This past week, Margherita (Pippi) Nasi, a former Carlsbad Rotary Youth Exchange Student traveled from Italy to visit the Rotary Club of Carlsbad who hosted her during her Junior year in high school. After a week of visiting her host families and the friends she had made, Margherita sent this note back to the Club.
Rotarians at Work Day 2022: Painting a House for Adults with Special NeedsHERE Now, a North San Diego County program designed to combat teen suicide, was honored Feb. 24 with the eighth annual Peacemaker Award from the Rotary Club of Carlsbad.
In preparation for the Christmas gift distribution for children in Camp Pendleton, our volunteers received 150 letters from families describing what they would like Santa to bring their children. In the days before the event volunteers reviewed the requests and packed each gift bag with toys and gift cards. Invitation appointments were scheduled for over 800 people. Funds, toys, and refreshments were provided by our partners, the Judith Campbell Education & Community Foundation, Rotary District 5280 and its Rotary Clubs, the residents of La Costa Glen, and others.
WHY I JOINED ROTARY: Gale TweedyWe caught up with Gale Tweedy, one of our newest members, to learn what motivated her to join Rotary International. A state licensed Holistic Health Practitioner/Massage Therapist who has spent her entire life in the Oceanside/Carlsbad corridor, Gale’s bubbly personality and can-do attitude would gladly be welcomed anyplace.
Having lived on both coasts, Brian’s spent decades in the insurance and precious metals industries, coming at the business world from a wide variety of directions. Walking through our doors almost two years ago with both an MBA AND a law degree, Brian joined us looking to extend a career that’s helped a lot of people. Originally from Carlsbad, he, his wife Lorrie, and children Kyle, Matthew and Allison are longtime members of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Carlsbad.
Like most of us, Brian originally joined Rotary because he was looking for an opportunity to have an impact in the local community and to work with others with a similar set of values. “I was a Rotary Youth Leadership Award winner as a high school student and had a lot of respect for the organization,” he says. Becoming a part of our international service group thus became a natural step and the perfect way for him to give back within…and beyond…Carlsbad’s borders.
"Be the change you want to see in the world." This Gandhi quote still echoes through me, and was the impetus for my involvement with Rotary.
13 years ago at a Carlsbad Village mixer, I overheard two men discussing people/communities around the world they were helping. I was curious, introduced myself, and soon was invited to my first Rotary meeting....and my life has never been the same.
My sponsor missed the initial meeting, but I introduced myself to several people, ate lunch, and settled in for the speaker. When the PowerPoint began, it showed visions of abused African mothers and children. Hundreds of children were sent from their homes to live in train stations to survive gang violence. These firsthand accounts shook me to the bone. I contributed to the speaker’s organization, but needed to find out more about Rotary and its effect on the world.
Like so many southern Californians, Dan Sweeney said “Adios” to the cold weather of Chicago and Cincinnati, choosing in 2002 to make Carlsbad his permanent home. And BOY are we glad he did!
Having shepherded three kids through the Carlsbad school system, Dan has had innumerable opportunities over the years to get integrated into the fabric of our community. That’s why he’s worked so hard since 2013 actively supporting Carlsbad Fill-a-Belly, which operates with the simple belief that we can all make a difference in our community, one meal at a time.
At the urging of Carlsbad Rotarian Ray Pearson, Dan joined our intrepid troupe this past January. “I saw Rotary as the perfect opportunity to leverage my contacts, resources and sales and marketing experience. My goal at every turn is to always support the larger community’s philanthropic demands to help those around me most in need.”
Ray Pearson’s not one of those guys who just last week discovered Rotary’s global impact. “I started my Rotary journey in high school. The Rotary Club met at the YMCA I worked at, with many of the Rotarians serving on the board of the Y or otherwise involved in improving the community,” he recalls, adding “And I wanted to be like them.”
So Ray sought out his school’s Rotary-sponsored Interact club, got hooked…and has never looked back. Since Rotary membership allows him to work side-by-side participating on a daily basis in finding ways to make the world a better place, he’s surrounded by likeminded people all dedicated to giving back to the world around them.
“There’s a satisfaction that comes from positively impacting the local community while helping those most in need,” Ray says. His love of being an active force for good in the world around him is what led him to a career in the cable industry, where he’s spent the past 40 years helping spread the word about everything from children’s programming to fashion accessories.
MARINE CORPS GIVE AND TAKE PROGRAM
The Carlsbad Rotary Club request the donation of used but useable furniture, appliances, kitchenware, electronics, bedding, linens, etc. to young Marine Corps and Navy families at Camp Pendleton. Your donations will help these families establish and/or upgrade their homes. Your donations will be given directly to those families in need, or warehoused until families are identified as having a need. Items donated will not be sold and those families receiving item(s) are obligated to return the item(s) given when no longer needed so others can use them. Mrs. Linda Sundrum, Pendleton Community Service Fund, Camp Pendleton will schedule a pickup date, convenient to you. Personnel will be provided to move all items. If you’d like to donate household goods, food or make a cash donation, please go to www.cpcsf.org or email lindasundram1@gmail.com.
The Pendleton Community Service Fund is a 501c (3) California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation for charitable and public purposes. Your donations are tax deductible
Watch video on this program: https://youtu.be/HfyMGMe9ZvU
Linda Sundram providing warehouse guidance to the 152 people who lined up starting at 6.30 am on July 26,2019
