Happy New Year! We’re Back! At our social on January 2, 2025 at Round Table Pizza we heard Steven Holt’s Craft Talk. He grew up in Dallas, Texas and graduated from Southern Methodist University in marketing and finance. After college he had a chance to explore his interest in food, wine and catering in his own business. He went to Aspen on vacation and was offered the opportunity to become the catering manager at an exclusive resort. He moved on to the Ritz Carlton and was instrumental in the development and branding of the Ritz-Carlton Community Footprint specializing in local charitable events to support hunger, disadvantaged youth, and health services. He moved up and around the country in the Ritz-Carlton organization, eventually leaving to go into a business for himself with a colleague. Today is in a partnership with a new Public Relations firm, Talbott and Holt. Steven and Collin moved here in May 2023 and settled on the San Juan Ridge. What amazing experiences!

 

I was delighted that Ramblin Rotary Rob came back to me after spending the holidays with different Rotarians making friends and being of service to others. His favorite activity was ringing the bell for the Salvation Army outside of SPD on a cold, blustery day.  

 

January is Rotary International Vocational Services Month. Rotary began in Chicago on February 23, 1905 with the vision of Paul Harris who wanted people of diverse backgrounds and vocations to be able to socialize and exchange ideas. In the Standard Rotary Constitution, Vocational Service, the second Avenue of Service, has the purpose of promoting high ethical standards in businesses and professions, recognizing the worthiness of all dignified occupations, and fostering the ideal of service in the pursuit of all vocations. The role of members includes conducting themselves and their businesses in accordance with Rotary’s principles and lending their vocational skills to club-developed projects in order to address the issues and needs of society.

 

Steven and Mai Lee are the Chairs of our Vocational Services Committee and have great things planned for the second half of Rotary Year 2024-25.  They have applied for a District 5190 Matching Grant to host a Young Professionals event so that others in our community may learn about Rotary, how to commit to service and perhaps join our club or one of the others in Western Nevada County. One of the things I have loved about Rotary over the years is the opportunity to make friends from those many vocations who I would never encounter in my normal professional circles. Dear friends like all of you enhance my life every day!

 

We have something really special planned for our lunch meeting at Bodhi-Hive at 12:15 on Thursday, January 9. We have a special 40-minute Improv session led by Sandra Rockman and Kimberly Ewing. I’m going to minimize the usual opening and closing so we can have every bit of fun with them as we learn to more enjoy our “unscripted lives.” So, please come a little early to get your meal and settle in! Come ready to have fun! And please don’t forget to RSVP!