At our regular meeting on Tuesday, July 27th, we were honored to make a check presentation of $25,000 to Danville Vice Mayor Karen Stepper, who received the check on behalf of the Veteran’s Memorial Building Development Committee of San Ramon Valley, a non-profit, 501 © 3 organization.

The Veteran’s Hall renovation project started construction July 5, 2010 and is slated to last 18 months. The cost of building a 13,000 square foot complex to house a community hall, classroom, meeting room and office space for the Town of Danville and Veteran’s groups is $7.7 million. The front two-story portion of the 85-year old building is being preserved and renovated.

The Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary has always been a strong supporter of veterans. As a community club, we felt that this was one of the biggest things to happen in Danville. Additionally, we want to set an example for other community organizations to also contribute to the Veteran’s Hall renovation project.

The contribution from the Rotary Club of Danville/Sycamore Valley Foundation was made possible from the proceeds of the Blackhawk Food, Wine, and Film Festival held last May at the Blackhawk Museum. The $25,000 donation comes with a sponsorship of a Veteran’s meeting room and a plaque honoring the contribution. Additionally, numerous individual members have given generously to the project and were awarded pins at the meeting.

Club members, Bob Nichols, Don Ledeux, and Newell Arnerich, are on the Capital Campaign Committee of the Veteran’s Memorial Building Development Committee of San Ramon Valley. Member, Jud Scott, is on the Honorary Advisory Board.

Bob Nichols · Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary · Don Ledeux · Jud Scott · Karen Stepper · Newell Arnerich · Ron Lowe · Veteran's Hall Project · Veterans

Angie Bartelt, recent graduate of San Ramon Valley High School, received the Robert R. Tuttle Memorial Scholarship Award check for $1000 at a recent meeting of the Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary Club. Angie will attend Los Positas College this fall.

Pictured: (Left to Right) Carrie Bartelt Angie’s aunt, Del Chandler Rotarian, Angie Bartelt and Mary Tuttle.

Angie Bartlet · Carrie Bartlet · Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary · Del Chandler · Mary Tuttle · Robert R Tuttle Memorial Scholarship · Scholarship

Yesterday Diana Brown of SOAR came to speak to the Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary. Tonight I had the pleasure of speaking with her on my Blogtalkradio Podcast. Diana is the president and founder of SOAR for Youth. After a very successful career in IT including Fortune 100, education and government Diana was inspired by comments a friend had made about being a foster child. Her friend had experienced abuse at the hands of their aunt who was also their foster parent. The story changed Diana’s life as she felt that she needed to do something about the situation facing foster children.

Diana Brown receiving speakers certificate from Rotarian Del Chandler

Diana approached the issues facing foster kids the same way I would imagine her approaching any challenge she had faced in the business world. She spoke to faculty involved in Social Services and gathered other information about the problems. Armed with this information she devised a 3 year summer program to help these kids in need through a partnership with UC Berkeley. The program she created and implemented with the help of plenty of volunteers provides the kids with anything from basic life skills education to college preparation. When the kids arrive at camp they are quiet and keep to themselves but by the end of the week they are laughing and enjoying themselves the way kids that age should be.

Listen to the Interview

If you have the opportunity to volunteer, I believe it will be a life changing event for you. If you’d like to funnel your support to SOAR through Rotary, please use the contact page on this website to reach us.

Participant Testimonials:

What did you learn that will help you the most this next year?

• Learn to love myself.
• Just to look at things from a different point of view.
• English and Math classes and stress relievers.
• That you are never alone and there is always a way to survive and be very successful.
• That even if you don’t see some interest in some things you should not just back away from it, give it a try…

More information about SOAR:

SOAR for Youth was established in February 2009 to provide high quality support, opportunities, and rapport that foster youth would have otherwise received from their parents. One of the goals of SOAR is to help foster youth become independent and productive members of our society.

Through a summer residential academic enrichment program that uses teaching, coaching, counseling, outdoor adventure activities in collaboration with the University of California at Berkeley, community foster youth organizations, and Bay Area children services agencies, SOAR helps teenaged foster youth gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to pursue post secondary education and succeed. It is a three-year program. Once selected, each youth is invited to attend three summer camps (Prepare To SOAR, Learn To SOAR, and Time TO SOAR). In addition, SOAR stays connected with the youth throughout the following academic years, providing sustained support and attention to encourage their progress.

Access the Soar for Youth Website

Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary · Diana Brown · SOAR for Youth · UC Berkeley

East Bay Stand Down – Community Volunteers Encouraged to Register Now

Volunteers, veterans, community leaders, friends and supporters. We encourage you to personally register first and then share this request for volunteers for the East Bay Stand Down 2010. EBSDA is a four day 24 hour program for homeless veterans.

Register at:  eastbaystanddown.org

Please join us in supporting the East Bay Stand Down

Even if you are not sure of the day – dates or time you will be available to volunteer for EBSD you should still register now. Provide us with all the basic information we need for registration. Your registration allows us to provide names and contact information to cover the hundreds of volunteers this outstanding community service event for homeless, needy and displaced veterans with the insurance policy required by the federal government.  

East Bay Stand Down is AUGUST 5 – 8 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds.  The only 4-day program to give a helping hand “up” to local veterans…  this is not a hand-out… it is a community service assistance effort – needing your personal assistance through “volunteer efforts” & “donations” – Make a Difference today.

East Bay Stand Down Flier

Alameda County Fairgrounds · Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary · East Bay Stand Down · EBSD · Veterans

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation great partners of Rotary in the effort to end Polio. Please enjoy this recent story about the effort:

Bill Gates Praises Nigeria’s Recent Progress against Polio; Encourages Country to Seize Historic Opportunity

Polio cases declined 99% over the past year but country-wide effort required to kick polio out of Nigeria for good

Gates gives boost to Kick Polio out of Africa Campaign

ABUJA, Nigeria – Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, today commended Nigeria for making significant gains in the fight against polio and called on the country’s leaders to finish the job. Gates is in Nigeria to learn more about the country’s dramatic improvements since his last visit in February 2009. He pointed to Nigeria’s record-low number of polio cases in 2010 and noted that support from political, traditional and religious leaders have been a key factor.

Polio cases in Nigeria have dropped 99% from 2009 to 2010, according to Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). Only three cases of the disease were reported in the country through June 1 of this year, compared with 288 reported during the same period in 2009. NPHCDA also reports a steady increase in the number of children under age five who have received the oral polio vaccine.  However, there are still too many children who haven’t received the minimum number of doses to ensure they are protected against the virus.

“All Nigerians should be proud of Nigeria’s recent progress against polio,” said Gates. “Thanks to committed political, traditional, and religious leaders, dedicated health workers, and loving parents who want to protect their children, Nigeria is on a path toward eliminating polio.”

While in Abuja, Gates met with President Goodluck Jonathan, Minister of Health
Prof. C. O. Onyebuchi Chukwu, and the Nigeria Executive Governors Forum to discuss Nigeria’s continued efforts to eradicate polio and ensure the health of mothers and children in the country. Gates also signed the “Kick Polio Out of Africa” football, which is traveling through 23 polio-affected countries to raise awareness of polio eradication efforts.

In Kano State on 6 June, he met with Executive Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau; His Royal Highness, Ado Bayero, Emir of Kano; traditional leaders; and Local Government Area chairmen to discuss progress and remaining obstacles to polio immunization in high-risk areas. He also visited Dala LGA in Kano to observe first-hand children being immunized during the current polio campaign.

Gates urged Nigerian leaders to continue to adhere to the “Abuja Commitments,” a February 2009 pledge by Nigeria’s state governors to accelerate and strengthen polio immunization and other primary health care efforts. In particular, stronger commitment and more oversight is needed to ensure children in the 85 highest-risk Local Government Areas* are being immunized.

“We have made tremendous progress since Mr. Gates’ last visit to Nigeria, but it is not time to rest on our laurels,” said Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, Executive Director of the NPHCDA, who spent time with Mr. Gates during both visits. “Until we succeed, Nigeria remains the only country in Africa where polio is still endemic.”

Noting that an important global polio meeting will take place in Geneva on 18 June 2010, Gates also stressed the need for continued financial support of polio efforts.  The Gates Foundation has invested more than $815 million in polio eradication, including $120 million in Nigeria. However, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative estimates $1.3 billion in additional funding is needed to support eradication activities from 2010-2012.

“Polio eradication remains an urgent priority for our foundation, but like many of our programs, this is a global effort that requires a global investment,” Gates said.  As polio-affected countries like Nigeria and India step up and do their part, donor governments must stand with them and support the final push toward polio eradication.”

Gates also noted the need for Nigeria to continue to strengthen routine immunization so that the gains made in polio can be sustained. He strongly encouraged leaders to make the health of women and children a priority and ensure that these lives can be saved through the use of vaccines and other inexpensive solutions.

In January, Bill and Melinda Gates urged the world to make the next 10 years the “Decade of Vaccines” and save 8.7 million children through immunization against diseases ranging from pneumonia to malaria.  They pledged to spend US$10 billion on a range of vaccine-related activities over the next 10 years, and called on other donors, governments, and the private sector to help ensure that vaccines reach all children who need them.

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Bill Gates in Nigeria this Week supporting KPOA

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives.  In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty.  In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people, especially those with the fewest resources, have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life.  Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

*The 85 highest-risk LGAs are in the following states:   Abia, Bauchi, Borno, FCT (Abuja), Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara

Bill Gates · Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary · KPOA · Polio

One of the organizations that the Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary regularly supports is Rotoplast. Rotoplast provides cleft palat/cleft lip procedures to patients that cannot afford them. In this recent 2 week mission Rotoplast completed 81 surgeries and 125 procedures! We are proud to support this effort.

Learn more about the trip at the Rotoplast blog on typepad.

Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary · Rotoplast

Recently our Rotary club participated in an open house at Sonrise Equestrian. Check out Bob “training” the horse.

Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary · Equestrian · Rotarians at work · Sonrise

We have the support of many great area restaurants for our 20th Annual Blackhawk Food, Wine and Film Festival. If you attend our event you will be sampling food from these great restaurants. We are very pleased to have the support of:

• Forbes Mill
• Peasant and the Pear
• Guiseppe’s
• Blackhawk Grille
• Piatti
• Faz
• Bridges
• Scott’s
• El Nido
• Pasta Pamadora
• Maria Maria
• Marie Callendars

Thanks to our great restaurant sponsors for their support. If you have not already reserved your seat for the event you should do so now, you can register online here.

BFWFF · Blackhawk · Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary · Food Wine and Film Festival · Fundraiser · Support Rotary

So far eleven generous wineries have commited to participate in the 20th Annual Blackhawk Food, Wine and Film Festival:

• Wente
• Tamas
• Murrieta Wells
• Tesla
• Charles R
• Fenestra
• Bent Creek
• Steven Kent/LaRochelle
• Bodegas Aguirre
• Thomas Coyne
• Crooked Vine

BFWFF · Blackhawk · Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary · Food Wine and Film Festival · Fundraiser · Supporters · Wineries

Please join us celebrating our 20th annual Blackhawk Food, Wine and Film Festival. 100% of the proceeds of this event will go to support projects undertaken by our club.

Sign up here today!

BFWFF · Blackhawk · Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary · Food Wine and Film Festival · Fundraiser · Support Rotary