Welcome back to the start of a new Rotary Program year. This year, like every new program year, presents us with challenges and opportunities which we will approach with anticipation and excitement. Some of the challenges may actually be opportunities. While the Covid virus has caused RI to temporarily suspend the polio virus eradication program just when we were about to cross the finish line, the opportunity to find an innovative way to reach that finish line may present itself. We are, after all, the masters of solving public health problems like polio, and safe drinking water, and sanitary sewage facilities, so it would be only natural that we come up with a way to make this the year that we eradicate polio, as RI has predicted.

And to those who despair at the state of international relations, which we worried about before the Covid virus grabbed all the headlines, they should and perhaps will, look to RI for help. It was RI we should remember that took the lead in the formation of the United Nations, with the goal of fostering world peace and understanding, after the devastation of the great depression, followed by World War II.

Our local economy is recovering slowly, but our local schools still face an enormous problem. Our club’s childhood literacy programs can help, but can we do more? In households where all parents work, how will they deal with a portion or all the week with distant (i.e. at home) learning keeping kids at home?

We are all energetic, resourceful, and innovative people. We joined Rotary, and Rotary accepted us, because we are leaders in our community who want to serve. Our roadmap for that service is laid out in detail in the four points described in “The Object of Rotary” and in the easier to memorize, “The Four-Way Test”. Our highly successful Santa Clothes program has demonstrated that when we partner with other Rotary clubs here in the Valley, we can accomplish extraordinary service above self. We will look for more opportunities to do just that in the coming program year.

With so many challenges and opportunities ahead of us for the coming year, I have to wonder where our new RI President Holger Knaack got his inside information that caused him to pick as his theme for this year, “Rotary Opens Opportunities” for all of its members and all who we serve? It will be a privilege to serve our club’s members as your club president in this exciting year. No one has been shy about telling me what I should or should not do as club president. Please keep it up, it is your club. I cannot promise to make everyone happy, but I do promise to listen.

Richard Jost
President
Las Vegas Rotary Club

Las Vegas Rotary Club Meeting: June 18, 2020

• President Jacqueline Thornhill  called  the  first  live  meeting  since  COVID  Stay At Home directive to order.   Dr. Kathy Mahon gave the invocation. Judith Pinkerton, with a little help from Freddy Mercury, led the club in ‘We Will Rock You’ and ‘We Are The Champions’ honoring the spirit and effort of President Jackie in keeping the ball rolling, COVID-19 or not, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.  President Jackie led the Club in her final role of The Four Way Test.  The Sergeant at Arms was Kim Nyoni.
• President Jackie encouraged members to share the live stream of our meeting on social media;  President Jackie announced an avenue of contribution to the Club through Amazon purchases, with our contribution amount in excess of $870; a possibility of a Zone 26/27 Reunion in Palms Springs – stayed tuned for updates; the highway clean-up scheduled for 6/20, followed by brunch at the home of Jerry Sennes – RSVP required; and per PP Jim Hunt, 30 wheelchairs have been donated, so anyone knowing of someone in need, get in touch with PP Jim Hunt; and President Jackie advised RYLA, cancelled for 2020, is also cancelled for 2021 .
• PP Jim Kohl made a special presentation on behalf of Howard & Howard and the LV Rotary Foundation of a check in the sum of $5,000 to PP David Thorson for the USO; 
• Melanie Muldowney made a special Paul Harris presentation to Pete Samuolis +3, Toni Kern +3 and President Jacqueline Thornhill +4 and Bequest Society Member, noting the Foundation matching funds drive is still in effect through June 30th;
• President Jackie awarded Rotarians of the Month for the months of March, April and May to the ‘all things technical guys’ ‘Captain’ Kirk Holmes and Stu Lipoff for all their work keeping the Club moving in spite of the COVID obstacles; Major Randy Kinnamon presented the Club with the new Food Drive Trophy for winning in 2019, the 14th time over the Kiwanians since 2007 the last time the Kiwanis Club won; President Jackie thanked the 25 Club for their work in providing $2,005 to Destiny’s Rescue, an organization saving young people from the world of sex trafficking in Thailand; Toni Kern reported a successful New Member Orientation on 6/16 for 3 members Adrick Akoopie, Bhavan Singh and Inga Almquist with her personal pinning and Certificate Presentation by Paul Maffey; PP Jim Kohl announced JC Penney, our original source of clothing for kids for Santa Clothes, lacks inventory needed for the ‘Summer’ Santa Clothes Project 150 reaching out for contacts/sources for inventory (bulk purchases) from retailers like Kohls, Walmart, etc.
• PP/AG Michael Gordon introduced our program speaker, M.J. Maynard, CEO of the RTC.  The magnitude and scope of her agency’s responsibility was described, including mobility  plan,  traffic  management,  roadway  design  and  construction  funding,  bike crossings, among others and is the only agency under one roof with all these different areas.  She announced the 225 identified projects were completed, many of which were intended  to  reduce  congestion.  She  discussed  the  significant  impact,  financially  and otherwise, from COVID-19 as a result of reduced driving and reduction of traffic.  She explained the use of live feed on traffic management, that RTC is the 12th busiest bus system in the US, and details of the On Board plan for the future, with the 8 strategies for growth.
• President Jackie presented our speaker with a “Share What You Can” award to benefit the local USO and adjourned the final meeting of her Rotary Year.