La Grande Rotary will meet at the Urban Vine in Island City, Tuesdays at Noon.

The address is 10105 W. 1st Street, Island City.  Parking is on the west side of the building.

Thanks our great sponsors for making this possible.

The eighth annual and “original” Daddy-Daughter Dance event is scheduled for March 4. Proceeds from this La Grande Rotary gala sponsors local scholarships, literacy programs, exchanges, community service projects, and other work aimed at serving the youth of this community. All information and ticket purchase can be found at: https://lagranderotary.org/ddd2023/

Downtown La Grande was swarming with animals, hobbits, wizards, and cartoon characters on Monday. It was Halloween, after all, and children were costumed and in pursuit of candy. Although La Grande Rotary and Mountain Valleys Reading Council had candy at their booth, they also had different treats to hand out: Children’s books and a READ TOGETHER! Bookmark. The bookmark had printed QR codes that link to videos that model how adults can read with children from infants through preschool age. Featured above is Connie Slater showing a parent how to access the two-minute videos that encourage reading in the home.  As an example of the videos, see:  https://vimeo.com/722779094

Click on the URL below to watch a 2 minute video showing a parent reading to their preschool child. These helpful videos demonstrate simple methods for reading with children. Read Together! videos were produced by a collaborative project of the La Grande Rotary, the Mountain Valleys Reading Council, Brent Clapp Media, and OTEC.  https://vimeo.com/722779094

This last Tuesday, David Melville, Executive Director of GO-STEM at EOU, gave a presentation about efforts to encourage and support STEM education in the seven east most counties of Oregon. The GO-STEM Hub offers professional development, resources and materials to teachers, and a network of services to schools. One of the most recent initiatives offered is the Mobile Maker Lab.  A van and trailer are being outfitted with industrial tools and materials to teach students maker and manufacturing processes. The Mobile Lab comes with a skilled mentor prepared to travel the schools of eastern Oregon to help our students learn how various tools are used and how related careers might follow.  For more information about all of GO-STEM’s programs, see GO-STEM.org

Steve Payne and Collette Zack presented their passion for mushrooms at La Grande Rotary this week. After their positive experience in using lions mane and reishi to help his Steve’s mom improve cognitive function and kidney health after brain surgery, they found their passion in researching mushrooms.  They have now embarked on a venture to help others by providing medicinal mushrooms to the community. As they search out native species and then explore ways to cultivate these locally, they hope to provide fresh, dried, and powered forms that people can add to their diet in a variety of ways. For more information you can email Steve at: matterhornmushrooms@gmail.com

Click on the URL below to watch a 2 minute video showing a parent reading to their infant child. These helpful videos demonstrate simple methods for reading with children. Read Together! videos were produced by a collaborative project of the La Grande Rotary, the Mountain Valleys Reading Council, Brent Clapp Media, and OTEC.

For the infant video click here https://vimeo.com/722779370

Captain Nick Richards, USN, Ret. spoke at La Grande Rotary this last Tuesday. His presentation focused on the USS Port Royal, the cruiser he commanded for four years. He demonstrated how the antimissile systems operated by sending a “bird” out every two seconds to intercept incoming missiles. These ships constantly patrol the seas and provide the United States with an umbrella of protection for the rest of the fleet. Captain Richards attended the recent decommissioning of the ship in Hawaii and reported that thus far, she has not been replaced.

Last Tuesday, La Grande Rotarians invited Special Olympics participants to an evening of food and fun. A dozen Rotarians served at the Riverside Park picnic. The photo above highlights Dave Koza and Jeff Crews’ antics in preparation. Grilled burgers and dogs and all the trimmings started the evening as honored guests munched down watermelon and cookies for desert. Capping the evening, a favored pastime, Bingo, won prizes for the guests. Each year, La Grande Rotarians hold the feast as a celebration of the accomplishments of Special Olympians and to mark the close of summer.