Events

Sandra James, Founder and CEO of Private Eyes, was selected in December 2021 by producers of the television show "World's Greatest!" aired on Bloomberg TV, to be a part of their popular television series.

At Private Eyes, we make a safe workplace possible by providing high quality background checks to our clients across the nation fast!  We are a trusted background screening partner for clients in all 50 states with access to information in over 200 countries, and over 22 years of innovation and customer satisfaction.  In today's environment, background checks on prospective employees have become an imperative norm rather than an exception.  Private Eyes is one of the most trusted background check services in our industry.

Sandra will discuss why it is important to know who you are hiring and some best practices that can support you during the process.

(Beyond background screening, Private Eyes also offers income verifications, designed to streamline your loan approval rates.  In 2010 Sandra expanded and added the subsidiary 4506-Transcripts.com to meet the need for banks and financial institutions to verify income for borrowers through the IRS.)

Cozy up to the fireside with Past President Andy McInnes as he talks about the ideals and traditions of Rotary; including Being, Belonging, and Benevolence.
Andy was president of the Rotary Club of Sparks from 2010-2011, and as we all know - "Dam Proud" to be!

Bailey Ivory is the co-chair of the RYLA Alumni Action Committee for 5180/5190.  This upcoming RYLA 2023, they will be improving their bike beneficiary process.  Bailey will discuss the new and improved bike program that aims at strengthening the relationship between the individual clubs and the RYLA program; through fostering the relationship between the club sponsoring the child receiving the bike, and the community partnerships.  

Established in 2001, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.  Their mentoring program is backed by 111 years of experience, proven success and positive outcomes.  By pairing youth with caring adult mentors, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada contributes to brighter futures, better schools and stronger communties for all.
Derek became the organizations Chief Executive Officer in 2018.  He was selected from more than 300 applicants after spending most of his professional life with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bend Oregon.  Derek will speak to us about who BBBSNNV serves, and their program options.

. . . . . EVENT is now SOLD OUT . . . . .
Thank you to everyone who RSVP!

Holiday Party &
Gingerbread Decorating Contest
Winning House & check presented to N. NV Children's Cancer Foundation

Wednesday, December 14
11:30 - 1:30
$25.00
Holiday Buffet & no-host Bar

Note-Able's Musical Performance & Holiday Marketplace begin at 11:30

$10,000 Mad Money Raffle Drawing!

For questions please contact Sally Oliver - kandsoliver@gmailcom

Ryan Doetch is the Principal at Lloyd Diedrichsen Elementary, the 2013 Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Mathematics, the 2012 PBIS National Innovative Teacher of the Year, Author/Consultant of 14 books for the Bureau of Education and Research, and an educator for over 26 years.  Ryan is known around the world as an exemplary teacher of elementary students.  In his free time, Ryan trains teachers, interventionists, curriculum specialists, and administrators from around the world on the best, practical ideas for making instruction successful for all learners.  Ryan will be speaking to us about his work in refeshing Diedrichsen and his journey in improving education.

NEWS FLASH!  Hidden Valley Country Club will be remodelling their banquet room in January, so we will temporarily move to the Reno Elks Lodge for the month.  The Reno Elks Lodge is located at 597 Kumle Lane, Reno 89509.  Kumle Lane is off Virginia Street, across from the Reno/Sparks Convention Center and behind Les Schwab Tires.  They are easy to get to, plenty of parking and no steps.  A buffet lunch will be catered by Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que.  See you there.  Happy New Year!  

SPECIAL NOTICE:
We are meeting at the RENO ELKS LODGE this month
597 Kumle Lane, Reno, 89509
Buffet lunch included

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  We are pleased to have City of Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson as our first speaker of 2023!  Come learn about the City of Sparks highlights and year in review!

Please remember to meet at the Elks Club this month!
Sara Sharkey and Christie Fernquest are the 2023 presidents of Sierra Nevada Realtors, formerly Reno/Sparks Association of Realtors.  Sierra Nevada Realtors is committed to the best practices in the residential real estate sales industry.  Sara and Christie will be joined by April LaBrie, CEO, who works with the Board of Directors to manage and steer the association.  They will be talking about the restructuring of the association, and the representation of all six counties.  It's a new year and a new association, united we're stronger!

REMINDER TO MEET AT THE ELKS CLUB:
Carly Norton is the Recycling Education Representative for Waste Management.  Carly will cover residential services, changes in the recycling industry and recycling guidelines in Northern Nevada.  Carly will explain how recycling goes from curbside, to the sorting facility and then to market.  We will learn why Waste Management doesn't actually "recycle", but "diverts" material for manufacturers to recycle with the cooperation of participants.  

REMINDER:  We meet at ELKS CLUB this week!
Years ago Ken attended the intense and incredibly challenging RYLA program in northern Nevada for high school students.  His father, Lee, was a past president of our club in 1990.  Ken now owns a successful Reno computer repair and consulting company, that strives to focus on people rather than technology.  Ken will speak to us about common safety risks online, his approach to talking to clients about computer problems, and being in charge of our digital life!

Since 2010 Kyle has been teaching natural building - adobe, cob and straw bale - across the U.S. and in Mexico.  Last summer Kyle was contacted by a woman from Kenya who is interested in learning the techniques in hope that they will influence local building practices.  On February 18, Kyle and a co-teacher will travel to her village in Kenya for five weeks to lead a build of a complete cabin from the foundation to the roof.  This service trip is being conducted through their 501c3 nonprofit "Be the Change Project".  Kyle will speak to us about the natural building materials, techniques, advantages, and the Kenyan project.

Arianna was born and raised in Reno, and a third-generation graduate of Reno High.  As a teenager, she discovered her love for journalism while working on the school newspaper.

Arianna graduated from Northwestern University with a major in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in English Literature.  She has been with 2 News since 2010 and anchors on weeknights at 4:00, 4:30, and 7:00, and contributes investigative reporting and special projects to the newscasts.  She is also the executive producer and host of Face the State, an in-depth news program that airs on weekends.

Arianna is a proud recipient of a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, second place nationally in the AP Awards for feature reporting, and an Emmy for her work on our "Best Local Newscast."  She has also been recognized by the Nevada Association of School Boards for "Excellence in Education Reporting."  She loves doing any story that has an impact, but especially those with passionate, interesting people.

Arianna will interview a mystery guest live on Wednesday! 

We will hear from three high school contestants that will speak on the subject:
"How have you Imagined Working Together to better the lives of others, and how did you implement your idea?"

Joe is a retired educator whose 35-year career at the Sierra Nevada Job Corps Center was devoted to training disadvantaged youth from widely diverse backgrounds.  Born in Reno, he graduated from UNR, served for six years in the Nevada Air National Guard, and earned his doctorate at the University of Oregon.  Dr. Reading will speak to us about multicultural awareness and the ability to work with people of different backgrounds and cultures.

This will be a social meeting, weather permitting, where we will have time to visit and enjoy one another's company.  Come hear what Tom has in mind!  It may have something to do with B.E.E.R.! 

Too often in the past, vital information on crimes failed to reach the police because the people who held it feared retaliation or did not want to testify in court.  Secret Witness was created to provide an avenue for community members to provide information on a crime, while remaining anonymous.
Since being established in 1979, Secret Witness has been serving N. Nevada for nearly 42 years.  The organization is 100% supported by donations from the public and are proud to report that each and every dollar goes towards keeping our community safe.  Its success is only possible due to the generosity of reward sponsors and individual donors that provide the money for rewards to a witness if that information leads to the arrest and prosecution of a crime.
In this week's Rotary program, fellow Sparks Rotarian Mike Hix, a long time volunteer member of the Secret Witness Board, will be speaking about the Secret Witness organization, its beginning and examples of its continued success in the Reno Sparks community.

Young Charles and Jennifer CHIA were abducted on October 18, 1989 on their way home from school.  Nine months later, on July 25, 1990, their remains were found in a shallow grave 8 miles west of Portola California.  The Reno Police Department has allowed Allan to continue to work the case in retirement.  Allan will explain the core of the investigation, and lab work needed for evidence discovered, to bring the case to closure.

Brewing Beer from 40 million year old yeast obtained from Baltic Amber.
Chip Lambert is a research Biochemist with a distinguished career concentrating mostly on microbiology and scientific research to develop cures for many human ailments.  He spent most of his time working in the Bay area for biotech firms as a researcher and manager doing medical research.  He has published over 30 papers on medical research ranging from curbing the effects of snake venom to cancer cures to fighting bacterial infection.  Chip also has 11 patents, and a microscopic organism has been named after him.
Perhaps his most unusual project came when he was called upon to prove or disporve an amazing feat where Dr. Raul Cano from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo claimed to have resurrected 45 million year old bacteria and yeast from amber (fossilized tree sap).  Lambert, a skeptic, was surprised that the cells could be revived after such a long rest.  With the help of a skiing friend who owned a brewpub in the Bay area, they utilized this yeast to brew a beer, and founded Fossil Fuels Brewing Company.
Resurrecting these cells from a liquid nitrogen yeast bank, Rich Scott from Great Basin Brewing Company has brewed a barley and wheat beer using this most unique yeast for us to enjoy at this meeting.

Rotary District 5190, Area 8 is proud to have fellow Rotarian Ms. Irene Perbal as our Speaker. Ms. Perbal will present the story of her family’s life in Holland under the Nazi occupation. Ms. Perbal’s firsthand accounts of her family’s efforts to protect the local Jewish community is both poignant and inspiring. Ms. Perbal is a nationally recognized speaker and historian dedicated to preserving the first-hand history of this dark time.

5:30 p.m. Reception – No Host Bar

6:15 p.m. Dinner

Cost: $65/person (Sparks Rotary will pay half for members)

Please sign-up and pay at a weekly club meeting. 

Entree Choices:

Herb Crusted Chicken
Pan Seared Salmon
Mushroom Tortellini

The Music Contest is an annual event held by Sparks Rotary which invites music students to perform in front of our club.  Several members of the club will serve as judges of the performances, and the winner of the contest will go on to compete at the Area Music Contest at Steinway Gallery in Reno on Saturday, April 8.
Each contestant will play a piece that is a minimum of three and maximum of eight minutes in length.  It's a great opportunity to hear some amazing performances by these high school students!

Three talented high school contestants will compete to advance to the District Speech Contest on April 29 at Harrah's Hotel, Lake Tahoe. The theme for the District Speech Contest is: "How have you imagined  working together to better the lives of others, and how did you implement you idea?"

Achievement Beyond Obstacles (ABO Nevada) provides support and scholarships to deserving high school seniors who have triumphed over hardships and demonstrated personal leadership and courage to reach graduation with the goal of attending college or trade school.  We will hear from nine students who will share their stories and plans.

The 104th annual Reno Rodeo is June 15-24 and promises to be a BUCKIN' GOOD TIME!  With over $2,000,000 in winnings at stake, you'll see rip roarin', boot stompin', jaw droppin' PCRA action!  Each year, over 140,000 fans attend.  It's the 4th richest PRCA tour rodeo, and makes a $42,000,000 positive impact on the Reno/Sparks area economy.  George will share with us plans for this year and the future.

Tom Willadsen has been a Rotarian for more than 20 years.  He currently serves Spanish Springs Presbyterian Church as Transitional Pastor.  He is the author of "OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter" and "Gratitude on the Prairie" and a contributing writer to The Immediate Word.  His default setting is "Playful."
Tom has two sons, Peter, a graduate student at the University of Kansas and David, a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Tom will speak to us about Lessons in Laughter.

REMINDER to those who did RSVP:
Louis' Basque Corner - Dinner, Meeting, and Social

5:00 - 5:45 p.m. - No host drinks
6:00 p.m. - Dinner

Traditional Basque family style meal includes:
Soup of the day, French bread, Basque beans, Salad, French Fries, First Course, Main Entree, Dessert and a glass of house wine.

Main Entree choices:
Sweetbreads, Top Sirloin Steak, Shrimp in white wine sauce and capers, or Roast Leg of Lamb.

$40 includes tax & tip
Please pay Mike Hix at the restaurant

David was born in Reno, graduated from Wooster High School and attended Truckee Meadows Community College.  He began skiing at age 3 at Ski Tavern, and started skiing professionally at age 18.  He followed in his father's footsteps as a ski racer, but then turned to freestyle skiing when he was 11.  David became the first Olympic champion in men's ski halfpipe when the sport debuted on the Olympic program in 2014.  He won the Gold in Sochi in 2014, Gold in PyeongChang in 2018, and Silver in Beijing in 2022.
David is also an author, professional hunter, guide and outdoorsman.
David has more titles to his name than he could have ever dreamed of, a result of setting impossible goals.
David will speak to us about mental toughness and overcoming adversity in all aspects of life.
Go to mrdavidwise.com to learn more.