, Club Service
On Saturday, July 31, several of our members participated in the the District's 3rd annual polio fundraiser at Angel Stadium. Rotary's #1 mission, in conjunction with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is to eradicate polio worldwide, by vaccinating every child in the countries that still have this crippling virus.
The event started with a fun tailgate party (and more fund-raising) - a chili cook off contest! Cisca Stellhorn, Diane Braasch, and Joan Sarver cooked and served a variety of home made chili dishes (Joan's "Kick Ass Chili" was my personal favorite, with Diane's milder but very meaty "Chicago" a close second - and Cisca's turkey one not far behind). I know we got a lot of votes, and hopefully we won, but the winning was in the socializing we all did!
For the non-chili lovers, Ray Benedicktus put on his apron and got out his barbecue tongs, making delicious hamburgers and hot dogs - as if having arranged for all the ticket and T-shirt sales wasn't enough - thanks Ray!
We were honored to have a group of Marines from the Wounded Warriors battalion join us with their family/girlfriends - thanks to the coordination of former Marine, Rick Topping. With several former Marines in our club, this is one of the primary organizations we support - not only with donations and other funding, but with as much "hands on" participation as we can. It was a pleasure to meet these brave soldiers who sacrificed their health for our nation's safety and freedom - we thank them and wish them a speedy recovery!
This was also a Birthday party for Mary Mar, who came to celebrate with both her families (her own, including her cute granddaughters, and her Rotary family!). We sang Happy Birthday and ate delicious cake!
Our youngest "future Rotarian", John Lincoln Alcorn was there - all dressed up in his Angels outfit - and learing how to party with his Rotary family at the ripe old age of 102 days!
Several others were there, including Ed Hardenburgh, Dale Ford and his son, Austin and Barbara Wall, Randy and Pam Woods, Mark and Susan Brubaker, Tony Mucia and his daughter Megan, Woody and Deana Jones, Ray B's girlfriend and son Ian, Cisca's nephews, Diane's daughter, and our esteemed past District Governor Bret Gerdes and Natalie (am I missing anyone?!)
Then it was off to the game - and prime seating on the Club level (with in-seat service all evening long). While the game wasn't all that thrilling (except for the Angels home run with the fireworks - but they lost 1-2 to the Texas Rangers), a fun time was had by all - and all for a good cause!
Roll on our 4th Annual Angels event for polio in 2011!
The event started with a fun tailgate party (and more fund-raising) - a chili cook off contest! Cisca Stellhorn, Diane Braasch, and Joan Sarver cooked and served a variety of home made chili dishes (Joan's "Kick Ass Chili" was my personal favorite, with Diane's milder but very meaty "Chicago" a close second - and Cisca's turkey one not far behind). I know we got a lot of votes, and hopefully we won, but the winning was in the socializing we all did!
For the non-chili lovers, Ray Benedicktus put on his apron and got out his barbecue tongs, making delicious hamburgers and hot dogs - as if having arranged for all the ticket and T-shirt sales wasn't enough - thanks Ray!
We were honored to have a group of Marines from the Wounded Warriors battalion join us with their family/girlfriends - thanks to the coordination of former Marine, Rick Topping. With several former Marines in our club, this is one of the primary organizations we support - not only with donations and other funding, but with as much "hands on" participation as we can. It was a pleasure to meet these brave soldiers who sacrificed their health for our nation's safety and freedom - we thank them and wish them a speedy recovery!
This was also a Birthday party for Mary Mar, who came to celebrate with both her families (her own, including her cute granddaughters, and her Rotary family!). We sang Happy Birthday and ate delicious cake!
Our youngest "future Rotarian", John Lincoln Alcorn was there - all dressed up in his Angels outfit - and learing how to party with his Rotary family at the ripe old age of 102 days!
Several others were there, including Ed Hardenburgh, Dale Ford and his son, Austin and Barbara Wall, Randy and Pam Woods, Mark and Susan Brubaker, Tony Mucia and his daughter Megan, Woody and Deana Jones, Ray B's girlfriend and son Ian, Cisca's nephews, Diane's daughter, and our esteemed past District Governor Bret Gerdes and Natalie (am I missing anyone?!)
Then it was off to the game - and prime seating on the Club level (with in-seat service all evening long). While the game wasn't all that thrilling (except for the Angels home run with the fireworks - but they lost 1-2 to the Texas Rangers), a fun time was had by all - and all for a good cause!
Roll on our 4th Annual Angels event for polio in 2011!
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Haiti Clinic
Wed, Jun 9 2010
| Projects
Irvine Dental Screenings
Sat, Jun 5 2010
| Projects
By Ray Sanford
The Irvine Dental Screenings project went off without a hitch on Saturday.
We set a new record. We saw 126 kids — 40% more than last year!
Dr. Tozzer and Dr. Wall were both from Dental Care for Children and have participated every year since the inception of this program. Amazingly, they'd just returned from doing several clinics in Haiti!
You can learn more about the work Dental Care for Children does at http://www.dentalcareforchildren.org
The Assisteens, as usual, were organized, efficient and in control. Kudos to Tricia and Lizzie, who planned, scheduled and trained the young women so well there were no hiccups. Great work!
Our veteran school nurses had everything ready to go and kept all the forms, kids and parents organized. I'm sure it was like herding cats at times, but it never showed.
School Board member Dr. Gavin Huntley-Fenner dropped by for a visit so we put him to work being a dental assistant to Dr. Tozzer. It's no wonder the IUSD runs so well with people like Gavin on the board.
Goodies and coffee were provided by Todd Wardlaw at The Corner Bakery in The Marketplace. Many thanks for their continued support. Please patronize Corner Bakery and let them know how much you appreciate their support.
Photos of the event are here.
We set a new record. We saw 126 kids — 40% more than last year!
Dr. Tozzer and Dr. Wall were both from Dental Care for Children and have participated every year since the inception of this program. Amazingly, they'd just returned from doing several clinics in Haiti!
You can learn more about the work Dental Care for Children does at http://www.dentalcareforchildren.org
Our veteran school nurses had everything ready to go and kept all the forms, kids and parents organized. I'm sure it was like herding cats at times, but it never showed.
School Board member Dr. Gavin Huntley-Fenner dropped by for a visit so we put him to work being a dental assistant to Dr. Tozzer. It's no wonder the IUSD runs so well with people like Gavin on the board.
Photos of the event are here.
Ensenada Dental Clinic a milestone.
Sun, Mar 28 2010
| International Service, Projects
by Ray Sanford
Our club celebrated it's 11th international dental clinic this weekend by helping the children of Escuela Primaria "La Esperanza" in a remote section of Ensenada. This very poor neighborhood is comprised mostly of immigrants from the southern regions of Mexico and Central America who have moved north looking for work.
Each clinic is at a different school and is picked by the Ensenada Calafia Rotary Club in conjunction with the Ensenada Department of Education to pick the school most in need. This clinic was attended by almost 50 children, each sporting a Rotary sticker. Altogether, over $36,000 of free dental services was delivered in one long day.
The clinic also marked Dr. Tozzer's and Dental Care for Children's 90th clinic in Baja California over the last 18 years. In a ceremony during the clinic, dignitaries from Ensenada and Baja California arrived to present him with a plaque noting his continued giving to the citizens of Ensenada. To date, the amount of free dental services the organization has provided to the Ensenada region tops $2.5 million.
Notable were the volunteers from around the world. Besides dentists and specialists from Southern California, others came from Peru, Brazil, India, Lebanon, Egypt and Armenia. Joining them were more students from the USC Dental School and a visiting Rotarian from London, England.
While our club members have helped by painting, building and furnishing school supplies in the past, this clinic marked a transition to having most of the work done by the children and families who were receiving treatment. This way, the clinic isn't a "hand-out" as each person gives back something to support the school. Entire families, as well as club members from both Irvine Spectrum and Ensenada Calafia clubs pitched in to plant trees and do much needed repainting.
Saturday evening, while the USC students were busy visiting the attractions in downtown Ensenada, the Rotarians were treated to a fabulous dinner at the home of Fabiola and Miguel Valdez. Fabiola is an Ensenada dentist and a member of the Ensenada Calafia Rotary club.
More photos
Notable were the volunteers from around the world. Besides dentists and specialists from Southern California, others came from Peru, Brazil, India, Lebanon, Egypt and Armenia. Joining them were more students from the USC Dental School and a visiting Rotarian from London, England.
Saturday evening, while the USC students were busy visiting the attractions in downtown Ensenada, the Rotarians were treated to a fabulous dinner at the home of Fabiola and Miguel Valdez. Fabiola is an Ensenada dentist and a member of the Ensenada Calafia Rotary club.
More photos
Irvine Spectrum Rotary goes "Hands On"
Wed, Mar 24 2010
| Projects
The Irvine Spectrum Rotary recently gave a gift to a local food pantry that brought their years' giving to five thousand dollars! "The club has not only generously given of their dollars" said Ed Ewart, Executive Director of South County Outreach, "the members have been on site all year round handing out turkeys at the holidays, donating back-packs for low-income children and even mopping the pantry floors and painting donation barrels."
$1,500 of the grant was funded by the Rotary District 5320 matching grant foundation chaired by Grant Eagle. This district grant was applied for by Steve Zivolich, the community services donation chair of the Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club Board of Directors. The remainder of the $5,000 donation was made up of donations and fund raising efforts of the Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club membership. In addition to the financial donation, several Rotary members volunteer their time at the South County Outreach food bank including Peggy Slater who also serves on the South County Outreach Board of Directors.
"This is the kind of community partnership that makes a difference in the lives of people" said Ewart. Through the Rotarians generosity, and that of other donors South County Outreach was able to provide 63,714 services to individuals in need last year. Emergency services include groceries and financial assistance but more importantly the agency attempts to provide tools that help people help themselves. Those tools include a Computer Learning Center. where people receive free job skill training and the opportunity to develop a Self Sufficiency Action Plan that helps people take charge of their financial future.
"I want to express our deepest appreciation to the volunteers and donors of the Irvine Spectrum Rotary and Rotary International for their incredible generosity and for giving a "hand up" to people in need with their "hands on" service", said Ed Ewart.
$1,500 of the grant was funded by the Rotary District 5320 matching grant foundation chaired by Grant Eagle. This district grant was applied for by Steve Zivolich, the community services donation chair of the Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club Board of Directors. The remainder of the $5,000 donation was made up of donations and fund raising efforts of the Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club membership. In addition to the financial donation, several Rotary members volunteer their time at the South County Outreach food bank including Peggy Slater who also serves on the South County Outreach Board of Directors.
"This is the kind of community partnership that makes a difference in the lives of people" said Ewart. Through the Rotarians generosity, and that of other donors South County Outreach was able to provide 63,714 services to individuals in need last year. Emergency services include groceries and financial assistance but more importantly the agency attempts to provide tools that help people help themselves. Those tools include a Computer Learning Center. where people receive free job skill training and the opportunity to develop a Self Sufficiency Action Plan that helps people take charge of their financial future.
"I want to express our deepest appreciation to the volunteers and donors of the Irvine Spectrum Rotary and Rotary International for their incredible generosity and for giving a "hand up" to people in need with their "hands on" service", said Ed Ewart.
Irvine Spectrum helps fund program for persons with disabilities
Wed, Mar 24 2010
| Projects
Jewish Family Services of Orange County has announced the launching of it’s new program to provide supports to persons with disabilities and their families. The new program titled Special Needs Support Services (SNSS) will help families and persons with disabilities, to facilitate services that are provided in inclusive and community based contexts. As a Jewish Family Service program, SNSS is non-sectarian and therefore services are available to the entire community.
Dr. Jan Weiner the new SNSS program coordinator is also a staff member of the special education department at California State University, Fullerton. Dr. Weiner has over 25 years of experience in the field of disabilities with a special emphasis on best practice programs for persons with autism spectrum disorder. She was also the project director of the Full Inclusion Pre-school Project that resulted in over 100 students with significant disabilities integrating into regular pre-school programs throughout Orange County.
Dr. Weiner noted, that “The SNSS program will include information regarding laws/legislation on families’/consumers’ rights, authentic assessment, strategy development for positive behavior support, advisement on evidence based best practice, universal design, accommodations consultation, collaboration with schools and other community facilities to design inclusive opportunities, assistance with developing IEP/ITP/IFS goals and objectives and referrals to additional resources”.
Dr. Weiner also explained that “this program was initiated and designed based on an extensive needs assessment completed by the Jewish Family Service Special Needs Commission, that is representative of the Orange County community of persons with disabilities and their families”.
SNSS has received funding support to date from two individual family donations and the Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club.
Dr. Jan Weiner the new SNSS program coordinator is also a staff member of the special education department at California State University, Fullerton. Dr. Weiner has over 25 years of experience in the field of disabilities with a special emphasis on best practice programs for persons with autism spectrum disorder. She was also the project director of the Full Inclusion Pre-school Project that resulted in over 100 students with significant disabilities integrating into regular pre-school programs throughout Orange County.
Dr. Weiner noted, that “The SNSS program will include information regarding laws/legislation on families’/consumers’ rights, authentic assessment, strategy development for positive behavior support, advisement on evidence based best practice, universal design, accommodations consultation, collaboration with schools and other community facilities to design inclusive opportunities, assistance with developing IEP/ITP/IFS goals and objectives and referrals to additional resources”.
Dr. Weiner also explained that “this program was initiated and designed based on an extensive needs assessment completed by the Jewish Family Service Special Needs Commission, that is representative of the Orange County community of persons with disabilities and their families”.
SNSS has received funding support to date from two individual family donations and the Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club.