Meeting Highlights provides members, guests, and the community an overview of each speaker's presentation, significant Club and member achievements, and information regarding upcoming speakers and events. Jim Negri, Editor
Reminiscences on Worldly Matters
Castro Valley Rotarian Ray Wallace
Ray Wallace is the retired Director of International Student Education at CSU East Bay. He earned his Ph.D. at UC Berkeley and travelled the world. He shared his diverse experiences from educator to photographer to musician.
As a child of the 1960s, Ray has experienced an extraordinary life. Early on, he fell in love with fishing and just being in the mountains. That love led him to join a friend on a trip to the Himalayas, where he learned to love that part of the world. Ray spent 5 years trekking and living in Nepal and Pakistan. He learned to speak the language and had his photographs published in a calendar about this region. His Ph.D. thesis focused on this area of the world.
In 1988, Ray joined the faculty of CSU East Bay (former Cal State Hayward) when the school was in serious financial trouble. Part of the solution to the financial issues was to recruit foreign students who paid a much higher tuition and fees to attend the school. Ray was amazingly successful in bringing in foreign students growing the program from 300 to 1500 students.
One of Ray's other loves has been music. He envisioned himself as a rock star for a while and still loves to play guitar. He shared stories of his career as a musician that included a story about being "fired" between sets by Stephen Stills. He performed two songs for the audience. The first song was about President Dwight Perry sung to the tune of “Davy Crockett.” Ray owns multiple guitars and other stringed instruments. He described himself as that guitar player who believes that, if he just owns one more guitar, he will be the next Jimi Hendrix.
Click here to hear more about Ray's worldly experiences and watch him perform - something not to be missed.
Paul Harris Fellows
President Dwight Perry presented the following Paul Harris recognitions: Gary Howard (top left) with his Paul Harris pin and certificate; Randy Vanderbilt (top center) with a PH+3 pin; Ray Wallace (top right) with PH+3 & PH+4 pin; Carol Bigelow (bottom left) with a PH+3 pin and a Major Donor recognition; and Cliff Sherwood (bottom right) a Major Donor recognition. To learn more about what being a Paul Harris Fellow means, click here.
More Recognitions & Announcements
President Dwight Perry recognized Dan Willits and Randy Vanderbilt as the May Rotarians of the Month for their incredible work on the Rodeo Parade (above left). During the meeting, Assistant Governor (AG) for District 5170 Area 4A Tami Hennegan (Pleasanton North Rotary) presented Kamal Della President of the Rotary Club of Dublin with a special recognition on behalf of District 5170 - All Star Top Performer - for his exemplary work this year in personally recruiting four new members (above right). Every Rotarian is asked to recruit at least one new member each year.
Elizabeth Crocker (above left) reported on her recent visit to the Rotary Club of Lawrence, Kansas that has 200 members and presented President Dwight a Club banner from the Lawrence Rotary Club. Read her report here. Ceta Dochterman (above right) announced that each year the government of India designated a month for polio immunization - September this year. Brad Howard, who has spoken to the Club many times, is coordinating the trip for District 5170 Rotarians. President Dwight shared the personal experience of participating in the event. There are still are spots left on the mission for those who might be interested. Please contact Brad Howard Travel, President Dwight, or Ceta for more information.
Misty Short, owner of Classy Canine's Wiggle Rumps that won the Rodeo Parade Non-Equestrian Sweepstakes Award, described the experience of entering a float in the Parade with customers walking their dogs as well as the positive impact her participation in the Parade has had on her business - 23 new clients the day of the Parade and 46 voice mail messages on Tuesday (above left and right). She also was a Major Sponsor of the Parade, is sponsoring the Rodeo, and is a potential Rotarian. Rodeo Parade Chair Lytrel Carter (above center) provided a brief report on the Parade and noted that the Club generated over $13,000 in sponsorships this year. Lytrel thanked everyone for volunteering, supporting, and attending the Parade.
President Dwight reminded everyone that the Club is sponsoring the 14th Annual Castro Valley Car Show on June 18. On behalf of Car Show Car Dave Sadoff, Cliff Sherwood passed around a sign-up sheet for volunteers. Like the Rodeo Parade, this event is an all-hands-on deck event for Club members. Family and friends are invited and encouraged to volunteer. Please contact Dave, Cliff, or Dwight.
Watch the recognitions, presentations, and announcements here.
Meeting notes provided by Gary Howard. Photos by Jim Negri.
