Stories

We will have a special Club meeting schedule for the month of November:

• November 1: We will have our monthly social meeting at Little Madfish Restaurant in lieu of our regular Wednesday meeting. See our event details in the right column.
• November 10: We will have a special Veterans Day event in lieu of our regular meeting on November 9.
• November 16: Due to renovations at our regular meeting place, will meet at the Original Pancake House, 39222 Fremont Blvd.  Follow this link for map and directions.
• November 23 and 30: We will meet at our usual location, the City of Fremont Senior Center.

Geeta George joined the other Area 3 new presidents and Area 3 AG Daren Young at the July 8, 2015, District 5170 Cabinet meeting

Dave and Connie Clayton purchased and delivered 2 complete sets of Welcome Home Baskets for Military Returning Veterans settling in the Bay Area.  A lengthy list of new home supplies including blankets, towels, dishware, kitchenware, and other necessities were purchased by Dave and Connie which they delivered to Jean Morgan at Abode Services on Dec 5th this year.   Abode Services manages the Welcome Home Basket program and makes sure that returning members of the military have needed household supplies to start their new home in the Bay Area.

Thanks Dave, Thanks Connie 

This year's "Evening of Sparkles" fundraiser on May 19th at the Newark Hilton will benefit one of our long time charitable organizations, The Alameda County Blue Star Moms. 

Blue Star Moms, Chapter CA23, is a local San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of The Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. serving all Cities of the County of Alameda in the SF Bay Area of California. They are a non-profit charity, a non-partisan, non-political organization.  They are mothers who now have, or have had, children serving in the military. They are a non-profit (501[c]3) service organization supporting each other and their children while promoting patriotism.

The Fremont Warm Springs Sunrise Rotary Club has worked with Blue Stars Mom in the past, sending care packages overseas to soldiers serving our country in places such as Iraq and Afganistan. 

This year our May 19th, Evening of Sparkles fundraiser will continue to donate to this program to send those much needed and appreciated care packages.

We have another fabulous item for our Live Auction on May 19th.  A weekend stay at Ridge Tahoe.

Overlooking the breathtaking and beautiful Carson Valley, and nestled on a spectacular Sierra Nevada ridge above Lake Tahoe, this 11 acre hotel resort offers year-round vacation rentals with panoramic views and luxurious accommodations. Complimentary Health Club, Indoor Sports Complex, Indoor/Outdoor Swimming Pools and Jacuzzis, Restaurant, Deli, Market, Full Service Spa and more are all on-site. Shuttle service whisks guests 6 miles to Lake Tahoe and casino nightlife.

The magnificent hotel resort is located on Heavenly Ski Resort’s Nevada slope, adjacent to the Stagecoach Lodge and ski chair lift. Our 302-unit resort features Deluxe Hotel Rooms, Junior Suites, One and Two Bedroom Condominium Suites.

Mark Your Calendars!  Our 2012 Evening of Sparkles will be May 19, 2012 at the Newark Hilton at 6:00 p.m.  This year's Event will be honoring our Troops!

We certainly have a great bunch of young adults at the Rotaract of Greater Fremont. This last Saturday, September 17th, from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM we had a total of 9 Rotaract members working along with Luis Lira and Don Brown.

They were able to smooth dirt and lay material down to detain weed growth for landscaping.  Luis worked on a water line that was leaking.  We had to shut the water off for about an hour so we could fix the corroded pipe.

Alex, our Rotaract Ambassador, took the lead in organizing everything at the Wednesday Rotaract meeting.  Luis and Don facilitated getting tools along with food and water.  Alex really showed his leadership in getting everything facilitated to completion.  We need to commend our Rotaract Team for everything they do in support of our Club!

Dr. Dianne Martin has her own private practice in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases in Fremont.  She received her Doctor of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina and her Fellowship in Infectious Diseases at UC Davis School of Medicine.  She is affiliated with the Alameda/Contra costa County Medical Society, East Bay Infectious Diseases Society and the American College of Physicians.

Over 40 million people have diabetes.  It is a very common disease but controllable.  Diabetes is a life-long disease. There is no cure but can be self-managed.  There are two types of diabetes:

Type 1 where the body does not develop insulin and starts in the teenage years.  This type of diabetes is not hereditary but is on the rise in the United States.

 Type 2 is where the body cannot use the insulin manufactured by the body.  This starts as an adult and is often hereditary.  This is the most common form of diabetes. 

 The risk factors for diabetes is obesity, stress and lack of exercise.

What can you do if you have diabetes or are at risk?

·         Work with your health care team

·         Learn as much as you can about it

·         Keep track of your blood sugar levels

·         Ask questions

·         Understand and remember the advice and answers given to you

·         Use the information to improve your care

 Set Goals for yourself such as maintaining your blood pressure at 130/70, watch your weight, proper meal plan, physical activity and watch your cholesterol which should be less than 180.  Have an Action Plan which include steps to reaching your goals, ways to measure yourself, what to do if you have questions.

Top Ten List for Avoiding or Managing Diabetes:

1.       Watch your carbs

2.       Watch your weight

3.       Get enough sleep – 7-8 hours

4.       Exercise

5.       Manage stress

6.       Say no to salt

7.       Monitor your blood pressure

8.       Stop smoking

9.       Pick proper foods

10.   Set up doctor visits

Fremont Warm Sprngs Sunrise Rotary has a close working relationship with the Warm Springs Elementary School.  We have helped on school projects in the past and are back once again this summer working on a courtyard project. 

There has been a continual problem during the wet season where this courtyard and walkway is located.  It is situated next to a small dirt hill and when it rains, the mud washes down onto the courtyard and walkway making a muddy mess for the students.  Fremont Warm Springs Sunrise Rotary has teamed up with Interact Students, Rotaract members to fix this problem.  A drainage ditch and small curb is being installed to direct the water and mud away from this area.  Benches are being installed so students will have more seating between class period.

Work on this project was started the weekend of July 30 and hope to be finished before the school's 75th Anniversary Celebration in October.   A plaque will be dedicated to our Rotary for all our work at this celebration. 

http://newark.patch.com/blog_posts/the-2011-ohlone-college-foundation-citizen-of-the-year

Christina Broadwin, mother and parent of three, became involved in 2010 with the grass root campaign, "Save Fremont Students."   School budgets were being drastically reduced.  With 32,000 students in the Fremont Unified School District, a 25 million shortfall was announced.  This meant that all music, art, science and PE teachers would be laid off and programs lost, the 20-1 classroom ratio would be increased to 30-1 in elementary schools and class size increasing to 35-40 students in high schools.  The parents in the district felt this was unacceptable and decided to start a campaign to raise 4.5 million by July 15, 2010.  The group first met over Memorial Day weekend, 2010, two weeks before school was to end, to discuss how they were going to accomplish this.

All the schools in the district participated, teachers, parent and students were involved and the campaign was endorsed by the School Board and the Fremont Education Foundation.  A donation of $475 per family was being asked.  After much research through the Bay Area, they discovered that other school districts who also asked for donations to cover shortfalls, asked for an average of $300 per family.  Families were allowed to designate if they wanted their wanted their donation to go to the elementary, junior high or high school level.

They had multiple donation streams, alumni, future families, small and medium size businesses, current families and corporate matching grants.  They had rallies, held flea markets, Shop for Students Day at certain local stores, set up donation tables around the city.  They tapped into viral messaging (Facebook, Yahoo Groups, Google Groups, bizM3 and Paypal).  Within 10 days of starting the Facebook page they had 2,000 friends.  They promoted via radio stations and newspapers.  Utilization of high school students was essential to their success.  The students organized their own fundraising, managed it and ran it.

At the end of 7 weeks, they presented the Fremont Unified School District a check for $700,000.  They were able to hire back 6 specialty teachers who work at the elementary school level.  Given more time, they feel they could have raised more money.

The unforeseen benefits of the campaign were the friendships made all across the district, created an awareness in the city about the problem which helped to pass Meausre K, a parcel tax of $13 million over 5 years for our schools, and helped to make the teachers feel valued.

There is a possibility that the parent group may work with the school district again this year.

Before NUMMI closed its door in April, there was approximatey 4,500 wokers employed there.   NUMMI had six (6) months to prepare for the closing. They worked with the Workforce Inforcement Board (WIB).  Two thousand (2,000) dis-placed employees signed up for assistance wih the NRC.  Javiier Contreras is a Business Service Representative at the NUMMI Re-Employment Center (NRC) working with employers with their business needs. 

The NRC's focus is to assist businesses and job seekers.  Some of the services NRC offers businesses are:

*  No Fee Job Lisings

*  On-the-job training

*  Interview Facilities

*  Retraining and Skills Upgrade training programs

*  Workshops and seminars

NRC's goal is to help the dis-located employees find new employment and to assist with any trainin needed.  Everyone is encouraged to seek employment now and not to wait to be called back to work at Tesla. 

The NMMI Worker has a lot to offer.  To name just a few:

*  Specialize in Lean Manufacturing

*  NUMMI was the training model for managers within the US and Canad

*  Job seekers implemented the team concept and comprehended the importance of professional communication

TEEN CHALLENGE

Teen Challenge is a 12-18 months recovery program that has been in the Bay since the 1960's.  Today there are over 200 homes in the United States alone that provides help to those struggling with any type of destructive and abusive addiction and lifestyles.  Teen Challenge was started 53 years ago to help teenagers and has grown to assisting men, women, teenagers, children and entire families who are on the road to recovery.

Teen Challenge NorWestCal/Nevada has been in the Bay Area for over 30 years.  They have five homes in the Bay Area, two in Nevada and three in Humboldt County.  Worldwide, they have over 1,400 facilities outside of the United States.  In the South Bay, Teen Challenge has two centers for women and the Asbury Center, which is a family center.  The Asbury Center is the only center of its kind in the world within the Teen Challenge organization which takes in families. 

Teen Challenge receives their clients by word of mouth and thru the court system.  Seventy percent (70%) of their funding comes from donors with the remaining thirty percent (30%) made up from their work study program and fundraising.  The cost to the organization is approximtely $2,400/month per client.

Attending the program today was Randy, a young women who is completing the program at Teen Challenge.  She came from a life of abuse and addiction and has learned what a safe home and a family should look like. She has learned self esteem and how to care for herself and her child.  She is leaving the program an entirely different person than the one who entered a year ago.

For more information on Teen Challenge you can go to www.teenchallenge.net.

Judy Woodard was our speaker today.  She is the Director at the women's and children's home here in San Jose.

Rotary Foundation Matching Grants bring music, dance, and opportunity to underprivileged children at the Bitone center in Uganda. See the story in an excerpt from the Rotary Video Magazine, volume 5, issue 2.

http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/Multimedia/RVMVideoMagazine/Pages/InArtWeUnite.aspx

Fremont Warm  Springs Sunrise Rotary member Jeboy Koshy,  along with several Rotarians from Rotary District 5170 were in Monterrey, Mexico to distribute Wheelchairs. The group, in partnership with several Rotary clubs from metropolitan Monterrey and the Wheelchair Foundation,  distributed 350 wheelchairs on March 14. This wheelchair distribution was one of the largest undertaken by Rotary. The project was Governor Ed Jellen's idea to give Rotarians a hands on experience in a World Community Service project. Jeboy Koshy is  District 5170 International Service Chair. During their visit our Rotarians had  opportunities to visit several local community projects that Monterrey Rotary clubs have successfully completed. While visiting ts, 5170 Rotarians helped with projects in local schools --  landscaping and light construction. The Monterrey project was well planned and Rotarians had a gratifying personal experience.  Governor-Elect Susan Valenta is considering a similar program in her year as District Governor.

On Wed, March 25, Jim Omlid spoke to the FWSS Rotary club at our breakfast meeting.  Jim is 'Program Coordinator' at Mission Valley ROP (Regional Opportunity Program).  Jim gave the club an overview of the projects and activities for students from Fremont, Newark, and Union City pursuing training and careers in fields that are not a regular part of High School nor college curriculums.    The FWSS Rotary club hopes to partner with the Mission Valley ROP and help students get started in blue collar careers that are important to the community, but not part of the usual college offerings.

Isaiah Dario was awarded a new personal computer from the Fremont Warm Springs Sunrise Rotary club.  Dario was selected by the counseling staff at Kennedy HS as a dedicated, and economically deserving, student.   Using a computer from Rotary D5170's 'Computers for Children at Risk' program, the FWSS and the Kennedy HS staff selected Isaiah as the recipient for this year's computer.   Isaiah is graduating from Kennedy HS this spring and plans to attend college at Humboldt State University.   He will be playing on the soccer team at Humboldt State and will use the personal computer to keep up with his school work while on long road trips with the soccer team.

Close to 200 Rotarians and their guests attended the 'Evening of Sparkles at the Taj Mahal' on Feb 7, 2015.    This elegant event was held at Castlewood CC and included a champagne reception, silent auction, wonderful dinner, live auction, and fascinating show of fashion featuring Indian saris.

The Rotary clubs of Area 3, lead by the Niles Rotary club, held a Membership Mixer on Oct 28th at Washington Hospital West auditorium.   Over 150 Rotarians and their guests enjoyed a great meal, generous wine, and new fellowship.    In addition to the buffet dinner organized by Niles Rotary, the speakers: Daren Young,  Rick King, and Brad Howard delivered a strong message about the benefits of membership in Rotary.    All presidents of Area 3 Rotary attended the Membership Mixer.

Each year, the Rotarians of FWSS (Fremont Warm Springs Sunrise) distribute atlases, dictionaries, or thesauruses to students in FUSD.   This Fall, over 1200 thesauruses are being delivered to 5th grade students.   As a community srevice project, the FWSS Rotarians surveyed the FUSD school principals to understand the students needs for 2014/15 school, ordered, labeled, and then delivered the thesauruses (the principals chose thesaursuses this year to match the new Common Core curriculum being implemented in FUSD for 2014/15.

Great fun and Great food for our club's Christmas Party on Dec 17.   Thank you Geeta for opening your home for our club.   

John Blakely will be presenting information on the Rotary Foundation and Gerri Hussey will cover Future Vision.  Be sure to be there for their presentation.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

By being a Rotarian you are not only working to help your community and those less fortunate. We are helping our selves with Self Satisfaction and Peace of Mind.

You save one child at a time; give hope one person at a time; and complete one project at a time.

You meet new people and make lifelong friends. You choose from many meanigful service projects in your community and your individual efforts combined with efforts of other Rotarians, have a meaningful impact on your community and the world.