No Meeting May 25, 2019
During our club zoom meeting Monday, 5/18/2020, we were honored to hear Paloma Rossano, our Florida Atlantic University High School 2019-20 Rotary Scholar for April, tell us about her FAU HS experience. The FAU HS Rotary Scholar of the Month is selected by the FAU HS staff in recognition of character, ethics, morality, community service, and academic achievement. Paloma was joined by her parents Andriana and Sandro who were beaming with pride while she spoke to us about herself and the advantages offered by FAU HS dual enrollment. The dual enrollment offers students to participate in university programs and earn degree credits. Paloma is working towards earning a degree in Business Marketing with minors in English and Economics, which she expects by Spring 2021. Concurrently these studies fulfill the HS graduation she expects to accomplish this Spring 2020.
As Paloma continued to tell us about her life journey, she explained that her family background, with parents immigrating to the US from Brazil and contributing Portuguese and Italian heritage, had given her a multilingual upbringing and ability to speak Brazilian Portuguese quite fluently. She has expanded that with developing Spanish fluency to complement her excellent command of English. She also told how wonderfully beneficial it has been to have parents that value world travel and cultural experiences allowing to have experienced dozens of other countries already. This had prepared her for a terrific experience of being able to volunteer in Lisbon, Portugal for two weeks at a summer children's camp helping counselors by entertaining and playing the kids.
Telling us about some of her work experiences, such as tutoring and babysitting, Paloma revealed her experience modeling since she was about eight years old. She pointed out how that has taught her about work ethics and interpersonal relationships. The modeling experience also created her interest in pursuing marketing in her studies. She said that she was "inspired and intrigued by the creativity and professional process." The intrigue led her to exploration into fashion, photography, and videography which resulted in a partnership develoing and displaying videos on their website.
Paloma's well balanced HS education experience has included helping to develop the women's track and field team as well as participating in the swimming team, which earned her the coach's award in each sport. She also had the opportunity to compete in swimming at the regional level and in the state track and field competitions. She also told us about her activity in the Interact Club, Student Athlete Leadership Team, National Honor Society, and becoming one of two mentor trainers in the peer mentoring program.
Two of the highlights experience as part of her University studies were a research project "Varying Incomes, Varying Overpopulation Perceptions" and becoming Fashion Director Assistant and Marketing Assistant for Strike magazine. The research project earned the team 2nd place recognition for business research at FAU’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry. The team was also prepared to present their project results at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research, which would have been hosted in Montana before its cancellation due to the pandemic. Paloma told us that "Strike magazine is a university magazine that will launch following the pandemic. Despite existing at other Florida universities, this magazine is the first initiative to connect FAU students to today’s culture."
Following a brief Q&A, we thanked her for sharing her story and told her that we had to cancel our annual gala but would be distributing award checks to each of the eight FAU HS Rotary Scholars through the FAU HS staff in the very near future. Paloma returned the expression of gratitude both for Rotary recognitiona and for FAU HS program and staff.
FAU HS Scholar Gala and Regular Weekly Club Meetings Cancelled through June 30.
Club Assembly meetings will occur every other week using zoom for video conferencing beginning at 6 pm May 11, 2020. Any Rotary members wishing to join one of our zoom Club Assemblies may use our website to email request to club Executive Secretary using "TO EMAIL" button or by using the About Our Club drop down menu Officers & Directors selection and making email request to club Secretary; please include the name of your home club when making the request.
Club President will consult with fellow officers to monitor the situation and determine how to resume regular weekly club meetings.
Please take note of this letter from Rotary District 6930 Foundation Chair Jim Sisserson:
Rotary year 2019-2020 is drawing to a close with the world in an unprecedented posture. Covid-19 has changed the landscape in ways few, if any, have ever seen.
Something that has not changed is the way Rotarians have risen to the challenge to continue to serve. It is truly inspirational to see the many different ways Rotarians and Rotary clubs have galvanized into action to help people whose lives are being ravished by this disease.
The Rotary Foundation has made amazingly quick adjustments to support Rotary clubs’ efforts to combat the impact of Covid-19 now. Policies have been changed, Disaster Relief grants created and rapid review and approval of projects to get Foundation dollars to work in our communities immediately.
Fortunately, Rotarians in 2016-2017 gave generously to the Annual Fund. Those dollars are at work now fighting Covid-19. We do not know what challenges will face Rotarians and the Foundation in 2022-2023, but we do know that there will be great need.
Unfortunately, many Rotarians and their businesses have been severely affected by Covid, and they will rightly focus on their survival. Therefore, it is doubly important that those of us who have not suffered financially to do all that we can to support the Rotary Foundation.
Please take a moment and reflect on your giving to the Annual Fund this Rotary year. Please consider increasing your usual contribution not only in recognition of the good that those dollars will do for those in need but also in honor of our fellow Rotarians who are unable to give this year. Every dollar counts.
The deadline for giving for this Rotary year is for your donations to be received in Evanston by June 30. This can be done through your club treasurer or directly with the Foundation through on line giving.
Thank you for being a Rotarian! Difficult times can bring out the best in people and organizations. We can be proud that all over the world Rotarians are backing up our words with action, living out our motto “Service above Self”.
Yours in Rotary Service,
Jim Sisserson, District Rotary Foundation Chair
We are a small friendly dinner club with strong Rotary Foundation support. Our membership includes three past district governors and special enthusiasm for youth and literacy service. We distribute dictionaries to six local elementary schools, bring Josh the Otter with a swim safety program to three pre-K schools, and honor a Rotary Scholar each month for the high school hosting our Interact club. Are you an established professional who wants to make positive changes in your community and the world? Our club members are dedicated people who share a passion for community service and friendship. Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diverse group who share your drive to give back.
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or send letter to:
Rotary Boca Raton Sunset, PO Box 810427, Boca Raton, FL 33481-0427
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