Please join us Thursday to ring in the new 2023-2024 Rotary year under the leadership of President Cathy Dugan!  A few weeks ago we did some brainstorming for the new year at a lunch meeting at Ulla Petersen's home.  Further brainstorming has occurred, and Past-President Don left us with a list of accomplishments, and areas where he wished that he and the club could have done more during his year in office.  All these will contribute to the plan that President Cathy will present to us for the new year.

The main program featured a presentation by Sierra Wildlife Rescue (SWR), including some of their rescued wildlife.  It was presented by Elliot Maldanado, a wildlife rehabilitator and transportation coordinator for SWR, assisted by her daughter, Scarlet.  Our first feathered guest was Lionel, the Great Horned Owl seen flexing its wings on Elliot's hand at left.  Lionel was a little cranky since this was his usual nap time.  Elliot told us that Great Horned Owls can live to 20 or 30 years in captivity (less in the wild).  They often use a hawk's nest in which to hatch their eggs.  Lionel, weighting 1100-1200 grams (and males in general) is smaller than female owls. 

 

The SWR organization takes in from 1500-1800 animals per year.  Over 70% of them get released back to the wild.  Many get taken in by wildlife rehabilitators such as Elliot.  She also showed Whisper to us, a Spotted Owl.  That species live in tall coniferous forests and live on a diet of mainly flying squirrels and woodrats.  These owls are becoming endangered because the Barred Owls are being pushed out of their environment and moving in to take over the Spotted Owl's habitat.  

 

We thanked Elliot and Scarlet for a fun and stimulating program.

President Don Fuller's term ended on June 30th.  At our last meeting of his term, June 22, he covered a list of "What we accomplished together in 2022-2023."  It was too extensive to cover here, but some highllights were: Raising over $15,000 with matching funds for a Mobile Clinic in Ukraine, 2nd highest in District 5190 out of 60 clubs; Expanded Academic scholarship and vocational grant awards to $25,000;  Completion of Phase 1 of the Nicaragua water project to provide La Calle Real with safer, more accessible clean water; Added 11 new members: Reconstruction of the Cameron Park Lake Observation Deck, now known as Rotary Pier; and most recently, a very successful Wine and Beer Fest at the County Fair with total revenues of $17k.

 

Thank you President Don for leading us to a fun and successful year of fellowship and service!