Rotary Wheel
Around the hub of fellowship is built the wheel of Rotary,
with spokes reaching out like hands to people of all lands.
Shoulder to shoulder we stand, hands clasped in mutual helpfulness;
bound by an encircling golden band.       "Service Above Self"
is the power that makes the Rotary wheel go around,
blending personalities and binding nationalities."
If  It  Is  To  Be  -  It  Is  Up  To  Me

We Invite all qualified members of our community to come visit us and consider joining in with an Organization that for 53 years has worked hard for the Youth, Seniors, and those not so well off, both in our community and internationally. We have contributed more than $650,000 to both community and international projects.  We meet at the El Jalapeno Restaurant every Tuesday at noon.  199 No. State St., Hemet, CA (at Florida Ave. behind the Car Wash) 
 
Qualifications for membership are:  Entrepreneur, Professional, Management, or Retirees from these categories. 
         For more information email: Jennifer Daniel or call (951) 318-5432 
         Visitors are welcome, but please let us know.
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Upcoming Speakers:  A Good speaker holds your attention, and we have a good speaker every week telling us of many things of interest about our local businesses, city, state, country, and Rotary projects around the world.   Visitors are welcome.  Call our President  Jennifer Daniel at (951) 318-5432 and let her know so we can plan for the food.
NOTE:  Rotary is a non-religious and non-political charitable organization, and will NOT give ANY opinion which way to vote on any of these subjects.  We simply give both sides of any issue an opportunity to present their position to us.

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Next Week our speaker will be  Dr. Helene Kalfuss,  Past District Governor of our District 5330.
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04/29/08  Today we had Bob Duistermars fill in again and he talked about the San Jacinto Valley Academy, a Charter School that the United Way had a part in getting started.  It has progressed to the point since it's opening in 1997, to where it is now serving 300 students, and Sr. High Grades  9-11.  Next year they will have their first graduating class.  The Charter schools work under the hat of the San Jacinto Unified School District.  The education of the children is based on the Inquiry learning method, and the sole focus of the school since its start has been on Achievement. The main focus of their educational program is to deepen students' awareness regarding their natural and social environment.  The school has no problem meeting the  federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requires that all schools and districts meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements. There is also a required high level of Parent participation.  They are located at 480 N. San Jacinto, San Jacinto, CA 92583.  Tel: (951) 654-6113  Check their website for further information:  http://www.sjacademy.org

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04/22/08  Today we had Chuck Peeples from West Valley High School as our speaker.  He is the head coach of their basketball program and presented a great story of progress with their program.  Chuck cam 5 years ago and faced a team that had hardly won a game for several seasons.  When he put out a call at the beginning ot that year for potential players, only 2 came. This is a winning story of young 9th grade students who had never played basketball, and many from underpriviledged homes.  In the  intervening 5 years the program grew steadily and at the last season 45 students showed up to play.  They began to make the CIF playoffs, and at the end of the last year they beat all toughest schoodl in the league, and Then Perris to take the Championship.  They are the only team in the valley to have ever won the CIF Title.  
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04/15/08  Today was a special day where we met in KidZone and had lunch, after which we were given a tour by Bob Duistermars, President of United Way.  They have taken over the operation and Bob talked about the future and what the Goals and Objectives were. Some of the displays will leave and there will be some new ones as well.  The primary goal will be to upgrade the displays to the standards of the Calif. Dept. of Education and their Codes. This will allow Teachers and the School Districts to be able to utilize KidZone and still receive their ADA money from the State. Once finished each exhibit will have available on the KidZone website, complete lesson plans for the teacher, study papers for the students complete with tests. Once the Students have completed their study  they will then be taken to the KidZone to observe and complete the plan. Some of the remaining projects are  Water and the water cycle, a bank for math, the kids TV station,  have   The United Way is in the process of getting a new name and have initiated a contest which anyone can enter at:     http://namethemuseum.com/.  This contest ends May 01, 2008. An announcement will be publicly made. First place winners will receive a $500. Savings Bond from Arrowhead Credit Union. Second place will receive a $100. gift card from BJ Sporting Goods. The third place winner will receive a DVD player from the San Jacinto Walmart.    Kidzone webesite:   http://www.kidzone.org/
Below you can see many of the current learning stations.

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04/08/08  Today we had Tatianna Huckstep as our speaker.  She is a student at West Valley High School.  We selected her to attend RYLA this past weekend (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards), which is a weekend at a mountain resort and the chance to get together with other Junior - 11th grade -  students from many HS in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. They are given much training in leadership skills that will help them throughout their lifetime.  Being mixed together in small groups allows them to discuss  and learn skills in areas of diversity, relating to personal issues positively, turning negative situation into positive, Stereotyping, and morals and values.  And they finally get to listen to several top speakers who relate their life experiences and what a person achieve if they just have faith and stay focused.  One example was a felon, who when he was released from prison turned his life around and trained to become an RN.  These students are nervous when they begin to come together on Friday after school, and by Sunday are very tearful when the have to go home and away from their new found friends.  Contratulations to Tatianna, and we just might see her returning next year as a returning counselor.   
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03/29/08  Today we had Russ Bogh, Past Assemblyman from our 37th District, and again a Candidate for the same seat.  Amazingly enough he didn't even give us the usual political entreaties. His talk was basically about the State budget.  The deficit when he was previously in office was about $24B which was reduced to about $4B.  Unfortunately it has risen again to $18B.  He also talked about the effects of Prop. 58 and Prop. 76.  Also about waste by the state government and how it impacts transportation, education and other departments.

In line with our non-political position, we will also invite his opponent to talk to us.
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03/25/08  Our speaker today was unable to come at the last minute. We had Emerson Bixby, from the Hemet Historic Downtown Theater, in attendance to be honored as our business of the month.  We enticed him to be our speaker and tell us all about the theater and his thoughts about the Theater and Hemet.  It turns out that Emerson is a very community oriented person and in addition to just running a theater, he uses it to enhance the lives of the citizens in our valley. A very few of his ideas are using movies as a benefit for people with serious problems.  Another event centered around amnesty for small furry creatures. 
       There is a beautiful website at http://hemettheatre.com/ with a Film Schedule and much more information. It is located at 216 E. Florida Ave.   Phone number is 951-658-7123
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03/18/08  Today's speaker was member Bob Duistermars, President/CEO of Central County United Way. He brought us up-to-date on the status of Kid Zone, the youth museum, since they took control of it. Kid Zone had been in serious financial trouble and late last year, in essence they simple dropped the keys into the lap of CCUW.  Changing the name to Kid Smart indicates the direction that they will pursue in the future, i.e. Education and Cultural Learning. There is an ongoing shift to a learning atmosphere that will follow the California State Education standards.  This will allow teachers to go into there website, download the educational material and then teach that information to the students for a  week or two.  Then they will be able to have a field trip to the museum so the students can interact with that subject. After returning to school the teacher can then give the students a test, that they have also downloaded from the website.  By adhering to the State standards, the School district will no lose their ADA payment. One of the major subjects in the museum concerns earthquakes, and they are and will be more.  CCUW can contact Lorraine Ousley, KidSmart Director at (909) 980-2857 ext. 203,   lusley@iew.org,   or http://www.kidzone.org/  where they have an
e-newsletter one can sign up for.

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03/11/08  This weeks speaker was Linda Denver, a Rotarian from our Perris Club.  An amazing lady who is very active in her club, and is in charge of this year's District Conference, to be held April 17-20 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Ontario. But most of her talk was about her fun activity, auto racing.  Her husband was racing a small stock car mostly at the Perris Auro Speedway, and in going with him to help and to watch, she one day got talked into trying it herself, and like most people do race, it is very quickly becomes a part of your soul for the rest of you life.  She is a racing Grandmother, and she told us about some of her exploits on the track at Perris Auto Racing track. Part of her story includes one night when approaching the end of the straightaway, her steering box failed at about55-60  MPH, and she went straight into the wall at the corner.  That part did cause her to miss the rest of the year but she was right back at it the next year.  Even though she had some injuries the safety built into a race car saved her from any worse injury.  The cars have a built-in rollcage and a special seat to help confine the driver.  They also have to wear a firesuit and fire resistant gloves and shoes,
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03/04/08  This week was a Club Assembly where we discuss club business.
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 02/26/08   Today we had Karin Marriott, Director of Public Information and Marketing at Mt. San Jacinto Community College District as a 2 year college.  Also  Camille Kraft the Director of Services.  The College covers 1,700 square miles, has an enrollment of 20,000, and can confer 11 A.A. degrees; 22 A.S. Degrees; 31 Certificates; and 14 Employment Concentration Certificates. Credits transfer to 4-year universities. There are two main campuses in San Jacinto and Menifee Valley, along with the Temecula Education Complex, and the San Gorgonio Pass Service Center in Banning.  A 48 acre campus in southeast Banning is planned in the future.         
San Jacinto 951-487-3215; Menifee 951-639-5215; Temecula 951-308-1059;
San Gorgonio Pass 951-922-1327 
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02/19/08 This time we have selected Document Solutions Legal Services Inc. as Our Business of the month.  It is run by Debra Williams L.D.A. "For all your legal needs".  "If you don't need an Attorney's advise, Don't pay an attorneys price!"  She can supply help for any need from Adoptions to Wills.  She can be contacted at (951) 929-8899, or at 222 E Florida Ave.  She is Licensed and Bonded.
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Nhamo Mawema, a visiting Rotarian from Zimbabwe, is a member of the Rotary Club of Borrowdale Brooke, in Harare. His Club is 6 years old and functions much as ours, with projects both International and local.  They sponsor a book literacy reading project for children in three schools; distribute clothing and food for children;  support a malaria project to eradicate mosquitoes; support one school with all their supplies; support an orphanage with bedding and a washing machine; supply free physicals for an aides project; and a clean water project.  A truly remarkable Rotary Club.  


Our speaker today was Wayne Discher, the Director of  the Hemet City Library, who told us of the many things that they do for the community. Beside what we think of as the usual books, tapes, CDs and DVDs, they sponsor many Special events every month from reading to special concerts.  The have a regular monthly schedule that is available.  They have  computers for all to use, and also free wireless access, both in the building and outside. They sponsor Scrabble every Wednesday at 4:00PM, and Genealogy classes in the Heritage Room. A community focus point for kids, teens and adults.              
(951) 765-2440, 300 E Latham, Hemet, On the Internet at  www.hemetpubliclibrary.org
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2/5/08:  Our speaker today was Mary Snow, from the Inland United Way.  She is the Program Director for their Foster Grandparent Program, and Senior Companion Program, both of which are national Programs. The  Foster Grandparent Program with more than 30,000 volunteers, provides one on one loving and experienced tutors and mentors to more than 250,000 children and youth with special needs.
Photo: Ken Shaw receiving Service Award from Mary)
       
The Senior Companion Program with 15,000 volunteers serve more than
 56,000 homebound seniors and other frail adults, to maintain independence in their own homes.  Their is always a need for more volunteers, and those who would like to help should contact Mary Snow at the United Way: 418 E. Florida Ave, Hemet, 92543, 951-929-0426, or fax at 951-652-0064. marysnow@ccuw.org   www.ccuw.org
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1/29/08,  Our annual "4 Way Test" speech contest for High School Students at West Valley HS went off very well with 5 students participating. They give a 5 minute speech, during which they have to incorporate each of the 4 Way Test Items.  The winner gets to advance on to our District Conference contest where scholarships are earned up to $1,000. 

The contestants:  Kelly Weddel - 1st Place; Karen DeLeon - 2nd Place; Monique Garcia - 3rd Place; and Melinda Hernandez and Tatianna Huckstep - Honorable Mention.
L to R: Weddel, Garcia, DeLeon, Hernandez, Huckstep
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1/22/08   Our program this week was centered around our Monthly Business of the Month program. Our members are always looking for businesses that stand for many of the qualities that Rotarians try to live by (4 Way Test). Rent-To-U was our featured business this month.  Lela Liskey was here to represent the business and to tell us about it and herself. They Jennifer,    Lela,    Margaret                               primarily rent for Parties and Weddings, and they advertise "No event too large or too small", but with their inventory they can handle many other events.  Because of her Service Above Self attitude, she donated the tables and chairs for the Firestorm 2007 Relief Benefit Dinner to support the survivors and Firefighters affected by the recent firestorm that struck So. Calif.  You can find them at 1515 E. Florida Ave. next to Gus Jr No. 15.  or call 951-658-7368 or 909-732-5736.
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1/15/08   This week we had John Butts and Terry Hurd, managers of The Camelot, where Gracious Retirement Living is a way of life.  When we age enough many find that it becomes more and more difficult to take care of ones home and property, and we begin to falter in cooking nutritious meals like we should.  John described the benefits of living in a place like Camelot where everyone gets three meals a day that are designed by certified nutritionists, and this encourages people to make Hurd, Butts and Pres. Daniel        friends and look forward to social intercourse, whereas living alone at hom one tends to give up on going out and loses contact with friends.  They can be contacted at  951-929-0145,  fax  951-929-1858 or 800 W. Oakland, Hemet 92543
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1/8/08   After a couple weeks off because of Christmas and New Year's Day, we started the New Year with Paul King and Candy Bushway  from Home Instead Senior Care as our speakers.  They offer non-medical assistance for those who are advanced in years, and find that they are having a difficult time doing things and taking care of themselves. They offer care and support that allows one to continue having an independent lifestyle that doesn't require one to change their lifestyle.  The serve can be a few hours-a-day, up to 24 - seven days-a-week, including weekends and holidays. Home Instead is international serving nearly 1 million clients with only the most trusted and passionate trained CAREGivers. 
Contact at (951)929-1050,   hemet@homeinstead.com    or www.hemeinstead.com.
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12/18/07  Today we had Donna (D.J.) Willis, an Instructor with Canine Support Teams, an organization  from Temecula that helps raise, train, and donate "Support Dogs" to people who have serious disabilities, and cannot deal with simple tasks in their daily lives that we tend to take for granted: Picking up a dropped item, getting the mail out of the mailbox, turning on or off the lights, pressing an elevator button. For a person with a disability these tasks can be a serious problem. With a specially trained dog from CST to Assist with these tasks, they no longer need to be a challenge.  CST is a non-profit organization and to continue their work, they depend on financial donations, and people to raise the puppies.
(951) 301-3625, CSTMAIN@AOL.COM   OR www.caninesupportteams.org  
 
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12/11/07   We are now deep in the midst of the Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday season, where we all find it difficult to stay away from all those wonderful treats that are full of sugar and honey and fat and taste so good.  So Today we had Lynette Tucker, a Family Wellness Coordinator, speak to us about proper nutrition. We all know we need vitamins and minerals in our diet, and Lynette represents "Juice Plus", a balanced nutritional blend of fresh raw fruits and vegetables, to supplement and give a balanced diet for a healthier body.   Contact her at  866-374-0190 or lynette.tucker@earthlink.net  and she will give you a copy of "Nutrition Tips for Healthy Holiday Living".



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12/4/07 (Pictured is Marc Searl and our President Elect Jerry Julian)  Marc Searl, and his BJ's business, was awarded our Business of the Month Certificate today for the quality he maintains. And while he was there, we pressed him into being our speaker for the day, since he is a City Council Member, and the Mayor for this term.  The City has done an efficiency evaluation on the City Departments and changes have been made. The services County services as not up to the quality of the City, and there are areas on both the East and West sides where some property owners are interested in being taken into the City. Discussions are ongoing with EMW - Eastern Municipal Water District - to live up to agreements made with regard to recreational areas and other issues. The proposed change in the Hwy 79 on the West side are down to two of the proposed highway directions, and the Vernal pools with the fairy shrimp are still part of the issue, and costing millions of dollars to find an agreement. And there is traffic study underway by a professional firm. 
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11/27/07  Richard Masyczek, Club Member, and the Planning Director for the City of Hemet, gave us much information about growth in the City and the types of businesses that were or wanted to build within the City.  Shopping centers are on the board, beside the ones already approved, and include large anchor stores and many restaurants.  Also Office and Medical complexes. The City has now grown to about 77,000 citizens and the average age of it's citizenry has dropped from 68 in the recent past to 48 now. 
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11/20.07Michael S Turner is recognized for his distinguished community and professional leadership. He specializes in how to prepare for negative media coverage for people and businesses who have that risk, and to combat it if is occurs. It could be a pretty dry subject, but he has a very lively interactive presentation and is easy to listen to.  He has developed Sterling R. Bearsworth as an aide to lighten up the presentation, but this enhances his ability to captivate his audience.  It was a light enjoyable and educational time. 
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11/13/07   Our speakers were Bobbi Christy and Wren Gateneau from Kid Zone Museum. It is an interactive learning center for kids in the San Jacinto Valley.  The first words a child hears when they come in to the center is "Please Touch".  There is a vast array of subject areas for them to investigate: Rock wall to climb; Ambulance; Police motorcycle, station & jail; rock wall to climb; wheel chair basketball, momentum machine; paleontology pit; grocery store, doctor's office, KKid TV station; bank; shake zone etc etc.

Like all non-profit organizations KidZone struggles to stay ahead of costs, and they have had a major jump this year.  An Anonymous donor has most generously offered to match all new donations through Dec. 31, 2007 up to a total of $10,000, so if you have any desire to help them, this is the time to do it and double your own donation.  KidZone Youth Museum,
 123 S. Carmalita St,  Hemet, CA 92543,  (951) 765-1223, kidzoneym@yahoo.com
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11/6/07  Firestorm 2007   From the Ashes Relief Benefit Dinner to honor and raise funds for the survivors and honor the firefighters affected by the recent wildfires in Southern California.     Click Firestorm 2007 for more information.


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10/30/07 Lori Van Arsdale Vice-Mayor City of Hemet - Lori gave us an update as to the state of the City of Hemet was her subject today.   The high winds of a week ago wreaked havoc on our area, especially the City of San Jacinto.  It was so severe that our City Maintenance crews have given some assistance to them in cleanup. San Jacinto Community College suffered more than $2,000,000 in damage.

The General Plan for Hemet has been under discussion for 1½ years now, and probably has another year to go before it is finished. With the rapid growth we have had and that will continue, it is important to have a plan in place before it is to late, if there is to be some rhyme or reason to what we will look like.  Lori's made the point that it is important for the citizens to attend, see what is being proposed, and be involved in the process.