Past District Governor Lina Aurelio from the Rotary Club of Sampaguita Grace Park (D-3800, Metro Manila) and Rotarian Janet Elarmo from the Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific (D-5230, California) at the Carmarin Lying In (Maternity) Hospital in Caloocan City (Metro Manila, Philippines). More information on our joint project is here.

Thanks largely to money contributed by people in the Monterey Peninsula community, $15,000 has been sent to the Rotary Club of Sampaguita Grace Park in the Philippines to fund a medical testing program for newborn infants.

The testing follows a protocol established by a national newborn screening system that has been operating in the Philippines since 2004, and involves a simple procedure to find out if a baby has a congenital metabolic disorder that may lead to a chronic disability, or even death, if left untreated. Five tests will be conducted for each infant.

The initial funding came from the Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific. We raised the money at our annual Cioppino feed last January. More than 200 people from our local community attended the event, many as volunteers. It was combined with grants from our local Rotary district, the Rotary Foundation and from our partner in the Philippines.

That partner is the Rotary Club of Sampaguita Grace Park, which developed the project and is now carrying it out. They’ve purchased nearly 1,000 screening kits and are working with two maternity hospitals in the Caloocan district of Metro Manila to conduct the tests.

The program is very cost effective, thanks in large part to standards set by the Rotary Foundation. Money raised in our local community and spent on Foundation projects goes directly to materials and supplies for projects, and never pays for staff or other overhead.

Thursday, November 3, 5:15 p.m., Casa Munras Hotel, Monterey
February 2012 Update: FYI, we no longer meet at Casa Munras. Please check the side bar to the right for our current location.

The Rotary Foundation has awarded more than $1.1 billion in humanitarian and educational grants and is the world’s largest privately-funded source of international scholarships. Grants are initiated and administered by individual clubs.

The Rotary Foundation has led the battle to eradicate polio from our planet, and victory is in sight. The Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific has worked with other clubs and the Foundation to fund projects in the Philippines, Angola, Nigeria and elsewhere around the world.

After nearly 100 years of giving, the Foundation’s programs are being overhauled, in a project called Future Vision. Starting in mid-2013, funding priorities, project selection and grant administration will be handled differently, with much of the work being done locally rather than at Rotary’s central headquarters.

Rod Belton, a past governor of our local Rotary district, will give an update on what the changes mean for non-profits, students and others, as well as for individual Rotary clubs. The presentation is at 5:15 p.m., Thursday, November 3 at Casa Munras Hotel. All are welcome.

Club Assembly

Thursday, November 10, 5:15 p.m., Casa Munras Hotel, Monterey

This meeting is a working meeting — we’ll be preparing for our Cioppino and Vino fundraiser coming up in January. If you’d like to see Rotarians at work, please feel free to drop in.

Rotary Foundation at Work in Mexico

Thursday, November 17, 5:15 p.m., Casa Munras Hotel, Monterey

The Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific has been involved in projects all over the world, from Angola to Indonesia, from Manila to Managua. Shirley Grace, the incoming district governor for this area, will talk about Foundation-funded projects in Mexico on November 17th. Everyone is welcome!

You can follow our programs and other events at www.MontereyPacificRotary.org.

No meeting on Thursday, November 24 – have a happy Thanksgiving!

Third grade students at Del Rey Woods, George Marshall and Ord Terrace elementary schools in Seaside received either a dictionary or, in some cases, a thesaurus. The hardback books were given to them personally, and will be theirs to keep as they continue their education for many years. The Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific has been presenting books to Seaside third graders since 2007.

We also sponsor the Interact Club of Seaside High School, and partner with them throughout the year on service projects.

In July, Monterey Pacific Rotary collected new, useful items for Dorothy’s Place in Salinas, supporting this vital local non-profit with a summer gift exchange. Dorothy’s Place has been serving the homeless and other marginalized populations in Monterey County for nearly 30 years.

August brought us out onto the Recreational Trail in Monterey. The Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific has taken responsibility for keeping one of the most heavily used sections of the trail clean. What starts out looking like a couple of hours of hard work quickly becomes an enjoyable morning working in the community with friends.

Working together on projects that make our community a better place to live is a great way to meet people and build trust. That’s the essence of Rotary. In the coming months, we’ll be working to fight hunger throughout the area, among other projects, and getting together for fun and fellowship.

Our club meets Thursday evenings at 5:15 p.m. at the Casa Munras Hotel, 700 Munras Avenue in downtown Monterey. As a chartered club of Rotary International, the Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific is part of a world wide network of business, professional and government leaders, working together toward the common goal of a better world.

February 2012 Update: FYI, we no longer meet at Casa Munras. Please check the side bar to the right for our current location.

In our local district, there are 3,000 Rotarians from every type of organization, business and profession. Membership in one club connects you to every club. Find out more about how Rotary serves our community and the world, by visiting one of our meetings or events, or by going to www.MontereyPacificRotary.org.

February 2012 Update: FYI, we no longer meet at Casa Munras. Please check the side bar to the right for our current location.

Carey McGregor, a meteorologist at the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center in Monterey, will talk about spending the winter at the South Pole. Living at one of the most remote scientific research outposts on Earth, the unique community at the South Pole station endures six months of darkness and unimaginably cold temperatures.

The event begins at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, September 15, 2011, at the Casa Munras Hotel, 700 Munras Avenue, in downtown Monterey. The program lasts an hour, but everyone is welcome to stay afterwards for more informal networking and relaxation. There is no charge for guests, and all are welcome.

The Rotary Foundation’s Future
Thursday, November 3, 5:15 p.m.
Casa Munras Hotel, Monterey

The Rotary Foundation has awarded more than $1.1 billion in humanitarian and educational grants and is the world’s largest privately-funded source of international scholarships. Grants are initiated and administered by individual clubs.

The Rotary Foundation has led the battle to eradicate polio from our planet, and victory is in sight. The Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific has worked with other clubs and the Foundation to fund projects in the Philippines, Angola, Nigeria and elsewhere around the world.

After nearly 100 years of giving, the Foundation’s programs are being overhauled, in a project called Future Vision. Starting in mid-2013, funding priorities, project selection and grant administration will be handled differently, with much of the work being done locally rather than at Rotary’s central headquarters.

Rod Belton, a past governor of our local Rotary district, will give an update on what the changes mean for non-profits, students and others, as well as for individual Rotary clubs. the presentation is at 5:15 p.m., Thursday, November 3 at Casa Munras Hotel. All are welcome.

You can follow our programs and other events at www.MontereyPacificRotary.org.

Street of Dreams: Revitalizing Monterey’s Economy
Thursday, September 15, 5:15 p.m.
Casa Munras Hotel, Monterey

February 2012 Update: FYI, we no longer meet at Casa Munras. Please check the side bar to the right for our current location.

National retailers, a center for outdoor festivals and the arts and a showcase for Monterey’s attractions, both historic and modern. That’s part of the vision that architect Henry Ruhnke has developed for downtown Monterey, and it’s what he and his firm will be developing – with plenty of community input – following the Monterey City Council’s approval of the downtown re-design process.

Please join us on September 15th for Third Thursday, a series of professional development talks and networking opportunities presented by the Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific. Ruhnke will present his vision of what downtown Monterey could become, and talk about how the design and revitalization process will move forward.

A principal at Wald, Ruhnke & Dost Architects in Monterey, Ruhnke has a Master’s degree in Architecture with an emphasis in real estate development from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and more than 20 years experience with the design and management of architectural projects.

“It’s gratifying that both the public and private sectors are stepping up to the plate and committing resources for revitalization efforts. Revitalization is about economic development – creating new jobs and new opportunities for the long-term health of downtown Monterey,” explains Ruhnke.

The event begins at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, September 15, 2011, at the Casa Munras Hotel, 700 Munras Avenue, in downtown Monterey. The program lasts an hour, but everyone is welcome to stay afterwards for more informal networking and relaxation. There is no charge for guests, and all are welcome.

You can follow our Third Thursday series, and other events at www.MontereyPacificRotary.org.

Upcoming Programs at the Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific

Fun and interesting programs are on tap for September and October at the Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific. We always welcome guests to our meetings, which are usually held Thursdays at 5:15 p.m. at Casa Munras Hotel in Monterey.

On September 29th, Ben Licari will talk about new advances in green construction methods using an old material: concrete. He’s the director of geology and exploration for the Granite Rock Company, and has long experience in exploration and mining, and the stories to go with it.

Ben’s 30 years in mining operations has taken him to California, Nevada, Arizona, and Montana, working as a mine geologist, ore control engineer, mine superintendent, and mine manager. In 1998, he was appointed by Governor Pete Wilson to the California State Mining & Geology Board as a Registered Geologist. His hobbies include SCUBA diving and underwater photography.

In October, on the 6th, Lindsay Coate will talk about the Ag Against Hunger project in Monterey County. She’s involved in connecting our agricultural community to the food assistance programs that sustain so many of our neighbors here in Monterey County.

Along with her presentation, you can learn how you can take part in meaningful and fun projects such as gleaning fields to provide fresh produce for local families in need. The Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific supports this effort and will be organizing a crew of volunteers that will take to the fields later in the month.

On the 20th of October, Carey McGregor, a meteorologist at the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center in Monterey, will talk about spending the winter at the South Pole. Living at one of the most remote scientific research outposts on Earth, the unique community at the South Pole station endures six months of darkness and unimaginably cold temperatures.

Service Projects and Networking Make Monterey Pacific Rotary Fun

The Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific is sponsoring an approved $15,000 post-natal testing program in the Philippines. The project was developed and will be carried out by the Rotary Club of Sampaguita Grace Park in Metro Manila.

In July, Monterey Pacific Rotary collected new, useful items for Dorothy’s Place in Salinas, supporting this vital local non-profit with a summer gift exchange. Dorothy’s Place has been serving the homeless and other marginalized populations in Monterey County for nearly 30 years.

August brought us out onto the Recreational Trail in Monterey. The Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific has taken responsibility for keeping one of the most heavily used sections of the trail clean. What starts out looking like a couple of hours of hard work quickly becomes an enjoyable morning working in the community with friends.

Working together on projects that make our community a better place to live is a great way to meet people and build trust. That’s the essence of Rotary. In the coming months, we’ll be working to fight hunger throughout the area, among other projects, and getting together for fun and fellowship.

We’re committed to helping local students. Two college scholarships and hundreds of dictionaries and thesauruses were presented to students at several Seaside schools by the Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific recently.

Amitesh Kumar, Monterey Pacific Rotarian Geoff Cook and Jennaliz Blanco at the formal presentation of the scholarships.

Third grade students at Del Rey Woods, George Marshall and Ord Terrace elementary schools in Seaside received either a dictionary or, in some cases, a thesaurus. The hardback books were given to them personally, and will be theirs to keep as they continue their education for many years. The Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific has been presenting books to Seaside third graders since 2007.

We also sponsor the Interact Club of Seaside High School, and partner with them throughout the year on service projects and scholarships.

Our club meets Thursday evenings at 5:15 p.m. at the Casa Munras Hotel, 700 Munras Avenue in downtown Monterey. As a chartered club of Rotary International, the Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific is part of a world wide network of business, professional and government leaders, working together toward the common goal of a better world. In our local district, there are 3,000 Rotarians from every type of organization, business and profession. Membership in one club connects you to every club. Find out more about how Rotary serves our community and the world, by visiting one of our meetings or events, or by going to www.MontereyPacificRotary.org.

The NPS mission is to provide advanced education and research programs that increase the combat effectiveness of our military. The school takes a broad view of its mandate, researching ways to avoid conflict and find peaceful alternatives, as well as enhancing the actual combat capabilities of our armed forces.

As provost, Dr. Ferrari is spearheading a strategic plan initiative for the school, working on improving campus business processes and looking at collaborating with other education and research organizations in the area. Prior to becoming provost, he was dean of research at NPS, where he supervised a wide variety of projects and grants. HIs own field of expertise is in the mathematics of computer graphics and data compression.

The event begins at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, September 1, 2011, at the Casa Munras Hotel, 700 Munras Avenue, in downtown Monterey. The program lasts an hour, but everyone is welcome to stay afterwards for more informal networking and relaxation.

February 2012 Update: FYI, we no longer meet at Casa Munras. Please check the side bar to the right for our current location.

You can follow our club’s programs and other events, on our website – www.montereypacificrotary.org – and on our Monterey-Pacific-Rotary Facebook page.

Please join us on July 21st for Third Thursday, a series of professional development talks and networking opportunities presented by the Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific. This month features a briefing on current real estate values and trends by Monterey County Assessor Steve Vagnini.

The past three years has seen steady declines in most segments of the Monterey County real estate market. Vagnini and his staff have been living in the eye of that storm the entire time, determining fair property valuations.

Some people – real estate professionals who live on commissions, sellers who want the best price and local governments that need tax dollars – have an interest in keep valuations high. Other – taxpayers and home buyers – want to keep their bills low. Vagnini’s team has to balance the competing interests and arrive at decisions that are fair and faithful to the facts. Vagnini will share that experience and expertise at our next Third Thursday program.

The event begins at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, July 21, 2011, at the Casa Munras Hotel, 700 Munras Avenue, in downtown Monterey. The program lasts an hour, but everyone is welcome to stay afterwards for more informal networking and relaxation.

February 2012 Update: FYI, we no longer meet at Casa Munras. Please check the side bar to the right for our current location.

You can follow our Third Thursday series, and other events, on Meetup.com/Monterey-Pacific-Rotary and on our Monterey-Pacific-Rotary Facebook page.

New Year, New Networking and Service Opportunities

The Rotary year starts in July, and we’re celebrating it with Christmas in July, a service project at Dorothy’s Place in Salinas. This local organization has been serving the homeless and other marginalized populations in Monterey County for nearly 30 years. We help out by collecting new, useful items and turning it all into a summer gift exchange.

Working together on projects that make our community a better place to live is a great way to meet people and build trust. That’s the essence of Rotary. In the coming months, we’ll be cleaning up the Recreation Trail in Monterey, working to fight hunger throughout the area and getting together for fun and fellowship.

We’re committed to helping local students. Two college scholarships and hundreds of dictionaries and thesauruses were presented to students at several Seaside schools by the Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific recently.

Amitesh Kumar, Monterey Pacific Rotarian Geoff Cook and Jennaliz Blanco at the formal presentation of the scholarships.

Amitesh Kumar and Jennaliz Blanco, graduating seniors at Seaside High School, received $500 scholarships to help support their higher education goals next school year. Both Amitesh and Jennaliz are pursuing careers in medicine.

Third grade students at Del Rey Woods, George Marshall and Ord Terrace elementary schools in Seaside received either a dictionary or, in some cases, a thesaurus. The hardback books were given to them personally, and will be theirs to keep as they continue their education for many years. The Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific has been presenting books to Seaside third graders since 2007.

We also sponsor the Interact Club of Seaside High School, and partner with them throughout the year on service projects.

Our club meets Thursday evenings at 5:15 p.m. at the Casa Munras Hotel, 700 Munras Avenue in downtown Monterey. Once a month, we present Third Thursday (see sidebar), a series of professional development talks and networking opportunities. Speakers cover a wide range of topics, with the goal of delivering actionable ideas and information to the Monterey Peninsula business community.

As a chartered club of Rotary International, the Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific is part of a world wide network of business, professional and government leaders, working together toward the common goal of a better world. In our local district, there are 3,000 Rotarians from every type of organization, business and profession. Membership in one club connects you to every club. Find out more about how Rotary serves our community and the world, by visiting one of our meetings or events, or by going to www.rotary.org.

Speed Networking Mixer Connects Local Businesses

How many local business people can you exchange quick “elevator pitches” in less than an hour? Dozens, as it turns out. In June, The Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific sponsored a speed networking mixer as part of its Third Thursday series of professional programs.

A broad range of local business people sat down one-on-one, exchanged business cards, gave each other brief summaries of what they do and why they do it well, made a quick assessment of future business opportunities and moved on to the next person. This quick and entertaining business development opportunity was shared by Rotarians and non-Rotarians alike.

Special Co-Hosts: The Rotary Club of Monterey Korean and the Interact Club of Seaside High School.

And a special time and place: a 5:30 p.m. dinner at the Orient Express Restaurant, 1884 Fremont Boulevard, in Seaside.

Please join us on May 19th for a special Third Thursday program. Third Thursday is a series of professional development talks and networking opportunities presented by the Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific, and co-hosted this month by the Rotary Club of Monterey Korean and the Interact Club of Seaside High School.

This month, our Congressman, Sam Farr, will speak about fitness and nutrition, and why it’s so important to our agricultural economy in Monterey County.

He will also present Rotary scholarships to two Seaside High School students.

Congressman Farr is a fifth-generation Californian and has represented Monterey County and the Central Coast region in the U.S. House of Representatives for 16 years.

Prior to serving in Congress, Farr served twelve years in the California State Assembly and six years as Monterey County Supervisor.  He graduated from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon and attended the Monterey Institute of International Studies and the University of Santa Clara. He was raised in Carmel.

The event begins at 5:30p.m. Thursday, May 19, 2011, at the Orient Express Restaurant, 1884 Fremont Boulevard in Seaside. The program starts with dinner (cost: $15) at 5:30 p.m. and we then formally welcome Congressman Farr at 6:15 p.m. for his presentation. Everyone is welcome to stay afterwards for more informal networking and relaxation.

Everyone has fun at the Gateway Ball

The Gateway Ball. We start May with our annual prom night for residents at the Gateway Center, a sheltered living facility in Pacific Grove that serves adults with developmental disabilities. It’s the best party of the year, for both residents and Rotarians. It takes a lot of volunteer labor, as well as the $1,000 we raised to cover expenses, and products and services donated by local people and businesses.

Dictionaries for Third Graders. We’ve bought dictionaries for third graders at several schools in and around Seaside. These books are for the kids themselves, for many it’s the first book they’ve ever personally owned. It’s also a resource that they will keep and use through years of school.

Seaside High School Scholarships. Through our long-standing sponsorship of the Interact Club of Seaside High School, the Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific has worked hard to help pass on Rotary ideals and values to our next generation of leaders. This year we’re providing two $500 college scholarships to graduating seniors, and $50 scholarships to two juniors, which will pay the entire cost for them to attend Rotary’s Camp Royal leadership program.

Other projects in the works include a post-natal screening program in the Philippines and contributions to help with earthquake and tsunami relief in Japan.

Our club meets Thursday evenings at 5:15 p.m. at the Casa Munras Hotel, 700 Munras Avenue in downtown Monterey. Once a month, we present Third Thursday (see sidebar), a series of professional development talks and networking opportunities. Speakers cover a wide range of topics, with the goal of delivering actionable ideas and information to the Monterey Peninsula business community.

February 2012 Update: FYI, we no longer meet at Casa Munras. Please check the side bar to the right for our current location.

As a chartered club of Rotary International, the Rotary Club of Monterey Pacific is part of a world wide network of business, professional and government leaders, working together toward the common goal of a better world. In our local district, there are 3,000 Rotarians from every type of organization, business and profession. Membership in one club connects you to every club. Find out more about how Rotary serves our community and the world, by visiting one of our meetings or events, or by going to www.rotary.org.