Interact Beach Cleanup
Interactors (members of the youth division of the Rotary Club) from district 5320 organized a beach cleanup at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point. In addition to beautifying the beach for the community, Rotarians and Interactors also learned about nutrient pollution in our ocean and the upcoming Interact club rush at the local high schools.
Our newest member, Bethany, invited her husband Steve to participate. President Les brought his son along to join the effort and fun.
Welcome Bethany
We officially welcomed Bethany to our club this morning. She is a public defender in Orange County, and she has been providing a vital service to those who are most vulnerable in our community for ten years. She also has a big heart, as she is the mother of many dogs she adopted from the animal shelter.
National Night Out
The Signal Hill Police Foundation organized the National Night Out with a community outreach event that featured our Rotary Club, the Signal Hill Chamber of Commerce, Chick-fil-A, Costco, and the Signal Hill Diversity Coalition.
We promoted the Mutt Run to all pet lovers while enjoyed each others’ company.
Governor Roy Visits Signal Hill
Governor Roy Jefferson shared his vision and goals for this Rotary year as the district leader. He encouraged our club to focus on service projects, community liaisons, contribution to the Rotary Foundation, and membership growth.
It’s another exciting and inspiring new year for our club and Rotary.
The Newest Club - NEOC Leadership
Stefanie Huyhn, the founder and president of the newest club in District 5320, came to our meeting and shared with us her club’s mission and the upcoming events at her club.
Dr. Marilyn Uvero, Dr. Caroll Ryan, and Mina Hosseini also joined us to introduce our club members to a new private high school in Signal Hill.
A New Rotary Year
We rang in a new Rotary year with our first leadership training session. Jose, Reynaldo, Fredy, and Les attended and enjoyed an evening of camaraderie and learning. We sat with the members of the newest club in our district—the Northeast Orange County Leadership Club. Founded by the intrepid Stefanie, the new club is already off on a vibrant start, kicking off with a successful Kerckhoff Marine Lab event.
2023 Long Beach Pet Fair
The annual pet adoption event is organized by the Long Beach Animal Care Services, the Cat Cove, and the Little Lion Foundation.
Les, Kedra, Jesse, Frank, Jose, and Bethany took turn hosting our booth while promoting the Mutt Run to potential sponsors and participants. Most importantly, it was blast being surrounded by so many cute animals.
The Dog Days of Guatemala
Kindness and poverty weren’t the only things I found in Guatemala. What was unexpected was the sheer number feral dogs roaming the streets of Guatemala. They’re in every corner of the land, both urban and rural.
What’s also surprising about these feral dogs is that they’re largely friendly, if not a bit shy sometimes. This is a direct contrast to the feral dogs in Taiwan which I grew up with. Taiwanese feral dogs, unfortunately, were often mistreated by humans forty years ago, so you can’t fault them for being skittish or vicious. The Guatemalan feral dogs intermingle with people and dogs unmolested, and they’re naturally more trusting growing up in this friendly environment.
One of the dogs even joined the kids on a pick-up soccer game in an ancient plaza, and another one volunteered to be my pharmacy technician at a make-shift clinic in a remote village. I did catch him sleeping on the job often.
Local Hope - Guatemala 2023
After being postponed three years, Les’ family finally went to Guatemala to get directly involved with the service projects Signal Hill Rotary has been supporting since 2017.
Leslie Baer Dinkel’s original vision now inspires generations of Guatemalan and volunteers so the poverty-stricken highland community can thrive without having to export its labor force to other countries for financial opportunities.
It began with clean water, followed by education and healthcare. Financial independence is the final step for a thriving local community that preserves the rich cultural traditions of the Mayan heritage while empowering women.
President Les is already organizing a group of doctors to return to Guatemala in 2025 to have an even greater impact on the healthcare inequity of the region. The smile of just one Guatemalan child can transform our lives. Imagine the resonance of a group of children singing and dancing upon our arrival to San Martin.
Transition Celebration
The Signal Hill Rotary rang in the new Rotary year tonight with new members, new (and old) leadership, and a potential new satellite club at the Beach House in Seal Beach.
Les is grateful for all the support and guidance in the past year, and he welcomes the opportunity to serve the club again in even more exciting ways.
