The Rotary Club of Three Creeks has yet again made a difference in Salmon Creek.

The club yesterday donated 50 new stuffed animals to the Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital’s foundation for children who are receiving care during the holiday season.

“We are so excited that we have the opportunity to provide these gifts to children who are receiving care at the hospital during this wonderful time of year,” said Club President Kelley Campbell. “One of our four priorities for giving is children, so having been asked to provide a little help for these children was well-timed and the club is more than happy to provide the stuffed animals.”

The donation was made through the club’s Charitable Giving Program, which provides small grants or gifts to nonprofits that show need through an application/request process that is reviewed by the club’s charitable giving committee and ratified by the club board of directors.

Susanne Holmberg, a member of the Charitable Giving Committee and founding president of the club, delivered the stuffed animals to the hospital on Wednesday, Dec. 16, and hospital staff immediately thought of at least one specific child who would love a cuddly toy.

“It was touching to know that one of those 50 stuffed animals would be delivered to a child right away,” Holmberg said. “This is what Rotarians do. We are People of Action and doing even something small like this makes a huge difference to someone.”

The Three Creeks Charitable Giving Committee has been busy in 2020. Before this donation, the club had already given $1,000 to ShelterBox USA, an organization that provides disaster relief shelter, $1,000 to LULAC Southwest Washington, and $850 to the United Way of Lane County, Ore., for wildfire relief.

Money raised from Dancing with the Local Stars, the club’s major fundraiser each year, allows the club to make meaningful donations across the community. Details of the Charitable Giving program are on the club’s website at https://www.rotaryofthreecreeks.com/charitable-giving.html.

Kinsey Dhoot became the newest Rotarian in the World at our club meeting on Thursday, Dec. 3, when past president Susanne Holmberg and future membership director Carol Mackey crashed Kinsey's front door for a (mostly) masked & distanced induction ceremony.

As she wrote in her application, "I am a mother, wife, sociologist, humanitarian, and educator. I love traveling and have traveled to over 20 countries. I fell in love with Rotary long ago when I observed their compassionate action helping people locally, nationally, and internationally. Since I was a little girl, I knew my purpose was to help make this world become a better place. Rotary is a supportive, fun, and genuine place that truly makes the world a better place. I always feel at home when I am with Rotary! I have the best husband in the world and two amazing children. My son is turning 6 years old (he loves science) and my daughter just turned 4 (she loves to sing & dance). I was born in Anchorage, Alaska and have most my family in Yakima, WA and Seattle, WA. I am currently creating a program to help teens heal and coach them to optimize becoming who they want to be."

Kinsey is a teacher in the Evergreen Public Schools. She holds Masters in Teaching & Curriculum Instructions National Board Certified Teacher Bachelor of Science in History & Social Sciences (WSU graduate).

Welcome to the club Kinsey!

North County Rotary Club makes first contribution from its community grant program
    
For the first time, the Rotary Club of Three Creeks has made a contribution from its Community Grants Program.

On Friday, the club announced it approved a $1,000 grant to ShelterBox USA for the purchase of a ShelterBox. ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and tools for displaced families.

“It’s exciting to announce that we have the opportunity to share some of the money we’ve raised through Dancing with the Local Stars with a great organization like ShelterBox, which truly does make a difference,” said Club President Kelley Campbell. “Whether it’s giving shelter to refugees who are stranded due to political conflict or those who’ve lost everything in a natural disaster, ShelterBox is there to provide for those in need.”

Mike Robinson, a member of the Lewis River Rotary Club, is a ShelterBox volunteer locally, who submitted the grant application to the Rotary Club of Three Creeks.

“Natural disasters and conflicts don’t take holidays and ShelterBox doesn’t either,” Robinson said. “It’s the most vulnerable who need the basic necessity of shelter, no matter where they are, and we are here to help. We are grateful for this grant, which will provide another box to a family in need of shelter and tools to navigate a crisis in their lives.”

Three Creeks’ Community Grants Program is an opportunity for 501(c)3 nonprofits across Clark County to apply for small grants, funded by the club’s annual Dancing with the Local Stars 2.0 fundraiser. The program requires applications, which are considered by the club’s charitable giving committee and ultimately approved by the club’s board of directors. More information about the program can be found at www.rotaryofthreecreeks.com/charitable-giving.html.

Through its major giving, the Three Creeks club partnered with the North County Community Food Bank to provide a $10,000 grant. This year, Three Creeks provided another $7,000 NCCFB, but also gave $7,000 a piece to Clark County Food Bank and FISH of Vancouver. The priority, due to COVID-19’s impact on the economy, was to provide assistance in secure access to food for families across Clark County.

This is a reminder to submit your interest for the District 5100’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Force. Rotary District 5100 has identified a need for a task force devoted to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. The objective of the task force will be to foster understanding and inclusivity within our Rotarian community made up of Rotary, Rotaract & Interact clubs. The task force will serve as a resource board and support network for those looking to address diversity, equity & inclusion within their respective clubs. The District is looking to fill the task force with 15 Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors that:

• Have personal/professional/educational experience within DEI and who have a passion for advancing these efforts within Rotary
• Have Rotary experience
• Are representative of our district geography
• Represent a range of diversity in terms of age, background, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, etc.

If you would like to join this task force, please email District5100DEI@gmail.com and share with us why you are interested in participating. Please email your interest no later than August 31st, as the District intends to have the Task Force up and running as soon as possible.

Once we receive interest, we will begin a more formal application process. The District leadership team is consulting with DEI subject matter experts on the selection process.

District 5100 is excited to support and grow alongside you as we look to create inclusive practices within our clubs and district. Thank you for your continued commitment to service and upholding the values of Rotary (Leadership, Friendship, Integrity, Diversity and Service).

With its pop up food drive held last Saturday, the Rotary Club of Three Creeks collected more than a quarter ton of food for those feeling the pains of food insecurity in our community.

President Kelley Campbell and Membership Director Eric Lucescu gathered a combined total of 587 pounds of food and $100 for FISH of Vancouver. Kelley and Eric delivered the food, much of which included gluten free options.
Service Projects Director Andi Costello put together this food drive, with drop sites in Ridgefield and Hazel Dell. She strongly encouraged donors to consider giving gluten-free non-perishable items as local food pantries receive daily requests for gluten-free products.

Three food banks in Clark County just got a bit of a boost, thanks to the Rotary Club of Three Creeks.

The club last week voted to donate $7,000 each to the Clark County Food Bank, FISH of Vancouver, and the North County Community Food Bank.

“Food insecurity in our community is a very serious concern while we navigate through the COVID-19 Pandemic,” said Club President Kelley Campbell. “More than ever, food banks in Clark County are struggling to meet the demand for food, and one of our giving priorities is to assure that people in our community have the things they need.”

The club raised more than $40,000 at its 2020 Dancing with the Local Stars – the last major live, in person, fundraiser in the Clark County community before the COVID shut down events across the community, turning them to virtual events.

“Thank you so very much to you and each of the Rotary Club of Three Creeks members for this honor to continue our great partnership,” said North County Community Food Bank Executive Director Liz Cerveny. “This gift comes at a time when many in our communities are facing dire situations. Our organizations ability to step in and help alleviate some of their burdens provides each of these individuals, families or seniors an immediate sense of relief. COVID-19 is having far reaching impacts on many and our organizations are here to help those in our community who are facing hardships.”

The Rotary Club of Three Creeks also gave North County Community Food Bank a $10,000 grant in 2019, the first major donation the club awarded in its short history.

While these three $7,000 donations are a portion of the funds raised from Dancing with the Local Stars, the club also has a grant program targeted at nonprofits in the community. Details of that program are on the club’s website at https://www.rotaryofthreecreeks.com/charitable-giving.html.

ABOUT ROTARY CLUB OF THREE CREEKS
The Rotary Club of Three Creeks is an innovative club in its fourth year of existence. The club has attracted half of its members from the under 50 demographic and is 50-50 gender balanced. It has a firm root in community service, following the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” and meets just twice a month (first and third Thursdays), normally at Creed Coffee Co. in Felida.

ABOUT CLARK COUNTY FOOD BANK
Clark County Food Bank is a regional food bank that distributes over 8 million pounds of food and 6.7 million meals a year. They partner with 43 partners at 130 distribution sites to serve the food insecure in our community. With 65,000 hungry individuals in Clark County, the need is great, but the Food Bank is here to help.

ABOUT FISH OF VANCOUVER
FISH of Vancouver provides emergency nutritionally balanced food without charge, to anyone declaring their need. It is the intent of FISH of Vancouver to provide a 3-5 day supply of food, called a “full meal deal,” once a month to any person declaring their need.

ABOUT NORTH COUNTY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK
North County Food Bank serves an average of 650-700 families monthly, nearly 11,000 clients in total. They are an affiliate of the Clark County Food Bank and one of the only local distributors of USDA commodities, including shelf stable milk, cheese, canned beans and meat, and rice. North County Food Bank offers a number of services and resources to clients across the county. Their focus is to solve problems and support a healthy, thriving community.

It was a sign of the times on Saturday, June 27 when President Scot Brantley virtually passed the Presidential Baton to Kelley Campbell, marking the fourth transition of presidents in our club.

With 14 members and one guest witnessing the transition on Zoom, and eight members in person at Scot & Ashley's house, turnout was great.

In his final address to the club, Scot noted a number of the club's accomplishments, despite spending the last 108 days in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

• 15 service projects in 12 months.
• The club's first-ever international service project
  
• The first-ever virtual Rotary service project in Clark County
  
• Finishing the year with 35 members
  
• And so much more.
  

There's a lot for the Rotary Club of Three Creeks to be proud of in 2019-20.

Congratulations on a successful year as president, Scot. You did a great job!

July is Rotary’s New Leadership Month. Congratulations to all the new Club Presidents! 
 
Rotary has designated months to help clubs Develop meeting agendas, projects, or public image campaigns based on these special occasions. The Concept is to give all the clubs of the District a Ready Reckoner of the types of Service Projects, which could be indulged, during the Year, and help plan the activities of the year, mostly based on the Rotary Calendar i.e. Rotary Designated Months.

Twelve members of Clark County’s newest Rotary provide community service
                                                       
CLARK COUNTY, Wash. – The Rotary Club of Three Creeks completed 79 hours of service to the community during its first-ever “virtual service project” April 4-5 around the county. 

Twelve club members, plus family members in many cases, worked together – but separate in respect for social distancing protocol and to not create a gathering – across Clark County to volunteer for the good of others. Those 12 different Rotarians and their family members turned in a total of 79 hours of service, completing a total of 17 projects over two days.

• Current club president Scot Brantley and his wife Ashley mowed and weeded a neighbor’s yard, purchased and delivered dinners for elderly in the community who are staying in, bought groceries for a friend who was recently laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and reached out to 30 different people for welfare checks asking if there was anything the Brantley family could do for them
• Past club presidents Susanne & Nelson Holmberg spent 90 minutes packing boxes and stocking shelves at North County Community Food Bank
• Nelson Holmberg spent 90 minutes replacing a door on one of the club’s Rotary Book Nook neighborhood libraries
• Nelson Holmberg spent an hour pressure washing neighbors’ sidewalks
• Jolene Nelson and her daughters made cloth masks and delivered them to local grocery store and hospitals
• Kelley Campbell and her daughters sewed cloth masks
• Andi Costello baked Seven Layer Bars for a neighbor who’s staying home
• Rian Davis picked up trash in his neighborhood and at a local park
• Samantha Moullet picked up litter in her neighborhood and at a local park
• Tina Vlachos contributed to Kyria McGillis mask-making cause
• Vlachos also made in-home survival kits for friends and clients
• Lisa Abrahamsson purchased and delivered groceries to an elderly neighbor
• Lisa Kurtz and her husband Dave picked up and delivered sanitizing wipes; picked up and delivered protective facemasks; and picked up and delivered food in Ridgefield
• Jim Selby prepared garden markers for a community garden at the Salmon Creek Church. This garden provides half of its crops to residents of a nearby trailer park

“I’m so proud of how our club stepped up and provided service in this innovative structure during a crazy time in our world,” said club president Scot Brantley. “To see close to half of our membership make a difference in each individual member’s way, and involve some of their family members, too, is simply inspiring.”

Brantley added this was the 46th service project completed by the club, which is only three and a half years old. He also said he’s not surprised to see his club step out and be different.

“Just the fact that we tried something new, again, and made it successful,” Brantley said, “is really very exciting. It truly is what makes our club unique.”