CLUB LAUNCHES DRIVE-IN SERIES
October fundraiser is the group’s latest project
South Ukiah Rotary is one of 35,000 Rotary clubs located in over 200 countries with a global network of 1.2 million business and professional leaders whose members volunteer their time and talents to serve their communities and the world.
Due to COVID, unable to hold their main fundraisers this year—the Ukiah Triathlon and Guitars for the Troops— South Ukiah Rotary will be hosting a DriveIn Movie Series at the old Masonite property for three weekends beginning on Friday, Oct. 2.
Carol Myer, a Rotarian for 19 years, says their new president, Lisa Davey-bates, came up with the idea as a way to fundraise during these restrictive times and allow the organization to continue serving with their money, time and energy.
One of their highly successful projects began with a dinner/fundraiser at Barra Winery a couple of years ago to raise money to provide a garden and nutrition program in a hospital in Rwanda. Matched by funding from the regional and international organizations of Rotary, the project is up and running with established Rotarian contacts on the ground ensuring that implementation moves in the right direction
The Weekend Backpack Program (temporarily suspended with school closures) at Oak Manor has Rotarians filling backpacks full of food on Fridays, throughout the school year, for qualified students and their families.
South Ukiah Rotary partners with the Redwood Empire Food Bank of Santa Rosa for the Senior Drop Program staffed by Club members who deliver groceries to seniors in need on the first and third Thursdays of each month.
A new project under consideration by the Club and the Redwood Empire Food Bank is a Groceries to Go program (already begun in Willits) in Ukiah, to establish a drive thru food distribution location for anyone in the community who is in need.
Members participate in cleanups around town; their most recent was two weeks ago on Low Gap Road.
Volunteers go into the elementary schools and teach the national nonprofit Junior Academy curriculum to all second-graders in the district.
“It’s a teaching tool kit for K-12 students that helps them understand the connection between education and jobs or careers and learn soft skills such as showing up on time, being friendly and working hard,” says Myer.
They donate money to West Company for businesses that have been impacted by the epidemic; supply disaster boxes, a tent and food for a family to survive during the initial period of a catastrophe; donate to a fund for fire victims; and plant trees in burned out areas between Lake and Mendocino counties.
Still in the planning stages, their local project for this year will help with the beautification of the new Downtown Cityscape on State Street including plants, trees and benches.
Guitars for the Troops, begun in 2011, is an annual event held in November, as close to Veteran’s Day as possible, at Carl Purdy Hall with dinner, bands and dancing with all proceeds going toward programs that support veterans.
Inspired by a pamphlet at an international Rotary conference in New Orleans describing a plan to give free guitars to military personnel, the fundraiser has grown to include a number of other programs that support veterans including Operation Tango Mike in Lake County that sends care packages to troops deployed throughout the world; the Angel Fund of the Community Foundation of Mendocino County that provides financial assistance to various needs of veterans; and the Canine Companions for Independence in Santa Rosa that trains companion dogs for those who suffer from PTSD.
The Club’s biggest fundraiser, the Ukiah Triathlon, will be canceled for the second time since its inception 25 years ago—the first was when Lake Mendocino had insufficient water for the swim—proceeds from which pay for all their local and international projects.
So, nimbly pivoting as so many other organizations have had to do to sustain their good work, it’s off to the drive-in with a showing of six movies, sure to please, with something for everyone.
The Club has worked with the county to get all the required safety permits for the Drive-in Series; viewers can tune into their car radios for sound; and concessions will be available.
First, on Friday, Oct. 2, an iconic ’80s teen comedy about a high school slacker who skips school for a day in Chicago; and on Saturday, twin brothers join forces to pull off one last criminal heist in this animated 2017 hit.
Then, on Friday, Oct. 16, an ’ 80s blockbuster film about an archaeologist and adventurer racing against Hitler’s Nazi Army to locate a powerful artifact; and on Saturday, friends spend one last night together before summer vacation ends in this 1973 coming of age film about hot rods, cruisin’ and the early days of rock and roll.
Finally, on Friday, Oct. 23 and just in time for Halloween, join Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley and Wednesday for this 2019 animated supernatural comedy; and on Saturday, a blockbuster 1993 science fiction adventure film about an island wildlife park with de- extinct dinosaurs.
It’s a BYOSB ( bring your own social bubble) event and tickets are $ 30 per car with a limit of 75 cars per show. For more information (and movie titles) go to: www.southukiahrotary.org or visit their Facebook page.