On Tuesday, September 19, our lunch speaker will be our new District 5110 Governor, Jim Polk. Jim’s career in the U.S. Air Force started in 1971 and lead to him being an Aircrew member serving as a Far East Cryptologic Linguist (Chinese Mandarin). Upon retirement for the military, Jim accepted the challenge of serving the City of Cave Junction as the City Recorder/Treasurer. Jim’s Rotary experience began as a Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Illinois Valley in 2007 when fellow public officials pressured him to become involved with the formation of the new club.

Belonging to the club was anticipated to be a short experience and the intent was to help with the numbers for chartering and then to step away. The shared experiences and the friendships made provided a renewed desire in a different avenue of service and to become more involved. Jim was elected to the position of Director in 2011 and advanced in the leadership roles to serve as Club President (2015-16).

Jim is a multiple recipient of his Club’s Rotarian of the Year, is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a member of the Paul Harris Society and a member of the District Polio Plus Society. His initiative led to the implementation of a community service project to conduct a quarterly litter patrol along the state highway that was expanded into a quarterly community-wide cleanup project. He is a vocal and involved participant in the Rotary Duck Derby fundraising effort for local community projects.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person at the Riverhouse (restaurant side, Deschutes South), and virtual.

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.

We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

On Tuesday, September 12, our program will consist of a presentation of Club Member Survey Results by President Brian, followed by some team-building activities. Note: we’ll be at the Riverhouse Convention Center, in the Cascade G Room.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person at the Riverhouse (restaurant side, Deschutes South), and virtual.

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.

We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

On Tuesday, September 5, our lunch speaker will be Michele O’Hara, Executive Director at Opportunity Knocks. Opportunity Knocks is a peer mentorship program for Founders, CEO’s, and Leaders in Central Oregon. Founded in 1996, their mission is to help leaders grow. Michele O’Hara will share information on how leadership transformed the organization to ensure that OK remains relevant to a new generation and steps you can take to better serve your key stakeholders and the community.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person at the Riverhouse (restaurant side, Deschutes South), and virtual.

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.

We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

On Tuesday, August 15, our lunch speaker will be Carmen Madrid, Executive Director for Central Oregon Health Council. Carmen will be speaking about Central Oregon Health Council and emerging healthcare issues arising within our region.

Carmen is passionate about the health and well-being for humanity and believes that its citizens and the healthcare system has a responsibility to care for its neighbors. She has over 30 years of healthcare administrative experience in Risk & Reimbursement, Provider Contract Negotiations and Community Giving Roles across Oregon health systems including Kaiser Permanente and Providence Health Systems, and over 15 years of service as Deputy Director, Operations and Advocacy in Non-Profit organizations.

Carmen has three sons and is now with her partner enjoying the Central Oregon region and tried snowshoeing and cross country skiing last winter.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person at the Riverhouse (restaurant side, Deschutes South), and virtual.

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.

We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

On Tuesday, August 8, our lunch program will be a State of the City presentation from Bend City Manager, Eric King. Eric King began his career in local government working for the City of Portland. In his 10 years there, he worked on a variety of projects and programs focusing on economic development and program management. He began working for the City of Bend as Assistant City Manager in April, 2007 and accepted the position of City Manager in May, 2008.

Eric was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. He has a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning and a Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Development from Portland State University. Eric currently services on the KIDS Center Board and has served on the Visit Bend and Oregon City/County Managers’ Association Boards as well as volunteered with SMART – promoting early childhood literacy.

Eric loves Bend for its scenic beauty, the multitude of outdoor activities it offers, and most importantly, he and his wife Martha believe Bend is an ideal place to raise their two children.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person at the Riverhouse (restaurant side, Deschutes South), and virtual.

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.

We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

On Tuesday, August 1, our lunch program will be autobiography presentations from three of our members: Tammy Gerber, Loren Irving, and Roger Ager. Come get to know a whole bunch more about 3 of our amazing members!

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person at the Riverhouse (restaurant side, Deschutes South), and virtual.

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.

We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

On Tuesday, July 11, our lunch program will be our new club president Brian Stallcop, sharing a little bit about himself, his Rotary journey, and his goals for the club in the 2023-24 Rotary Year. Bring your questions about the club! Please note: we’ll be at the Riverhouse Convention Center, Room Cascade B. Signup for lunch here.

On Tuesday, June 20, our lunch program will be autobiography presentations from three of our newer members: Darrion Cotroneo, Brian Hauer, and Sonya Hutchinson.

Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person at the Riverhouse (restaurant side, Deschutes South), and virtual.

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.

We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

On Tuesday, June 13, our lunch speaker will be Todd Dunkelberg – Deschutes Public Library Director. Todd will present on the building projects the library has embarked on due to the passing of the Library Bond in November 2020. Signup for lunch here.

This meeting will both in-person at the Bend Public Library (601 NW Wall St, Bend, OR 97703), and virtual.

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.

We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.

On Tuesday, June 6, our lunch speaker will be our own club member Cort Vaughn, giving us an update on Rotary’s efforts to eradicate polio. In 1988, Polio paralyzed over 350,000 people per year in 125 countries, mostly children under the age of 5. Rotary stepped in to lead the effort to vaccinate every child and create a Polio free world. There have only been 3 cases of Polio this year in just 2 countries. That is the good news. The bad news is that we had case of Polio in New York last year, so Polio is only a plane flight away! Signup for lunch here.

About Cort
Cort Vaughan is a Polio survivor. He and his wife Tonya have two sons and two grandsons.

Cort joined the Rotary Club of Greater Bend to help eradicate Polio. He founded the Pints for Polio fundraiser in 2012 to raise money for global Polio eradication and to increase local awareness regarding the need to vaccinate all children according to CDC guidelines. Pints for Polio has raised nearly $210,000 for the PolioPlus Fund including matching funds from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Cort is Past District 5110 PolioPlus Chair and past Zone 27 End Polio Now Coordinator covering 10 Districts and nearly 800 Rotary Clubs. Zone 27 includes most of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Northern California, and British Columbia.

Cort Vaughan contracted Polio in 1954 during a global pandemic that crippled over 35,000 people each year in the United States, mostly children under the age of 5. Polio paralyzed Cort’s right leg.

Cort and Tonya spent 3 weeks in India in January 2020 on a NID to vaccinate children against polio. They also met with WHO and UNICEF, visited a polio rehabilitation clinic and toured several Rotary projects. Join us in hearing Cort’s inspiring story of growing up with Polio, learning about polio eradication in India, and Rotary’s efforts to wipe out Polio.

This meeting will both in-person at the Riverhouse (restaurant side, Deschutes North), and virtual.

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.

We will record the presentation for others who aren’t able to attend at noon.