Meeting Highlights - December 20, 2016

Main Speaker - Wendy Winsted from the Sulphur Creek Nature Center.

Sulphur Creek is a Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center operated by Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (H.A.R.D).

Announcements

President Carol and Cliff Sherwood re-emphasized the need for additional donations to complete the Breathing for Life Project and pointed out the opportunity for taking the year end deductions for this worthy cause.

Rotary Club of Castro Valley

Meeting Highlights for December 20, 2016

Service Above Self

Main Speaker - Wendy Winsted from the Sulphur Creek Nature Center.

Sulphur Creek is a Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center operated by Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (H.A.R.D). The Mission of the Sulphur Creek Nature Center is to instill a sense of responsibility for the welfare of our world by bringing people and animals closer together through wildlife rehabilitation and education. The staff and volunteers of Sulphur Creek help to take care of hundreds of native wild animals that are sick, orphaned, or injured. The staff and volunteers offer various engaging and fun courses at Sulphur Creek, and take the animals to classrooms or homes for a close-up view of some native animals.

Some of the animals who have come to the facility as injured patients have become a permanent part of the Sulphur Creek for various reasons. For example:

Opal the Possum has only one eye and therefore is not considered releasable to the wild.
Topaz the Gray Fox was transferred from another wildlife rehab center. She had been kept illegally as a pet and is too tame to be released to wild life.
Jack the Horay Bat (so named for the layer of white fur that covers the back of the bat) was also transferred from a local rehab center with severe damage to one wing. After months of minor surgeries and a tremendous amount of therapeutic care, he was unfortunately considered not releasable.
Pearl the Ring-Necked Dove is not considered native wild life, but instead a domestic species that can be found living a prosperous feral life in the wild. After recovery, she is part of the animals which are able to be petted.
Other animals who have been treated and release include Opossum #627, Barn Owl #126, and Brown Pelican #26

Sulphur Creek staff and volunteers conduct courses for adults also these include Marine Mammals of California, Newt Celebrations, Bay Land Birds and Animal Attractions, a special Valentine’s Day evening program for adults (about intimate and humorous details of sex on the wild side. Fine wines, appetizers and desserts accompany this Del Amor event.

There are numerous opportunities to become a volunteer and/or a wildlife docent with Sulphur Creek. For further information, please contact Sulphur Creek or H.A.R.D or go to the website, http://www.haywardrec.org/129/Sulphur-Creek-Nature-Center

Announcements

January Speakers

January 10th: Rich Schneck from Castro Valley High School will speak about Career Technical Education opportunities in Castro Valley. He will share information about the various options available to students through four career pathways at CVHS and collaborative efforts with Eden Area Regional Occupational Programs (ROP), community colleges and universities, work-based learning as well as opportunities available in career pathways for middle school students in Castro Valley.

January 17th: Center for Performing Arts Director David Judson will be our speaker. David oversees the Center for the Arts and is a teacher at Castro Valley High School. CFA is busy with activities and performances throughout the year. David will share the behind the scene story of how this vast operation functions and provides service to students at CVHS and the community at large.

January 24th: Marian Meadows and Rinda Bartley will discuss multilevel systems of support for students. Taking care of the social and emotional needs of students and student safety are top priorities for CVUSD. These two ladies will share their vast knowledge of the topic, the collaborative efforts between multiple agencies in the County, and what is being done to ensure students in Castro Valley are supported.

January 31st: Dr. Mo Ghaffarzadeh is the President and R&D Lead at AgroTech Research in Davis. His work includes research for companies across the globe in seed production and agriculture. Dr. Ghaffarzadeh will share examples of how technology and agricultural research coincide in his line of work and has revolutionized the field.

Don’t miss this exciting lineup and be sure to invite a guest.

Check with Randy and Bill for revised dates for Chili Cook-off and Rodeo Parade meetings this month. One of the meeting is supposed to be a tasting to select which beer to serve.

Prepared by Ajay Ahluwalia

Edited by Jim Negri