Dr. Ed Manansala has been the County Superintendent of Schools for El Dorado County for nearly five years. We look forward to his important presentation about how the Covid-19 virus is impacting our local schools and learn what is being done to ensure a safe learning environment. Will our schools ever return to "normal?" What agencies are involved in deciding when schools can re-open and resume activities? How are restrictions impacting students, parents and teachers?
Dr. Manansala’s tenure as the County Superintendent has been marked by strong collaboration with education and community leaders to increase achievement, equity, and successfully implement the California Statewide System of Support.
Before becoming the County Superintendent, he began his career as the Coordinator of Learning Support Services with the Sacramento City Unified School District. He transitioned to the Principal and Superintendent of St. HOPE Public Schools. As the Principal of Sacramento High School, the school demonstrated significant academic growth, and the four-year college acceptance rate increased from 25% to 75%.
Dr. Manansala is the Vice Chair of the State Board of Education’s California Practitioners Advisory Group, and currently serves on the CA Special Education Finance Study Technical Advisory Committee. He was the 2018 President of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association and served on Governor Newsom’s Charter School Task Force
Dr. Manansala has the commitment and vision to be bold for students and to create the conditions for all students to flourish in college, a career, and civic engagement.
Our speaker was Cecelia Babkirk, who joined the Peace Corps in June of 2019 when she retired after 45 years in the mortgage business. She went from the Silicon Valley to Soda, a rural town in the poorest region of Ethiopia. After three months of “post arrival” training, she served as a 11th grade English teacher at a high school with over 800 students. In March, she was suddenly evacuated along with other global Peace Corps volunteers due to Covid-19. The emergency evacuation was so sudden that she did not have the opportunity to say goodbye to her students.
Since her return home, Cecelia stayed connected with the rural community she served. She is working on a global grant project with two areas of focus addressing Basic Education & Literacy, and Economic & Community Development in Soda.
For those who want to see a replay of Cecelia's very inspiring talk as well as hear her impressions as why there are less Covid cases in Ethiopia than the US, please follow the link to the Facebook recording and scroll the progress bar at the bottom to the 16 minutes, 18 seconds point.
President Mike Dugan, Thanked Steve Long, Richard Grieco, Dick Franks and Joe Ryan (who also initiated project) for delivering a pallet of 221 pairs of donated pants to the Green Valley Community Church for distribution to several programs for the homeless. Laurie Edwards has agreed to be speaker chair and some excellent programs are coming up including Past RI Director Brad Howard. We will invite every club in the district for Brad Howard's presentation as we are allowed to have up to 100 guests on Zoom. If you would like to attend the online project fair for d4400 in Ecuador on November 13 and 14, please contact Mike for the link. We will not be hosting an online auction to substitute our Christmas Dinner fund raiser at this point.
Anne Eckert, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) is having an online silent auction called "Reimagine" on Saturday, November 7, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Please go the CASA El Dorado website for the link to sign in.
Dave Sargent, A committee has been brainstorming Fund Raisers to replace the Christmas Dinner. The committee recommends members self-fund a community food and possibly toy distribution event sometime early in 2021. Please contact him or Jim Buckley for a link to the Rotary Community Foundation Board zoom meeting scheduled on Tuesday, November 10, at 10:00 a.m.
Roger Hassler: Several members including Roger, Jim Buckley, Don Mai,and Dick Franks were recognized for becoming members of the PolioPlus Society. This is where members pledge to donate at least $100 each year to the PolioPlus Fund. Roger will send out an email explaining this new district program, which he encourages member participation.
Guests and Visitors:
Cecelia Babkirk, Speaker and Vice President of the Silicon Valley Rotary E-Club.
Dwight Bentz, Farmer's Insurance Agent from Shingle Springs. Carol Abbanat, Rotary Club of Pollock Pines
Happy (or Not) Bucks
Dick Franks - $90 to Polio+ in Greg Wood's name to match his birthday and because he is so nice.
Roger Hassler - $10 to the Club for the opportunity to say hello to our speaker, Cecelia Babkirk.
Cecelia Babkirk - $25 to our Club for having the opportunity to speak to us.
Rich Grieco - $10 for his birthday.
Ben Young - $25 for his 42nd birthday and $25 for the Dodger's winning the World Series ($50 total).
Birthdays in November
Laurie Edwards
Rich Grieco
Ben Young
-----Spouses-----
Alex Ho
Joshua Amador
Angie Hassler
Judy Long
Anniversaries in November
Jana and Howell Ellerman
Upcoming Words of Wisdom/Greeter/Front Desk Assignments
