The volunteer project for the week was food sorting at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano located at 4010 Nelson Ave. in Concord. The turn out was great, we had 28 people. Over 4 1/2 tons of fruit and vegetables were bagged on Monday.
1,180 pounds of squash
3,553 pounds of plums
2,115 pounds of apples
1,492 pounds of pears
687 pounds of oranges
9,068 pounds of fruit and vegetables!!
Please join us for our next volunteer project! Here are the benefits of volunteering and giving back:
💥 Gain confidence 💥 Make a difference 💥 Meet people 💥 Be part of a community 💥 Learn new skills 💥 Take on a challenge 💥 Combats depression 💥 helps counteract the effects of stress, anger, and anxiety 💥 Makes you happy & feel good 💥 Provides a sense of purpose 💥 Have fun❣️
The Rotary Club of Concord-Diablo was the recipient of the 2019 Margaret Lesher Award this past July. This award is given to an organization or foundation that has demonstrated exceptional partnership with Project Second Chance, the Contra Costa County Library adult literacy program. This small but mighty club has supported PSC for many years in many ways. Thank you Project Second Chance. The Rotary Club of Concord Diablo was honored to attend the annual Recognition Event and grateful to be the recipient of this award. We were inspired by the student authors that spoke at the event.
Project Second Chance offers free, confidential, one-on-one basic literacy instruction to people who read or write below the 6th grade level. Students are over the age of 16, out of high school, and speak English well enough to communicate over the telephone and in person.
Thank you to our outgoing President, Edi Birsan! It was an awesome day to celebrate with a pool party on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at the Clarion Hotel. It was beautiful, sunny and hot with burgers, hot dogs, spirits, friends and family. Thank you to all who attended.
Past President of 2017/2018, Kathy Lafferty had the honor of pinning Edi Birsan with his Past President Rotary Pin. Welcome to our incoming President 2019/2020, Patricia Ramirez. We are looking forward to another exciting year.
Thank you for all the support for our July 4, 2019 Pancake Breakfast!
It was a beautiful day at Todos Santos Park in Concord, California on July 4, 2019. The day started at 5:30 A.M. with the full support of the Rotary Club of Concord Diablo and other local Rotary Clubs. The day was full of events: The Kids Fun Run, Stars & Stripes 5k Run, the Independence Day Parade followed by the festival and fireworks.
Breakfast was served until there was no more to serve. The Pancake Breakfast was a success and all funds raised will benefit our local community of Concord.
Once again, thank you to all who came out and supported the Rotary Club of Concord Diablo and to our sponsors. If you are interested in volunteering, please join us for dinner or lunch during our regular meeting times.
Rotary’s 110th annual convention concludes; one of Hamburg’s most multicultural, non-profit gatherings
More than 26,000 registrants representing 3,605 Rotary clubs in 170 countries
Rotary commits US$102 million this year to end polio
Hamburg gains €24 million in tourism revenue
First German nominated to serve as Rotary International president in 2020
mytaxi donates €70,000 to German Rotary club projects
35 speeches and 98 breakout sessions
334 exhibit booths of which 200 featured Rotary humanitarian projects
HAMBURG, Germany (5 June 2019): As Rotary closes its 110th annual international meeting at the Hamburg Messe und Congress on 5 June, Rotary members will bring home indelible memories and new insights on how to improve lives and bring positive, lasting change to communities around the world.
In his keynote address, Rotary International President Barry Rassin said, “Service to others is an integral part of our mission, whether it’s through the plans and actions of individual clubs, Rotary’s six areas of focus, or the transformational support of The Rotary Foundation. And the service that most defines us and our global mission is the ongoing goal to rid the world of polio.”
Alongside partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Rotary has achieved a 99.9 percent reduction in polio cases since spearheading the initiative more than 30 years ago. Since then, Rotary members have contributed $1.9 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries from polio. Today, just two countries continue to report cases of wild poliovirus, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Rotary is committed to raising $50 million per year, with every dollar to be matched with two additional dollars through a matching agreement with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Including the matching funds, Rotary is committing another US$102 million this year to fund polio eradication efforts in 13 countries.
Michel Zaffran, director of polio eradication for the World Health Organization (WHO) presented on the progress and global significance of the initiative. “We’re truly on the cusp of eradicating a disease for only the second time in human history,” said Zaffran. “Our responsibility is nothing less than to ensure that no child anywhere will ever again be paralyzed by the poliovirus.”
German Rotary members have contributed more than US$31 million to end polio, and on 1 July 2020, Holger Knaack, owner of the real estate company Knaack KG, will oversee this effort as the first German to serve as Rotary International president. Knaack of Ratzeburg said, “I’m honored to have the confidence and support of Rotary’s 1.2 million members,” said Knaack. “As president, I plan to highlight the best Rotary has to offer where people of all backgrounds can see themselves reflected in our service and impact.”
During the four-day event, attendees heard from an array of world class speakers, including:
Dr. Peter Tschentscher, First Mayor of Hamburg
Dr. Gerd Müller, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development
On the closing day, Eckart Diepenhorst, CEO of mytaxi presented a check for €70,000, representing 100 percent of the proceeds from all rides to and from the Hamburg Messe from 31 May through 5 June to support the following German Rotary club projects:
A bee pasture project developed by the Rotary Club of Ahrensburg to help the dwindling bee and butterfly populations;
Emotions Training for Autism, developed by Rotaract Germany, to support those with autism spectrum disorder thrive; and
About Rotary:Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. Germany’s 56,000 members and 1,100 clubs are taking action to make the world a better place at home and abroad.
