Following our board of directors’ monthly meeting, President Vivien called our Club meeting to order at 12 Noon. She led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance & 4-way test. A moment of silence and reflection followed.
Guests: Julia Huested, guest of Emily
March is – “World Understanding Month”
There were two pin or name badge fines imposed today.
Announcements/Sad-Happy-Brag Bucks:
Fofo goes to Santa Barbara tomorrow. Also, thanks for the $500 donation to the NM Jazz Workshop scholarship fund.
Karen said that it’s filing day for candidates! She’s all ready to go.
Emily parted with two bucks. One was for a happy visit from her granddaughter and the second was to invite all to her estate sale.
Michael’s happy to have submitted his Ghana project hours to Emily.
Libby found that her driver’s license expired today. She was terribly happy to have spent only 9 minutes at the MVD. There was only one other person there.
Sgt-at-Arms Cheryl presented five weekly spring trivia questions:
The person with the most correct answers wins a prize this week. True or False-
On the first day of spring, there are equal periods of day & night… True.
During the Vernal Equinox, can an egg stand on end?... False
What are two Western states that border on each other, known as the Easter lily states? CA & Oregon.
Baby birds must learn how to sing… True they must learn their species song.
There is such a thing as “Spring Fever”… True.
Judy won with four correct answers. For this knowledge, she won herself a pair of St. Patty’s day sox.
Club, District & R.I. News and Business:
President Vivien asked the membership to help run the Club in the new year. Also, she noted that R.I. has communicated their desire for our compliance with local authorities, re: Covid virus meeting cancellations.
At this morning’s board meeting, we’ve committed $700 to sponsor one RYLA camper. Since we haven’t found a camper of our own, President Vivien has set up an arrangement with the Del Norte Club, to sponsor an “extra” camper of theirs.
In addition, the board has approved donations to RGFP, Horizons, NM Jazz Workshop and the Ghana/Theodora Project.
Judy announced that we’ll be having a St. Pat’s social event at next week’s meeting.
At our 17 March meeting, Julia will be inducted into the fellowship of Rotary and she’ll tell us all about her past, present and future life.
There’ll be a presentation of an Honorary Member certificate to Tom Gallagher on 24 March.
Our yearly EREY donations to the Rotary International Foundation, for whatever the amount that you can afford, should take the form of a check written to “The Rotary Foundation”. Also note on the check that it’s for “Annual Fund Share”. Your donation will be credited to your Paul Harris Fellow Recognition. Give your checks to Gloria, ASAP. You should really note your Rotary membership number on that check.
Please remember our work day scheduled at the Rock at Noonday, 12 March, 10:30 AM to 1:15 PM.
Donna’s looking for a Club to host the Brazilian RFE group on April 14 - 24.
Our RFE group is going TO District 4845 (Paraguay and NE Argentina) from April 21 to May 2, 2020.
During June 12-26, 2020, our District will host a Rotary Friendship Exchange group from Australia. Interested in providing a place for them to stay? Respond to Donna at pedaceabq@aol.com or to Regina at raeguest65@swcp.com.
Club members provide program speakers for each month of the Rotary Year:
March– Judy & Libby April– Dave May– Emily June– Pam
There are no March Club member birthday anniversary celebrants.
Today’s Program: Pegasus Legal Services for Children
Libby introduced Sophie Asher & Morgan Demic, lawyers from the Pegasus Law Firm.
Pegasus was founded in 2002 by two Albuquerque lawyers. They believed that children and youth outside of the foster care system would also benefit from access to legal services. Pegasus was incorporated under New Mexico state law in April of 2002, and received its initial 501(c)(3) determination letter in February of 2003.
Pegasus provides civil legal services to children and youth in dire situations. Most of the clients they serve have suffered extreme hardships such as abuse and neglect. Clients are helped to find positive, long-term solutions. Also offered are a range of services to homeless and runaway youth, teen parents, children in the abuse/neglect system, children being raised by their grandparents, and children who have been denied appropriate educational services.
Pegasus provides:
· Legal representation to families seeking to enforce their children’s right to a free and appropriate education, with a particular focus on the needs of children with disabilities. They work with child protective services and the judiciary to ensure that the educational needs of children in foster care are met.
· Legal services to grandparents and other kinship caregivers taking care of children whose parents are unable or unwilling to provide them with proper care. The Guardianship Legal Helpline, a project of Pegasus and Law Access New Mexico, provides information, advice, and assistance to self-represented litigants in kinship guardianship cases statewide. Pegasus also provides full service direct legal representation in contested guardianship cases in many parts of the state.
· (Youth Law Project) Legal representation to youth on a range of legal issues including emancipation, family law for young parents, access to health and mental health care, and helping youth transition from foster care to adulthood. Pegasus prioritizes services to youth who are homeless, parents, or transitioning from foster care. Pegasus does not serve parents over age 25 in family law matters.
· Representation of children and youth in foster care as guardians ad litem for children up to age 14, and as attorneys for children 14 and older, in the Seventh Judicial District which includes Torrance, Socorro, Sierra and Catron counties.
· Pegasus works with policy makers to ensure that children’s needs and rights are taken into consideration in the development of state and local laws, policies and regulations.
1500 clients were helped last year, by a staff of five attorneys.
Pegasus is funded by State funding, Federal grants, Fundraising events, The United Way and by private donations.
The firm also provides brochures as listed below:
Pegasus Agency Brochure
Consent to Healthcare Printable Brochure
Paternity Printable Brochure
Child Custody and Timesharing Printable Brochure
Mental Health Rights Printable Brochure
Getting Into School Printable Brochure
Kinship Guardianship Printable Brochure
Need more information? Go to http://pegasuslaw.org
Or call (505) 244-1101
In appreciation of today’s program, President Vivien presented Sophie & Morgan with packets of Fofo’s lemonade mix which support her charities in Haiti.
There being no further Rotary business, at 1:00 PM our meeting was concluded and we vacated the premises.
Programs, Happenings and Stuff & Such:
12 Mar Member work day scheduled at the Rock at Noonday, 10:30 AM to 1:15 PM
15 Mar The Ides of March!!! Don’t attend any forums today… You’ll be sorry.
17 Mar Regular Meeting
17 Mar St. Patrick’s Day – It’s Party Time.
19 Mar Spring Begins!
24 Mar Regular Meeting
26-27 Mar President Elect Training Seminar in Ruidoso
27-29 Mar District Conference in Ruidoso
31 Mar Regular Meeting
1 Apr Foolishness Day
7 Apr Regular Meeting
9 Apr Passover
10 Apr Good Friday
14 Apr Board Meeting at 10:30 AM
14 Apr Regular Meeting
15 Apr TAX DAY!
18 Apr Governors Ball at Sandia Resort & Casino!
21 Apr Regular Meeting
28 Apr Regular Meeting
10 May Mother’s Day
25 May Memorial Day
6-10 June 2020 Rotary International Convention in Honolulu
11 June King Kamehameha Day
21 June Father’s Day
23 or 30 June Installation of New Officers
1 July The new Rotary Year Begins!
12-18 July Boys RYLA
18-24 July Girls RYLA
Thanks to members for assisting with setting up & striking Club equipment used to run our meeting.