As a realtor, there is no better feeling than handing over the keys to a new home buyer. Our Club has a new club meeting home and I am having the same level of excitement about our next chapter at Las Positas College. Growing our membership is a key to energizing our club and long-term support of the community. A big thank you to all those who patiently contributed to make this location time and place a reality.
The literacy project has concluded and we are almost half way through our Ambassadors of Compassion program at Junction Ave School. Both of these programs support the youth of Livermore in a significant way. The acquisition of reading skills by grade 3 is essential to lifetime success of students. Ambassadors of Compassion builds emotionally resilient youth. Imagine students learning to set and accomplish their goals and dreams, how to forgive and overcome their negative experiences, not blaming and shaming others when things don’t go their way, while at the same time challenging others to do the same. I am proud of the members who donated their time to make these programs a success. It’s just two of the ways that we are making a difference in Livermore.
I encourage members to attend our District Conference on Saturday, April 29 to learn, socialize with other Rotarians and be present for the club announcement of the $25,000 American Rescue Plan ACT (ARPA) to community service in Livermore. I am looking forward to this one-day event and supporting Jill Duerig in her role as District 5170 governor nominee.
It is time to “shred the past and look to the future." A shredding event is another way our club is giving back to the Livermore community on April 23. And we are three quarters of the way through the Rotary year, so I am personally shredding the past and looking forward to the last quarter of my Presidency.
Enjoy these wonderful days of spring and smell some flowers. Make time for yourself and appreciate all your contributions.
Club members receive The Grapevine following each Tuesday meeting. Please reach out to Kevin Drake if you would like to receive a copy in your inbox.
MEETING DETAILS
We meet Tuesday mornings, gathering at 8:00 and ringing the bell to start the meeting at 8:15 AM.
Meetings are in person at Las Positas College, Faculty Dining Room in Building 1600, 3000 Campus Hill Drive, Livermore or you can join via Zoom
NEW MEETING TIME & LOCATION!
At our March 14th meeting, we voted to change our meeting time to an 8:15 a.m. start. and to begin meeting regularly at Las Positas College. We are now meeting in the Faculty Dining Room, located on the first floor of Building 1600, the Student Services & Administration Building. Las Positas College is located at 3000 Campus Hill Drive, Livermore, CA 94551.
Changing the meeting time required a change to our bylaws, which took place by achieving at least a 2/3 majority vote.
We are still offering a hybrid option. Members and guests can attend in person or sign on to zoom for each weekly meeting.
SERVICE PROJECT: KIDS AGAINST HUNGER
Club members and Granada High School Interactors joined with other Rotarians from Area 4 on Saturday, March 25 to pack 15,000 meals for children in Haiti. The Kids Against Hunger packing event was fun and a meaningful way to build community locally and make a difference globally.
Pictured below: Graham Scott decked out in sanitary cap, who was joined by Jill Duerig, Kevin McCallum, Suzanne Richerson, and Lori Souza at the packing event.
SHARING THE GIFT OF READING
Each 3rd grader in the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District has started Spring Break with a new, hardcover book provided by Livermore Rotarians! As part of the Rotarian Foundation of Livermore's 2023 Gift of Reading Project, 989 novels were purchased and delivered to students at their schools this month. Students were able to choose one of three titles identified by teachers and library specialists:
Flora and Ulysses, by Kate DiCamillo
How to Train Your Dragon, by Cressida Crowell
The Wild Robot, by Peter Brown
Rotarians from both Livermore clubs came together with the RFL Board to bring this project to life. We especially thank Judy Wheeler and Towne Center Books for their partnership in this project.
Pictured below on book-sorting day (left to right): Roy Porfido, Bennie Le Bourvellec, TJ Gilmartin, Philomena Rambo, Carol Gerich, Jeannette Albiez, Dustin Battaion, and Judy Wheeler
Below, Deb Tacker introduces a student at Croce Elementary School to The Wild Robot
Below, happy students from Smith Elementary School show off their new books.
CELEBRATING THE STUDENT OF THE MONTH
Andrew McKeever made us all stand a little taller when he entered our meeting on March 21. As the center of the Granada High School Boys Basketball Team, Andrew helped lead the team to attaining Granada’s best season ever! GHS Boys competed in the Division 1 State Basketball Finals on March 10. Individually, Andrew earned the honor of being First Team All League in the East Bay Athletic League.
Principal Clark Conover shared that Andrew is a leader on and off the court. He is respected by his teammates and by his fellow students at Granada. An excellent student, Andrew is on the Granada High Honor Roll.
Pictured below: Andrew, with President Kevin McCallum and Principal Clark Conover.
We are delighted to welcome Jeannette Albiez to the Rotary Club of Livermore Valley! Recently retired from NASA, Jeannette is enjoying having the time to get more involved in the community. She and her husband Mark have lived in Livermore since 2018. They have two adult children. Jeannette enjoys tennis, pickleball, biking, hiking, and reading. We look forward to getting to know Jeannette!
Pictured below: Jeannette, center, with her Rotary Sponsor, Beth McCormick, and President Kevin McCallum as he inducts her into Rotary.
MARCH MADNESS WINNER!
Congratulations to Fellow Rotarian Bob Tucknott, who ran away with the 2023 March Madness Tournament! Thanks to all members who participated in this fun event, which helps fund our Annual Turkey Giveaway each November. And a big thank you to Lori Souza and Bill Stevens for coordinating the tournament!
Below, Bob Tucknott receives his winnings from Lori Souza.
SPRING GRANT APPLICATIONS DUE APRIL 28
We invite community organizations and schools whose work aligns with our mission as Rotarians to apply for our Spring Grants. Applications are available on our website and are due April 28, 2023, the last Friday in April.
Individual awards typically range from $300 - $1,000. Larger grants may be available on a case by case basis.
Thanks to our Club Grant Chair, Sarah Palmer, for her leadership. And thanks to our sponsors and club members for pitching in at the Chili Cook Off to raise the money we are able to share to serve our community!
On Sunday, April 23, 2023 we invite community members to bring their sensitive documents to be shredded, freeing up space for the future! We offer this event free of charge as a service to our community. We will gladly accept donations that will help us fund our community grants and projects.
Club members are encourage to help out at the event and to spread the word so that community members avail themselves of this opportunity!
All Rotarians are invited to participate in the annual District 5170 Conference on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. The theme: Imagine Your Impact!
Great workshops, presentations, speakers, and fellowship opportunities, plus the opportunity to tour the Computer History Museum - all in one day!
Remember to check out the upcoming events listed on our website and in your ClubRunner mobile app. Events listings include everything you need to know including a Google Maps link! Here's a partial list of upcoming events:
