Hello Nevada City Rotarians and Friends,

Thank you all so very much for a wonderful meeting on July 11 to kick off our 2024-25 Rotary Year.  For me it was a triple trifecta.  First to introduce our themes of the year, Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick’s “The Magic of Rotary,” District 5190 Governor Dennis Geare’s “Rotarians Make Beautiful Music” and my theme, “We Are Rotary.”  

Next, we got to induct our new officers and committee chairs, induct our new member Paula Gleicher Greenstreet and present Chris Newsom with her Paul Harris Fellow +6.  

Finally, we had a chance to preview some coming attractions, meet Rotary Rabbit Rob and award a magical prize to Tom Boxler.

As I reported last week, the Area 4 Presidents continue to visit each of our first meetings. On Wednesday, July 10, I got to get up early and join old friends at 7:00 AM at the 49er Breakfast Rotary Club of Nevada City at the Miner’s Foundry. As you probably know, their one fundraiser, the Duck Race is coming up on Sunday, September 15. Believe it or not, Ducks can still race on Deer Creek despite the bridge construction. How will those Ducks race?  It must be magic! 

Please mark your calendar for Sunday, August 18 at 5:30 for Patio Patter! I grew up in a row house in an east coast city. Every house on the row had a porch and, in the evening,everyone would come out on their porch and “patter” about the neighborhood goings-on. We’ll gather on Judy’s beautiful patio porch and patter on! In my Rotary history, such an event used to becalled “Fireside.”  I always assumed (and still do) that the term arose from President Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats, an informal opportunity to share information and encouragement. According to current business and leadership experts, Mr. and Ms. Google, firesides are used in organizations to informally chat with experts, ask questions and decide what you might be interested in helping to move forward.  So, each committee chair will have a chance to patter on about the committee’s projects and focus and hear your new ideas. A wonderful time of fun and fellowship is guaranteed for all.

Meanwhile, don’t forget that we will not be at Round Table Pizza on Thursday. It’s a Field Trip to the new InConcert Sierra venue. We’ll meet at 5:30 at 125 Crown Point Circle and see their progress. I had a chance to see it a few weeks ago and you will be impressed. See you there!