Meeting was called to order by club President Joe Lins. He greeted everyone and thanked President-Elect Jim Ripley for stepping in last week for him, “reports came back clean. You are good to go for next year.” President Lins thanked Leslie and Bailey for a job well done on their Recruitment Event last week.

“Remember in the beginning of basketball season? I was kind of picking on The Lakers. Who would have thought they be 1 up over the Warriors in the first round?”

Today’s facts, designed to enhance your relationships. “How do planets entertain themselves? They read Comet Books!” He credits Scott Dowds for that joke. “A cheese factory in France exploded. The Brie was everywhere!” This joke got a good laugh.

On This Day, in 1923, Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators recorded his first shut-out of the season and his 100th of his 113th career record. In 1927 Babe Ruth became the highest paid player in major league history when the New York Yankees agreed to pay him $70,000 a year for 3 years. On this day of the same game, Lou Gehrig of the Yankees did not play against the Detroit Tigers. He never played professional baseball again. This also ended his 2,130 consecutive game streak. In 2012, Jared Weaver pitched the second no hitter in the Majors in less than two weeks, completely overmatching the Minnesota Twins and leading the Anaheim Angels to a 9-0 win. Weaver struck out 9 and walked 1 in that game. Deion Sanders, new football coach at University of Colorado Boulder, lost a record of 52 players to the transfer portal. He had more than 40,000 fans show up for his spring game just a few weeks ago. “I was going to tell you all a time traveling joke, but you didn’t like it.” Not a lot of laughs for this funny joke.

For our Commencement Ceremonies, Frank Kawase led us in our Invocation. Frank tells a story of when his family lived in Utah and came back to the LA area. “We lived in East LA.” He recalls his mom telling him to run errands at different diverse markets. “I never really experienced hunger. For that, I feel that I am really blessed.” Frank Led us in prayer. Matt Howells led us in our Patriotic Moment. “Please rise and join me in saluting our flag.” Our Songmaster Bud Lang led us with, “God Bless America.”

Today’s guests, Greg Adamson from All The Arts, Josh Mercado from Pathways of Hope, Sandy White from Meals on Wheels, Ed Paul from AVMA, Dub Brees from St. Jude Memorial Foundation, Cynthia Greenspan from Discovery Gardens, Kelly Fritzal from the Hope Center, Kendra Tankersly from Crittenton Services, Gale Chiotti from Assistance League of Fullerton, Briana Stickney from the OC Community Foundation, Carol Ferguson from the Orange County Community Foundation, Alicia Capone from Radiant Futures formerly WTLC, Kelle Wightman from All The Arts, and “Best Wife Ever” Sally Williams, guest and Spouse of Jim Williams. Welcome to all guests! Today’s announcements, President Lins announced the District Conference this weekend. Fullerton Rotary Club will host a hospitality booth with 1 and a half tables. The conference is in Newport Beach from Friday to Sunday with various Rotary events taking place and guest speakers. Bailey was asked to come up and give us a report of last week’s meeting results and how it went. Bailey reported 3 confirmed new members from the recruitment event. “There is one more that’s going to join next year, so we’ll be following up with him. Then there’s one more promise. So potentially 5 new members.” Last week’s recruitment event awarded gifts from raffles that were donated by club members as well as goody bags, “thank you for everyone that brought guests and potential members. That is obviously what makes those events successful.” Jim Williams stood up and announced the upcoming program with Dr. Sara Safari, “who is one of the most courageous women that ever lived,” said Jim. Netflix has a docuseries called “Aftershock” on Dr. Safari’s firsthand accounts with actual footage from the deadly 2015 Nepal earthquake. “This docuseries gives you an idea of who she is. She was halfway up Everest when this earthquake happened. The earthquake wiped out villages. I think 50,000 people died” Jim strongly recommends club members not miss this event in two weeks! For more information on this event, please contact Jim Williams. Marty Burbank announced to all the charities present that the District Conference over the weekend has space for table set up for their respective charities. “You can talk about your charity and what you do for the community at the conference.” Another announcement Marty made was for the Coffee, Donuts, Camaraderie veterans’ event on Mondays at Hillcrest Park, in Fullerton. “We are doing that every Monday at 9:30 am. So anybody who is a veteran or if you know a veteran please join us by the Korean War Memorial. Veterans Only! Thank you.” Bailey also wanted to thank the speakers from last week’s recruitment event once more. “These folks volunteered their time to speak to four different tables. You all were obviously a big part of the success of the event. Thank you so much.”

Today’s Recognition Master, “it is our opportunity to get to know someone a little better because today, Dr. Bob Simon is our Finemaster.” Dr. Simon thanked President Joe and greeted everyone in attendance. Dr. Simon got right to it, “I guess I might as well start with our president.” He asked President Lins if he was celebrating something special this week. “It’s the lovely Susie Lins’ birthday.” Dr. Simon asked how they are celebrating her birthday and fined President Lins $5. Dick Ackerman was recognized for what he called his 106-year anniversary, to which Dr. Simon fined him $53, jokingly. He actually fined him $5. He recognized and fined Bill Mathy for his 27-year anniversary. Lastly, Dr. Simon fined himself for some humble brags. “My youngest stepdaughter just turned 39 yesterday. She has produced our only grandchild who is 10 months old. Also, this month is the 49th anniversary of my dental school graduation.” President Lins asked Dr. Simon about last week’s national prosthodontics awareness week, “how did it go?” Dr. Simon answered, “I was very aware all week.” This received a lot of laughs! Great job Dr. Simon.

Today’s program at hand, The Community Investment Awards, with CIA Board Chair, Theresa Harvey. Theresa took the stage and thanked President Lins, “thank you to all of you who so generously donated to the Community Investment Awards each year.” The charitable arm of the Rotary Club of Fullerton is the Fullerton Rotary Foundation, which was established in 1991, as a way to give back to the community. The Foundation, via common awards committee, dispenses 2 categories of Fullerton community gifts. First, it disburses funds during the spring timeframe, all of which the annual Rotarian pledges are collected from members during the Rotary Fiscal Year, which are called the “Community Investment Awards.” Second, the Foundation disburses in the fall time with the “Endowment Fund Awards.” These awards obtained from the Endowment Funds profits and other available Foundation funds, are for special unmet community needs with emphasis on youth and do not duplicate the CIA. Theresa asked members of the CIA committee to please stand and be recognized. “Thank you all of you for your service. I know that each year, it’s such an honor to select the recipients of the awards. It is the committees’ job that selects, and they do a great job.” Theresa also recognized the members of the Fullerton Rotary Foundation Board, who do a terrific job of managing the funds wisely and always reinvest in the community. “I don’t see Joyce Capelle, who is the chair of the Foundation, but anyone else from the Foundation, please stand and be recognized.” This Rotary Fiscal Year, The Foundation presented $33,000 in awards back to the community. This was done in conjunction with the Orange County Community Foundation which are partners of the Fullerton Rotary Club.

Theresa asked for honorees Carol Ferguson and Briana Stickney from Orange County Community Foundation to come forward and introduce their organization. Also, those organizations being honored queued up to the side to receive their checks. Carol introduced herself and her organization. “Orange County Community Foundation has been in partnership with Rotary for 34 years. Our mission is to work with individuals and families and help them to steward their philanthropy and also to make our community a bright place for everybody that call Orange County home. We are thrilled to partner with Fullerton Rotary since 2009.” Briana briefly introduced herself, “this is such a joy because I am actually from Fullerton.” She was tasked to passing out the grant checks to the organization representatives. The Assistance League of Fullerton received their grant who will use it to provide hygiene kits to high school students in need. Next up, Crittenton Family Services received a grant to help support transitional housing programs for youth 18 to 24. Meals on Wheels of Fullerton received their grant to help defray the cost of meals on wheels for low-income clients who most are seniors. Next, OC United Together received a grant to support the United Teams program that provides healthy snacks and hot meal options for the 2022-23 school year. Pathways of Hope was awarded a grant that will help support the Hub of Hope that serves at-risk low-income families and individuals. Services include food distribution, case management, housing assessment, homelessness, divergent and eviction prevention. St. Jude Memorial Foundation was awarded a grant that will help seniors with limited or new resources and address basic medical needs that affect their quality of life. Next, Radiant Futures formerly Women’s Transitional Living Center, was awarded a grant to support teen personal empowerment programs. They equip teens with appropriate tools to live violence free and promote healthy boundaries.

Theresa Harvey took the stage again, “you can see this is a very heartfelt day for all of us. The Community Investment Awards focus on youth, community, and senior services. So, with that in mind, Joe and I are now going to present the Rotary Club Foundation’s grants in these areas.” Something to make note of was that the organizations who received these grants were sponsored by one of our active rotary club members. “So please, in the future, consider organizations that you’re working with the opportunity that you might also be able to sponsor a grantee.” First organization to be honored was All the Arts For All The Kids of Fullerton Foundation which will use their grant to purchase canopies and table cloths for their marketing at special events. All the Arts was nominated by Rick Crane. Next up, the Boys and Girls Club of Fullerton, who was awarded a grant that will help establish a podcast program, called the Tri-city Podcast Program, that will help engage their team members in the club. This is in partnership with Buena Park, Cypress, and Anaheim Clubs. Next honorary was Discovery Gardens who received a grant that will help them enhance their outdoor classroom and student concepts for their school. Discovery Gardens was sponsored by Howard Minkley. Next honorary was the YMCA of Fullerton who was awarded a grant that will help give the youth that attend a full competitive swim team. The YMCA was sponsored by Dan Kiernan. Next honorary was the Friends of Fullerton College Foundation who was awarded a grant that will assist with Emergency Grants to fund unexpected expenses for college students. In addition, Friends of Fullerton College Foundation was awarded $14,000 from a private funder for emergency grants that funded many Fullerton College students. Also, the foundation received a weather-related emergency grant from the California Community Colleges that will help unhoused students who were locked out of shelters because of the weather. Next honorary was Joyas Scholars, who was awarded a grant that will help support college readiness programs in the Maple and Garnet Fullerton Community. Next honorary was Tara’s Chance who was awarded a grant that will help with purchasing iPads and Internet installation in the arena to be used in their therapeutic riding program, which will also help with record tracking as they move to digital and to help every child reach their individual therapeutic goal. Next honorary was the American Veterans Association, who was awarded a grant to fund the Memorial Day Program at the Loma Vista Cemetery that puts American Flags on every veteran’s grave. The program began in 1939 with 50 graves to about 4,500 this year. The American Veterans Association was sponsored by Rick Crane who constantly supports the program every year. Next honorary was Hart Community Homes, Rebecka Forrester with Monkey Business Café accepted the grant on behalf of Carrie Hart. The grant awarded will be gifted to help fund Monkey Business Café which helps young men who have experienced trauma in their life due to abuse and abandonment. Monkey Business Café was sponsored by John and Kerry Phelps. Next honorary was the Hope Center, a new non-profit, who will use the grant to help provide outreach to the Fullerton Community through street outreach. Last organization honored was the Fullerton Community Band who will use the grant to help support the expenses for equipment and to bring free music to the community in the summer. The Fullerton Community Band was sponsored by Bob Jahncke. Congratulations to all the organizations honored in this year’s Community Investment Awards. President Joe Lins asked Briana and Carol from Orange County Community Foundation to return onstage, “so we have a little gift for you and we want to thank you for your continued support throughout all the years.” He awarded them with the highly coveted speakers gift, “we want to express our gratitude and thank you. You drive us to a whole different level of giving and you made today possible.

Last thing on the agenda was the Opportunity Drawing worth $36. Lucky ticket number 6370146. “Don’t forget to join us next week. We’ve got a really great meeting coming your way next week and this one happens to feature, Andrew Gregson. Andrew is a very unique, funny guy. He’s one of those guys. He’s got some really fun stories from that part of his life and then some of his travels in his service to his country. I want to thank everybody for coming today. Thank you for everybody who participated in the generosity of the club. We really appreciate that. See you next week. Meeting adjourned. Charge On!”