Immediate Past President is really grabbing the bull by the horns
and getting things moving for our annual "Christmas For The Kids."
It’s "A Gift That's Not Just Ornamental," said the San Jose Mercury
News . Held every year since 1973 members, spouses, friends and the Junior Exchange
Club from Yerba Buena High School help prepare and serve a dinner with all the
trimmings to children at risk gathered from a variety of shelters and programs
in the county. We trim a tree, sing Christmas carols, play games, and when Santa
Claus comes we hand out gifts. We give joy to kids who might otherwise know
very little joy in their lives.
Lori held a quick meeting on Tuesday after lunch to line up volunteers
for this great program. We still need some help. We need decorators, cooks,
buyers, tree trimmers, and lots of good cheer. Also, I have attached a sample
donor letter for Ursula Joosten who has volunteered to solicit food donations
for this years project so we can spend more on gifts for the children. Please
use the letter yourself wherever you shop or do business. Even the smallest
donation can help.
Please feel free to call Lori Formusa, Immediate Past President,
at 650-941-1494, if you have any questions. We thank you for support, and remember:
it’s "Christmas For The Kids."
Things are really looking good for our Christmas Social, Saturday,
December 7 at the home of Phillip & Diane Griego 6846 Trinidad Drive, San
Jose, California 95120. So far I have the following people signed up for the
event:
Rob Nuddleman and Lydia Flank Steak
Diane Lopez and Harold Wray Two Desserts
Ursula Joosten Salad and Bread
Jerry Hall and Diane Spinach Dip and Salad
Lori Formusa "Christmas Surprise?"
Lynda Brown homemade peanut brittle
I will supply beer, wine and soft drinks and some appetizers.
We still have some undecideds out there. Don't be shy. Especially you new members,
come join the fun. Call me at 293-6341 and let me know you will be there and
what you can bring to share.
Please remember our goal to double the size of our club before the end of my
term. This is not just a matter of increasing our numbers for this year. It
is necessary to bring in new members to train up the future leaders of Exchange
so that when we retire to that big club house in the sky, someone will carry
on the work we started.
We are off to a good start with six inductions within the first quarter. But,
we have slowed down. We have a new application from Max Schultz, Director of
Visitors and Information Bureau, SJ Convention Center. Max will make a great
contribution to the club with his many connections with city events and projects.
But we have much do yet. Don't be inhibited by the size of our club. The first
exchange club met in Detroit in 1911 with only 12 members. They elected officers
and adjourned with one task for the next meeting: bring in one new member. And
that's the way it started. We now have over 30,000 members nation wide.
So, in order to sweeten the pie, I am offering a dinner for two at the Silicon
Valley Capital Club high atop the Fairmont Plaza with a spectacular view of
the City at night to the member who brings in the most new members this year.
How about it. Are you up to the challenge? "Bring Just One" That's
all you committed to. But if your bring more, you enjoy a four star meal in
one of the most sought after dining experiences in the valley.
Here's my Tally so far.
Bonita Gibson - Jan Hahn
Phil Griego - Ursula Joosten (I don't count in this contest)
Diane Lopez - Harold Wray
The rest of you have ZERO. Three people can not build a club. It takes all of us working together. Please, ask someone to lunch. We'll do the rest.
Yours in Exchange,
Phil Griego, President of the Exchange Club of San Jose
Speaking of the SJPOA . . . Their 2003 Annual Drive is happening NOW! The men and women of the San Jose Police Officers' Association are dedicated to preserving our community, state and this great nation. To this end, the SJPOA urgently seeks your generous support with their annual fund raising drive.
The SJPOA does not solicit donations via telephone and does not use telemarketers. They rely on the generous donations of their supporters. Your donations are 100% tax-deductible and will be used solely to benefit the SJPOA membership and further its purposes.
Let's not forget that the SJPOA not only makes significant financial contributions to a number of our projects, they donate their hall for our annual Xmas Party for the underprivileged youth.
Two weeks ago Jesus Sanchez and Eric Martinez spoke to our Exchange club about the Restorative Justice Program. The Restorative Just Program is a diversion program for juvenile offenders. The program emphasizes restoring the victim and the community, as opposed to punishment. All parties get together to "restore" the situation.
The program has a 80-85% success rate for 1st and 2nd time youth offenders. The object of the program is to get the offenders to understand how the crime effects other people. The program focuses the violation of the spoken and unspoken relationships between the offenders, the victims, and society. There are three essential steps: (1) Accountability or ownership, (2) Competency Development, and (3) Community Protection. The program lasts three months and is only available in cases involving misdemeanors.
Volunteers from the community can participate in the program by participating on their local Neighborhood Accountability Board. The time commitment is only 5 hours per month. Volunteers conduct conferences with youth that have been referred by Santa Clara County Juvenile Probation Department for minor offenses and help create contracts with the youth that will hold them accountable for their actions. Joining the Neighborhood Accountability Board empowers your community and allows you to serve as a voice of the victim and promote Victim Restoration. You can help reduce and prevent crime in your community while assisting youth to make a positive change in his or her life.
If you are interested, contact one of the Restorative Justice Program at (408) 278-6063.
TopCovenant of Service
Accepting the divine privilege, of single and collective responsibility as life's noblest gift, I covenant with my fellow Exchangites:
To consecrate my best energies to the uplifting of Social, Religious, Political and Business ideals;
To discharge the debt I owe to those of high and low estate who have served and sacrificed that the heritage of American citizenship might be mine;
To honor and respect law, to serve my fellow men, and to uphold the ideals and institutions of my Country;
To implant the life-giving, society-building spirit of Service and Comradeship in my social and business relationships;
To better serve in Unity with those seeking better conditions, better understanding and greater opportunities for all.
Captains On Deck!
Date
Captain
Invocator
Finemaster
Speaker
Topic
11/12 Wray Biggs Brown Ursula Joosten Easy Ways to Stay in Shape 11/19
Formusa Gibson Griego
Sandy Burkhart Buy Art - Buy Wisely 11/26 Gunderson Hahn Hall Lee Wong KSJX100AM 12/3 Joosten Lopez Newgren 12/10 Nuddleman Posadas Rensen 12/17 Webb Wray Biggs 12/24 No Meeting 12/31 No Meeting
Dates for Your Calendar
