Luanne Arredondo “AKA Mama Lu,” Governor of Rotary International District 5300 was our Program this week and she was incredible. You could feel the spirit, history and fulfillment of being a 4th generation Rotarian flowing freely through her and about the room. She first shared with us a very personal story about Polio and one of her family members. She then passed around PEPpa the Pig, where we all could donate $.60 that would result in one Polio vaccination.

Next, she shared the story of Ari, a very young girl who made 700 students in her school Rotarians, swearing them in with the Four Way Test. A number of our members were given recognition for their decades of service. Special mention was given to Jack Lamb for his 52 years of service! That’s right, 52! Jack is very special to Mama Lu as he gave her some words of wisdom when she visited our Club in 2010, and this wisdom has guided her to excellence in Rotary since then. Jack’s name will be placed on the Great Wall at Rotary International.

She also reminded us of the significance of Arcadia Rotary in history. For example, in 1969, Mr. Bradford’s wife, Carol, wrote a controversial letter to the editor in the Rotary Newsletter that was published world wide and resulted in Rotary opening its meetings to families of members. A move that seems a given now but was quite novel in 1969. In 1982, Arcadia Rotary partnered with Meals on Wheels, and delivered meals to a 96 year old recipient who was good friends with Paul Harris and whose family actually housed him for brief periods of time when she was younger. In 1986, an Arcadia High School student won an International writing competition for Peace from Rotary resulting in a $10,000 scholarship. His son is now a doctor in Connecticut and recognizes the importance Rotary played in his father’s life and in his own education and upbringing. This was also the year that Arcadia Rotary bought a trailer and took it to Ensenada to serve as a dental clinic for the poor. In 1991, we purchased a larger trailer and did the same thing. People all over the world saw this advertised in the Rotary Newsletter and became inspired to start medical missions abroad.

Her talk was concluded by a beautiful gift basket and photo album presented to her by Sandra Caldero (who made the photo album on the spot, by the way, with pictures she took at the meeting.) We look forward to many more visits by Mama Lu.