Dan Ouweleen gave us a “head’s up” regarding an upcoming Peace Conference which is expected to have ~35 countries attending with several experts speaking. More details to follow. Dan invited members to run for our Board of Directors as we need a President Elect and directors for Vocational, International and Youth.

Jim Williams asked us to let Farrel Hirsch know of program ideas after June, 2020.

Recognitions

Daniel Stewart recognized Zoot Velasco’s 57th and Kim Barlow’s birthdays this week. Daniel’s self fined for his own birthday and gave each table a Christmas trivia question to handle as a way to escape fines.

Program

Christian Esteban set the bar when he presented his craft talk to the club as his final requirement to have his Newest Nine ribbon removed from his name badge. Christian is the relatively new Program Director of Joya Scholars, an organization that assists economically challenged students prepare for college admission. Most Joya students will be the first in their families to become college graduates. He is close to his sister, Madison, who was born 2 years to the day after Christian. His grandfather immigrated to the US and became a landlord and Christian’s father was in the Reserves for the Armed Forces.

Christian shared that his favorite band is the band, U2, and favorite movie is“Parasite”.

He believes that gratitude is vital to happiness and shared that one of Pixar’s rules of storytelling is that “you need to know the ending before you write the middle”…a philosophy shared with the students as they envision their own lives.

Joya Scholars has several sub-programs, like Mentoring, weekly tutoring, Parent academy, SAT preparation, completing college application requirements, college visit trips. Several students also have pressure from the family to quickly get a job to provide immediate income rather than go to college.

Christian shared a true story about step by step efforts to turn a lot on Pearl Drive is in the works to become a Community Park.

Great talk, Christian and thanks for your efforts with Joya Scholars and changing the story for many families and the community of the Garnet neighborhood!

President Mike Cochran’s closing quote, “It’s not enough to do our best. Sometimes it requires doing what’s needed.” Winston Churchill