Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo

Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo meets Thursdays 12:00 Noon to 1:30 PM at Bernardo Heights Country Club, 16066 Bernardo Heights Parkway, San Diego 92128.
Buffet lunch is served.
Address correspondence to the Club at PO Box 28005, San Diego, CA 92198. Telephone 858-485-5820

Cyril Reinicke explains how this wonderful program provides advocates in court for foster children in need.

Voices for Children is a nonprofit organization that endeavors to ensure that abused, neglected and abandoned children who have become dependents of the San Diego County Court will have a safe and permanent home. Through a network of trained and educated volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs), Voices for Children works with key agencies, legal counsel and community resources to identify and protect the best interests of each child inside and outside of court.

Cyril Reinicke is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). He has volunteered with Voices for Children for three years, and also worked with teenage boys who are in foster care. Earlier he worked for 35 years in public education as a teacher and an administrator.

President Suzie called the December 16th meeting to order and introduced John O'Neill to do the pledge and Tom Giles for the invocation. Jack Mitchell not only led us in song but was able to play his trumpet to ring out Deck the Halls. He is such an amazing man and wonderful friend to us all. Suzie then thanked the other volunteers; our setup crew of Paul D., Dan M., Gary Saks and John Hawkins. John also entertained us on the piano with some lovely Holiday music. Our greeter was Vern Cook.

We passed the hat to raise money to support the activities and programs of the RBHS Madrigals who were entertaining us with their beautiful voices after lunch. Suzie gave accolades to Larry Saunders and John and Jeanne Hawkins who have set up our new RB Rotary Newsletter on our web site. There will be more information provided as to how to access this newsletter soon.

Ron Hunt gave a wrap up on the recent Holiday Party at the Hyldahl's lovely home. A big thanks to Ron and Jim Sommer for putting this party together and an even bigger thanks to Jim and Joanne for providing such a festive and comfortable place for us to enjoy each others company.

Larry Valente is putting together a TGIX Dinner and Theater Party on Saturday, February 26. Kathleen Smith has found a restaurant with the rather unique name of Philaes Fogg. The plans are to have dinner first and then go to the Poway Center for Performing Arts and hear A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Holly. It should be a wonderful evening. There are 46 people signed up so far and Larry will be closing out reservations soon so be sure and sign up ASAP!

It was with great pleasure that Shirley and Suzie gave one of our newer members her Gold Badge. Gabriela Brown was so happy to have achieved her permanent badge that took one year...almost to the date that she first joined us! Gala was her mentor. Congratulations!!

Then it was our Fine Master's turn to squeeze out the big bucks from the members. Since we no longer have the raffle to raise money for the club, several members took pity on the clubs loss of income and chipped in some happy bucks to keep the cash a-flowin' in. The more we have, the more good we can do! Richard Finegold generously gave $130 in Larry Saunders name after Larry performed some computer work for Richard and asked him to give it to the Foundation! Thank you both. Arilla announced that an anonymous donor gave her $100 to be applied to the Dictionary Project. What an ambassador she is for that cause. Thank you too!

Arilla introduced Lisa Friedrichs and the RBHS Madrigals who have been invited back year after year to perform for us. They have won numerous competitions and travel all over the county sharing their beautiful voices with clubs and businesses during the holidays. We are so lucky to have them. We even got to sing along with them to Joy to the World. We didn't sound nearly as good as they did on their own. I don't think any of us would survive the tryouts! After passing the hat earlier, Suzie was able to present the group with over $400 to use for the expenses they incur when traveling to competitions.

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, HAPPY REST OF HANUKKAH, AND A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!