Hello Fellow Rotarians,

I hope you’re drying off after another wet start to the weekend, and just in time for some more rain coming our way on Tuesday.  Thank you to all of you who attended the meeting last week. We had a decent turnout to hear from Lutheran Social Services of San Bernardino. We heard from their Volunteer Coordinator, Claire Sekafetz about their work in the Community and their plans for a new and much larger facility for their ever-growing shelter services.  We also heard from their Church, Community, and Business Relations Officer (and fellow Rotarian in Lake Arrowhead) Paul Fornier. Paul also provided an update on the efforts to help those living in the Mountain Communities who are trapped in their homes. We took that opportunity to share an email we received from District Governor-Elect Jamie Zinn about how we as Rotarians can assist in these efforts. Here is an excerpt from her email:

 

“Please know that your continued support is more than appreciated and vital to the success of these relief efforts.  We will continue to accept donations through the following link which will be used to provide direct relief to the mountain communities affected by this blizzard: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=K8C6THN9JCU58.  If you are able to volunteer or provide any resources to this effort, please email DGE Jamie Zinn at DGJamie2324@gmail.com who will be coordinating efforts with the local, county and state agencies as well as the lead organizations in the mountain communities”.

 

Next Tuesday we will have Josiah Brown as our keynote speaker. He founded Music Changing Lives, an organization providing after-school programs serving more than 300 youth in three community centers and four schools throughout Riverside and San Bernardino County. I look forward to seeing you all there. It’s St Patrick’s Day, too, so let’s see what songs Jim Smith will come up with on Tuesday.

 

BOARD MEMBERS: Don’t forget our March board meeting will be held immediately following the conclusion of our 3/14 lunch meeting.

 

President, David Hahn 2022-2023
Rotary Club of Downtown San Bernardino

​Mr. Bruny was determined to open the way for independent artists within our communities. He pulled youth who were at risk of dropping out of school and exposed to gang violence, drugs, and crime off the streets and taught them the power of music. By also providing them with pathways to entrepreneurial success, these students were able to change their lives and become wonderful and independent leaders.

Mr. Bruny also provided opportunities for developing emotional maturity through the creative arts. What started as a one-room studio inside his home garage has today grown into a robust after-school program, serving more than 300 youth in three community centers and four schools throughout Riverside and San Bernardino County.