Mothers at Florida Baptist Center Enjoy a Concert in the Park Thanks to Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach
Residents at the Florida Baptist Center were treated to an hour long 'concert in the park' in honor of Mother's Day thanks to some great coordination by Rotarian Drew Padnuk, whose love of the Beatles has made him famous in some circles. Jewel and Shanti set up their sound equipment in the shade of a large green space where residents could sit and look on in safety. The duo sang a mix of songs that had everyone smiling, tapping and clapping. Drew's daughter-in-law opened the performance with the bagpipes, and ended with a 'Amazing Grace.' Rotarians also made homemade banana breads as gifts to all the residents. It was a beautiful day for a wonderful cause.
Sunrise Rotary Remembers Seniors During COVD-19 Crisis
When toilet paper and disinfectants became scarce and the buses around town were put on hold, Sunrise Rotarians reached out to Senior Living facilities in Vero Beach to see if they could help. Members of the Health & Welfare committee stocked and delivered wish bags with Kleenex and stamps and other needed items that these older residents would not have been able to purchase on their own.
Sunrise Rotary Recognizes Four-Way Test Winners @ Storm Grove Middle School
Seven Sunrise Rotarians and 175 Storm Grove Middle School eighth grade students participated in our club’s first (and soon to be annual) Rotary Four-Way Test Activity that promotes good decision-making and the development of strong values. As a follow-up to the lively and thought-provoking activity, students were challenged to compete for an award which included the opportunity to donate to the charity of their choice.
Sixteen students were chosen because their entries demonstrated a good understanding and application of the Rotary Four-Way Test to everyday challenges and conflicts. Parents and teachers joined the students and Rotarians for a delicious Italian meal in the library.
A special guest for the event was Grae Straley, a sophomore from Indian River Charter High School, who enthusiastically shared her experience at Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) earlier this year.
The 16 winning students' essays, poems and artwork were on display for all to see. Sunrise Rotary awarded each student with a $25 gift card, and an additional $25 to donate to a charity of their choice. Each student explained which charity they chose and why. 
From animal rescue to cancer research and local children's mentoring programs, their choices were thoughtful and personal.
Herb Taylor, Rotarian and author of the Four-Way Test said, “It is essential to our future preservation that the youth of our nations become men and women of high moral character. Every great world movement concentrates on youth as the necessary foundation for success. “
Vero Rotarians Host 45th Annual Homestay!
Local Rotarians from five clubs in Indian River County welcomed incoming District Governors from five countries into their homes in Vero Beach for a week in January to share our community, develop friendships and build international understanding. It was a week filled with good fun, touring, dining and great fellowship. Now in its 45th year, Homestay Vero Beach is a week-long series of events and get-togethers meant to foster goodwill among Rotarians across the globe. 
This year's visiting DGE's came from England, South Africa, Israel, the Netherlands and New Zealand. In their words, Homestay Vero Beach was "warm, welcoming, absolutely fantastic, well balanced, powerful, fascinating, and memorable!" Congratulations DGE's and may you have a wonderful year ahead!
Rotary District 6990 Thanks Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach for Rotary Bahamas Relief
Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach recently received the following letter from Ray Williams, District Governor, Distict 6990:
I wanted to pass on our very sincere thanks to Robin Pelensky and Bob McCabe and all the members of The Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach Club for your incredible support of our District’s efforts to help our fellow Rotarians and all the residents of Grand Bahama Island. Your check made payable to the Robbins Fund will be a great help in our commitment to help the residents there to restore and rebuild their homes, their businesses and most importantly their lives.
As you may know we have 5 Rotary Clubs and 2 Rotaract Clubs on the Island. The experience of leading the efforts to provide immediate relief and now helping to rebuild their communities has bonded all our Rotarians into an amazing group of community leaders that are coordinating and driving the good working of not only Rotarians but several of the NGOs who have stepped up to help. In their role to coordinate all this international support, they now truly understand the power of Rotary Connects the World.
Thank you again for your Club’s very generous contribution to this effort.
Ray M Williams
District Governor (2019-2020)
Rotary International District 6990
Days after Hurricane Dorian hit the Bahamas, Rotary Vero Beach Sunrise Foundation, the club's own 501c3 foundation, offered to match dollar for dollar up to $10,000 all donations made by Sunrise members for the Bahamas Relief.
By the end of September, club members more than matched that amount and will be sending $22,863 to Rotary Bahamas Relief through Districts 6990 and 7020. Past President Kevin Anderson's son Oliver and his friends created their own lemonade stand to raise money and donated it towards the effort. Former Sunrise member and US National Jiu Jitsu Champion, also contributed $3,500 from funds raised at one of his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu locations. Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach practicing Service Above Self !
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