No Rototeller Last Week: Due to the busy work and family schedule of the Rototeller editor, no edition was published after the March 23 meeting. I humbly apologize for no edition being published. – Blake Timm, Editor

Next Week’s Meeting At Prime Time: Due to a lack of parking around the Pacific University campus this week due to a film shoot, this Wednesday’s (Apr. 6) meeting will be held at Prime Time, 4450 Pacific Ave., Forest Grove. Due to the change in venue, meals will be charged at $16 per person.

In Memoriam – Bob Nixon & Joe Post: Last week, our club lost two longtime and active members, Bob Nixon & Joe Post.

Bob Nixon passed away on March 29 at the age of 96. A member of our club since 1952, Bob served as club president during the 1962-63 Rotary year. He was involved in just about every project club has implemented over the years and was a key part in developing the infrastructure that we continue to use during the annual Concours d’Elegance. In addition, Bob was involved a multitude of non-Rotary projects that benefited the entire community. Bob spent decades as a dentist in Forest Grove, carrying on a practice that his father started in the 1800s.

Joe Post passed away on March 28 at the age of 80. A member of our club since 1988, Joe served as club president during the 2011-12 Rotary year. He is best known in our club for his longtime service chairing the club’s Scholarship Committee. Joe was an attorney in Forest Grove and was also involved in a number of community activities outside of Rotary.

A celebration of life service for Bob will be held this Saturday, April 9, 12 p.m., at Fuiten, Rose & Hoyt Funeral Home, 2308 Pacific Ave., Forest Grove.

Joe’s wife, Judy, had planned an 80th birthday party for Joe on Saturday, April 30, from 1-4 p.m., at the Forest Grove United Church of Christ, 2032 College Way. Judy has decided to go forward with the date but the event will be a “Let’s Remember Joe!” event. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be contributed to the Rotary Club of Forest Grove Scholarship Fund or to Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Scholarship Program Deadline Is This Week: Applications for the Rotary Club of Forest Grove’s annual scholarship program are due by midnight this Saturday, April 7. Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors that live in the Forest Grove, Gaston and Banks school district attendance areas. These scholarships are made possible thanks to contributions from club members and from our annual car show, the Concours d’Elegance.

Scholarships vary in amounts from $500 to $2,000 and are awarded to help pay for the first year of college or vocational school at a school in the United States.

The application process will once again take place completely online. Click Here For Additional Details.

For questions, please contact Scholarship Committee chair Sharon Olmstead at sharon.olmstead8571@gmail.com.

RYLA Applications Open: After a two-year hiatus, applications are being taken for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). RYLA is a one-week intensive leadership training experience for youth ages 21 to 32 years old that includes team-building exercises, guest speakers and more. This year’s event will take place July 9-15 at the Menucha Retreat Center in the Columbia River Gorge.

Applicants must be sponsored by a local Rotary club and our club has traditionally sponsored two RYLA participants. For more information on the program, please contact Andrea Stewart at 503-357-1427 or astewart@pacificu.edu. Information on RYLA, along with the required application, can be found online at ryladistrict5100.org.

Blue Badge – Andrew Van Dyke: For the first time in who knows how long (thanks to the pandemic), we awarded a blue badge to a newer member. Congratulations to Andrew Van Dyke, who reached this milestone and was awarded his blue badge at Wednesday’s meeting. Andrew joined our club in October 2020.

What is the difference between red badges and blue badges? When a new member joins our club, they are presented with a red name badge. In order to earn their blue badge, which signifies a regular member in good standing, they must meet three conditions: attend a Fireside/New Member Meeting, serve as a greeter at a club meeting and obtain the names of 30 signatures of club members in their red badge to blue badge book.

Donations For Ukrainian Relief: As part of Rotary International’s efforts to provide relief the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, the Rotary Club of Forest Grove is collecting donations towards the effort. Rotary International has created a specific channel for donors through Rotary’s Disaster Response Fund.

Our club is offering a $1,500 match for contributions made by club members towards the humanitarian response. Contributions can be made at any club meeting. If you have questions about the effort or the match, please contact President Bryce Baker.

Crab Feed: Mark your calendars for Wednesday, Apr. 20, when our annual Crab Feed returns. The Crab Feed is designed to be a social event for club members and their families to celebrate the good work that we do throughout the year. This is also traditionally when the club recognizes its latest Paul Harris Fellows. The event takes place from 5-8 p.m. at the Forest Grove Senior & Community Center.

Admission for this year’s Crab Feed is $40 per person for those who are eating crab and $25 if not eating crab. There will also be crab for sale to take home at market price. You can pay in advance at any club meeting between now and April 20. Online payment will be available soon.

Julia Kollar is re-forming the committee to take on the planning and execution of this event. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Julia.

Silent Auction At Crab Feed: As we have done in past years, we will be conducting a silent auction at the Crab Feed to raise money for our service outreaches. We are looking for donations such as themed gift baskets, wine and wine tasting experiences, a stay in beach house, tickets to sporting events…on maybe something else in mind that you would like to donate.

If you are interested in donating to the silent auction, please contact Parri Van Dyke.

Steak Feed Returns: Our annual Steak Feed is also returning after a two-year hiatus. This year’s event will take place on Friday, June 10, on the campus of Pacific University.

Designed as a community event, the Steak Feed is specifically targeted as a fundraiser for our club’s involvement in the Rotary Youth Exchange program (which we also hope to see return in 2022). A meal featuring a choice steak, potatoes, vegetables and dessert is prepared and served by club members.

As one of our club’s major fundraisers, the Steak Feed is an “all hands on deck” event with all club members expected to volunteer. More details on this year’s event will be available soon. For more information, please contact Geoff Faris at gafaris@aol.com.

Concours Update: Planning for the 2022 Concours d’Elegance is well under way. Our annual car show, which raises funds for our club’s Scholarship Program, will take place on Sunday, July 17, on the campus of Pacific University. This year’s theme is a celebration of Jaguar. In addition, the show will showcase a salute to British Excellence with feature classes for MG, Triumph and Lotus.

Here are a few updates from the Concours committee:

Vendor Chair Found: Thank you to Claudia Yakos, who has stepped up to serve as the vendor chair for this year’s show!

Sponsorships: Tim Pearson has a goal of 100 sponsors for the show. “That’s going to be a stretch but I think it is doable,” Tim said, but he needs the help of club members to make it happen. A copy of the sponsorship flyer is Linked Here and is also attached to this week’s edition of the Rototeller. If you have sponsorship questions or a lead, please contact Tim at 503-998-8616 or TimPearsonPC@gmail.com.

Concours Events: The Concours Committee has agreed to move forward with a Friday night concert event to start the weekend. The concert will take place on July 15 at Elk Cove Vineyard near Gaston. Capacity will be limited to 200 people. More details will be coming soon.

Evening of Excellence dinner will take place at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course on the evening of Sat., July 16.

For more information on the show, visit forestgroveconcours.org, or contact show chairman Ryan Garcia at rypgarcia@gmail.com.

As our club’s primary fundraiser for the year, the Concours is an “all hands on deck” event with all club members expected to volunteer.

Online Dues Payments: Our club is now equipped to process dues payments online! We can now process credit card or debit card payments for quarterly dues. Information on how to pay online will be included with quarterly billings that will be coming to your mailbox or email inbox.

With the transition to billing with Quickbooks, some members may not have received their quarterly invoice. If you did not, please contact treasurer Lucas Welliver.

FGHS Community Food Pantry: Our club’s support for the Forest Grove High School Food Pantry continues. Thanks to its partnership with the Oregon Food Bank, food donations are still welcome but are of less need at this time. Of need, however, are toiletries and hygiene products as well as household cleaning materials.

The Food Pantry is open on Mondays from 4-5:30 p.m. The pantry is now open in its new site in the building along Nichols Lane between the football field and the Basinski Center.

For information on the Food Pantry, please contact Brian Burke, bburke@fgsd.k12.or.us. If you wish to make a cash donation to the pantry, Click Here.

Additionally, Rotarian Gwen Hullinger has put together an Amazon wish list of items that can be purchased and donated. Click Here To View That List.

Past Programs: Did you miss a meeting or want to go back and check out a program again? Most of our programs since May 2020 are archived on our club’s YouTube page. Visit https://bit.ly/fgrotaryprograms.

Around District 5100
District 5100 Rotary One Conference: Registration is now open for the District 5100 One Rotary Conference, which will take place on Seaside from May 19-22. This year’s event is a combination of the former district training assembly and the district conference, designed to be both a weekend of Rotary education and celebration.

The One Rotary Conference is free for Rotarians but advance registration is required. The only charge is for any breakfasts, lunches and dinners taken during the conference and accommodations.

A working schedule of events and training sessions for the One Rotary Conference can be found by Clicking Here. You can register for the event by logging into DacDB and clicking on the registration link.

A conference rate for accommodations is available at the Saltline Hotel, 250 1st Ave., Seaside, and at the Inn at Seaside, 441 2nd Ave., Seaside.

Saltline Hotel, saltlinehotel.com, Group Code: RD5100
Inn at Seaside, innatseaside.com, Group Code: RT5100

Around Rotary International
Rotary Voices – Q&A With Editor Of Rotary Magazine In Ukraine: The conflict in Ukraine has displaced millions of people and has created a humanitarian crisis across Europe. The following is an interview between Rotary magazine and Mykola Stebljanko, editor of Rotary magazine in Ukraine.

Q: What’s your situation there now?
Stebljanko: I’m now living in Odesa. It’s the third most populist city on the southwest of Ukraine, an important port city on the Black Sea coast. Currently, there’s no military action here yet, but we live under the constant threat of bombs and missiles. Often, air raid sirens will wake us up in the middle of the night. We have to get up and hide in a safe place. You know, in my apartment, the safest place is the bathroom. We huddle together and spend the rest of the night there. Occasionally, we experienced a few rocket attacks, but most of the time, it’s a safe place.

Most of the military actions now center around Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, and Kharkiv. More than a dozen smaller cities are also under attack. The city of Mariupol in the Southeast of Ukraine is under siege. More than 2,500 civilians have died there and close to 400,000 people are trapped in the city. The Russian army stopped anyone from escaping. Many are without electricity, water, and heat.

Q: What is happening with Rotary clubs in Ukraine?
Stebljanko: There are 62 Rotary clubs in Ukraine. At the moment, only the Rotary Club of Kherson has temporarily suspended meetings because the city is now under the control of the Russian military. I recently spoke with a Rotarian there. None of them are able to escape and are trapped inside the city. They no longer meet or do any projects for fear of personal safety. Our district governor sent a letter of support to all the Rotarians in Kherson.

Other Rotary clubs continue to operate and are trying their best to conduct Rotary services. We have created a special committee to coordinate help. Each club has a representative on the committee and we meet online twice a day to discuss issues that are facing our clubs.

Q: What kind of relief projects are Ukraine clubs doing?
Stebljanko: Our Rotary services fall into the following three areas:

• To provide help to our hospitals, where a large number of wounded civilians are being treated. They are in dire need of medical supplies. We have set up a special account and have received about US$100,000 from Rotary clubs and districts from around the world. We have already purchased and distributed medicine and equipment. We also have been approved for two disaster response grant.

• To coordinate humanitarian aid. Rotary clubs and districts are sending humanitarian aid via trucks, ships, and air carriers. We are rebuilding Rotary’s humanitarian hubs along the Ukraine borders with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. They have received all of the supply items and sent them across the border to our cities. Then, we have different hubs inside Ukraine near the border regions where Rotarians distribute this humanitarian help to the cities that are in dire need of help. Most of the items are clothes, food, and medicine.

• To help families of Rotarians who want to leave the country. We have received many requests from Rotarians in Europe and America, who would like to host our family members and relatives.

Q: Why don’t you leave Ukraine?
Stebljanko: I’m already a refugee. I lived in Simferopol, the capital of Crimea for 40 years. But in 2015, I had to leave my native city because of the Russian annexation of Crimea. So, my wife, Olga and I moved to Odesa. We felt our move to Ukraine would keep us safe. When people asked us why we do not want to leave Odesa and go outside Ukraine, I always answer: we were forced to leave our motherland once in 2015. We don’t want to leave our country again. We are Ukrainians and we would like to stay in Ukraine.

Q: What’s your message to the Rotary clubs around the world?
Stebljanko: On behalf of Rotarians in Ukraine, I would like to say a big thank you to all our Rotary fellows who have helped us in Ukraine. It means a lot to us during this difficult time in our country’s history. At the same time, I would like to appeal to Rotary people to lobby their governments and push for peace. We are grateful for our friends around the world who are helping us.

Last Week’s Program: Dave Parker, Forest Grove School District

Click Here To Watch The Full Program

At last week’s meeting, fellow Rotarian Dave Parker, superintendent of the Forest Grove School District, joined us to talk about the district’s continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic and also to address lower reading scores in district schools as reported recently by the Forest Grove News-Times.

Dave began by going over some of the metrics for COVID-19 in Washington County, showing the range between what was being dealt with at the beginning of the school year as compared to now. This week, numbers of positive cases have lowered to a point not seen since April 2020.

Between September and December 2021, 41 staff members and 344 students contracted COVID-19. From January 2021 to the present, 221 staff members, accounting for roughly 30 percent of the district work force, and 795 students contracted COVID. That amount of cases posed a number of challenges within the district including staff shortages and critical substitute mandates.

In addition. the continual changes in the COVID mandates set by the state has caused additional challenges. Everything has been harder for both students and teachers, especially in the transition earlier in the year back from distance learning to in-person education.

In January, with the heavy amount of positive tests with staff members, the district was forced to move both Neil Armstrong Middle School and Forest Grove High School to online learning for a week. At the same time, all available district office staff were working in schools and classrooms. If you had a teaching credential, you were working in a classroom.

Dave stated his opinion that for the first time since Measure 5 passed in 1993, money is not the biggest issue facing schools in Oregon. The biggest issue is not being able to fill positions.

On March 14, Forest Grove School District followed the lead of the state and moved to making the use of facemasks voluntary. At Forest Grove High School, approximately one-third of students continue to wear masks.

With the next wave of COVID that is making its away through the nation, experts are predicting that cases will do up but they do not expect those cases to overwhelm the healthcare system. That will allow schools to continue moving forward as they have all year.

In terms of elementary school reading scores, Dave presented data showing where scores are at by grade level. Approximately 60 percent of first-grade students were behind on their expected grade level in fall EasyCBM assessments. But progress is being made. In the winter assessment, the rate of students that were behind was at 49 percent. Similar deficiencies and improvements are also being noted in second through fourth grades.

Dave pins much of the blame in the lower test scores on online learning during the 2020-21 academic year, not allowing students to get the quality of reading education that they need.

Much of this issue will be addressed in terms of modifying the core curriculum that the district uses to teach reading. There is not enough specialists in the district to remedy the problem or resources to hire those individuals. To adequately address the problem, the district would have to hire an additional 65 reading specialists.

Club Calendar
Wed., Apr. 6: Weekly Meeting, Noon
Prime Time, 4450 Pacific Ave., Forest Grove
Program: Sarah Morse, Education Foundation of Forest Grove

Thurs., Apr. 7: Rotary Scholarship Program Application Deadline

Wed., Apr. 13: Weekly Meeting, Noon
Boxer Pause Room, University Center, Pacific University
Program TBA

Wed., Apr. 20: Rotary Crab Feed, 5 p.m.
Forest Grove Senior & Community Center

Fri., June 10: Steak Feed, 5 p.m.
Pacific University Campus

Sun., July 17: Concours d’Elegance
Pacific University Campus