Morning Star Foundation - Erin Neal

July 16, 2018    

 

            Lunch changes:  Only four lunch meetings occur in the new Rotary year quarter.  Club President Lenore Romney outlined the new methods July 16.  Those choosing lunch should sign “yes” when they initial the weekly roster.  Lunches are paid quarterly, but lunches not used carry over to the next quarter.  Lunches are $15.

 

            Family friendly: Club members can join a spouse, adult child or other close family members by paying the $35 per member dues each quarterly, plus separate lunches when they join eat at the meeting.

 

            Next week: Rotary Serves. Club Treasurer Sandy Fink said we hope to have 10 or more members and friends at 2^nd Harvest, 1234 E. Front Ave. at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 23.  Closed-toe shoes are important as we sort food items.  We are part of a project which will continue to 4 p.m., but we have committed time for one hour, or as long as you would like to stay.

 

   

 

Aloha and mahalo: Visiting Rotarian Dennis Smith shared banners with our club July 16. Smith was visiting from the Hickam Pearl Harbor Club, a one-year-old club of about 20 members on Oahu.  That island has 26 clubs according to on-line sources.  Smith’s club meets at 5:45 p.m. on the first, second and third Thursdays of the month.  He said much of their club has military members and they focus on needy children, such as a recent effort to provide “slippers” (flip-flop sandals) for hundreds of Micronesian youth.  Part of their fund-raising effort was to decorate wooden pins, raising $1,900.

 

         

 

 

   Morning Star Foundation focuses on at-risk youth

           

            Supporting the long-time Morning Star Boys Ranch, plus other at-risk children, is the Morning Star Foundation.

 

            Erin Neal, interim executive director described projects such as Bring Your Own Backpack (B.Y.O.B.), helping kids ages 6 to 12, among other charitable youth activities in the area.

 

            Erin said the Foundation has amassed an $8 million endowment total and gets client youth from a variety of sources in Spokane. It works with Ronald McDonald and Vanessa Behan programs, among others.

 

            She said whenever possible, the Foundation tries to reconnect the youth with family members. 

 

            Erin said reaching the 6 to 12 age kids is particularly important, but adds “if you can fix them by age 3, they likely will be good until 30.”

 

             She said there “is some magical ingredients growing in the Inland Northwest” that makes the area a great place to raise kids.

 

            Her own daughter will be a kindergarten student at Holmes Elementary this fall.

 

 

            Rotary Listens: Luncheons will meet on the 1^st and 3^rd Mondays (except on federal holidays).  The next meetings are at Nectar Wine and Beer, 1331 W. Summit Parkway in Kendall Yards on Aug. 6 and Aug. 20.  The club will not meet Sept. 3 (Labor Day), and will meet Sept. 17 to discuss fall fund-raising plans.

 

            Rotary Connects:  Club “meet-up” gatherings are scheduled the second Monday of each month, starting at 4:30 p.m.

 The fellowship times are open to Rotarians, spouses, friends, prospective members and others interested in Rotary.  Locations will change each month and members are encouraged to suggest venues.

 

Next month’s Connect is 4:30 p.m., Aug.13 at the Maryhill Winery Tasting Room, 1203 W. Summit Parkway (just east of Nectar),

 

            Rotary Serves: A service time is scheduled each 4^th week of the month, with time and dates adjusted as needed to suit the tasks.

 

            The first service project is Monday, July 23 at 1 p.m. at Second Harvest food bank, 1234 E. Front Ave. 

  

            Next month’s service project, Aug. 27 at noon, is filling the Holmes Elementary supply closet as boxes of pens, pencils, tissues, notebooks and other items are placed for use during thEdit Storiese school year.  Holmes is located at 2600 W. Sharp.  Sandy is supplying pizza.

 

            “Rotary Serves” succeeds what club members once called “dirty hands” projects.   Members are encouraged to propose potential service projects for non-profit organizations.

 

             When a 5^th Monday occurs in a month -- such as July 30 -- that is an off day for the club.