Rancho Mirage Rotary Club

Our Rotary year has come to an end, and a new one is opening up in front of us. We say Thank you to President Sue Dell'Acqua (District 5330 Rotarian of the Year) and welcome incomming President Marilyn Sandeson. Our club was recognized in numerous ways at the Disrtict 5330 award ceremony (see list in pictures), including being named the best small club in the district. Sue, thank you for leading such a great year. Marilyn, we look forward to a successful and fun new Rotary year.

R.M. Rotarians helping out UCPIE (United Cerebral Palsy of the Inland Empire). Doing good in our community.

Today we had my good friend Brianna Miller, assistant director of Voices for Children, talk to us about how Court Appointed Special Advicates (CASA) help children in the local foster care system. They help match volunteers to kids in foster care so that they can help support the children with everything they are going through. They support the kids with the court hearings that their foster kid is involved in with their biological parents, school and social needs, and many other areas that help the children make healthy decisions. Becoming a CASA through Voices for Children is one of the best ways to help children who need some of the most help and support in our community. Check out www.speakupnow.org or the voices for children facebook page to fins out how you can volunteer or support this organization.

Last Thursday we had Judy Tobin May from Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert talk to our club regarding how BBBS and our Bigs and Littles are getting along during this corona virus time. It had been a challenge, but some inovative ways to stay in touch have been created. BBBS is a great organization matching aduts to he mentor children and provide them with opportunities they would not have without such a program. As a former "big" and watching a "little" grow up to become an outstanding citizen in our community it is one of the most fullfilling charitable acts. To give, not financially, but of our time and effort to guide the next generation into young men and women is a feeling you can not get any where else. Go to www.BBBSdesert,org to find out more.

Thank you Tim McCully for telling us about a Shelter Box. Rotary International partners with Shelter Box to help give supplies to families in need of emergency survival kits/boxes. The lives that are saved and rebuilt because of shelter box is a true humanitarian project in line with the Rotarian values.