On Tuesday, May 21, our lunch program will be our local high schools’ Athletic Directors, giving us an update from the 2023/24 school year. Erik Tobiason will also make a brief presentation on the history of the sports program fundraiser for new members. Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.

Don’t miss lunch on Tuesday, May 14th, for an enjoyable and inspiring program that promises to be one of the highlights of the year!

 

At this year’s Rotary Student Recognition Lunch, we will honor seven exceptional high school students who have been chosen by their respective schools as the epitome of the Rotary ideal of “Service Above Self.” This is an excellent opportunity for us to recognize these outstanding students and celebrate their remarkable achievements.

We hope that you will be able to join us for this special occasion.

We’ll be in our usual room at the Riverhouse – Deschutes South.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.

On Tuesday, May 7, 2024, our lunch speaker will be Brenda Comini, Director of the Early Learning Hub of Central Oregon at High Desert Education Service District (HDESD). She will be speaking about early learning and childcare in Central Oregon. Topics will include:

• Oregon’s Early Childhood System, led by the Department of Early Learning and Care and implemented by Early Learning Hubs, including Central Oregon
• Raise Up Oregon: Statewide Early Childhood System Plan, guiding strategic action
• Key demographics and data points guiding our work
• Effective strategies and partnerships: Early Literacy, Child Care, Home Visiting and early childhood workforce
• Impact examples
• How you can support Early Care and Learning

Brenda was named the first Director for the Early Learning Hub of Central Oregon (Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson Counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs) in April 2016.

In that capacity she works with cross-sector stakeholders to improve systems to ensure early health and developmental supports for all children, increase access to quality childcare and preschool and an educated, adequately funded early care and education workforce with emphasis on parent/caregiver voice and service to traditionally underserved communities.

Brenda attended Linfield College and the University of Oregon. She currently serves on the UpStream Prevention Workgroup of the Central Oregon Health Council, as a board member for the Central Oregon Chapter of the Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children (COCOrAEYC), and as Treasurer for the Oregon Early Learning Hub Association. State appointments include Joint Legislative Task Force on Access to Quality Affordable Care (2019-21), State Healthy Start Advisory Board (2018–present), and Oregon Early Learning Council Home Visiting System Committee (2021–present).
In addition to a passion for social change, she enjoys exploring Oregon and travel beyond with family and friends.

We’ll be in our usual room at the Riverhouse – Deschutes South.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.

On Tuesday, April 23, our lunch program will be autobiography presentations from three of our members: Heather Dion, Laurel Fishkin, and Oran Teater.

Come get to know a whole bunch more about these amazing members!

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.

On Tuesday, April 16, our lunch program will be a presentation from Dr. Josh Collins, Chair of the Sage Science Team for the East Cascades Audubon Society. His presentation will be entitled: “Wildflowers: Missing Link in Sage Land Conservation”.

Dr. Collins received his doctorate in ecology in 1993 from the University of California at Berkeley. He has an extensive background in research and teaching covering subjects from nearshore marine to alpine ecosystems throughout the West. ​Retiring to Bend in 2021, Dr. Collins began working with the East Cascade Audubon Society (ECAS) to help conserve the sage steppe ecosystem of Oregon and neighboring states, with a focus on the greater sage-grouse. He currently chairs the Sage Science Team of ECAS and represents environmental non-governmental organizations on the Coordinating Council of the SageCon Partnership.

People colonizing the high desert of central Oregon little more than a century ago would hardly recognize the same lands today. Among other changes, most of the high desert is missing its native wildflowers. New understanding of the ecological importance of wildflowers in the high desert mandates their restoration. Scientific knowledge is adequate to get started. More public awareness and political will is needed now.

We’ll be in our usual room at the Riverhouse – Deschutes South.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.

Rotary Lunch Program: Bend La/Pine School District Levy presentation

On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, our lunch speaker will be Dr. Steve Cook, Bend/La Pine School District Superintendent, overseeing our community of 33 schools, more than 17,500 students and 2,100 staff members. He will be will speaking about the upcoming District Levy that will be on the ballot.

Dr. Cook took this position in 2021; prior to that, he spent 3 years at the Superintendent of Coeur d’Alene School District; before that, he was Deputy Superintendent of Douglas County School District in Colorado.

Dr. Cook received his Doctor of Education from the University of Kansas; a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Emporia State University; and a Bachelor’s Degree in Science Education from Kansas State University.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.

Rotary Lunch Program: Signature Project Finalists

Our upcoming meeting is not to be missed! We’re thrilled to announce that it will feature presentations from the three finalists competing for our generous Signature Project Grant. These projects are poised to make a significant impact on our community, and your participation in selecting the recipient is vital. Stay tuned to your inbox today to discover the finalists and explore detailed descriptions of their projects!

On Tuesday each finalist will outline how their proposed project will tackle key challenges in our community. Please note: there won’t be time for questions directly to the presenters during the meeting. However, your questions are incredibly important to us, and we’ll provide an opportunity for you to submit them to the committee at the meeting or via email by emailing the committee Chair.

Your vote on April 9th is important in selecting the project our club will support. Your input shapes our community’s future. Prepare to learn about each project and make a difference with us!

Mark your calendars for April 2 and come prepared to learn more about each project. Let’s make a difference together!

We’ll be in our usual room at the Riverhouse – Deschutes South.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.

Rotary Lunch Program: Invention Convention

On Tuesday, March 19th 2024, our lunch program is our annual Invention Convention. Every year, Rotary Club of Greater Bend hosts the “Invention Convention” where students from Miller Elementary School are encouraged to think up (and present to the club and their family members) their inventions to “save the world” or just make life a little easier for all of us.

It’s absolutely amazing what ideas these young entrepreneurs come up with and this event always leaves us feeling more positive about the future!

Club members help with judging which takes a good half day since virtually every student at the school takes part in this fun event!

We’ll be over at the Riverhouse Convention Center.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.

On Tuesday, March 12, our lunch program will be presentations on our club’s international travel programs and our Signature Project.

Patty Dempsey will share about her travels to South Africa via a Rotary program. Laurel Fishkin will share about our Bend-Belluno project as well as her Rotary-focused travel there. Gail Klein will give an update on the club’s Signature Project.

Since our Bend/Belluno Summer Youth Exchange program began in 2014, we have sent 31 students to visit our Sister City of Belluno, Italy, and hosted more than 35 Italian youth. With gratitude to Oran Teater, who established the Sister City connection, and Kit Carmeincke and Steve Lelli, who initiated this unique cross-cultural short-term exchange program, ten years later we are still going strong, with 3 students participating this summer and more planned each summer for the foreseeable the future. This program is part of our Club’s commitment to accomplishing Rotary International’s goal of building peace one young person at a time.”

We’ll be in our usual room at the Riverhouse – Deschutes South.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.

Rotary Lunch Program: Behind The Scenes at a News Station

On Tuesday, March 5, our lunch program will be a presentation from Andrew Untermeyer and Matt McDonald from Central Oregon Daily News, entitled “Behind The Scenes at a News Station”.

Andrew is a broadcast advertising veteran with a combined 35 years of experience in Central Oregon. Growing up in inner city San Francisco he was a big fan of the 49ers and Giants where Live broadcasts of his favorite teams were few and far in between. Fast forward, live sports on are some of the biggest events on television. Over the years, many of his local clients have been in events such as Duck and Beaver Football games, baseball’s World Series and the Super Bowl. Being the son of a broadcast professional, his father used to say: “Without Advertising, You Wouldn’t Know”. Having a career where paying attention to News, Sports, Politics and Culture is not a bad way to spend the day.

Matt is a veteran journalist who has called Central Oregon home for the better part of two decades. Originally an engineering student, an insatiable curiosity and a love for great stories lead Matt into a new career path. He was part of the team launching KOHD (ABC for Central Oregon) in 2006 and would find himself the News Director at the very same station 13 years later. The values Matt has aspired to have never changed. Be honest. Be clear. Bring great stories to life. And be there when your community needs you most.

We’ll be in our usual room at the Riverhouse – Deschutes South.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person and virtual. We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

Join the Zoom Meeting here: RCGB Zoom Link

You can also call in to the meeting at (669) 900-9128 and enter meeting ID: 692 491 9146. If you’re asked, the passcode is 5110.