By JULIANNE HOMOKAY
Special to the Alpine Mountaineer
In an age when more and more of life is happening online, when more people are finding reasons not to leave their homes and the nonprofit fundraising model is becoming a hashtag and a text message, there are a few traditional civic organizations that are holding out for that in-person engagement.
Rotary is one of the most prominent here on the mountain, as evidenced by a community meet-and-greet sponsored by the Crestline-Lake Gregory Rotary Club held at Goodwin & Sons Market from 5 to 7 p.m. on April 29.
As described on rotary.org, “Rotary is a global network of more than 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change.” The Crestline-Lake Gregory Club has a 58-year tradition in the area.
The April 29 meeting “was to find out what the community needs and how we can work with other people,” said Mary-Justine Lanyon, a past president and president-elect of the club. In the invitation to the meet and greet, Lanyon noted their district, District 5330, has encouraged clubs to conduct a community needs assessment. “We chose instead to meet with the community and have a conversation,” she said.
Smiling man and woman indoors at event.
In addition to guests from the other two Rotary clubs on the mountain, Mountain Sunrise and Lake Arrowhead, a handful of willing community members with some great ideas attended the meeting.
Some project ideas were recreational: the funding and buildout of a community swimming pool and support for Jonathan Thompson as he strives to rebuild Foxhound Studios and its attendant event venue from damage sustained during the snowstorm of 2023.
Some ideas were more service-oriented in nature: finding ways to support the Mountain Rim Fire Safe Council and their efforts to help all community members create the all-important defensible space around their homes; or partnering with the Crest Forest Senior Citizens Club to raise funds for their benevolence fund, a program that strives to aid seniors in the community who are experiencing financial hardship; or partnering with the Mountain Homeless Coalition to identify root causes of homelessness and devise solutions.
Environmental awareness and emergency preparedness, including CPR and basic first-aid training and town-wide Wi-Fi, were also hot topics.
As the discussion evolved, attention kept being drawn back to the need for community support for our seniors. Mike Johnstone, the vice president of Goodwin & Sons Inc., cited the acute needs of many of the seniors his delivery drivers encounter on their routes, from clients who need personal or medical assistance, assistance maintaining their homes or even something as simple as walking their dogs.
In coordinating needs and offering a menu of services, “Rotarians could help take the lead on that,” said Jeri-Lynn Miller, the current president of the Crestline-Lake Gregory club.
Miller welcomed the chance to encourage volunteers to work with the Rotarians on projects big or small. Lanyon shared that many other clubs in District 5330 participate in a service project every month. Those, she noted, don’t have to big – they can be as simple as picking up trash around town.
District Governor Nyron McLean was in attendance to lend his support and answer questions about Rotary as an organization. “Rotary likes that collaboration between multiple entities,” he offered. Johnstone suggested that his delivery service could partner with Rotary and other willing volunteers to help connect senior clients with resources.
“That seems to be the theme of the day,” concluded Miller.
For more information on the Crestline-Lake Gregory Rotary Club and volunteering opportunities, visit https://www.facebook.com/CrestlineLGRotary.
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