Rotary 9/17/2025 speaker Rosemary Takacs
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17 Sep. 2025 |
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 Palm Valley Rotary
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A Message From Your (Club) President)
Dear Rotarians of the Palm Valley Dinner Club,
Hey, about that last meeting? I bet many of you didn’t know there was civilization west of the Mississippi, right? Burning Old Man Glum in Santa Fe. Do you know who owns the rights to this event? I will share it with you on Wednesday. And the Hatch Chile (not Chili) Festival. Did everyone enjoy the roasted Big Jim Chiles? Whoops, I should have brought some Pepto-Bismol.
September 17 – Rotary Meeting - AN HISTORIC EVENT.
This Wednesday’s meeting is going to be nothing short of HISTORIC. How HISTORIC of an EVENT? Well, let’s just say it could rival the invention of the wheel, Chichen Itza, the Magna Carta, and sliced bread. Maybe one of the most HISTORIC EVENTS that has and will impact your life. You do NOT want to miss this meeting!
Our Speaker: Rosemary Takacs on International Water Projects
Yes, another speaker on water! (Am I the only one noticing a theme here?) But Rosemary Takacs brings a depth of knowledge and experience that makes it worth our time:
- Former President of Partnering for Peace, focusing on global development.
- Rotary veteran: Jacksonville-Oceanside member, past Ponte Vedra Beach member.
- Two-time Peace Corps volunteer (Paraguay, 1988-90; Guatemala, 2015-16).
- Active in WASH projects—because clean water still changes lives.
We’ll be calling on Rosemary to help us pursue an international water grant with neighboring clubs. If anyone can lead us to success, it’s her.
Club Charities & Service
As highlighted in one of my most popular and most read newsletters on September 3, (critics called it “an Edward R. Murrow column”, it was so well written), our club has narrowed down charities to support that align with these three service areas:
- Youth & Education
- Food Security, Homeless Support, Disaster Relief & Emergency Services
- Communities with Disabilities
One of our esteemed members will announce the specific charities. Please act impressed.
The HISTORIC Raffle of the Century
New Year’s Eve is only 108 short days away, which means The Historic Raffle of the Century is coming upon us. Unlike other clubs, we don’t bill you for tickets (you’re welcome). Instead, we ask each member to please sell five $100 tickets and/or find sponsors.
To make it fun, we’re forming football-style teams. Think: Rocky the Bull stomping a Gator, Baylor Bears taming the SMU Ponies, or Seminoles firing flaming arrows at a very confused elephant. Dave Gleason will discuss the teams.
Club Social – Sunday, September 21 at Mr. Chubby’s
From 12:30 to 4:00 PM, bring family, friends, and football fans to watch the Jaguars march toward another inevitable Super Bowl run. I, sadly, will be unavailable, road touring with Matthew and Zanne through gas stations, fast food joints, and maybe a few colleges. But rest assured, I’ll be there in spirit (and probably indigestion).
New Mexico Hold’ UM
Some of you are getting into a position to have the winning hand at New Mexico Hold' Um. We are keeping track of the cards you have drawn so you don’t have to, and preventing a member from being tempted by the Devil to cheat. Yes, we are saving souls while being Rotarians.
Rotary Trivia & The Billion-Dollar Lotto Dream
Sharpen your Rotary trivia skills, and you might walk away with a lottery ticket worth a billion dollars. Hey, someone has to win—it may as well be a Rotarian.
Your Humble Servant & Keeper of the Gavel,
Will