Spoke Newsletter – October 5th, 2023

TODAY

If your loved one were to be diagnosed with cancer, you’d immediately get them to the doctor. If your loved one experienced a mental health crisis, would you do the same?

So let’s talk about Mental Health in Our Community: How NAMI Supports Families Affected by Mental Illness.

WOLFGANG HALL has been involved with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for nearly a decade, including a three-year term as president of the San Bernardino Affiliate. As a retired professional with a background in business application engineering, WOLFGANG is also a committed volunteer. He actively serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations and provides pro-bono consulting services.

This SPOKE editor came to know WOLFIE through our boys in Boy Scouts Troop 11 and through church. Oh and here’s your secret talent alert… and I’m not kidding… WOLFGANG is a truly gifted musician!! There is not an instrument he cannot play.

LAST WEEK

JASON ANDERSON, District Attorney for San Bernardino County, enlightened us, shocked us and compelled us to understand the fentanyl crisis on a local level. Not a person in the room hasn’t been, directly or tangentially, connected to someone affected by this leading cause of death of our nation’s teens. Also discussed were various legislative efforts, albeit unsuccessful to date, to add some weight and teeth to the penalties for the dealers and those knowingly distributing this inexpensive, synthetic drug that kills in an instant. So far there is little traction to get these bills out of committee, but our DA will continue to fight the good fight and educate folks about the ease at which fentanyl has become a major threat to our region.

NEXT WEEK

RICHARD SHAW will join us from up the hill and the Rotary club of Big Bear Lake. With a lengthy track record of youth service, DICK will speak about the best kept secret in Rotary… Youth Exchange Program. More than 8,000 students participate each year across the globe. Why does this program exist? What do these students learn from this experience? Does it pass the 4-Way test? Let’s find out! P.S. Fight On!

MURDER MYSTERY DINNER

Mark your calendars!
Sunday, October 22, 2023 $90/ Ticket
5:30pm Cocktail Hour | 6:30pm Dinner.
Buy Your Ticket TODAY!!

Bring your family, your friends, your clients and business associates to this fun evening of adventure and fun to ultimately support our local students. Our club is proud of our tradition of service both in Redlands and around the world. Here’s what your participation will support:

  • Literacy Program: Breakfast & a Book
  • Scholarships to our high school graduates for higher education
  • Recognize exceptional high school students with “Student of the Month”
  • Recognize students who have overcome adversity with “Rising Stars”
  • Sponsor 7th grade students in PRYDE: Personal Rotary Youth Development Education
  • Sponsor 11th grade students in RYLA: Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

COMMUNITY SERVICE CORNER

Mark your calendars and say YES to SERVICE ABOVE SELF!! Contact LYNN WHITMER for details.
OCTOBER 7TH – ADOPT A GARDEN @ Burrage Mansion 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
NOVEMBER 11TH – VETERANS DAY PARADE!
DECEMBER 16TH – Burrage Mansion Christmas Drive-Thru

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

Happy October! While this past weekend finally started to feel like fall, it’s now starting to feel like summer all over again! My apologies for missing today’s meeting, but I’m in training at Esri for two days. Instead, you’ll experience a reprieve by way of president-elect THOMAS. Remember to purchase your tickets to attend our first fundraiser of the year! Tickets can be purchased on our website: redlandsrotary.org/diamond-heist-dinner/

It’ll be a fun evening with plenty of excitement, good
food and wine, and some messages from past scholarship
recipients.

Editor – Lynn Whitmer – Edition No. 14, October 5th, 2023