The Fremont Club Experience

May 25, 2010

Join us Tuesdays, 12:15 p.m., at Hugo's Cellar inside The Four Queens Hotel & Casino, 202 E Fremont St, Las  Vegas, NV.

Las Vegas Skyline and Rotary Title
A New Home in Tecate, Mexico
 
Dear  : 2010 ryla kids 
 
The trip to Tecate, Mexico on May 15, 2010, by LV Fremont Rotarians was far more than just building a new home!  For Rotarians Steve Reiter, Past President Drew Levy & wife Debbie, Pres Elect Linda Bertuzzi, Rob Goldstein, Robin Smith and twin brother Robert, it was an opportunity to be a part of a family's long journey to a brighter future.
 

In partnership with Corazon, a California non-profit, Rotary District 5300 raised funds and provided over 100 volunteers to build THREE homes in one day.  Corazon's "Comunidad" program is not a handout to the poor.  The families go through a long selection process after being nominated by neighbors or the Mayor of their village.  Once selected, the family must complete 2000 hours of community service, working alongside neighbors to make their village a better place to live.  The families also complete mandatory counseling classes, including domestic violence prevention, along with job training if needed. The children MUST remain in school, and maintain a C average.  The majority of adults have less than a 9th grade education due to lack of resources to pay for high school.  Part of the funds raised for the home build include scholarships for the minor children to complete their educaiton. 

Upon arrival by the 35-40 volunteers to the build site, we found the foundation, completed 6 weeks prior to our arrival, and basic building supplies stacked nearby.  The family, as part of the program, is responsible for building the foundation with the aid of other community laborers, some also working towards their own home.  The site was primitive - no running water, a small shack with a lone commode and cloth curtain for privacy, and one gas generator for power.

It seemed like organized chaos for the first hour - each volunteer finding their "niche" in the building process.  Steve manned the only power tool station, carefully measuring & cutting the wood for assembly of the frame, roof trusses & siding.  Robin  created a beautiful tiled kitchen counter, from start to finish.   There is no pre-fab for any of the house - it is built stick by stick, nail by nail, hand in hand, with volunteers from Corazon & District 5300.   Drew, Debbie, Rob, Robert & Linda helped with painting, building  walls & trusses, carrying & placing the walls, and ultimately, Rob, Drew & Robin were on the roof nailing each shingle into place. 

Our family, Alejandro & Irma, along with their 3 teen daughters, prepared an appreciation luncheon of fresh corn tortillas, chicken tamales, salsas, frijoles, arroz, and a cactus salad were served along side their traditional beverages.  It was incredible!!!!
 
At the end of the "build" a very grateful family accepted keys to their new home - the end of a long journey to home ownership and the beginning of a new future for their family.
 

The personal satisfaction of helping a family of 5, not for a day, but a lifetime, cannot be explained but should be experienced.  I wonder what the 3 young ladies will do in their lifetimes because of Rotarians like you & me touching their lives.

Steven Reiter, Las Vegas Fremont Club International Chair 

 2010 ryla kids    2010 ryla kids
2010 ryla kids    2010 ryla kids

Last Week's Program - Raymond E Foster

Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years.Raymond E Foster  He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant.  Raymond is currently a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and the Union Institute and University.  He has experience teaching upper division courses in law enforcement, public policy, technology and leadership.  Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. 

His presentation to our Club focused on how the ignorance of the language and capabilities of Internet-based tools creates a situation where today's leader cannot see how their organization's website can be fully integrated into their current organizational practices or integrated into their vision of the future. With the right information, an organization can learn to build a web presence that will convey vision, values and mission to the public, as well as creating a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) that will promote your organizations strengths and drive potential clients to your site.  By simply "claiming" your business icon on Google, you will be one step closer to driving Internet searches & client loyalty directly to you.  Raymond teaches an entire course on this subject.  To learn more about his training course for the web and his leadership books, such as "Leadership: Texas Hold 'em Style", visit his website at HiTech Criminal Justice

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  Upcoming Programs & Events 
  
 
May 25 - Amie Jo Greer, Founder of "Corner4Success"
June 1 - Board Meeting - all members welcome
June 1 - Ken Swanson, Boy Scouts of America
June 8 - we are dark for District Conference 
June 10-13 District Conference, Green Valley Ranch
 Register at www.district5300.org
 
Bring a guest to these events - introduce them to Rotary!
Committee Reports   
 
 Agassi B&G Club Birthday Bash
 
Thank you to Past President Gary Prater for stepping up to be May's Captain for the Birthday Bash.  A great time was had by all.  Make sure you contact Rob Goldstein, [email protected],  if you are interested in attending.  ALWAYS a great Rotary moment!
 
 Polio Plus
 
A check for $2,000 was presented for the Polio Plus campaign Tuesday to District Governor, Tom Novotny, from funds raised during sale of squares for The Big Game in January.  Thank you to all of the members who participated in this event.  These funds will be combined with others raised by Rotarians around the world to eradicate Polio, one child at a time.  Rotary has been part of this immunization program for more than 20 years, sparing nearly 5,000,000 children from a lifetime of paralysis.  The are only four countries remaining that Rotary is striving to make Polio-free - Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan.
 
For more information go to:    End Polio Now          
End Polio Now 
If you would like to be involved with our Club's Polio Plus campaign, contact
Greg Clemens at [email protected]

To our members:

Articles are due by the end of business each Thursday.  If you send articles, please make sure they are word format, and all pictures must be jpeg format.  Thank you for all of you who take the time to contribute - this is your newsletter and we need your hellp.
Volume 1, Issue 31
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In This Week's Newsletter
Special Club Information
Programs
Committee Reports

  Club Leadership

President
Roy M. York
President Elect
Linda Bertuzzi
President Elect Elect
Dulcinea Almazan
Secretary
Mike Clayson
Treasurer
Al Guida, Jr.
Public Relations
Dulcinea Almazan
International/Comm.
Steve Reiter
Membership
Linda Bertuzzi
Fundraising/Polio
Greg Clemens
Foundation
Drew Levy
Projects
Rob Goldstein
Administration
Marilene Nevins
Past President
Laura Fitzpatrick
 
 
 

Birthdays & Anniversaries

 
No one in May?
 
If we have missed your special event, let us know
 

  Meeting Captain

 
Paul Bell
May 25
 
Roger Tabor
June 1
 
DARK
June 8
 
Dulcinea Almazan
June 15
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Fremont Club Editor
Las Vegas Fremont Rotary Club