1. Gil Stromsoe presented Paul Harris awards as follows:

a. David Vannasdall received an initial Paul Harris award;
b. Yvonne Flint received a Paul Harris plus 7 award (i.e., her 8th Paul Harris award);

2. Matt Weaver announced the June 27 installation of officers which is to be held at the Arcadia Community Center and catered by the Derby restaurant. The emphasis will be more on socializing than in the past (i.e., fewer announcements). A sign-up sheet for various tables is being passed around. Since our presence is already paid for (via our dues), there is every reason to attend. Any guests that we bring would be an additional $50 per person.

3. President-Elect Dr. Michael Hoey announced that our current President Michael Ojeda’s Demotion would take place on June 19, 2015.

4. Dr. Michael Hoey also reminded us that long-time Arcadia Rotarians are needed to contribute their memories of past years in the Club to the Arcadia Rotary History Project which is managed by Dan Place.

5. Daniel Yohannes announced the Teacher of the Year Award for First Avenue Middle School. He then introduced Assistant Principal Semeen Issa, Ed. D..

Dr. Issa then presented the award to Mr. Ken Klotzie who teaches both English and English Language Development at First Avenue.

Mr. Klotzie has been teaching for 32 years with 25 of those years in Arcadia Unified School District. Included among his students are those whose primary language is other than English.

Mr. Klotzie holds the following degrees from San Diego State University: B.S. in Business Administration, B.A. in English, and M.S. in Educational Technology. He has previously been awarded two Rotary Mini-Grants and in 2003 was also Teacher of the Year. He is married and has three children of his own.

Mr. Klotzie’s favorite classroom project is “The Coffeehouse” (consisting of students sharing poetry manuscripts and readings).

As for his teaching philosophy, Mr. Klotzie holds that in order “to be a good teacher you need to be a good learner – enthusiastic and dedicated and willing to challenge yourself to grow and not be fearful of change, As a teacher, I want to reflect what I desire to see in my students, namely that they become eager, earnest, self-directed seekers of knowledge and understanding. I firmly believe in what educational philosopher John Dewey said: ‘Education is not preparation for life. Education is life itself.’”