Rotary Foundation Dinner

On November 15, 2011, the Miner's Foundry in Nevada City hosted the District 5190 - Area 4 - Rotary Foundation Dinner. The dinner was organized by Stephanie Ortiz and was virtually flawless. She did an amazing job!

With attendance a little over 200, the turnout was amazing and the contingent from Nevada County South was extraordinary. I am very proud to be a member of such a fantastic and enthusiastic group and humbled to be the president this year!


Credit: Marcel Verdooner



The guest speaker was Deepa Willingham (pictured to the left in the middle of the first row with some of the newest Paul Harris Fellows). Over the past eight years, a great deal of Deepa’s time and personal resources have been dedicated to the founding and developing of the Piyali Learning Center (PLC) outside of Calcutta, and spreading the message of the value of girls’ education throughout the world. Her dedicated work at PLC, which she developed through her non-profit organization PACE Universal and in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Calcutta Metropolitan, resulting in the creation of a sustainable village rehabilitation model was recognized by the Trustees of Rotary International with a $330,000 3-H Grant in May of 2009. This grant, which is being co-sponsored by 7 clubs in District 5240, will completely rehabilitate the village of Piyali Junction by bringing literacy (to children and adults), health and dental care, clean water, sanitation, vocational training, banking/micro-lending to help the change the face of poverty in that corner of the world. PACE Universal will serve as the cooperative organization for this grant.

Deepa is certainly a model for all of us to emulate!

The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. Supporting The Rotary Foundation is one of the four pillars of an effective club in the Club Leadership Plan.  Rotary of Nevada County South (along with Penn Valley) was awarded the Every Rotarian Every Year Award and the 100% Sustaining Membership Award for its annual contributions to the Rotary Foundation!



Credit: Marcel Verdooner

I was proud to be selected to deliver Rotary's Four Way test at the end of the meeting (pictured to the right). 

Being the president of the Rotary Club of Nevada County South this year has been one of the most fulfilling things that I have ever done.  It is the best international public service organization, and Nevada County South, in particular, is filled with the most wonderful, kind, and generous people that I know.

Thank you to all of my fellow Rotarians for being the wonderful people that you are.  You change our local community for the better through Rotary and through all of the other public services that you serve!