PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
 
Goodbye January, Hello February!
 
February brings hope for spring, a longing for love and the chance to say goodbye to the short cold days of winter that weigh on our hearts. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and is a symbol of love we collectively embrace. Who doesn’t love Valentine's Day? Rotarians embrace love and it’s part of our DNA. Almost everything we do has an element of love. We love the community, we love people, we love family and we love friends. The “Choose Love” articles in the Grapevine are a constant reminder of the love we share in the club and an initiative that is making a difference in the community. In conclusion – go love on somebody.
 
February is Black History Month when we celebrate the achievement and contributions of African Americans. Our club honors diversity and I encourage members to join in the celebration. Take the time to watch a T.V. show, read articles in print materials or online that celebrate these achievements. Locally, the African-American Body of Laboratory Employees (ABLE) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory celebrate achievements in STEM. Let’s show some love for Black History Month.
 
February is the shortest month and this will be the shortest President’s message. “Go Love on Somebody!”
 
Kevin McCallum
 
Upcoming Meeting Programs
Feb 07, 2023
Josh Jonas
Feb 14, 2023
Wolfgang Stoeffl
Feb 21, 2023
Wolfgang Stoeffl
Feb 28, 2023
Tony Green
Mar 07, 2023
Jeff Ribera
View entire list
THE GRAPEVINE
 
Club members receive The Grapevine following each Tuesday meeting. Please reach out to Kevin Drake if you would like to receive a copy in your inbox.
MEETING DETAILS
 
We meet Tuesday mornings. This month we are trying out new meeting locations, so it's very important to 
check your email on Saturday mornings for information from Kevin.
News and Upcoming Events
NEW MEETING LOCATIONS THIS MONTH!
 
Tuesday, February 7 we will meet in the Faculty Dining Room, Building 1600 (Student Services & Administration), at Las Positas College, 3000 Campus Hill Drive. We will gather at 8:00 and begin the meeting at 8:15 am. This will be a special meeting so that we can try out the cafe at Las Positas, which opens at 7:30 for coffee and 8:00 for breakfast items. We have designated free parking in Lot C, in the two rows closest to Campus Loop Rd.
 
Tuesdays, February 14 & 21 we will meet in the Farmhouse Theater at Crosswinds Church, 1660 Freisman Rd, Livermore. We will gather at our usual time of 7:00 and start the meeting at 7:15.
 
In response to our members' requests for a larger meeting space, we are exploring options this month! Please mark your calendar and double check our website and your weekly email from President Kevin to be sure you know where to head out Tuesday mornings.
 
We will continue with a hybrid option, but encourage everyone to visit our venue possibilities in person so that you can assess their features. We will choose a new location after trying out Las Positas College and Crosswinds Church this month.
SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY
OVER $6,000 AWARDED IN GRANTS
 
Our club was proud to invest over $6,000 in our community through our Fall Grant Program. We welcomed the award recipients to our January 17th meeting and enjoyed hearing about their work. Congratulations to:
  • Culinary Angels
  • La Familia 
  • Partners for Change
  • Sleep in Heavenly Peace
  • SPARC - Shakespeare's Associates
  • Teen Esteem
Thanks to our Club Grant Chair, Sarah Palmer, for her leadership. And thanks to our sponsors and club members for pitching in at the Chili Cook Off to raise the money we are able to share to serve our community!
CELEBRATING THE STUDENT OF THE MONTH
 
Granada Principal Clark Conover introduced us to Dheeraj Gurusamy at our January 17th meeting. Dheeraj is Captain of the Granada High School Cross Country Team and leads his teammates by running a 4 minute, 15 second mile! His leadership helped motivate his team members to achieve excellence this season, earning the East Bay Athletic League (EBAL) and the North Coast Section (NCS) Championship titles. The team ranked second in the California State Finals, and earned national honors as #16 in the Nike National Invitational competition. 
 
In addition to his leadership on the Cross Country team, Dheeraj excels academically, earning Top Scholar honors while pursuing a rigorous courseload of Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors courses.  Also a musician, Dheeraj has played piano for ten years and enjoys playing the bass. He also has fun on the badminton court.
 
Pictured below: Dheeraj, with the congratulatory sign placed in his front yard by our Youth Services Director, Suzanne Richerson. Yes, he's holding the shoes that help him fly cross country!
 
Student of the Month Dheeraj
 
CLUB MEMBERS EARN PAUL HARRIS AWARDS
 
Thank you to our club members whose donations to Rotary International have earned them Paul Harris Awards! Members who donate $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation receive a pin and earn the honor of being designated a Paul Harris Fellow, named after the man who founded Rotary in 1905. For subsequent donations, members receive pins embellished with small stones to indicate the number of $1,000 donations made in their name. Congratulations to Graham Scott who recently earned Paul Harris 2, to Jeff Bickerton and Philomena Rambo for Paul Harris 3, and to George Wineinger for earning his Paul Harris 6 designation.
 
Donating to the Rotary Foundation supports Rotary's global service projects that eradicate polio, promote peace, and improve developing countries.
 
George Wineinger, our Rotary Foundation Club Administrator, encourages us all to donate annually to The Rotary Foundation. When every club member donates at least $25, we earn the honor of joining the Every Rotarian Every Year Club Honor Roll.
SAVE THE DATES!
 
Remember to check out the upcoming events listed on our website and in your ClubRunner mobile app. Events listings include everything you need to know including a Google Maps link! Here's a partial list of upcoming events:
  • March 3 - Crab Feed hosted by the Rotary Club of Livermore
  • March 19 - District 5170 Celebrates International Women's Day
  • March 25 - Kids Against Hunger Area 4 Packing Event
  • March 20-30 - 3rd Grade Gift of Reading Book Distribution
  • April 23 - Community Shredding Event: Shred the Past, Look to the Future
  • April 29 - District 5170 Annual Conference
 
 
 
 
CALIFORNIA WATER SERVICE
                                                
Cal Water LogoCalifornia Water Service (Cal Water) Livermore District was formed in 1927 and serves over 17,900 customer connections in our Livermore system and an additional 25 customer connections along the Tesla and Greenville corridor. 
 
Cal Water utilizes a combination of local groundwater pumped from 12 wells and surface water purchased from Alameda County, Zone 7 Water Agency. The purchased surface water enters the distribution system via 9 connections with Zone 7.
 
Cal Water works closely with the public towards a ZERO WATER LOSS INITIATIVE. Currently, the company is utilizing a contracting firm to locate leaks in the distribution system that may not have come to surface. Current findings and corrections this year may total a savings of over 100 million gallons this year.
 
Cal Water is diligent in working with local officials and utilities to ensure a safe, reliable supply of water including notifications to joint utilities of potential problems to their respective assets (Power/Communications, Sewer, Storm drains) during natural disasters or excessive weather conditions.
 
Cal Water utility workers are proud to assist this community and maintain a healthy ecosystem and environment for generations.
 
Our club thanks Cal Water for its longtime and generous sponsorship of the Rotary Club of Livermore Valley. For more information on Cal Water, please visit the website: calwater.com.
FREMONT BANK
 
Fremont Bank logo
Fremont Bank provides personal and commercial banking, mortgage lending, and wealth management products and services partnered with a best-in-class digital experience. As the only locally owned, independent bank in the Bay Area, Fremont Bank has been invested in the long-term prosperity of their clients and our community for over half a century.
 
To learn more about how Fremont Bank can serve your needs, please visit fremontbank.com.
GEORGE DUARTE, HORIZON FINANCIAL
 
Horizon Financial Logo
eorge L. Duarte, MBA, CMC, is the Broker/Owner of Wentworth Enterprises, Inc., the parent company of Horizon Financial Associates and Elite Real Estate Properties. He has had his Broker’s license since 1992, and has worked in mortgage loan origination since 1986. George serves his clients and our local community with a wide variety of mortgage product solutions, particularly Reverse Mortgages for seniors, loans for self employed people, those with impaired credit, first time buyers and Veterans.
 
Visit Horizon Financial online at horizonfinance.com or georgeduarte.com or contact George directly at georgelduarte@gmail.com.