The school for our upcoming dental clinic has been selected. It's in the same general area as the last clinic but it's smaller and even poorer.
Lupita Creo, International chair for the Ensenada Calafia club is arranging discounted prices on rooms at the Hotel Coral, our 5-star home away from home.
http://hotelcoral.com/English/html/Hotel/Hotel.html
She's also passing the word to the school principal and teachers that we expect the families of the children treated to assist in any fix-up work we're doing. This is to keep the families involved and to help them take ownership of the school so our efforts to fix it up will remain.
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Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The singing angel
Irvine Spectrum Rotary was serenade by the Harmony Partners barbershop quartet. Partners in Harmony, an organization started by Warren Willard, a founding member of our club, is dedicated to supporting youth vocal programs in middle and high schools. The group recently raised money for Tesoro High School to allow for a quartet to compete in the Far Western Competition in Reno.
Following the barbershop quartet the club heard from Naomi Montero, a ten year old 4th grader who raised the roof with her beautiful soprano voice.
Naomi’s family immigrated to the US to realize Naomi’s potential. She currently studies voice lessons with Selma Hayak’s mother and is enrolled in a charter school with an emphasis on the arts.
The Irvine Spectrum Club donated $1,000 to support Partner's in Harmony training and several members of the club presented individual donations to help Naomi.
If you are interested in donating please contact John Alcorn.
Naomi’s family immigrated to the US to realize Naomi’s potential. She currently studies voice lessons with Selma Hayak’s mother and is enrolled in a charter school with an emphasis on the arts.
The Irvine Spectrum Club donated $1,000 to support Partner's in Harmony training and several members of the club presented individual donations to help Naomi.
If you are interested in donating please contact John Alcorn.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Everyone has a secret!
According to Randy Wood, everyone has a secret! Randy gave his inaugural Craft Talk on March 3rd. His business: keeping people honest.
Randy helps businesses keep people honest by providing detection and prevention of fraud through education, technology and kinesics interviews and interrogation.
Randy shared that businesses loose up to seven percent (annually) due to fraud and it often goes undetected for years. Small private businesses tend to be the biggest losers due to asset misappropriation. This past year has been especially significant with regard to fraud as financial targets are harder to achieve, people are afraid of loosing jobs, companies are offering fewer bonuses and many employees are doing more work for the same amount of pay.
Thanks to Randy for educating us on how to watch out for deviance in the workplace!
Randy helps businesses keep people honest by providing detection and prevention of fraud through education, technology and kinesics interviews and interrogation.
Randy shared that businesses loose up to seven percent (annually) due to fraud and it often goes undetected for years. Small private businesses tend to be the biggest losers due to asset misappropriation. This past year has been especially significant with regard to fraud as financial targets are harder to achieve, people are afraid of loosing jobs, companies are offering fewer bonuses and many employees are doing more work for the same amount of pay.
Thanks to Randy for educating us on how to watch out for deviance in the workplace!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Former Irvine Spectrum Rotarian Enters Assembly Race
Dan Hoffman, a former Irvine Spectrum Rotary Club member, expressed his desire to run for California State Assembly. Petitioning to put his name on the ballot, Hoffman will run for the 70th District. Assemblyman Chuck DeVore (R) currently holds the 70th District seat, which includes Irvine. DeVore is leaving the Assembly due to term limits. After giving a brief review of politics in California, Hoffman shared the procedure of running for office.
Hoffman, who has lived in Irvine in 15 years, states he is the best Republican to take this seat. He expressed his concern for the current state of California and said that is the main reason he is running. Current issues with California include the loss of $16 billion and paying more money for California’s prisons versus education. Tuitions at state universities have increased exponentially across California, wherein salaries for correction officers exceed that of educators. Hoffman went on to share that in 2006 California spent $227 million in overtime to certain groups of corrections officers.
As a result of the economy, according to Hoffman, there have been severe cuts across the state affecting all services. As a result many incumbents are disillusioned and not looking to run for office again. The state’s loss of a substantial amount of its budget is the main reason Hoffman says he is running for office, “I’m looking to raise money and create jobs for the state without raising taxes.” Hoffman also believes it is time to stop passing laws for the sake of passing laws.
Hoffman, who has lived in Irvine in 15 years, states he is the best Republican to take this seat. He expressed his concern for the current state of California and said that is the main reason he is running. Current issues with California include the loss of $16 billion and paying more money for California’s prisons versus education. Tuitions at state universities have increased exponentially across California, wherein salaries for correction officers exceed that of educators. Hoffman went on to share that in 2006 California spent $227 million in overtime to certain groups of corrections officers.
As a result of the economy, according to Hoffman, there have been severe cuts across the state affecting all services. As a result many incumbents are disillusioned and not looking to run for office again. The state’s loss of a substantial amount of its budget is the main reason Hoffman says he is running for office, “I’m looking to raise money and create jobs for the state without raising taxes.” Hoffman also believes it is time to stop passing laws for the sake of passing laws.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Myanmar Water Project
John Brainerd spoke about Rotary’s water program in Myanmar. Major activity in Myanmar is agriculture – even orphanages grown gardens. However, due to a lack of infrastructure, children had to walk to a river to fill buckets and carry them quite a distance back to the orphanage garden. Instead of attending school and socializing children were carrying buckets of water back and forth to take care of the garden.
Two and a half billion people lack access to clean water. Each year 1.8 million people die from diarrhea, much of it cause from severe diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. Eighty-eight percent of deaths are due to unsafe water or inadequate sanitation or hygiene, and 1.4 million are children ages five and younger, according to the World Health Organization. Malnutrition- related deaths of children five and under caused by unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient hygiene total 860,000 a year.
When Rotary inquired further as to what Myanmar needed most – physicians in Myanmar stated they needed permanent water projects. Though a daunting project, Rotary agreed and has already designed and built 15 of the 60 requested systems. Working with Save the Children and the Myanmar Compassion Project, the project is serving 200 orphanages. Seventy to eighty percent of the water is used for agriculture, ten percent is used for kitchen use, and ten percent is used for laundry. The children now have time for school and social activities. Newport continues to work with Maesai Rotary to keep the project alive.
To find out more about the Myanmar Water Project, including the project’s entire history and how to make donations go to: http://www.myanmarwater.org/
Two and a half billion people lack access to clean water. Each year 1.8 million people die from diarrhea, much of it cause from severe diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. Eighty-eight percent of deaths are due to unsafe water or inadequate sanitation or hygiene, and 1.4 million are children ages five and younger, according to the World Health Organization. Malnutrition- related deaths of children five and under caused by unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient hygiene total 860,000 a year.
When Rotary inquired further as to what Myanmar needed most – physicians in Myanmar stated they needed permanent water projects. Though a daunting project, Rotary agreed and has already designed and built 15 of the 60 requested systems. Working with Save the Children and the Myanmar Compassion Project, the project is serving 200 orphanages. Seventy to eighty percent of the water is used for agriculture, ten percent is used for kitchen use, and ten percent is used for laundry. The children now have time for school and social activities. Newport continues to work with Maesai Rotary to keep the project alive.
To find out more about the Myanmar Water Project, including the project’s entire history and how to make donations go to: http://www.myanmarwater.org/
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Laguna College of Arts and Design
Laguna College of the Arts and Design, an accredited college, and requires a portfolio from applicants, is home to 110 students and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in two years. Located in the Laguna Canyon, it is a beautiful campus and well designed for art students. The school provides education at the bachelor and master level, creating future artists who express their talent through traditional art, i.e. painting, sculpture, sketching to newer forms of art such as animation and game art. Ninety six percent of the college’s students benefit from financial aid.
Trevor shared the story of his journey to LCAD. Originally from Northern California, Trevor attended community college before being accepted at LCAD. Impressed by the success of the students, Trevor made LCAD his priority. He shared the process of his paintings – from beginning to end – and shared that the best teachers teach them to use their gifts and strengths.
Patsee offered the Club to visit the school to view the students’ artwork on display. The school is at 2222 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651. Please contact Patsse Ober at 949.376.6000 x229 to find out more about the school.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Beautiful Taiwan
by Lisa Grajewski
Speaker: Maxine Lu—Project Manager, Taiwan Tourism Bureau
National Geographic Travel has described Taiwan as the “best kept secret.” After a stunning presentation by Maxine Lu, it would be hard to disagree with the magazine’s assessment.
The Island, off the South East coast of China, is a 14 hour flight from Los Angles and well wroth the time in the air! Approximately 14,400 square miles, Taiwan is slightly larger than Maryland. It is home to 23 million people, all of whom speak a myriad of languages: from Mandarin and Taiwanese to Hakka and other indigenous languages. English is also a prominent language in Taiwan.
The Taiwan Tourism Bureau has worked hard to market Taiwan, drawing visitors from all walks of life – for all reasons. The new logo for Taiwan:
T = A house
A = the host
I = the guest
W = host & guest shaking hands
A & N = The host is offering tea to the guest
For those participating in the Rotary trip to Taiwan there is a lot to choose from for the traveler. Whether you are interested in art, and decide to visit the National Palace Museum, home to one of the largest collections of Chinese art and one of the top museums in the world or you want to ride on the Alishan, one of three remaining Alpine trains – Taiwan will keep you busy. For the foodies, Din Tai Fung, one of the top 10 gourmet restaurants in the world (according to NY Times) is an opportunity to experience delicate and delectable dumplings. And, as Taiwan encapsulates the best of Chinese cuisine, you will have many other opportunities to temp your taste buds!
Taiwan is also known for its natural beauty, diverse species (a quarter of the world’s animal species are found in Taiwan, as well as exclusive species) and breath taking destinations, such as Sun Moon Lake - Taiwan’s “Lake Tahoe” and a favorite honeymoon destination. Sunrise is particularly favorable as the water changes color with the rising son.
Along side the environmental diversity, Taiwan is diverse in its racial, cultural, and ethnic makeup as well. In addition to the several languages spoken in Taiwan, cultural influences from the Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Dutch, English and others can be found in the tiny country. It truly seems there is something for everyone in Taiwan.
National Geographic Travel has described Taiwan as the “best kept secret.” After a stunning presentation by Maxine Lu, it would be hard to disagree with the magazine’s assessment.
The Island, off the South East coast of China, is a 14 hour flight from Los Angles and well wroth the time in the air! Approximately 14,400 square miles, Taiwan is slightly larger than Maryland. It is home to 23 million people, all of whom speak a myriad of languages: from Mandarin and Taiwanese to Hakka and other indigenous languages. English is also a prominent language in Taiwan.
The Taiwan Tourism Bureau has worked hard to market Taiwan, drawing visitors from all walks of life – for all reasons. The new logo for Taiwan:
A = the host
I = the guest
W = host & guest shaking hands
A & N = The host is offering tea to the guest
For those participating in the Rotary trip to Taiwan there is a lot to choose from for the traveler. Whether you are interested in art, and decide to visit the National Palace Museum, home to one of the largest collections of Chinese art and one of the top museums in the world or you want to ride on the Alishan, one of three remaining Alpine trains – Taiwan will keep you busy. For the foodies, Din Tai Fung, one of the top 10 gourmet restaurants in the world (according to NY Times) is an opportunity to experience delicate and delectable dumplings. And, as Taiwan encapsulates the best of Chinese cuisine, you will have many other opportunities to temp your taste buds!
Taiwan is also known for its natural beauty, diverse species (a quarter of the world’s animal species are found in Taiwan, as well as exclusive species) and breath taking destinations, such as Sun Moon Lake - Taiwan’s “Lake Tahoe” and a favorite honeymoon destination. Sunrise is particularly favorable as the water changes color with the rising son.
Along side the environmental diversity, Taiwan is diverse in its racial, cultural, and ethnic makeup as well. In addition to the several languages spoken in Taiwan, cultural influences from the Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Dutch, English and others can be found in the tiny country. It truly seems there is something for everyone in Taiwan.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Judge David O. Carter
By Lisa Grajewski
U.S. Federal judge David O. Carter spoke to the Irvine Spectrum Rotary on Wednesday, December 23. Judge Carter, who has been involved in an Orange County case questioning President Obama’s citizenship, explained that the power to remove a sitting president from office resides with Congress, not the judiciary.
Judge Carter then spoke about his recent visits to Afghanistan and the state of the US military in that region. He stated the Taliban has created a rift with the communities of the region by using the area as shelter. Judge Carter also discussed the precarious situation with the intelligence agency of Pakistan, vis-à-vis possible breaches in security for the U.S. Due to a pending trial, Judge Carter had to make his talk brief, but offered to return and speak about other topics of interest.
Judge Carter received both his bachelor's degree and his law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). After graduating from college, Carter accepted a commission in the United States Marine Corps and was promptly ordered to Vietnam where he received, among other awards, a Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his valiant service in Vietnam. In addition to the Obama case, Judge Carter has been involved with other interesting cases such as the Mexican Mafia trials (United States v. Fernandez, et al), Anna Nicole Smith (In re Marshall), Aryan Brotherhood Trials (United States v. Mills, et al) and Gay-Straight Alliance (Colin ex rel. Colin v. Orange Unified School District).
Judge Carter then spoke about his recent visits to Afghanistan and the state of the US military in that region. He stated the Taliban has created a rift with the communities of the region by using the area as shelter. Judge Carter also discussed the precarious situation with the intelligence agency of Pakistan, vis-à-vis possible breaches in security for the U.S. Due to a pending trial, Judge Carter had to make his talk brief, but offered to return and speak about other topics of interest.
Judge Carter received both his bachelor's degree and his law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). After graduating from college, Carter accepted a commission in the United States Marine Corps and was promptly ordered to Vietnam where he received, among other awards, a Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his valiant service in Vietnam. In addition to the Obama case, Judge Carter has been involved with other interesting cases such as the Mexican Mafia trials (United States v. Fernandez, et al), Anna Nicole Smith (In re Marshall), Aryan Brotherhood Trials (United States v. Mills, et al) and Gay-Straight Alliance (Colin ex rel. Colin v. Orange Unified School District).
Irvine Spectrum Rotary welcomes three new members
Membership Chair Toni Thomas welcomes three new members to the The Irvine Spectrum Rotary club. From left above, Diane Parriott, Lisa Grajewski, Toni Thomas, and Randy Woods.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Run for the Wall - Bob Yaap
A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Bob flew helicopters in Vietnam, loosing 19 of his classmates. He has since gone on to support U.S. veterans by getting involved in Run for the Wall, a motorcycle ride from California to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC.
Bob shared pictures and stories of the cross country ride that he took with his good friend, a Vietnam veteran, who lost his leg in the war, and 800 hundred other veterans, friends, family members and supporters of service members involved in past and current conflicts.
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