FogHorn July 20, 2017  -  Fun and Games Week

Bill Johnson’s wife, Ayn, attended for Bill.

   

 

President Warren Barmore opened his 3^rd meeting, and shared a Rotary video with us, No Limits, which focuses on how Rotarians can do amazing things including impacting polio, providing clean water, etc.  This video can be seen on the Rotary International website.

Warren noted that we had thank you notes displayed around the room from 3^rd grade students expressing their appreciation for our donation of dictionaries.

                                              

 

Warren shared that the PERLS (leadership) program starts on July 29.  Cost is $50 for the all day event.  Interact members can participate for free.

Michael Arase-Barham noted that the annual backpack drive is on, and there will be a major event at Holy Family Church on Saturday August 12 to bring in backpack and school supply donations.   This drive benefits many hundreds of children on the Coastside. Please find a way to donate.

Charise McHugh encouraged Rotarians to participate in the Farms + Fish + Flowers event on January 29.  Please visit the Chamber website.

                                            

 

Paul Harris Award  Teresa Adam was given a 4^th Paul Harris award!!! Thank you, Teresa!

                               

 

                                                  

Caroline Gossart thanked Rotary members who attended her party including sharing an evening with her parents and siblings at Mary Rogren’s house.  She is sad to be leaving us this week – and departs for Belgium on Saturday. (See Caroline's goodbye letter at the end of this article.)

John Evans thanked the club with helping with our exchange program (and Caroline) this year.  He remarked that Rotary is now the only program that the high school is willing to participate in -- as Rotary provides a well-rounded experience for our students (and also provides a significant support structure for the students.)  John noted that we agreed to accept two students this year – since we are the only program on the coast.  (Three years ago, HMBS had 15 foreign students; now we will only have 2 students.)  We are still looking for host families for Rafa and Louise who will be coming in August, so please help us in finding families!  Contact John or Mary Rogren.

Teresa Adam contributed $69 to the Foundation pot for her birthday.

Irwin Cohen shared his recent adventures with renting a car in Paris and going round and round and round and round and round, etc. the Arc de Triomphe!   Irwin also shared that he had an incredible, amazing reunion with a former exchange student (who is an extremely successful individual)--- that Irwin hosted 30 years ago!!

Charise spent the last 3 weeks in Tahoe . . . and shared her fun experiences as well as her fire perspectives.     Charise was also presented with her pin for her renewed commitment for participating on the Rotary Board as Vocational Chair.

             

 

Birthday Celebration   Teresa Adam recognized Ed Daniel, Dave Andrews, and Nate Rey for birthdays this month.

       

 

So today is probably one of the hardest moments for me because I have to say goodbye to my family.

To the people I got a chance to know pretty well during this year; and to the people I loved and shared many memories; (these people are of course, everyone in this room); , to my closest friends;  to the ones that I didn’t get a chance to get to know better – but that’s for another time;

So everyone here changed my life in some way. Everyone made my dreams happen by starting with the second of saying “yes” to hosting a young woman from Belgium.  Attending every weekly meeting at Rotary was a gift to me including the activities; being honored as an honorary member makes me feel like I am part of this family forever.

This year has been so special; so incredible from different aspects – so rich in memories, but mostly having amazing opportunities for me as an 18-year old young woman.   You know how hard it is for me to leave and how afraid I am to go back to my country because one part of me says my friends won’t understand.   My friends won’t know what I experienced this year and all the people that I met.    So it’s hard because I like sharing things, talking.  But this experience belongs only to me and no one can understand.  So I am and will be forever grateful for all of your love, friendships and recognition I got from you.   I grew up a lot in ten months. And I probably became the person that I am today thanks to you.    So thank you.  I am going to miss you every single day.  I am going to miss having my HMB Rotary family.  I am going to miss my President even though I know that she is past president now, but you will be president for me.   I’m going to miss the smile of Warren and his excitement.  I am going to miss Mitone.   I am going to miss my meetings  at Paul (Wrubel’s) office helping me apply to Stanford;   my incredible friendship with Kevin.   I am going to miss the compassion of Joe.   I am going to miss my talks with Eric and Susan;  with Brian and Ginger – it’s hard to describe everything.  I am also going to miss my conversations about Burmese mountain dogs with Stacy;   So – I am going to miss all of the love that you gave to me this year.    So of course John and Mary for being host families for me; and they made my experience even better.   But they know that; it’s a different story.

So I love you and I’m going to miss you a lot.  I am leaving on Saturday, but as an honorary member, I can guarantee you that I’ll be back.  And sooner than you think!

 I love you all