Events

...Event SOLD OUT...
Tuesday, September 12, 12:00 p.m. we meet at Robin's hangar at Reno-Stead Airport.  Enjoy a catered sit-down Mexican food lunch and program by rotarian Tom Hall, esq. on "Pathways to Aviation".  Tour the "pits" and experience the pilots, planes and crews up close.  Roam amongst the incredible aircraft to see what goes on behind-the-scenes as they prepare to race.
Robin has arranged for a "people mover" to meet us at Gate 180 entrance to take us to her hangar.  No steps or walking required.  Plus, the hangar is equipped with all conveniences, including a lavatory.
Mark your calenders - TUESDAY, September 12.  This is the final year for the National Championship Air Races at Reno-Stead Airport, the world's fastest motorsport.  Don't miss it!
Reservations Required to get Wristband Pit Pass for entrance.  RSVP to Sally Oliver by August 28.

Alicia Barber, Ph.D. is an award-winning writer, historian, and founder of the historical consulting firm Stories In Place.  Specializing in the cultural history and built environment of Nevada and the American West, she writes and speaks about the intersections of public memory, cultural landscapes, and community identity, and collarborates frequently with government agencies, museums, architects, and community groups to create dynamic public history projects about Nevada and its people.  Alicia will speak to us about the 4th STREET-PRATER WAY CORRIDOR.

Members Jeff, Jim, Richard, Andy and Diana will speak to us about their approved service projects.  Bring your calendars!  Let's support their projects with help through service and leadership!  WE ARE "People of Action"!

Mike will be joined by Christina Erny, VP of Marketing, and Art Jimenez, Executive Director of Tourism, to speak about the direction and implementation of RSCVA's plans, programs, goals and objectives in the convention and lesiure marketplace.  We will also learn how RSCVA was formed, facilities owned, and how revenue is generated and distributed. 

It's our birthday week and we are celebrating!  Come share your stories of the past 75 years.  Larry Harvey is asking that you please bring items such as pictures, or past presidents gifts, that can be displayed at our 75th celebration at the Nugget on Saturday.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY SPARKS ROTARY! 

Mikalee is a Sparks resident and local author, and this fall we will see publication of the second edition of her best selling local guide book, "100 Things to Do in Reno Before You Die."  Mikalee will be blending information about the book and her signature speaking topic - the need for humor and humanity in leadership and marketing.  

Ending homelessness in Washoe County is an audacious goal, but it's starting to work.  Since the Cares campus opened two years ago, unsheltered homelessness has been reduced by 42%.  If we hold our collective resolve, Washoe County will be a model for the West.  Kate and Par will share with us how they are leading the charge in solving the challenge.   

Chris has served as Sparks Police Chief since 2004.  Chief Crawforth will share with us how he works to meet the needs of the Sparks community through residential outreach, filling police officer vacancies, and helping the homeless through the department's Homeless Outreach Proactive Engagement (H.O.P.E.) Team.  We will learn how The HOPE Team assists those experiencing homelessness through a boots-on-the-ground approach, where needs are assessed and then aligned with field-based services and local Medicaid resource partnerships.

Dr. Susan Enfield is superintendent for the Washoe County School District in Northern Nevada.  Serving over 61,000 students and 103 schools, Washoe County is the second largest district in the state.  Dr. Enfield will share with us the Strategic Plan, Promise, Goals, where we are now, and where we are going to ensure that our students graduate prepared for the future they choose.
Dr. Enfield is a graduate of U.C. Berkeley, and has earned her masters degrees from Stanford and Harvard University.  She also holds a doctoral degree in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard's Urban Superintendents Program.
 

A native of Argentina and a citizen of Switzerland and the United States, Carina has lived in the U.S. since 1988.  She received her Ph.D. from UNR in 1997 in comparitive politics.
She is the first executive director of the N. NV. International Center, an organization that manages public diplomacy programs with funding from the U.S. Dept. of State and USAID.  Dr. Black initiated the Refugee Resettlement Department, making it the only entity for resettlement in N. Nevada.  Dr. Black is a faculty member at UNR, and has taught classes in global studies, world politics, comparitive politics, democratization, international organizations and Latin American Politics.  She is actively involved in international education for the local community and supports programs for minority groups.

Tim started water skiing at age 9, and by 12 was water skiing, performing and acting in live ski shows with his team "The Minnieska Whitewater Ski Team" in Whitewater WI.  Tim later turned pro and began skiing for Sea World at 18.  By 1995, water-ski shows started to evolve into stunt shows, and this is when he was offered a position to open the Water World Stunt Show at Universal Studios Hollywood.  He spent 10 years there, working on his craft and slowly transitioning into film and Television.
Tim now has hundreds of credits, including Batman "The Dark Knight Rises", Televisions shows including all 9 seasons of CSI New York, 24 with Kiefer Sutherland, and Heroes.
Tim has also coordinated music videos for artists including Cold Play, Beyonce, and Post Malone.
With the Screen Actors Guild on strike, Tim was kind enough to make the trip here to speak to our club!

It's that time of year when we need to begin planning for snow and winter.  Dawn Johnson, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at National Weather Service Reno, will share with us the NOAA/National Weather Service pre-winter forecast.

The Kingsley Lington Academy is a private school founded by a young Liberian youth activist, Mr. Sabato J. Neufville.  The school began in September 2008 with the aim of providing quality academic and vocational education to all.  Mr. Neufville, seeing the needs in the midst of challenges of the Liberian economy, personally financed the construction of the school for the children which he ran for four years without parents paying fees.  Today, the enrollment has grown to 950 students!  Mr. Neufville will share with us their future plans, growing needs and exciting challenges in nuturing the best brains and future leaders of tomorrow.

We will be hearing from the 75 for 75 committee on an update of our club's progress and how we as members can continue to contribute toward the success of this great Rotary challenge.

District 5190 offers a Rotary Eighth Grade Leadership Program (REGL), a special youth leadership program to select 8th grade students.  Attendance is by scholarship only.  Students are selected by their principals, and all costs are covered by sponsoring Rotary clubs.
President Elect Paula Dolliver, and REGL coordinator Karen Shimamoto, will share with us the exercises taught on making choices, self-understanding and teamwork.  The aim of the program is to provide students with tools needed for the difficult choices they face as they move into high school.

Spread The Word Nevada is a children's literacy non-profit 501 (C)(3) corporation, dedicated to advancing early childhood literacy by placing books into the hands and homes of children within Nevada's at-risk , low income communities.
Since 2001, STW has distributed more than 7 million gently used and new books to more than 830,000 low income youth in Nevada.
Should you have a book to donate, Courtney will be collecting gently used books for elementary grade levels Pre-K through 5th grade.  During this meeting we will be cleaning, beautifying and prepping books for distribution through STW.  This is one of our 75 for 75 projects of service.

Mayor Lawson will present a regional update with an emphasis on Sparks.
Ed Lawson was appointed as the 26th Mayor of Sparks in 2020 after the passing of Mayor Ron Smith, then elected and sworn in as Mayor in November 2022.
He served on the Sparks City Council since 2010, reelected in 2014 and 2018, and was elected Mayor Pro Tempore in November 2018.

In honor of President's Day February 19th, club member Loren Acton will deliver an oration by Abraham Lincoln giving some of his best speeches and humor.
Presidents' Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February.  Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, the holiday became popularly known as Presidents' Day after it was moved as part of 1971's Uniform Monday Holiday Act.  While several states still have inidividual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other figures, Presidents' Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. Presidents, past and present.  Abraham Lincoln's birthday is February 12.

Robert and Jennifer operate Certified Nursing Assistant training programs through their businesses.  At this meeting they will present a program on the signs and symptons of a heart attach, with "Hands Only" CPR, and CPR instruction and practice on manikins after the meeting.  Each practice round of "Hands Only" CPR will take 5-7 minutes.
Jennifer and Robert will also host a CPR class for our members on Thursday, February 22 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Majen Training, 1005 Terminal Way #145, Reno.  The full Friends and Family course is approximately 1-1/2 to 2 hours.  If interested, please sign-up at this meeting, or on-line at https://majentraining.enrollware.com/enroll?id=9223662.  Reservations required.  HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

After three seasons as Texas' co-defensive coordinator at Texas, Jeff Choate has been tasked with leading Nevada's football program.  Jeff was named Nevada's 28th head coach on December 4, 2023 and aims to return Nevada football to championship level.

RYLA is an intense and incredibly challenging program, sponsored by California and Nevada Rotary Districts 5180 and 5190.  The program is open to all high school juniors and seniors who have demonstrated leadership potential and will benefit from the program.  Attendance in RYLA is supported by fully paid scholarships from the 95 clubs in districts 5180 and 5190.
RYLA is located at the educational retreat, Grizzly Creek Ranch, outside of Portola California.  This one-week program gives 90-100 students the opportunity to participate in a character building program that focuses on leadership, communication, trust and cooperation, utilizing adventure and indoor/outdoor practical exercises including a ropes course.

We will hear from 5 students from grades 9-12 compete in our club Speech Contest.  This is a competition, offered to high school students, where the student must prepare a five to seven minute speech on the theme:  "Rotary is a volunteer organization.  How have you volunteered towards promoting HOPE in the world, and how did you see HEARTS impacted through the experience?"  The winner will move on to the area contest April 10.  Please join us in supporting these talented kids!