Receiving my badge.

Now I truly feel like a member. I have my plaque and my badge. So far I figure I am half way through my red badge of courage. After surviving work day in 90 degree heat I figure I should have more than 10 points. I must admit when I rolled out of bed Saturday morning moaning and groaning I was not looking forward to clearing any property for any reason. After I got there the friendliness of my fellow workers changed all that and it was more like a game, a very hot game, but still fun. Rotarians are definitely special and the better I get to know all of you, the more I realize how fortunate I am to be a member of a very select group.

Thursday April 24, 2008

I'm well on may way to having a real badge. I have 2 whole points and a possible 3 points if my invited guest comes. Although the meetings are at O dark hundred, I find myself looking forward to them. I had to scoot out very early the week before and it felt like I was missing something the rest of day. See you at Rotary At Work Day Saturday. I even bought a pair of gloves and a couple masks. I have a beautiful brown thumb so I know that won't be the best assignment for me. Actually, my best job is as manager but I heard that job was taken.

Here it is my second week as a Rotarian. I promised I would do my blog the same day as the meeting. You can see how far I got with that. Thanks to Rob Weinberg I am now an expert blogger and I will remember to use the spell check feature.

Every meeting is better than the next one now that I am getting acquainted with all of you. It's such a joy to be part of a group that is both fun and dedicated. I've signed up to help with clean up day and am looking forward to the reverse drawing. A little birdie told me that if I bought a ticket I would win the big prize and believe it. After all a visitor won the 50/50 drawing this week so there's hope for me. I do believe in miracles.

Arlene

Arlene Cawthorne joins Paul Gorman as a Red Badge Rotarian

What a priviledge to be able to continue the blog that Paul started about our experiences as a newby in the club. Tuesday, April 1, 2008 I was inducted with my sponsor Inan Linton at my side. How ironic that my special day was also April Fool's Day but beleive me I am no fool for joining this very special group. The energy in the room at 7:00 am or what I call o'dark hundred, is invigorating. No snoozing in our group.

So why did I decide to become a member. Let me name the reasons:

Community involvement
Worldwide involvement
Service to others
Good friends
Fun and laughter

Who Am I? First of all I am not a R.I.N.O. I want to be involved with Rotary and give my red badge to someone else as soon as possible. I have lived in RB for 37 years with my husband of 46 years. Dave and I brought our 2 children up here who are know grown and still live right here in RB. My husband is a retired pilot from FED EX and owns a business selling upgrade kits for Dodge Vipers. His wife, who me, wanted a Viper when he retired. I am a person of many professions; the most recent as executive director of the Rancho Bernardo Joslyn Center. What a wonderful opportunity. The Joslyn Center provides activities and education to active mature adults. In other words, the AARP crowd. Gee, how many of us qualify.