Rotary International Theme 2025-2026	THE ROWEL Rotary Club of Durham		Rotary International President: Francesco Arezzo Rotary District 5160 Governor: Joy Alaidarous Durham Rotary President: Tom Knowles _____________ Editor: Phil Price Publisher:  Jen Liu
	August 19, 2025	Harvest Festival  2025 will be held on September 21, 2025

The Meeting Opening President Tom Knowles called the meeting to order at the Butte Creek Country Club. Tom asked Imogene to lead the pledge, which she did. Peggi presented the invocation. Larry Bradley then led us in singing “My Country Tis of Thee”

Introduction of Visitors

Other than Sharon Robertson, K.R.’s wife, there were no visitors tonight.  In fact, only10 members appeared. 

All members need to come to the meetings.

Recognitions

Peggi reported a Happy Bucks event.  Harold is mostly healed.  She contributed $25.

K. R. was recognized for having is picture in the newspaper for having his 100^th Birthday.  He contributed $100.

Other Matters

The Program

The program was Ravi talking about his life from growing up on welfare and the gift from his mother that got him flying lessons.   However, his pilot’s license was delayed because his doctor refused to perform a flight physical on a welfare kid.  He did eventually get his license.  Then he worked for may years as an airplane mechanic and eventually got into tanks for dropping fire retardant on fires.  Eventually he was involved in a new computer-controlled tank design.  This got him involved with a Canadian Company converting airplanes at the Chico Municipal Airport into fire tankers.

Next Meeting

Our next meeting, on September 2nd, will be at the Durham Park, planning the Harvest Festival. 

Membership

Bring guests who you think you can interest in becoming a member.  Your dinner and your guest’s dinner will be paid for by the Club.  Also, bring a guest to one of our occasional social gatherings.

President Tom is asking the members to bring in new members this year.

District 5160 Governor, Dan Geraldi is asking each club member to bring at least one guest to a meeting this year.

Go to the following Rotary International web site for information on membership development:  https://my.rotary.org/en/learning-reference/learn-topic/membership .  From this website there is access to membership development and other related information.

The Rotary Foundation Donations

You can make a difference in this world by helping people in need. Your gift can do some great things, from supplying filters that clean people’s drinking water to empowering local entrepreneurs to grow through business development training.

The Rotary Foundation will use your gift to fund the life-changing work of Rotary members who provide sustainable solutions to their communities’ most pressing needs. But we need help from people like you who will take action and give the gift of Rotary to make these projects possible.

When every Rotarian gives every year, no challenge is too great for us to make a difference. The minimum gift to The Rotary Foundation is $25.00.   An annual $100.00 gift is a sustaining member.  Once your donations accumulate to $1,000 you become a Paul Harris Fellow.

If you have any questions, ask Steve Heithecker.

It is possible to learn more about The Rotary Foundation on the Rotary web site. 

Your gift can be made online or by sending Jessica Thorpe a check made out to The Rotary Foundation to Durham Rotary, P.O. Box 383, Durham, California 95958.

Must Be Present to Win Drawing:

From Rotary International’s News and Features Website

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{Note that the following is not be the complete article.  See the complete article onRotary International’s web page.}

Rotary projects around the globe

August 2025

By Brad Webber

United States

To help people affected by the financial crisis of 2008, the Rotary Club of Summit County (Frisco) began serving a weekly dinner free of charge in the Colorado ski town. Sixteen years later, they haven’t stopped. In January, the club and its partners served their 200,000th meal. “The housing and mortgage crisis deeply affected people in Summit County, so in November 2008 I went to a nonprofit in the county and asked the director what was needed to help people through it,” says club member Deborah Hage. “For people displaced, living in their cars, or sofa surfing, there was no way for them to prepare meals with the food being distributed by the food banks and pantries.” On a typical Tuesday night, 100 to 500 people — children, families, retirees, and even donors who simply enjoy the camaraderie — come together to share restaurant-quality dinners and good company.

Canada

Dogs are feeling especially lucky in the Yukon territory thanks to the Rotary Clubof Whitehorse-Rendezvous, which bakes, packages, and sells pet treats to raise funds. The club’s annual dog biscuit sale has generated about CA$3,000 since it began three years ago. Proceeds benefit the Mae Bachur Animal Shelter and the Food Bank Society of the Yukon in Whitehorse. “This fundraiser brings Rotarians together for enjoyable social occasions in our various homes, and local people love the biscuits for their dogs,” says Kevin Rumsey, immediate past president of the club. Rumsey’s mother created the recipe,which includes pumpkin and peanut butter. “We always sell out,” he adds. “We even deliver to people’s homes.”

Greece

In December, the Rotary E-Club of Greece began delivering wheelchairs to archeological sites and museums throughout the country. Through May, the e-club and three other clubs — Halandri, Preveza, and Psychico — had distributed 17wheelchairs valued at $2,600. Benefiting institutions included the Aegean Maritime Museum on Mykonos, the Archaeological Museum of Patras, the ESIEPIN Press Museum, and the Museum of Cycladic Art. “This is a large-scale project covering almost all of Greece, with deliveries planned for 14 museums and archeological sites,” says George Stavropoulos, immediate past president of the e-club.

Rwanda

The Rotary Club of Kigali Golf is passionate about more than just hitting the links. Within months of its formation, the club began supporting programs to foster entrepreneurship within the deaf community and other under represented groups. In November the club delivered more than a dozen sewing, knitting, and textile heat-press machines to the Rwanda National Union of the Deaf and to Empower the Future, an organization supporting mothers of former street children. The equipment,valued at about $8,500, was paid for with member donations as well as a golf tournament (naturally). “We look forward to building a long-term partnership with the Rwanda Union of the Deaf, Empower the Future, and other organizations supporting marginalized communities,” says Tabvi “Mellow” Motsi, a member of the club’s public relations committee.

Korea

In March, the largest wildfires in Korea’s history swept across the country’s southeast, scorching nearly 120,000 acres and forcing more than 37,000 people to evacuate. Rotary districts swiftly assessed the needs and delivered food,water, hygiene kits, and other essential supplies to shelters and affected communities. Rotarians were able to reach even more people in need through$100,000 in funding from The Rotary Foundation. Rotary members also assisted with clearing orchards and with home demolition in devastated areas.Some even provided heavy equipment, including to assist with reconstruction of the historic Gounsa temple in Uiseong. “Disasters like these strike without warning,” says Ung Seop Jeong, immediate past governor of District 3590. “No one is truly prepared, but Rotary is always there for the community.”

This story originally appeared in the August 2025 issue of Rotary magazine.

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