On March 24 at the Morning Meeting for All Del Sol Rotarians, Marilyn Beck, of New Mexico Child First Network was one of the featured speakers.  The Network, which works to improve foster care in New Mexico is the charity sponsored by Del Sol as its charity for the New Mexico Charity Ball on April 23, 2022 at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

 

She spoke on the importance of Foster Care in New Mexico nd how we need to elevate foster parents.  She said New Mexico CYFD is failing children in this state.  The average child in CYFD care is in 6 placements in a year.  NMCFN's main goal is to improve foster care.  They have a state-wide network for foster Parents. One in three foster families quit the program in the first year. New Mexico has the worst permanency rate in the nation.   

 

White the statistics are depressing, NMCFN is working to improve the system. They believe that every child deserves the best.

 

Kim Kirshner, Executive Director of Locker 505 was the other speaker at the March 24 meeting.  Locker 505 is the charity being sponsored for the New Mexico Charity Ball by Rotary Club of Albuquerque.  Locker 505 provides clothing for disadvantaged kids to give them dignity in school  They have been in existence for 8 years.  They see 10000 students a year to provide them clothing.  She said many of their clients do not even have a pair of matching shoes.  The children are referred to the program by social workers, fire department personnel, police agencies and schools.

 

 Every item the kids get is dress code appropriate. Kids get a weeks worth of clothing including shoes.  Each child is seen three times a year by Locker 505.  The kids get a lot of personal attention which helps with their self esteem. Kim said Locker 505 will use the Ball Money they receive to expand into Rio Rancho and the Greater Albuquerque area.

 

Also at the Thursday meeting Greg Hallstrom, chair of the Ramps project, said they would be building modules at the warehouse yesterday.

 

We were blessed to have  Past President and Past District Governor Doreen Kelsey and former member Irish Mc Carthy as guests at the Thursday meeting.  They both lit up the room with their energy.  Doreen very generously offered as a Charity Ball Auction item a one week stay at her new home in Cristina Lake, British Columbia.  Thank you Doreen. Irish brought a bunch of items to the meeting as auction items for the Ball. Thank you Irish and we hope you return as a member.

 

President Brad Ekhoff announced that the Rotary Del Sol Foundation Grants application process is in full swing.  

 

Tony Pino, Governors Ball Chair reminded members that we still need sponsors for the Rotary Charity Ball as well as Auction items.  

 

On March 31 at 7:00AM at the Morning Meeting for All Del Sol Rotarians at Jimmy's Cafe and on ZOOM the guest speaker will be Twuana Raupp of Loving Thunder Therapeutic Riding.  

 

Remember there will not be a Morning meeting on  April 7 due to the District 5520 Convention.  There will be an All Club Luncheon on April 8 at Isleta Resort and Casino at NOON. The Club has paid for 20 spaces and there are 5 left.  Members can sign up on the events calendar or by emailing Herman Haase