Our last meeting in the GFU Cap and Gown Room… We’ve been here for over 25 years, if not closer to 30 years. Few of our members (Stan Kern, LeRoy Benham, Don Skei) remember other meeting locations, but for almost of all of this, has been our only location. We’ll be meeting at Friendsview for the next month or so and then… We’ll keep you posted.

Grant Gerke reported that the auction raised close to $155,000. It’s a bit less than our goal, but still pretty darn good. Thanks everyone for your efforts.

A result of the auction was the Paddle Raise for Helping Hands. Our own Jack Maxwell III recounted how Helping Hands was instrumental in turning his life around from being homeless and in addiction to a point now where he’s working, vounteering to help others and most importantly, raising his children and marrying the love of his life this coming Saturday, May 7th Congratulations Jack, we are so glad to have you here in Rotary with us. Spike Sumner presented Alan Evans, Helping Hands Director and Seaside Rotarian, with a check for $28,000 and there is about $10,000 more that will be coming. Alan shared that nine Helping Hands “alumni” are now Rotarians.

Geoff Gilmore and a team will be interviewing for a Rotary History Intern today. This GFU student will participate in the Chamber Internship program and will collect and record our history digitally this summer.

Peace Village Camp will be opening for campers to signup and it’s a great opportunity for kids.

Jack Czarnecki encouraged Rotarians to pay it “backward” and support those wineries and others that support our auction.

Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast is May 14th and if you are interested contact Jim McMaster.

The Memorial Park clean up will be Thursday, May 26th.

Our Installation Dinner will be Thursday, June 30th. Mark your calendar.

Transitional Youth founder Bert Waugh, shared the work of this program that works with homeless teens in the Portland/Vancouver area. He related the story of an 8 year boy who was simply dropped off in downtown Portland by his mom and left to struggle on his own. The sad thing is that this isn’t unusual. Some of these kids are runaways, but many come from parents that are drug addicts and haven’t had any real parenting for generations. Homelessness is a complex concern compounded by alcohol, drug, and mental health issues. Transitional Youth reaches out to these kids and tries to break the cycle. They have a ranch to get the kids out of the city. They have three homes for boys and are looking at expanding to a home for girls. They area faith based program that is totally funded by gifts and donations. Many Rotary clubs have stepped up with work parties to repair and paint the residential houses and one is building a deck at the ranch. The program works to get these kids out of homelessness so they don’t become homeless adults. Thanks Bert for helping these kids.

http://www.transitionalyouth.org/

Next week, May 4th, Rotary will be at Friendsview where we’ll hear from NAMI-Yamhill County.