Las Cruces Rio Grande Rotary

Congratulations to the winners of our Rotary Club's Student of the Month Annual Essay Contest, Mia Apodaca and Josiah Montana! We loved having you with us for your month of club visits, and your essays were thought-provoking, well-written and show us what fine futures you have ahead of you!

Yesterday, we welcomed our newest Rotarian, Burnett, to the Las Cruces Rio Grande Rotary Club! What an honor to bring in this talented and community-service passionate member into our club!

Here is our Membership Chair, Chris May, leading the induction ceremony with Gauge. We look forward to a fine Rotary future with you, Gauge!

Coach Jody Adams, New Mexico State University Women's Basketball, inspired us today with her coaching priorities to develop her athletes to their highest potential. She has a positive mindset that she instills in her team that has placed in finals competition this past year. We are excited to seeing what next season brings and show our support for NMSU Women’s Basketball !

Our Rotary Club was treated to a delightful "Meet a Rotarian" presentation this past week, featuring our club member, Carol Brey. Carol brings a rich background in culture, an international career with the Department of State, a love of Las Cruces, and "Service Above Self" in everything she does. Plus, she's fun! We're thrilled she has transferred back to our club. Photo L-R: Richard Williams, Carol Brey, Paula Heikell, Chris May.

Rotary Youth Exchange has been operating over 30 years! The Rotary Clubs of New Mexico collectively send 6-10 students annually abroad to study typically during their junior year of high school. Students are hosted by a local family and are immersed in the culture through the host family and school.

In Exchange, the local Rotary Clubs host the same number of inbound students.

This Cultural Exchange is a life-changing experience for the students and families.

Want to learn more and host an inbound student? Contact Gary Armijo at 505-948-4478 or Michelle Frechette today at 505-379-0544 for information on this life changing experience!

Michelle Frechette Gary Armijo

These tireless workers, Heather and Joanne continue to support Mesilla Valley Hospice & Palliative Care through The Emporium, an upscale thrift store in downtown Las Cruces whose only goal is to raise a million dollars for MVH. They came to our meeting recently to present a check for $35,000 to MV Hospice CFO, Chris May, one of our club members. If you want to shop there or just donate, here is a link https://www.emporiumlc.com

Ray Banegas, coordinator of the McKinnet Vento education program of Las Cruces Public Schools was our guest speaker today. He detailed the resources available to students experiencing homelessness and how his department enrolls them and gives them very extensive support.

The goal of the program is to help students successfully attend and complete their K-12 education. Tutoring as well as identifying and fulfilling basic needs; clothing, snacks, hygiene items and school supplies are some of the support given.

They also assist families to collaborate with school personnel, social service and community organizations.

In all of the Las Cruces schools there are over 800 students currently being served by his staff!

Rolando Flores, Dean of the New Mexico State University College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences was the speaker at last week's meeting. He presented issues related to water availability in the United States and the research being done currently to alleviate future demands that may exceed resources. His presentation was light as well as hopeful for the solutions being developed today. He is from Costa Rica, is a mechanical engineer and has a PHD in grain science from Iowa State.

Talented young people and amazing in their dedication to leaving their homes to spend a year in a new country, culture and language!

At today's meeting, the last for April, we honored three 8th grade students in our annual "Four-Way test" essay contest. Students crafted an essay using the test in a theme of their choice.

Lianna Brown(L) our 1st place winner wrote on the theme of chicken farming and its ethical and humane side urging us to buy local and organic when possible.

Elizabeth Lara (C. 2nd place) addressed climate change and the need for us to be personally involved in awareness and action.

Gabriel Kludt (R. 3rd place) wrote about the importance and value of extracurricular activities in school. Each received a monetary prize for their excellent essays.

The Four-Way Test is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian ethical guide for Rotarians to use for their personal and professional relationships. Rotarians recite it at club meetings:
"Of the things we think, say or do:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"

Thank you to all who helped (and there were many!) in creating a fun, educational and forward thinking meeting that celebrated the work of today’s Rotarians, welcomed new Rotarians and honored those whom we have lost.

Check it out! Discover the excitement of your District 5520 Conference! It's and well worth attending and you'll have lots of fun! Check out our detailed conference schedule and sign up here: https://rb.gy/foozrl

Jaedyn Woods has been our club’s weekly guest as “Student of the Month “ for March. She has been an active member in service clubs as well as an excellent student with some great goals. It’s been a pleasure getting to know her!

Eddie Binns, charter member and landlord to many, gave a talk today about the responsibilities and rules governing landlords. He told our club about the intrinsic rewards of supporting and helping small businesses grow as tenants of his buildings. For many years, Eddie has been a prominent force in the growth and development of Las Cruces as well as a great supporter of our Rotary club. Thank you for your enlightening presentation.

New Registration Options! Thanks to member feedback, we're now offering single-day or full District 5520 Conference registrations! Sign up soon! Get the Agenda: https://rb.gy/foozrl Sign up here: rb.gy/dm1iy1 See you all there!

Our Rotary District 5520 Conference is coming soon - April 18-20 at the Las Cruces Convention Center - an excellent place for learning, socializing, shopping, golfing with your fellow Rotarians! Click here for the Conference Agenda & Registration: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/8183/Stories/district-5520-conference

More fun! We've just added a Home Hospitality evening for Friday Night at the Rotary District 5520 Conference! You can reserve your spot when you register - Early Bird registration until March 21! Register here: rb.gy/dm1iy1

Hey all! Our action-packed Rotary District 5520 Conference is just around the corner! Register now for the Early Bird rate: https://rb.gy/dm1iy1

Las Cruces Rio Grande Rotary Rio Grande Rotary of Las Cruces meets every Tuesday at Andele's Fiesta Room at 11:45 am.

Our club was treated to a mini concert by a string quartet from the Borderlands Arts Foundation followed by a presentation from their president Erik Maese about their goal of encouraging the growth and appreciation of the musical arts from a you g age in our community. He spearheaded summer chamber concerts and brought the APO into underserved communities. In addition he plays in several local orchestral groups.

Great News! Registration is open for the upcoming Rotary District 5520 Conference, April 18-20, 2024 at the Las Cruces Convention Center! Calling all Rotarians to sign up for this fun, lively and idea-packed event! Scan the QR code for registration details!

We welcome back Richard Haas, our district Governor, from his visits to all the clubs in Rotary District 5520 and look forward to the District Conference being planned for April 18-20. He is inviting all Rotarians to register now for this great and fun event. Congrats on completing your tour. See you all in April!
Link to Registration page: https://www.crsadmin.com/EventPortal/Registrations/PublicFill/EventPublicFill.aspx?evtid=6cff32dc-2ee6-40be-a99c-cc84d26eeced

Our two students of the month gave parting remarks about their positive experiences in joining us for our February meetings, learning about Rotary first-hand and also working with us in our monthly service at El Caldito Soup Kitchen. We wish Kaitlyn and Jasmine great success in their chosen career paths and welcome them back in the future!

Marissa De Wolf, in her position with the Kinder-Career Coalition, works to promote collaborative efforts in uniting and aligning goals of early childhood, K-12, post secondary and workforce stakeholders for students to succeed academically in healthy schools as well as succeeding in higher education and careers. We are grateful for the work she does and taking time to present about her organization to our club last week!

Our students of the month Kaitlyn and Jasmine joined the Rotarians helping at El Caldito today. In addition Steve and Susan’s granddaughter helped too! A fun day and happy to be able to assist this great and much needed organization.

Our meeting this week featured Dr. Luis Cifuentes who gave an interesting talk about his role as Vice President for Research, Creativity and Economic Development as well as Dean of the Graduate School of NMSU. The primary responsibilities of his role are to guide national and international activities related to research policy and provide leadership to the University in identifying emerging research opportunities. He also emphasized the future goal of having research focus more on areas that could benefit the local area of Southern New Mexico.

We welcomed our two new students of the month for February from Las Cruces High School last week. We are looking forward to getting to know Kaitlyn and Jasmine and sharing about Rotary with them. Welcome!

Javier Guerrero from the non-profit Innovative Community Services, ICS, presented (at our club's recent meeting) about his organization's goals and strategies to connect other community agencies in closing the gaps and build the ideal Behavioral Health Collaborative and system for Doña Ana county. Their focus is Families and Youth and promoting a safer, healthier community.