AN INSPIRATIONAL NEW PRESIDENT 

New Club President Om Sukheenai.

Thank you and kudos to outgoing President Todd Engle and his Board of Directors.

Outgoing Club President Todd Engle officially installed Om Sukheenai as our new leader during a jam-packed Installation Dinner event June 14 at the Methven Family Vineyards in Dayton. Om unveiled the new Rotary International theme for the year, “Be the Inspiration,” and shared her own inspiring story of immigrating to the U.S. from Thailand.  She laid out her leadership principles and said she looks forward to working with her board to implement the strategic plan and vision recently developed by club members.

LAURA TILRICO HONORED AS “ROTARIAN OF THE YEAR”

 Outgoing President Todd Engle and Corey Zielsdorf give a certificate of recognition to International Committee Chair Laura Tilrico for her work on many, many projects, including in Nepal and Guatemala. 

A  CELEBRATION OF 50 YEARS OF ROTARY SERVICE……

Rick displays his special 50th anniversary gift.

Rick Kaufman’s daughter and son-in-law attended the Installation Dinner to help celebrate his 50 years of Rotary service.  He has been a club president (twice), and is probably best known for being one of the founders of the Concours D’Elegance car show in Forest Grove, a Rotary-sponsored event. He is a retired dentist who stays busy as a woodworker and bonsai expert…and has a long list of other interests. Congratulations, Rick!

…..AND RECOGNITION FOR  30 GREAT YEARS 

Ann and Patrick Dolan attended the Installation Dinner and received awards and recognition for Bill Dolan, who would have celebrated 30 years of Rotary service this year. Bill passed away in May.

FOOD WASTE AND RECOVERY TOPIC AT LAST WEEK’S MEETING

Guest speakers Paul Petillo, with Fred Meyer, and Diane Longaker with YCAP.

By Rick Kaufman
Suzanne Miller introduced Paul Petillo and Diane Longaker to discuss the subject of “waste food”, its challenges, and ways it is dealt with in our area.
Paul is the corporate executive with Fred Meyer responsible for policy and logistics in company as regarding minimizing food waste in their operations. Diane is Resource Development Coordinator for Yamhill County Action Partnership [YCAP] Food Bank.
Both spoke of concerted efforts to reduce food stuffs from going into landfills. Paul spoke of how very tightly Fred Meyer monitors/manages all food commodities they buy, sell and dispose of [if/when needed]….with “best practices” resulting in still-safely-consumable-but-no-longer-marketable products going to entities/organizations such as YCAP Food Bank for appropriate re-distribution. Diane addressed the Food Bank’s efforts in dealing with all those in the “food chain” from farmers & producers/processors on through “food banks” and others assisting the “food needy” in our communities…and on to final disposal of un-usables…such as “anaerobic bacterial digesting” into fuel for electric power production….a process management detailed by Paul.
 

 $50,000 IN LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS

AWARDED BY CLUB

Using the proceeds from our auction in April, the Club has awarded over $50,000 in scholarships to 39 local students.

New this year was the $3000 Bill Dolan Scholarship, named in memory of 30-year Rotarian and St. Paul Rodeo Hall-of-Famer Bill Dolan, who passed way in May of this year.  Presley Smith, St. Paul High School Valedictorian, is the first recipient of that award.

Six of the larger scholarships are named in honor of local Rotarians and citizens, in recognition of their contributions to the community: Bill Dolan, Joan Austin, Ken Austin, Ray Simonsen, Larry Bohnsack and Crystal Dawn Smith Rilee.

“We are delighted to be able to make these awards and help local students with their college expenses,” said Club President Todd Engle. “We thank all of the auction sponsors, donors and attendees for making this possible.”

“SERVICE ABOVE SELF” AWARDS

A “Service Above Self” award was given to Scholarship Committee Chair Dave Parker for his leadership and service to the club. Dave has accepted a new job as the Superintendent of the Forest Grove School District and will be leaving the club.  Thanks and best wishes, Dave!

 

Former Auction Chair Grant Gerke is also leaving the club. Grant was recognized for his hours and hours of tireless service as Committee Chair for many auctions and other projects. Thanks and best wishes, Grant! 

A NEW FRIEND OF ROTARY

Membership Committee Chair (and new Chamber of Commerce CEO) Shannon Buckmaster (right) officially welcomed Diana Fisher back to our club as a “Friend of Rotary.” Diana said she has been gone for 5 years out-of-state. She is now the Executive Director of the Providence Newberg Health Foundation. Welcome, Diana!

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!

Auggie Gonzales, Club Foundation Board Member, presents an auction- proceeds check for $30,750 to Mike Pollock for support to the Helping Hands organization.

Jim Hirte has returned to the club after 5 weeks in Mexico and 4 weeks in Galveston, Texas.  Welcome back, Jim.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND SELL PANCAKE BREAKFAST TICKETS!

The annual pancake breakfast, sponsored in conjunction with the Morning Club as part of the Old Fashioned Festival, will be here before you know it. Good news–this year, the requirement to buy $72 in tickets has been dropped. However, there is still a “requirement” to sell tickets, help get sponsors and volunteer for the event!  Curt Walker has once again stepped up to lead this project and is the man to see for more information.

GUESTS

Lydia and Jackson, wife and baby son of Dan Keuler, joined Dan for lunch.

Sara James Vandehey, cousin and guest of Shannon Buckmaster, attended our meeting to check us out.