Do You Knit? Three Words that Changed Everything
MEETING FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 10, 2023
This Meeting at a Glance:
Program: Do You Knit? Three Words that Changed Everything
Speaker: Barb Demorest
Is this your first time to visit us? If so, welcome to our weekly online meeting! To complete our meeting, please continue reading from here to the bottom of this page. Each Monday our week’s meeting is posted early in the morning, U.S. Pacific Time. These meetings are designed so that you can read and watch what we post anytime during the week. The entire meeting takes about 60 minutes to complete, with the video conference recording of the program being the bulk of the time. Note that you can easily read this meeting with your favorite device, so feel free to take our meeting on the go with you. Please also make sure to complete the attendance form at the bottom and leave a comment. Enjoy!
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Read and watch the content below in its entirety.
Complete the attendance survey.
Everyone is also encouraged to leave a comment in the Disqus section at the bottom of the page.
Message from our President
Dear Fellow Members,
I trust that this letter reaches you in good health and high spirits. As we move into the second quarter of 2023, I am filled with a sense of gratitude and eager anticipation for the positive impact our Club continues to make in the lives of those around us, particularly in our healthcare-related programs. Our committed members' work, dedication, and passion have enabled us to raise crucial awareness about pressing healthcare issues and emphasize the vital importance of preventative care.
Moving forward, our primary goal is to consistently arrange enlightening virtual events, showcasing healthcare professionals who can impart their expertise and perspectives on various health-related subjects. As you know, our Club has set ambitious goals to improve the health and well-being of our global communities. However, while we have made significant progress, we also acknowledge that achieving these goals requires time, persistence, and commitment from each one of us. Nevertheless, our dedicated efforts thus far have laid a strong foundation for future work in this crucial domain, and I am confident that healthcare will remain one of our Club's top priorities in the new Rotary year as well.
In keeping with our core values of community and fellowship, I am delighted to remind you that our Club will be hosting a series of engaging online socials in the coming weeks. These events present an invaluable opportunity for us to connect, forge lasting friendships that transcend geographical barriers, and exchange experiences.
To this extent, I want to take a moment to reflect on the power of our shared experiences. As RI President Jennifer Jones eloquently stated in her March 2023 address, "the breadth of stories we encounter in Rotary is truly remarkable." Throughout our Rotary journey, I am sure we all have had the privilege to witness countless examples of dedication and selflessness that have shaped the lives of many. Each Rotarian's unique story brings a wealth of knowledge, insights, and perspectives that contribute to the collective narrative of our organization. These stories not only demonstrate our shared commitment to service but also inspire us to strive for even greater heights in our service efforts.
Therefore, in light of President Jones' words, I encourage each of you to speak openly about your Rotary experiences and the stories you've encountered along the way. Share your successes, your challenges, and your moments of growth. By doing so, we can foster a sense of camaraderie, deepen our understanding of the diverse challenges faced by different people, and broaden our horizons as we learn from one another's experiences. Moreover, we should also celebrate the stories of those we serve – the individuals and communities who benefit from our collective efforts. Their journeys of transformation serve as a testament to the power of Rotary's ideals.
Let these stories serve as a catalyst for our continued dedication to service!
Finally, I would like to thank our Committee Chairs and Board Members for their work in ensuring the smooth functioning of our Club's key areas. Your suggestions, ideas, and tireless efforts have played a pivotal role in keeping our members engaged and motivated over the past months. Many of you have taken on significant responsibilities this year and have consistently risen to the occasion. Furthermore, to those who have worked diligently behind the scenes, I want you to know that your valuable input has not gone unnoticed.
Thank you for being the backbone of our Club!
Yours in Rotary,
Angelica Marotta, PhD
President 2022-2023 Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley
Rotary International District 5170
WEEKLY FUNNY WITH SHAGS
We believe laughter is an important part of life, and we should all make time to laugh a little. This segment of our meeting is meant to tickle you just enough. These funnies are curated by member Steven "Shags" Shagrin!
What Do You Know About Him?
My daughter was doing her homework and asked me what I knew about Galileo.
I, proudly and confidently, told her that he was just a poor boy from a poor family.
INSPIRATION
Every week we share a short video highlighting innovation, education, entrepreneurship, or whatever we think might inspire you to see the world in new ways.
This story about using vinyl from used billboards is seven years old, but the orientation to innovative opportunities is timeless.
LEARN SOMETHING NEW
How is Glass Made?
Antique glass panes often had a swirl in the center from how the flat sheet was formed from molten glass. But things have changed a bit since then! Here's how it's done now.
Relay Time!
Relay for Life is an event at which a community comes together to support those fighting cancer, remember those we've lost, and raise money to fight back through research and educational programs.
There are many activities - music, games, food, and more - as well as plenty of walking together. The first lap around the track features those wearing purple shirts, which is a special gift to each survivor of cancer. In the image below from the event we joined in 2019, you'll see them walking with family members and caregivers. Can you spot Ferheen?
I (Rushton) have seen children who are barely old enough to go to school wearing those purple shirts, and it always strikes me emotionally to think of what they have endured. I'm also happy to be there to help try and make a difference, hoping that the research we help make happen may one day mean that cancer never takes from us another loved one of any age.
Each year, our club takes part in this effort, and we try to involve every member and guest. You can do any of the following to be part of the club team, and hope you will do so soon. Let's put an end to cancer.
Share a message with the name of someone you wish to honor or remember. Email that to Rushton (rushton(at)gmail.com).
Join the The Wild Walkers team (click here to do so) and plan to join our group at the event the afternoon of Saturday, April 29th (details to follow).
Donate as part of our effort. You can do so on this page, and any amount is welcome. These funds go to support research against cancer, help survivors and caregivers, and provide educational materials. (It says that it's "Robert's" page, because that is Rushton's first name and he doesn't know how to change the page.)
Honor a friend or family member with a luminaria (each costs $10). If you want to honor someone but are tight on funds (it happens!), you can email Rushton the name and a message, and he'll get it added to the group.
A big thank-you to the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley Relay for Life Team (as of lunchtime on April 6th): Cal, Rushton, and Terri!
We can use some more help! Will you donate or participate in another way today?
If you've taken part but don't see your name, let Rushton know and he'll get you added.
SERVICE REPORT
Tell us about service you’ve done recently in your community.
Click here to fill out The Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley Service Survey
ROTARY SERVICE PROJECT OPPORTUNITY IN MEXICO
Charter member Keith Marsh is organizing a Rotary project to Project Amigo in October for the “Day of the Dead” (Dia de los Muertos). The week-long trip to Cofradia, Mexico will include Rotary Service in the areas of International Service, Youth Service and Fellowship. It will also include cultural and travel photography of the festivities surrounding Day of the Dead. Space is limited. Click below to download the .pdf for more details and visit the Project Amigo website at: https://www.projectamigo.org/ Contact Keith or leave a comment below if you are interested in attending.
HAPPY DOLLARS: Do Good by Sharing Something Good
Each week we ask our members to share stories with the club and toss in a few dollars to support our efforts. The primary goal of this section is to provide a fun way of getting to know each fellow members and guests, while giving back to a good cause.
Happy dollars is an opportunity to share something positive that has happened in your life whether it is personal or business. Think of it as your opportunity to brag a little, but also put a little bit into a karma jar. The money donated through happy dollars is put to charitable use, and the message that you leave for happy dollars will be posted in our online meeting the following week for the entire week for folks to see! (Pending that it’s appropriate!)
Here are the happy dollars contributions from last week!
This section is usually updated in the early hours of Saturday, so contributions made over the weekend may not be listed here.
Rory Olsen made a $20 donation.
The week started off in the balmy eighties. Then cooler temperatures and rain came. The dark skies made my cats sleepy. My wife couldn't golf. Fortunately my Mac worked well.
PROGRAM: Do You Knit? Three Words that Changed Everything
SPEAKER: Barb Demorest
Every week we bring to you a new program on innovation, entrepreneurship, and education, and how those contribute to service to others.
The Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley seeks to explore perspectives on service from across the world. The views of the speakers in our programs are their own, and unless stated otherwise, are not necessarily reflective of the views of our eClub nor Rotary International.
If you have an idea for a cool speaker, please feel free to reach out to them directly or submit THIS FORM so our Program Committee can contact them!
Our speaker this week is Barb Demorest, and three simple words from a caring surgeon changed her life. Out of the adversity of breast cancer, an organization was birthed that has impacted hundreds of thousands of women who have had a mastectomy and helped thousands of others find passion and purpose in their lives. Hear the personal story from the founder of Knitted Knockers Support Foundation, aka knittedknockers.org, of how the organization has grown to provide over 10,000 free breast prostheses per month, provide support to over 1,970 medical offices and have a presence in 61 countries.
Barb is the founder of Knitted Knockers Support Foundation. She describes herself as a wife, mother, grandmother, and casual knitter residing in Bellingham, Washington. She retired from her 30-year career as a CPA and owner of a tax practice in order to pursue her passion of connecting volunteer knitters and crocheters with breast cancer survivors to provide free knitted knockers to those who can use them.
After hearing the awful words, "you have cancer," and struggling with the impact of having a mastectomy, a simple gift of comfort and dignity knit by a caring friend changed her life. Her purpose and passion is now to inspire and equip the wonderful and caring fiber arts community to provide these gifts of love to their fellow women in their own communities.
Like a Rotarian who has discovered the joy of active service, she says, "I no longer get paid in dollars for my work, but the rewards are priceless."
Members and guests, please welcome Barb Demorest!
UPCOMING PROGRAM RECORDING SCHEDULE
All of our guest speakers and programs are recorded live online over Zoom video conference. We welcome members and guests to join us in one of these upcoming recordings. Recordings are approximately 30 minutes long and are subject to change without notice.
Our online video conference room link for these recordings is always http://zoom.siliconvalleyrotary.com/. You are welcome to join us! Please note the timezone listed for all recordings is US Pacific Time (San Francisco, California, USA).
If you can’t join the live recording, please send your questions for an upcoming speaker to programs@siliconvalleyrotary.com.
THE ATTENDANCE SURVEY
Thanks for reading and watching this week’s meeting. You have two last things to do before you’re done.
We have a very short attendance survey below for you to fill out to record your attendance.
Visiting Rotarians, this is how you can get an email receipt to pass along to your club’s secretary as proof that you’ve attended our meeting if you need it for makeups.
Non-Rotarian Guests, we would love to see who is dropping by our meetings! This part is optional for you. If you think you may want to join our eClub at some point in the future, we would strongly recommend you fill out the attendance form as it will improve your chances of success for your membership application.
For all members and guests — we strongly recommend and ask that you leave a comment in our comments area below. Tell us how you enjoyed the program. Ask this week’s speaker any questions you might have. Or just stop by and say hello and tell us where you’re from!
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