1

Rotar y Inter nat ional

D ISTRICT 5010 BULLETIN

Alaska/Yukon

Issue #4, Oct.. 2013

Governor Sue

on HOPE 1

19 new

members 1

Homer

Katchemak

Bay honored

2

What is voca-

tional ser- 4

Fairbanks

Blood Drive 6

Ketchikan

club cele-

brates 25th

7

How to honor

your members 8

Soap Box

Derby Day in

Kenai

9

Juneau Glaci-

er Valley 10

Membership

update

11

Love letter

from Caro 13 Mike’s Mus-

ings 15 Order Polio

Now shirts 17

IN THIS ISSUE

Register now for the Saturday,

October 26, District Foundation

Seminar in Anchorage.

Type “Rotary 5010” into your

browser to get to the

District 5010 website.

Click on

“REGISTER HERE”

Happy, Optimistic,

Proud, Enthusiastic by Sue Foley

It is rare these days to open

a newspaper or catch the

news on TV or on the radio

and feel hope, optimism,

pride, or enthusiasm. Our

daily news usually fills me

with despair. So much vio-

lence, so much death, so

much disaster! There

doesn’t seem to be any hope

for a better world.

Well, my fellow Rotarians,

visit a Rotary Club.

“It’s addictive!”

Since July 23rd I have con-

ducted my official club vis-

its to Sitka, Kenai, Kenai

River-Soldotna, Homer

Downtown, Homer Katche-

mak Bay, Soldotna, Seward,

Palmer, Wasilla Sunrise,

Girdwood and Anchorage

Russian Jack.

(Cont’d on p. 2)

Welcome, 19 new Rotarians*

Richard Allen Anchorage East

Vincent Brown Eagle River Area

Cassi Campbell Eagle River Area

Kimberly Collins Eagle River Area

Tyler Davis Kenai

Peggy Dye Kenai

Karin Fortin Whitehorse Rendezvous

Phillip Izon Anchorage East

Eugene Lawn Anchorage Internat’l

Mike McNally Nome

Adam Mee Wasilla

Don Poulton Eagle River Area

Sylvia Reynolds Kenai River-Soldotna

Gavin Rueb Eagle River Area

Nichola Ruedy Anchorage Gateway

Vivian Stiver Fairbanks

Sharon Sullivan Anchorage East

Barbara Swenson Anchorage East

Sebastian Talamas Homer-Kachemak Bay

Steinbach

* Month of August, 2013

2

HOPE (Cont’d from p. 1)

They are all active and enthusi

astic, raising funds for projects

and scholarships, preparing to

begin their projects and plan-

ning projects for next year. All

are working on increasing

membership, thus spreading

Rotary’s hope and optimism.

The clubs all have such great

camaraderie. There is no lack

of someone stepping up to

take on a chore that needs at-

tention.

Most importantly, their meet-

ings include that ever critical

component – laughter. Fun

and fellowship are tremendous

draws for attending meetings

when your day may not be go-

ing exactly as you would pre-

fer. It’s just the ticket for an

attitude adjustment.

It is such a joy to reconnect

with Rotarians around the dis-

trict that I have known for a

long time. I am so proud of all

the positive activity at these

club meetings. Rotarians will

make a better world bringing

peace and improved living

conditions because Rotarians

are happy, optimistic, proud,

and enthusiastic.

Thanks for continuing to give

me HOPE.

Sue Foley is District 5010

Governor for the Rotary

International 2013-14 year.

Left to right: Bryan Zak, Gwen Neal, Homer-Kachemak Bay President

Heather Beggs, Jim Gorman, Dave Brann (who drove the project), Com-

munity Services Chair Milli Martin, Homer Mayor Beth Wythe

Photo by Michael Armstrong, Homer News

Mayor honors Homer-Kachemak Bay Rotary

In the above photo, taken at

Homer City Hall on Monday,

August 12, Mayor Beth Wythe

recognizes Homer Kachemak

Bay Rotary Club for its role in

becoming the first to “Adopt-A-

Park” and for the work and con-

tributions of the club to the Ben

Walters Park.

This was in the form of a certifi-

cate of recognition presented by

Mayor Beth Wythe to Rotary

Community Services Chair Milli

Martin.

The proclamation noted that the

park land was donated to the City

in 1963 by Gwen Neal's husband,

Tony, and went on to describe

work done to date: scraping and

painting bathroom facilities, in-

cluding all the individual win-

dow screens, with Rust-Oleum

primer and then applying a finish

coat. The club also conducted a

regular litter pick-up and pur-

chased and installed a bench for

a much-used floating dock.

Rotarians planted bulbs, rented

equipment to pull 95% of the

posts along the driveway

and parking lot perimeter, re-

dug the holes, plumbed the posts

and backfilled with washed drain

rock.

A Rotary member donated wine

barrel planters and Rotary pur-

chased liners and potting soil.

The City provided flowers and

(Cont’d on p. 3)

3

(Kachemak Bay Cont’d from p.2)

Rotarians placed and planted and

watered four flower barrels. Rotary

purchased D-1 gravel and rented

equipment to rehab the trail from

the parking area to the floating

docks. Rotary members raked,

smoothed and compacted the trail

to the floating docks.

Weekly inspections and public con-

tacts by Rotarians are ongoing to

maintain the Adopt-A-Park agree-

ment.

….Milli Martin, Chair

Community Services Committee,

Homer Kachemak Bay Rotary

Club

To register for the October 26 Foundation Seminar, go to the Rotary 5010

District website. Just type “Rotary 5010” into your browser and click on

REGISTER HERE in the middle of the web page.

$250

Early Bird

Conference

Rate

…..if you register by September 30

for the Rotary District 5010 Confer-

ence at the Hotel Captain Cook in

Anchorage May 15-18.

rotary5010conference.com

4

is like two sides of a coin: repre-

senting our line of work/

occupation/classification in our

clubs and exemplifying the ide-

als of Rotary in our work places.

Suggested activities in October

or throughout the year:

Pass out a copy of the Rotary

Four Way Test and the eight

points of the Rotary Code of

Conduct at your meetings.

Emphasize classification talks at

club meetings.

Arrange for tours of members’

businesses.

Organize or participate in com-

munity career fairs and work-

shops.

Mentor young people.

Promote ethical behavior in busi-

ness, volunteer your vocation

Create a vocational award pro-

gram.

Join or form a Rotary fellowship.

(rotary.org/fellowships)

An outstanding example of

vocational service

Clark Mishler, photographer and

member of Anchorage East Ro-

tary Club, embodies the ideals of

Rotary in his vocation on a regu-

lar basis.

He attends every Rotary meeting

with his camera in hand, docu-

menting our new member orien-

tations, speakers and special

events such as the Mobile Food

Pantry, Walk for Hope and vari-

ous fundraising auctions. He has

created two wonderful books of

his photography which the club

now uses as gifts for speakers

and events.

One of Clark’s most meaningful

projects was photographing

homeless people in Anchorage at

Bean's Cafe. His wife, Mitzi

Mishler, a member of the Gate-

way Rotary Club, was reading

the newspaper obituaries one day

when she commented that home-

less people don't have photo-

graphs with their bios.

She suggested that Clark go over

to Beans Cafe and photograph

the homeless people, so when

they were found dead at least

they would have a photograph

with them.

Clark thought about it and said

that it just broke his heart. He

thought that would be a really

good thing to do.

Service above self exemplified.

...Kathleen Madden

District 5010 Vocational

Service Chair

OCTOBER IS VOCA-

TIONAL SERVICE

MONTH. AND WHAT IS

VOCATIONAL SERVICE

ANYWAY???

October is upon us and on the Ro-

tary Calendar it is the month to cel-

ebrate and feature vocational ser-

vice in our clubs. But what exactly

does that mean?

Vocation is:

1. A summons or strong inclina-

tion to a particular state or

course of action

2. The work in which a person is

employed

3. The persons engaged in a partic-

ular occupation

4. The special function of an indi-

vidual or group

Vocational Service is:

1. Aspiring to high ethical stand-

ards in our occupations

2. Recognizing the worthiness of

all useful occupations, and

3. Contributing our vocational tal-

ents to the problems and needs

of society.

In other words, vocational service

The Rotary Four-Way Test

of the things we think,

say or do

1. Is it the truth?

2. Is it fair to all concerned?

3. Will it build goodwill and

better friendship?

4. Will it be beneficial to all

concerned?

5

ROTARY CODE OF CONDUCT

As a Rotarian, I will

1. Exemplify the core value of integrity in all behaviors and activities

2. Use my vocational experience and talents to serve in Rotary

3. Conduct all of my personal business and professional affairs

ethically, encouraging and fostering high ethical standards as an

example to others

4. Be fair in all dealings with others and treat them with the respect

due to them as fellow human beings.

5. Promote recognition and respect for all occupations which are useful

to society.

6. Offer my vocational talents to provide opportunities for young

people, to work for the relief of the special needs of others, and to

improve the quality of life in my community.

7. Honor the trust that Rotary and fellow Rotarians provide and not do

anything that will bring disfavor or reflect adversely on Rotary or

fellow Rotarians

8. Not seek from a fellow Rotarian a privilege or advantage not nor-

mally accorded others in a business or professional relationship

Portraits of Anchorage homeless at left by Clark Mishler, Anchorage

East Rotary Club

6

Fairbanks Fall Blood Drive — enough blood to save 69 lives

We had a fantastic response to our fall blood drive and appreci-

ate all who made the effort to give up part of their day to volun-

teer to give blood. The Blood Bank of Alaska truly appreciates

all who registered to give blood. Our club has been recognized

as its largest group contributor, consistently registering over 30

donors, which is more than the daily average in their office.

For this drive, the Blood Bank successfully received 23 units of

blood, which can be used to save 69 lives!

Part of the success of our drive is due to those club members

who generously support our donors with goodies. Thank you to

the Westmark for donating the facility and Fairbanks Memorial

Hospital for the generous donation of cookies and juice along

with Sparkling Cider for everyone!

Other contributions were made by: AlaskaUSA Credit Union;

State Farm; Rivers Wood Products; Wes Madden Real Estate;

Usibelli Coal Mine; Cook, Groseclose & Schuleman; HDR; 1st Fruits Consulting; Kohler, Schmitt &

Hutchison; University Fire Department; and the Bridgewater Hotel. Our Spring Blood Drive will be held

March 27, so mark your calendars.

...Jo Kuchle, President

Rotary Club of

Fairbanks

Photos counterclock-

wise: Stephanie

Mohrbach, “Full

House,” Michelle

Mayor, Gunnar Ebbes-

son, “Always Paper-

work.”

7

Ketchikan First City celebrates 25th

anniversary and status as first

Alaska Rotary Club to admit women

On August 17, the Rotary Club of

Ketchikan First City marked two

major milestones.

Not only did our club celebrate

25 years since its establishment,

but it also celebrated the 26th an-

niversary of the landmark United

States Supreme Court decision

that mandated that women be al-

lowed to join service clubs. First

City Rotary was the first Rotary

Club in the State of Alaska to ad-

mit women as members.

“First City Rotary was the first

Rotary Club in the State of Alas-

ka to admit women as mem-

bers.”

Until 1987, service club member-

ship was traditionally male. Rota-

ry International v. Rotary Club of

Duarte (California) resulted in a

Supreme Court decision that Ro-

tary International may not ex-

clude women from membership

based on gender. In 1989, the Ro-

tary International Council On

Legislation voted to eliminate the

requirement that club member-

ship be limited to males.

First City Rotary formed its or-

ganization in 1988 under the

sponsorship of Rotary 2000, with

an emphasis on encouraging fe-

male membership and participa-

tion. It also decided to hold its

meetings in the early morning

hours to allow more members

from various trades who could not

attend lunch meetings.

“Today...54% of the club’s 41

members are female.”

In 1991, Leslie Bartholomew be-

came the first female President of

First City Rotary. Today, the club

has had eight female presidents

and 54% of the club’s 41 mem-

bers are female.

In 2013, First City Rotary was

awarded the Presidential Citation

for Excellence and the club’s an-

nual Fourth of July Duck Race

raised a record amount. Funds

from the Duck Race are utilized

locally in such projects as building

new fishing platforms at Carlanna

Lake, distributing dictionaries to

every third grader, and many other

endeavors.

In addition, Rotarian Jim Dahl

undertook a motorcycle journey

around the state to promote Rotary

Foundation awareness and to raise

funds for the global efforts of Ro-

tary to eradicate polio.

As a result of his efforts and the

personal donations of First City

Rotarians, the club was recog-

nized for the highest per capita

giving towards The Rotary Foun-

dation in the state of Alaska and

the Yukon Territory.

“We are thrilled…”

We are thrilled to celebrate 25

years of serving our community,

our youth, and the world abroad.

Rotary is in the business of doing

good and through our work we

hope to instill the values of philan-

thropy and leadership not only in

our members, but in the youth we

work with as well.

...Rosie Roppel, President

Ketchikan First City Rotary

Greg’s Groaner

An invisible man

married an invisible

woman. The kids were

nothing to look at, either.

8

Ways to honor

outstanding club

members

Members of your Rotary com-

munity work hard to create posi-

tive changes at home and around

the world. Thank them for their

dedication and valuable contribu-

tions by recognizing them with

one of the following eight

awards. You can download most

guidelines, nomination forms

and deadlines from the Rotary

International web site at:

http://www.rotary.org/en/awards

Avenues of Service Citation

Honor a club member who par-

ticipates in service activities in

each of the five Avenues of Ser-

vice: Club, Vocational, Commu-

nity, International, and Youth.

Who can nominate: Club presi-

dents

Deadline: None

Club Builder Award

Present a certificate to up to 10

deserving Rotarians from your

district who have significantly

supported and strengthened their

Rotary clubs.

Who can nominate: District gov-

ernors (Send your recommenda-

tions to DG Sue Foley.)

Deadline for District 5010: March

1st

Rotary Foundation Citation

for Meritorious Service

Honor members who have been

actively involved in service activ-

ities related to The Rotary Foun-

dation, such as serving on a Foun-

dation committee, participating in

a grant-funded project, or sup-

porting a Rotary Peace Fellow.

Who can nominate: District gov-

ernors (Send your recommenda-

tions to DG Sue Foley.)

Deadline: None

Rotary Foundation Distin-

guished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award

is the Foundation’s highest ser-

vice recognition and is given to

Rotarians who have demonstrated

exemplary service to the Founda-

tion. Recipients must have re-

ceived the Citation for Meritori-

ous Service four years prior to be

eligible for this award.

Who can nominate: Rotarians

Deadline: November 15

Foundation District Service

Award

Present a certificate to Rotarians

in your district who are making a

difference through the Founda-

tion’s programs.

Who can nominate: District gov-

ernors (send your recommenda-

tions to DG Sue Foley)

Deadline for District 5010:

March 1

RI Service Above Self Award

Rotary’s highest honor recognizes

up to 150 Rotarians each year

who demonstrate their commit-

ment to helping others by volun-

teering their time and talents.

Who can nominate: Current and

immediate past district governors

and current and past RI directors

Deadline: September 1

Service Award

for a Polio-Free World

This award recognizes outstand-

ing contributions to our polio

eradication efforts. Each year,

we give up to 10 regional service

awards per WHO region to wor-

thy recipients. We also give 10

international awards to people

whose work has had widespread

impact.

Who can nominate: Rotarians

Deadline: November 1

Vocational Service

Leadership Award

This award is given to Rotarians

who have used their occupations

to make an impact in the com-

munity, demonstrated integrity in

their profession and in Rotary,

and undertaken at least one of six

activities outlined in the award

guidelines that we outline in the

nomination form.

Who can nominate: District gov-

ernors (Send your recommenda-

tions to DG Sue Foley.)

Deadline: November 1

...Kim Erickson

Rotary District 5010 Awards

Chairman

9

DERBY DAY IN KENAI

Seventeen drivers, ranging in age

form 9 to 17 years old, strapped

on their helmets, grabbed the

steering wheels of their custom

Soap Box Derby cars and raced

down steep Spruce Street hill to-

ward Cook Inlet at speeds of over

30 mph.

The May 18 event was the Kenai

Rotary Club's annual All Ameri-

can Soap Box Derby, now the last

remaining gravity race in Alaska.

And, as race organizer and Rotar-

ian Scott Hamann told the Kenai

Peninsula Clarion, "We're the on-

ly race that has a corner in it and

as steep as Spruce Street is, it

makes for challenging and excit-

ing gravity racing for the kids."

“...a premier event for youth…”

The winner in a reviewed, photo-

finish was Zachary Ulrich, racing

the Tullis Funny Farm Mobile.

He won the championship trophy

and represented Kenai and Alaska

at the National All American

Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio.

Runner up was Emily Dunham,

driver of the Peninsula Memorial

Chapel "Undertaker."

Kenai Rotary Club President

Brendyn Shiflea said, "The Soap

Box Derby is the premier event

for youth in our community, and

an excellent opportunity for Ro-

tarians, volunteers and supporters

to participate with our local youth

in putting on this great event."

Event supporters included Swee-

ny's, XTO, First National Bank

Alaska, Pebble Partnership Metal

Magic, Cook Inlet Dental/Dr.

Halliday, Derry & Associates,

Tullis Funny Farm, Udelhoven,

Peninsuala Memorial Chapel, The

Impact Area, Walters & Associ-

ates, Wells Fargo, Stanley Chrys-

ler, Stanley Ford, Peterkin Distrib-

utors, HEA, Lynden, Boatright

Family and Matturo Family. Vol-

unteers included members of the

Nikiski High School football

team, who helped host and set up

the race.

…Submitted by Brendyn Shiflea,

President, Kenai Peninsula Rota-

ry Club and Jason Feekon. Story

based on a May 29, 2013 article

in the Peninsula Clarion.

Kenai Club

cleans up

Photo at left:

Members of the

Rotary Club of

Kenai fill trash

bags during their

annual highway

clean up.

10

Juneau Glacier

Valley service: from

Duck Derby to

Bacon Fest Glacier Valley Rotary has a va-

riety of projects throughout the

year. We start off our year with

a Duck Derby which provides

our primary funding for the rest

of the year. Through the winter

months we ring bells for the

Salvation Army, collect toys for

the Foster Care program and

conduct a food drive for the lo-

cal Food Bank. In the spring

we complete a clean up of a

portion of Duck Creek.

This year we are doing the

Dress for Success program in

which young adults can receive

gently used pro-

fessional cloth-

ing to aid them

in their job in-

terviews.

Every April and

May we support

the Pillars of

America Speak-

er Series. Juneau

youth come to a

series of formal

lunches and lis-

ten to inspiring

Americans give

motivational

speeches. Fund-

ing for the Pil-

lars program

comes from lo-

cal businesses

and from club

fundraising.

We are responsible for Rotary

Park, home to the only 911 me-

morial in the state. We provide

upkeep and plan needed projects

for the park. We take part in an

international project which links

us with Colima, Mexico. We are

providing wheel chairs this year.

In past years, we have partici-

pated in Project Amigo, which

helps poor children achieve their

highest potential. We have also

assisted a community in Uganda

with its school library and water

needs through monetary dona-

tion and physical support.

This past spring, we had our first

Baconfest, celebrating all things

Bacon. This provided fundrais-

ing for the club so we could of-

fer matching money for individ-

ual contributions to The Rotary

Foundation. Lastly, we held our

Third Annual Rotary Day at the

Pool. This allowed Juneau youth

and their families free access for

an afternoon at the Dimond Park

Pool.

...Sara Hieb, Juneau Glacier Bay

Rotary

Above photo: Juneau Youth Ex-

change students get together

District 5010 Bulletin

The Rotary District 5010 Bulletin

is a monthly publication of Rotary

International District 5010, which

encompasses Alaska and the Ca-

nadian Yukon. It is e-mailed mid-

month to all members who have

supplied e-mail addresses. Mem-

bers can also access the bulletin

through the District website. Jan

Ingram is editor. Greg Solomon is

Assistant Editor.

Send your club bulletins, news

items, photos, info about cool ser-

vice projects and brilliant ideas

to: impact@ak.net or to 836 M

Street #109, Anchorage, AK

99501.

Submissions deadline: Last day of

each month for the following

month’s publication. Please identi-

fy people in your photos.

11

Club Name June 1,

2013

Net

Change

% + - Member

Count

Anchorage 247 -1 0% 246

Anchorage East 127 0% 127

Anchorage Gateway 22 -1 -5% 21

Anchorage Hillside 30 0% 30

Anchorage International 80 -5 -6% 75

Anchorage Mid Town 17 0% 17

Anchorage Russian Jack 19 1 5% 20

Anchorage South 88 -2 -2% 86

Barrow (Nuvuk) 19 0% 19

College 47 -3 -6% 44

Eagle River Area 43 -1 -2% 42

Fairbanks 158 -1 -1% 156

Fairbanks Golden Heart 9 0% 9

Fairbanks Sunrisers 55 1 2% 56

Girdwood 23 0% 23

Homer Downtown 15 0% 15

Homer-Kachemak Bay 55 0% 55

Juneau 76 -6 -8% 70

Juneau-Gastineau 55 0% 55

Juneau-Glacier Valley 62 -3 -5% 59

Kenai 22 2 9% 24

Kenai River-Soldotna 17 -1 -6% 16

Ketchikan 32 -7 -22% 25

Membership Update - How’s your club doing? Engage Rotary, Change Lives. The District Membership Committee has sent out two

monkey surveys. One has to do with involvement and engagement. The other has to do

with retention of former Rotarians. Use the Annual Member involvement “Appraisal to

ensure members stay engaged and receive the support, benefits and recognition that they

deserve. The appraisal document can be found under “download” on the District 5010

website. Here’s how we are doing to meet the membership goal of 1,884 by the end of

June 2014. Remember: “Each Rotarian: Reach One, Keep One.”

...PDG Bill Hopper, District 5010 Membership Chair

Active Rotary Clubs in District 5010 - Membership as of 8-31-2013

(Cont’d on p. 12)

12

Club Name June 1,

2013

Net

Change

% + - Member

Count

Ketchikan (The First City) 37 6 16% 43

Kodiak 36 0% 36

Kodiak Morning 22 1 5% 23

Nome 26 -2 -8% 24

North Pole 13 0% 13

Palmer 24 -1 -4% 23

Petersburg 31 -5 -16% 26

Seward 24 -1 -4% 23

Sitka 33 -3 -9% 30

Soldotna 64 0% 64

Susitna 28 -3 -11% 25

Wasilla 40 -2 -5% 38

Wasilla Sunrise 35 1 3% 36

Whitehorse 32 -3 -9% 29

Whitehorse Midnight Sun 12 -1 -8% 11

Whitehorse-Rendezvous 15 1 7% 16

1790 -40 -2% 1750

Active Rotary Clubs in District 5010 - Membership as of 8-31-13

(cont’d from p. 9

We need a net gain

of

54 members to meet our

District goal of 3% gain

13

One year ago from now

I was waiting on line to

get my American visa. I

was so ready and I

couldn’t wait to go on

this adventure. My

friends and my family

back home thought I

was crazy because I

chose Alaska.

“Choosing this place

was the best choice I

have ever made.”

I had the feeling that

Alaska was going to be

breathtaking, and I was

right. Choosing this

place was the best

choice I have ever

made. I remember say-

ing goodbye to them at

6:00 a.m. at the airport. Now it

was time for me to leave and ex-

plore the world by myself.

When I first got at the airport in

Anchorage I couldn’t believe my

eyes. Mountains all over the

place, an amazing view. I was

only in Alaska for less than hour

and I was already in love of it.

After waiting for hours for this

little airplane that was going to

take me to my destination, I had

this feeling that I never had be-

fore until that moment. I was lit-

erally shaking, it was probably

because I was starting to get

nervous.

“ You can do this, Caro.

You can do it!”

The airplane landed, people

were going out and I told my-

self, “You can do this, Caro.

You can do it!” I saw a bunch

of people waiting, they were

all there just to see me and

that made me feel so wel-

come. After that, I was feel-

ing less nervous.

I will never forget my first

meal in Alaska. My mom,

Mya, asked me, “What would

you like for dinner?”

“I got so excited

when I found out

that you had

McDonalds

here…”

Okay, don’t judge

me but guess what

my answer was. It

was McDonald’s,

I got so excited

when I found out

that you had

McDonalds here,

’cause we don’t

have it back home

anymore. Well,

my exchange

year had offi-

cially started

with that.

The first weeks

here I was so quiet and shy

because I didn’t really know

how to speak English and I

was afraid to make mistakes

but then I realized that mak-

ing mistakes while talking is

part of the experience and if I

don’t try how could I even get

better?

After week being in Alaska,

now it was time for me to go

to school. During the year I

made really good friends,

learned more about Alaskan

culture and the language. At

first, it was weird for me to

get used to the new things

such as: having lockers, going

Love letter to the Soldotna Rotary Club from

Bolivian Youth Exchange student Caro Cadario

Soldotna Rotarian Dale Bagley with Youth Exchange Student

Carolina Cadario. Dale says, “Caro and I had a big ping pong

challenge and everyone in the club bet on what the scores

were going to be, kind of like a football pool. She raised $1,000

for a shelter box, which was her project for the year.

14

(Cont’d on p. 14)

(Cont’d from p. 10)

to a different classroom eve-

ry time the bell rang, having

lunch at school, not wearing a

uniform but after being there

a while I got used to those

things faster than I thought

and I felt like I was fitting in.

Being on that school for a

year made me get to know

myself a little bit better. Be-

fore going to Skyview I did-

n’t know I could be good at

playing the guitar, I didn’t

know that I could be a per-

cussionist even though I bare-

ly know how to read notes, I

didn’t know that I was able to

actually lift weights, or I did-

n’t even know how much I

like playing softball, not only

learn about myself but also I

learn about the world around

me.

I did so many things for the

first time in Alaska...

I feel like I have done more

things during this year than I

have ever done in my entire

life. I did so many things for

the first time here in Alaska:

I touched/saw/ate/felt snow.

I went snow machining/

skiing/snowshoeing.

I went dog mushing (thing

that I’ve never

thought I was gonna

do in my life).

I saw glaciers.

I saw bears/moose

I fell into a really really

cold lake.

I went zip-lining

I went ice fishing/I also

caught a halibut.

I saw Northern Lights.

I also got to meet people from all

over the world. People who I am

proud to call my family now.

This family is my exchange stu-

dent friends. We only had three

conferences and the West Coast

Tour together, but that is enough

time to get to know them and

love them so much. It was so

really hard for me to say good-

bye to them.

I also got to have amazing host

families. I had amazing moms,

dads and siblings all over the

year and they all taught me

something. They all treated me

like a part of the family, they

took care of me. They tried to

keep me busy and take me to

places to know more about Alas-

ka. In other words, I’ve been

around amazing people all this

year. I am seriously blessed.

I am so glad I was put on the best

Rotary Club. Without you all, my

year wouldn’t had been the same.

You guys are all amazing people

that made this year the best year o f

my life. I did so many things with

you all over this year that I will nev-

er forget such as: making me laugh

in every meeting, taking me to Ha-

waii, getting my hair cut, taking me

hiking, biking, snowshoeing, flying

and landing on frozen lakes, playing

ping pong for a good cause, picking

me up from school and helping me

through this experience, interviews

on the radio, being on the newspa-

per, helping cleaning the road.

“All of you did something for me.”

I have so many good memories be-

cause of all of you. All of you did

something for me. You made me

have more confidence about myself.

I just wanted to tell you how thank

(Cont’d on p.15)

Alaskan friends gather to say good-bye to Caro.

15

(Con’t from p. 14)

ful I am to have spent this amaz-

ing time with you. No words

can explain how much you all

mean to me, no words can ex-

plain how much I love this

place. Now that I know more

about how its like to live in

Alaska, now that I survived a

winter here and actually enjoyed

it, now that I know more about

myself. I am going to go home

and share to everybody in Boliv-

ia not only how beautiful Alaska

itself is but also how amazing

the people from here are.

“You are not getting rid of this

Bolivian.”

And you are not getting rid of

this Bolivian. I might be leaving

but I will come back. I have it

all planned. I will go back home

and finish school, which will be

in November. I will work for a

year and a half, to get the mon-

ey, get my visa and come to

study here. That’s how much I

love this place.

Even though I am not ready to

leave Alaska, I must leave but I

will be back with more .

To the best Rotary Club ever.

Love, Caro

Carolina Cadario was a 2012-

13 Youth Exchange student

from Bolivia. She was spon-

sored by the Rotary Club of

Soldotna

Mike’s

Musings on the August issue of

The Rotarian Magazine and

other things Rotarian

Well, it’s the end of August and there’s a nip in the air.

Soon the tree branches will be stripped bare.

The geese and the cranes sense it too

As they’ve started their exodus right on cue.

This month’s Rotarian features a gentleman Hoosier:

Former Indiana Senator Dick Lugar.

A Rotarian for fifty-five years now,

He’s accomplished so much you wonder how.

Eagle Scout, Rhodes Scholar, and Navy Ensign,

Mayor, Senator and Humanitarian.

Long term Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations,

The Nunn-Lugar Act dismantled thousands

of nuclear weapons.

Revered and respected on both sides of the aisle

Non-partisan compromise characterized his style.

Known as someone who could get things done,

He did it by getting along with most everyone.

Admired by Presidents and Knighted by the Queen,

He got lots accomplished working behind the scene.

Throughout his career, above all else,

He was totally committed to Service Above Self.

As for the birds going south, I’ve said it before,

But it’s so profound I’ll say it once more.

It doesn’t really bother me that they do.

I just really wish that I could go, too.

Rotary Bard Mike Ferguson is a member

of the Rotary Club of Fairbanks

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Wasilla Rotary to

sponsor jewelry

sale for Syrian

refugee school

in Lebanon

Sept 27-28

Solace, a grassroots international

aid group with Alaskan roots, is

coming to the Mat-Su area to raise

funds for its Syrian Refugee School

in Lebanon. The weekend of Sep-

tember 27-28 will feature the 3rd

Annual Gallery Gala at the Town

Square Art Gallery in the Carrs

Mall, hosted by Wasilla Rotary.

You’ll find a fascinating collection

of hand-crafted, estate-quality jew-

elry, textiles and crafts produced

within the principles of Fair Trade

with a focus on sustainability.

Solace International’s Executive

Director, Nate York, will speak to

the Wasilla Rotary Club Wednes-

day noon, September 15. He is a

former Alaskan who now travels

the globe building schools and

working to create sustainable pro-

jects. Each year, he comes to Alas-

ka to meet with Solace’s Alaskan-

based board of directors and to sell

cottage industry crafts at local fund-

raisers.

Call Janet St. George at 376-0123.

for details.

...Teresa Blume, Wasilla Rotary

Schedule of Events Wednesday, Sept. 25 Noon. Nate York shares his inspirational

stories with Wasilla Rotary at The Grill

Friday, Sept. 27, 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Town Square Art Gallery -

Jewelry Sale and Rotary Fellowship

Saturday, Sept. 28 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Town Square Art

Gallery - Jewelry & handicrafts sale

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