Her impressive success as membership chair of Portland Pearl Rotary has helped take a club of 40+ members just a couple years back to 71 today.

Now Tracy Vicario has been chosen as president-elect. In 2014-15, she will pilot the club that reflects her dedication to an expanded membership.

Vicario was elected PE a month ago by her fellow Rotarians. Other officers for 2013-14 are: Marc Hillman, president; Dave Haack, past president; Pat Mahoney, secretary; and Michael Steen Treasurer.

“I am very honored to have been nominated for President-Elect for the Portland Pearl Rotary Club (PPRC),” Tracy said. “I am excited and at the same time very nervous to lead a club after there have been so many exceptional leaders in the club’s history.

“Our club is filled with the most inspirational, kind and generous people I have ever encountered. As Membership Chair, it has been effortless to obtain new members because as soon as a guest walks in the door, they can’t help but feel the energy, compassion and warmth of the club. I am very proud to be a member of PPRC and look forward to my Tuesday mornings.”

Her presidential predecessor, Hillman, saluted Tracy’s nomination:

“Congratulations (and thank you) to Tracy for accepting the role our club’s 2013-2014 President-Elect! I am very excited to have Tracy in this position. Her fantastic energy and welcoming personality will serve our club well. Tracy’s hard work as Membership Chair has been an integral component to our club’s growth over the past three years and I am confident her new role will keep us engaged and help continue to attract new members.

“Current President Dave Haack, Tracy and I are putting together a leadership pipeline and will provide many new opportunities for members to take on leadership/director roles. Please join me in congratulating Tracy!”

Viacrio’s Rotary involvement began in 2009 at the Lafayette, Calif., Rotary Club after a client invited her to a meeting. It continue when she and her husband, Greg, moved here in 2010. She recalled:

“My friends and family could not understand how I could leave California and move to a place where we did not know anyone. I told them I would join Rotary and make 50 new friends. I first visited the downtown club and then Portland Pearl and I immediately knew that I wanted to be a member of Portland Pearl Rotary Club–the energy, the friendliness and the fun. It’s been almost three years and I have made some incredible friends.”

Her Rotary classification is Employer Services Consultant. She is employed
by Coordinated Resources Group. She explained: “With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, health benefits, payroll, human resource compliance and technology are all inter-connected. I help businesses to design and manage the best health benefit products, services and technology for their employees and families while keeping an eye on cost and regulatory compliance.”

Vicario is also active in both the Pearl District Business Association (recently elected a vice-president) and the Pearl District Neighborhood Association (she’s on the livability committee). “With my memberships in the PDBA, PDNA and PPRC, I work as a community liaison to assist with communication and coordinate activities that cross-over into our community.”

Hillman said he expects most of the current service directors and committee chairs will stay on his board, beginning July 1.

Pearl Rotary, half-way through the year, from the front-row, presidential seat.

Busy!

One of the best parts of serving as club president is my front-row seat to our many and varied activities. Because of the breadth and success of those activities, the Portland Pearl Rotary Club continues to be the envy of other clubs…es la verdad! We have terrific projects in all five Areas of Service—Club, Community, International, Vocational and New Generations and fun weekly meetings with terrific speakers. Here’s an “executive summary” of current club enterprises:

Club Service is actually the umbrella for a variety of activities providing the glue that keeps us moving forward in the same direction—fellowship activities, weekly programs, fundraising, communications and membership. All those committees are incredibly effective.

Community Service continues support of Open Meadow, Boy Scout Troop #69, the Zimmerman Center, Meals on Wheels, the Bud Clark Center Transitions Project and they are moving forward with a project at the Pearl’s last remaining open space, Field’s Park.

International Service continues to monitor our Nepal solar project and is in the process of planning projects for this year. They are almost ready to start the grant writing process for a cleft palate surgery project in Zimbabwe. It will cost approximately $45,000. Also in consideration is a second project for Nepal. The two ideas so far are a micro hydro project with the power going to a school in a rural village. This is a fairly ambitious project with a cost of around $65,000. There is also another project involving purchasing a herd of yaks that would be owned by a community. The yaks are valued for their cheese and fur and this would be an income generation project. The estimated cost is $20,000 for a herd of 40-50 yaks. Stay tuned!

Vocational Service is working on the Pearl Business Awards breakfast project. The committee met recently to address the questions of a budget, venue, catering services and a potential speaker for the event. Al Dennison, executive director of Pearl District Business Association; Allan Classen, NW Examiner edior and publisher; and Joan Pendergast, board member at Pearl District Neighborhood Association (and Pearl Rotarian!) joined the planning meeting.

New Generations continues close collaboration with the Lincoln High School Interact Club and the Portland State University Rotaract Club. We have all been impressed with the amazing Students of the Month from Lincoln and our exchange student, Stella. Next year the youth exchange will send two students abroad (Elizabeth and Xavier) and host two students–double the pleasure, double the fun!

The Club Board of Directors is close to recommending a revised set of club bylaws for review and approval by the membership, under the director of Past President Dave Bangsund. Our goal has been to align club bylaws with current practices, make sure we meet legal requirements with regards to the club’s relationship with our charitable 501(c)3 Pearl Fund, remove outdated material and generally provide future boards with a cogent path to governing the club.

An amazing array of activities with which we can be proud.

“Puttin’ on the Pearl” helps funds Pearl Rotary’s Non-Profit

They came, they bid…and Pearl Rotary’s annual fall fundraiser Oct. 19 raised valuable dollars for projects ranging from Portland to Nepal.

“Puttin’ on the Pearl” was not only a new name, following “Bet on the Pearl.” The casino night setting was replaced by a buffet meal, live auction and sign-up parties (member-hosted meals for 10-12 guests). A silent auction again opened the evening, followed by live entertainment from the Northwest Children’s Theater. An elegantly decorated event space provided at atmosphere to the 140 attendees for fellowship, fun and–purposely–funds for the club’s non-profit Pearl Fund.

All that happened, reports event chair Roger Devine.

“People who worked on this put on a great event and had a lot of cheerful, fun time doing it,” Devine reported Oct. 23 at the regular Tuesday morning meeting. “The event was a success…We have something to build on for next year.

President Dave Haack concurred: “That was really a lot of fun. It was a nice evening. And we raised money, too.”

Devine further reported that $10,000+ will go directly to the Pearl Fund (where projects ranging from the Fields Park contribution in the Pearl to installing solar power at a Nepal hospital are funded).

Additional monies could come through an online action.

“I call it a ‘clean-up auction.’ ” he said. “We had a few things that came in late, and a few of our sign-up parties have openings. We are offering these on our website. Bidding is not limited to Rotarians. Those attending, and those not able to come to Puttin’, can take a look at what we still have to offer.”

Devine also noted that direct contributions can be made online (visit the special appeal page). To make bids and contribute, go to:

Pearl Rotary Silent Auction

Devine led a committee of a dozen Rotarians who helped stage the event. He had special praise for Anne O’Neill, auction procurement; Christine Swan, theme and decorations; Lori Beight, sign-up parties; and Nick Fenster, entertainment (including John Ellingson and Elizabeth Gibbs, pictured).

Serving as auctioneer for the event was Brian Bice (pictured), a Rotarian from Lake Oswego. Live auction packages included award-winning Oregon pinot noirs, two rental cabins on the Pacific coast and having your name written in the script of Rotarian/author George Wright’s next novel.

With the proceeds from Puttin’, Pearl Rotary has now raised over $26,000 for the Pearl Fund during calendar year 2012; previous events netted $13,000 from the cruise raffle and $3,400 from the golf tournament.

Concert rock violinist has played with notables like Aaron Neville, Pink Martini, the Temptations, Smokey Robinson. And symphonies from Oregon to Thailand.

He’s taught classes around the world; he plays an annual series of Christmas concerts in Portland; he’s recorded six albums; he’s volunteered for organizations ranging from an orphanage in Cambodia to International Medical Teams to the American Lung Association.

And now Meyer, 40, can add a 7:30 a.m. Ecotrust concert to a Pearl Rotary Club audience of 75 people (including invited Portland students who are budding musicians) to his vitae.

He opened the eight-selection, solo performance with “Emerald Shores,” a song with Irish influence. “I love to collaborate with other musicians around the world,” he said.

During the hour-long stint on Sept. 25, Meyer was often philosophical about violin playing and music writing:

• A violin is played by somebody who takes on their soul.
• “It is really fun to interpret a great piece of music with my own in arrangement.” (He then played the Beatles’ “Let it Be.”)
• I write from my heart–whatever comes out, comes out. I think really melodic. The violin plays no words.
• I was never good at following rules [though he was trained as a classical violinist]. I got out of those classes and pioneered my own sound…no rules.”

Meyer, with degrees from Lewis and Clark and Portland State, is now a permanent Portland resident. For Rotarians, his repertoire included songs with Fijian and Jamaican roots. He promoted his most recent CD, “Two Sides to the Story.” He ended each song with a flourishing crescendo…and then a short, single chord struck with his fingers.

And after selling his work post-meeting, Meyer made a contribution to the club’s “Puttin’ on the Pearl” silent auction.

His annual Christmas series is scheduled Dec. 21-22 at the First Congregational Church in downtown Portland. Tickets are available at www.aaronmeyer.com

Award-winning wine for purchase, musical entertainment, sign-up for in-home parties hosted by Pearl Rotarians, silent and live auction offerings–all this and more will occur Friday, Oct. 19, at “Puttin’ on the Pearl.”

The fundraising event will be held at Castaway Portland, 1900 N.W. 18th Ave., with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 and the evening will include food and refreshments and both live and silent auctions.

Auction gift procurement has been organized by Rotarian Anne O’Neill. She reports that contributions have exceeded $8,000–with items ranging in value from $20 to $1,000.

Among the items available: 1) A $1,000 shopping spree at Pearl Ace Hardware, courtesy of Rotarian Duane (and Sherry) Cook; 2) Three bottles of 2009 pinot noir from long-time contributor White Rose winery (its ’10 pinot noir just was rated tops in a 50-wine survey in Portland Magazine); 3) A private tasting and tour for eight to Bull Run Distilling (appetizers included), from the distillery’s co-founders.

“We have silent auction items ranging from health club memberships…to four season tickets to Northwest Children’s Theater…to family memberships at OMSI and to Oregon Zoo…and dinners out to Oba! and Irving Street Kitchen and more,” Anne reports.

Committee member Nick Fenster reports that the Puttin’ event entertainment will include musical numbers from Northwest Children’s Theater. Also planned is an original video featuring the wide array of PPRC service programs including the Nepal solar project, Costa Rica, Open Meadow, Bud Clark Commons and the Zimmerman Community Center.

A new event at the annual fall fundraiser will be Home Parties sponsored by individual Rotarians. Club service director (and fundraising committee member) Lori Beight reports that offerings to date include:

1. Adina Flynn: Signature cocktail party
2. Don Barney: Paella Party
3. Tracy Vicario: Italian Dinner
4. Dave Bangsund: Authentic Mexican Cooking Class
5. Roger Devine: Pig Roast
6. Stan & Christine Swan: Scotch Tasting
7. Lori Beight: TBD
8. Farhad Ghafarzade, Roger Meyer & Willie Banks: Cinco de Mayo Party
9. Farhad Ghafarzade: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Party
10. Jim Bowman: Beer Making Class
11. Denise Razzetto: TBD

“Puttin’ Chair Roger Devine continues to urge Rotarians Rotarians to invite their friends and family: “The key to success for this fundraiser is to make sure we get the right people to the event –that means ticket sales. We’d like every member of the club to attend, with their spouse, a date, or a friend. We also need to get more than just members there. Please consider purchasing the ‘You Two + Two New’ ticket package, and bringing another couple with you.

Pearl Rotarians can buy a four-ticket package for $150–that’s $50 each for you and your spouse/date/guest, and just $25 each for two non-Rotarians. That purchase and single tickets for $50 can be secured online:

https://pearlrotary.tofinoauctions.com/2012/register

The success of our annual event depends on full engagement from the club. Volunteers are needed in many areas (a great first step: visit the website and buy tickets). Please volunteer by contacting:

• Anne O’Neill, leading the solicitation of auction items
• Dave Price, doing the same for corporate sponsorships
• Chris Swan, developing the theme, dress and decorations
• Lori Beight, coordinating Sign-up Parties (host a meal for 8-12 people)

From Mt. St. Helens to shipwrecks,
from presidents to pedestrian stories–
Mike Donahue, 40 years in TV journalism

For four decades, television journalist Mike Donahue had a constant presence in the lives of Oregonians. And when he spoke to Portland Pearl Rotary Aug. 14, two Rotarians proclaimed the recently retired KOIN-TV broadcaster, “our Walter Cronkite.”

“He was part of our lives for forty years,” Rotarian Nancy Fowler said in her introduction. His tenure began as a journalistic intern from the University of Oregon in 1968…and with the exception of 3-1/2 years of military duty, he was on duty as a reporter and anchor until his retirement on May 31, 2012.

Donahue’s 25-minute presentation included clips of him on the scenes of major news stories, beginning with his work before and during the May 18, 1980, eruption of Mt. St. Helens. Terming it “the biggest thing to happen here in two centuries,” Donahue showed clips of the devastation–seen from the press plane that accompanied President Jimmy Carter. More memorable than covering a president, Donahue said, was interviewing Harry Truman, the mountaineer who refused to leave his cabin despite warnings that a major volcano would take his life. “The mountain is part of me,” Truman had said. Reflected Donahue: “He is now a permanent part of the mountain.”

Major news stories defined Donahue’s domain–including the May 1986 tragedy on Mt. Hood when nine students and teachers from the Oregon Episcopal School froze to death; coverage of Gov. Tom McCall and the environment; and the 1999 shipwreck of the New Carissa which ran aground in a winter storm near Coos Bay.

When he began, there were just five channels on television; today, “you can access one thousand channels.”

“Cameras have advanced by leaps and bounds,” he continued. “This is not your father’s TV news today.”

But, he asked, “Is TV news better today?’ He answered: “Yes and no.”

Broadcast journalism is far more instant today, Donahue observed: “It’s news gathering ‘in the raw.’ It’s a rough first draft…In the rush to get on the air, it can be being first rather than right. You as viewers need to decide if you want speed rather than accuracy.”

He urged Rotarians to contact the local stations and demand what they want from television news in Portland. “What you see on TV is what the majority of people want to see,” Donahue said, referring to the crime and accident beats which so often dominate. “If you want something different, you need to speak up…

“It can be so much better if you play your role.”

Today retired at 66 and without the rush of deadlines, Donahue has time to perfect his rose garden and reflect: “I have more time for travel and to see some of God’s amazing creation.”

Save the date, buy your tickets:
“Puttin’ On The Pearl” 2012 is Oct. 19

Our annual gala is the biggest fundraising event of the year for our club, and is critical for supplying the Pearl Fund with the monies we use in support of our programs. A committee of Pearl Rotarians has been working to schedule and stage a revamped event that we believe will be highly successful…especially if we can engage all Pearl Rotarians in the cause. The basic details:

Name: “Puttin’ on the Pearl”
When: Friday evening, Oct. 19, 2012
Where: Castaway Portland, 1900 N.W.18th Ave. (Doors open: 5:30p.m.)
Cost: $50
Theme: ‘40s vibe

We are working on a theme hearkening back to the Forties–top hats, tails, dress-up. Here’s a chance to see everybody in their finest.

It’s going to be a fun event. But a more important reason to support this is our volunteer work in our neighborhood, in this city and across the world.

Plans are moving forward for entertainment, auctions (both live and silent), music, food and refreshments. We have hired a professional auctioneer who, I guarantee, will be a highlight of the “The Ritz.”

As ticket sales begin, we are implementing a very attractive way to assure a crowd (we’re setting our sights on 250 guests, and 300 would be even better). Pearl Rotarians can buy a four-ticket package for $150–that’s $50 each for you and your spouse/date/guest, and just $25 each for two non-Rotarians. That purchase and single tickets for $50 can be secured online:

https://pearlrotary.tofinoauctions.com/2012/register

The success of our annual event depends on full engagement from the club. Volunteers are needed in many areas (a great first step: visit the website and buy tickets). Please volunteer by contacting:

• Anne O’Neill, leading the solicitation of auction items
• Dave Price, doing the same for corporate sponsorships
• Chris Swan, developing the theme, dress and decorations
• Lori Beight, coordinating Sign-up Parties (host a meal for 8-12 people)
• Roger Devine, chairing this event (and I can find a role for every Rotarian!)