My year as president is coming to an end. I’d like to say it flew by but, in reality, there was a lot to this year. We participated in dozens of community service projects. We held 9 club social events. We welcomed 5 new members. We shifted our meeting location at Las Positas College twice before finding a great spot in the Horticulture Center. We held the Crab Grab fundraiser, the Community Shredding event, the community Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling event and of course, our 3rd Annual Chili Cook Off fundraiser. We raised over $27K to support our community.
On a sad note, we lost our long time friend and member, Kevin Drake. To honor Kevin, our club has established a scholarship in his name through the Pedrozzi Foundation. This month we were even able to award the first scholarship to Emma Dawson, a deserving Livermore student. The Kevin Drake Scholarship will eventually provide 4- $1000 grants each year. Kevin would have been so proud of this.
I joined Rotary at the end of 2019. I didn’t know what Rotary was or what they did, but my friend Bill Stevens thought I would be a great Rotarian. I can honestly say I have gotten out as much as I have put in. I have personally grown through this year and am proud to be a part of this club.
We have a sincere love for each other. Our common thread is to share our time and resources to make our community and the world a better place. I have been told jokingly, the best position in the club is “Past President.” I intend to fully enjoy this next chapter of my Rotary journey and continue to serve where I can.
I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the members of our club for your support, wisdom, guidance, mentorship and yes, some grief. It was a great recipe for a wonderful year and I will treasure the memories for a lifetime.
We meet Tuesday mornings, gathering at 8:00 and ringing the bell to start the meeting at 8:15 AM.
Meetings are in person at Las Positas College, 3000 Campus Hill Drive, Livermore, in Building 3300, the new Horticulture Center. Parking is in Lot J.
JOINING THE RODEO PARADE!
Our President Sherri Simoni joined other Livermore Rotarians in the Annual Rodeo Parade on June 8. Members of our club joined recipients of Rotarian Foundation of Livermore (RFL) Community Grant Awards to showcase the charitable work of RFL. The RFL is the nonprofit organization shared by the Rotary Clubs of Livermore Valley (the morning club) and Livermore (the noon club). We are so grateful to have been able to invest over $206,000 in the Livermore community this year.
KEVIN DRAKE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED TO EMMA DAWSON
Graduating Livermore High School senior Emma Dawson is the first recipient of the Kevin Drake Scholarship, awarded as one of the 2024 Pedrozzi Foundation Scholarships. Emma is an outstanding student with the character that Kevin Drake sought to develop in young people. She is an ideal recipient for this award.
Emma was a four-year member of the LHS Varsity Dance team, including two years as Captain. She volunteered in a 2nd grade Dual Immersion Class initially to improve her Spanish, but she gained so much more, sharing, "Being involved with the class and getting to meet and engage with the students not only brought me so much joy, it brought me a new sense of cultural understanding."
Emma also served as a Culture Keeper at the LHS Wellness Center. "As a Culture Keeper, it's my responsibility to create an intentional culture on school campus that is a safe space for students, while advocating for mental health and providing peer counseling. My contribution to the Wellness Center itself is incorporating music therapy into the space that is designed to help students emotionally regulate and care for their minds in difficult times."
During her time as a Culture Keeper, Emma was also very involved in creating Social Emotional Learning (SEL) mini-lesson videos that were shared with students throughout the year. Many of the themes were aligned with Choose Love elements, a program that Kevin was so passionate about.
Emma will be attending University of Oregon and plans to major in Psychology.
Please consider donating to help endow the Kevin Drake Scholarshp so that 4-year scholarships can be awarded each year, in perpetuity. The Community Health and Education Fund, CHEF, is extending the offer to match every $2 donated with another $1, to help our donations count even more. All donations are fully tax deductible.
We were proud to award over $9,000 in grants to support our community during our Spring Grant Program. Thanks to the generosity of our sponosrs and the funds raised at our Annual Chili Cook Off, we have awarded over $15,000 in grants in 2023-24. Thanks also to the Livermore Valley Education Foundation (LVEF) for continuing to partner with us to share grant awards that benefit our schools.
CELEBRATING OUTSTANDING STUDENTS AT GRANADA HIGH SCHOOL
MAY STUDENT OF THE MONTH
We enjoyed meeting Miguel Duenas, whose success in high school shows his dedication to discipline and his passion for fun. With a GPA of 4.15, Miguel demonstrates his commitment to excellence in his academic pursuits. As the Granada High School rally commissioner, he showcases his leadership skills by planning and executing the school rallies. He is also a member of the Tech Deck Club.
Miguel also devotes his time to serving his community. As a Young Life group leader and science camp leader, he inspires and mentors others, showcasing his compassion and commitment to making a difference.
Miguel's philosophy is one of balance and order. While he thrives on structure and control, he understands the importance of enjoying life's simple pleasures. His disciplined regimen provides him with the freedom to pursue his true passions – going to the gym, playing guitar, spending time with friends and family – all while staying focused on his goals.
Below: Miguel with his Rotary Student of the Month sign and his guitar.
JUNE STUDENT OF THE MONTH
We were all excited to meet Parker Warner, an outstanding student and a star athlete. Parker has earned a GPA of 4.2 while taking on challenging courses such as IB Psychology, AP US History, AP Environmental Studies, and AP Statistics. He is also a star player on the Granada Baseball Team, helping the team win the 2024 NorCal Baseball Division 1 title for the first time in GHS history.
As a baseball player, Parker embodies the spirit of perseverance and hard work, always striving to be the best version of himself. This year as the Granada High School pitcher and outfielder he led the Granada Matadors to win the EBAL championship, the North Coast Section championship, and the 2024 CIF NorCal Baseball Division I Championships. The team finished the season with an incredible 32-1 record. And Parker gladly took the time to sign baseballs of the Little Leaguers who looked up to him.
In addition to his academic pursuits and athletic endeavors, Parker is actively involved in clubs and extracurricular activities. He approaches each endeavor with the same unwavering determination and work ethic.
Parker will be attending Stanford University in the fall and playing baseball while studying Business Management and Science & Engineering.
Pictured below: Mr & Mrs Warner, Parker Warner, Sherri Simoni, Principal Clark Conover
Rotarians and guests are invited to say "thank you" to outgoing District Governor Hung Wei, and "welcome" to incoming District Governor Jill Duerig at the 2024 Roast & Toast event on Saturday, July 13 from 11:00 am - 1:30 pm. We are so proud to be the home club of our District Governor! We are looking forward to working together to make this coming year Rotary's best yet!
Pictured below: 2024-25 District Governor Jill Duerig
We are already busy planning for the 4th Annual Chili Cook Off, anticipating that this year will be our biggest event yet!
The Chili Cook Off at Carnegie Park is the major fundraiser for the Rotary Club of Livermore Valley and it is a community festival of food, music, activities, booth vendors, and, of course, the best chili in town. Carnegie Park comes alive with fun for people of all ages!
The event takes place on Saturday, October 5, 2024 from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. Admission to the event is free and allows access to all of the booths and activities.
We invite local chili cooks, artisans, merchants, brewers, wineries, food trucks, bands, and nonprofit organizations to secure a spot in Carnegie Park on October 5, 2024. Please email livermorevalleyrotaryclub@gmail.com if you are interested in having a space at the event.
SAVE THE DATES!
Remember to check out the upcoming events listed on our website and in the ClubRunner mobile app. Events listings include everything you need to know including a Google Maps link! Click on the date's hyperlink for more information.
SAVE THE DATES!
