New Generations Celebrated
at the Carlsbad Rotary Club

Students were abundant at our recent meeting to celebrate New Generations, the fifth Rotary Avenue of Service. The State Champion Troubadours from Carlsbad High School dazzled members and guests at the Carlsbad Rotary Club on May 9. They performed several songs that helped them clinch the state title. Many parents, friends and other relatives came to the meeting so they could hear the students, as this was the last time they were scheduled to perform these songs prior to graduation. In recognition of their accomplishment at the state level and in appreciation of their performance at our club, the Board of Directors announced a donation to the Partners in Education Fund through the Carlsbad Community Foundation in their honor. Above, senior Colton Hardy plays guitar as the Troubadours perform their first song.

Five recipients of Rotary scholarships were also on hand to be introduced to the membership by Scholarship Chair Dale Bowman. Each in turn, took a moment at the podium to tell us a little about themselves and their future plans. Those attending (see photo below left) were Abigail Buckholz, Sarah Nieman, Caraline Sepich, April Anaya and Sandya Athigaman. Also shown in the photo is Scholarship Chair Dale Bowman and President Mike Antiporda.

And the final four students to be recognized in the Student of the Month Program for the academic year were also honored (see photo below right). These outstanding students included Celeste Rogers, Braden Ryan, Trent White and Sarah Peterson. They are joined in the photo by Vocational Chair Dave Rogers, President Mike Antiporda and Rotarian Kelli Barta of the Carlsbad Municipal Schools.

The Avenue of New Generations recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults involved in leadership development activities, community and international service projects, and exchange programs that enrich and foster world peace and cultural understanding. The other avenues are Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service, and International Service.

Thanks to all the students and guests for making this a great Rotary moment!

Tony Baca recognized for community support

The Carlsbad Rotary Club recently recognized Corporal Tony Baca of the Carlsbad Police Department as a hero from our community in recognition of his work to protect youth from drugs, gangs and other crime. Baca will be honored with other first responders/heroes from other communities in New Mexico and West Texas at the Rotary District 5520 Conference on May 18. Above, Baca is presented with a plaque from Carlsbad Rotary President Mike Antiporda.

See the news release here: Carlsbad Rotary Club Honors Corporal Tony Baca

Carlsbad Rotary Club and Hasting team up
for book donation at local elementary school

Third graders at Pate Elementary School were treated to a new book when Rotarians and a couple of representatives from Hastings stopped in last week. Rotarian Mike Cleary worked with Hastings and their suppliers, who donated 60 books of various titles for the event.

Several pages from each book were read aloud and then students had the opportunity to pick which one they wanted. They were excited about the books!

Thanks to the following Rotarians for participating: Mike Cleary, Veronica Hernandez, Mike Antiporda, Danny Cross, Kirstin Carlson and Mary Walterscheid. We were joined by Jason Torrez and Valerie Valera from Hastings. And thank you to Principal Debra Beard for allowing us to visit.

Carlsbad Rotary Club helps screen and sign up bone marrow donors at Relay for Life

The Service Committee played a big role in the Be the Match booth at the recent Relay for Life in Carlsbad. Be the Match screens donors who may be eligible and willing to be on the national registry for bone marrow donation. Volunteers had to undergo training to learn how to properly screen, fill out the paperwork and take swabs from the inside of people's mouths to make sure it was all done correctly.

Thanks to Service Chair Arlene Cooper, Kathy Cox, Veronica Hernandez, Cathy Muncrief, Tory Smith, Mike Antiporda and Justin Raines for participating. About 38 people signed up for the national registry ... so hopefully lives will be saved!

Above are Rotarian Dave Rogers, who was the Relay for Life's master of cermonies, along with Rotarians Kathy Cox, Arlene Cooper and Mike Antiporda.

New members welcomed to Carlsbad Rotary Club

Our club gained two new members on May 2, but there's something special about these two Rotarians! Neither John Gratton or Wes Carter are strangers to Rotary. In fact, they are both former Rotarians. Wes was formerly a member of the Carlsbad Rotary Club and returns after having served our community on the city council and as Carlsbad mayor pro-tem. John, meanwhile, has transferred his membership from the Hobbs Rotary Club, after having moved here for his new role as provost at New Mexico State University - Carlsbad.

Welcome to both, we're glad to have you as part of our Rotary family!

Carlsbad Rotary Club packs its bags and hits the road

The Carlsbad Rotary Club's normal meeting location is undergoing renovations this summer, so we've packed our bags and are moving around a bit. Be sure to check the schedule on this Web site so you'll know just where we are on any given week. Our location will vary throughout May and then we'll stay a while at our "summer home" at the Pecos River Village Conference Center for June and July thanks to the generosity of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. Then we'll take a trip up the river to the Riverside Country Club for the month of August. And finally, in September we'll finish up our road trip at the Pecos River Village Conference Center.

We're so happy for Rotarian Bobby Forrest and the staff at the Stevens Inn that they're getting to renovate their facilities. President Mike had a sneak peak the other day of some of the work being done and it is already looking great. When we're done with our road trip, we'll be back at the Stevens Inn.

The schedule may vary slightly as circumstances arise, so be sure to check back to this Web site before each meeting.