The Speaker for May 25th: Milan Balinton

Milan R. Balinton, one of Ebony’s 2016 Power 100 People’s Choice Award Awardee, is the Executive Director of the African American Community Service Agency (AACSA), an organization dedicated to providing quality educational, cultural, social and recreational programs, services and activities in order to perpetuate and strengthen African American identity, culture, values, traditions, knowledge, and family life. When Milan became the Executive Director of AACSA in 2011, the agency had two employees and barely a budget. Since then, the agency has grown to a 17-employee operation with a projected budget of $2.1 million — adding seven new staff members during the pandemic when other agencies were shutting down.

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Lunch Order for May 25th Meeting

The Party Helpers will provide lunch at Wednesday's meeting. The gourmet lunch choices are chili-limed grilled chicken sandwich with broccoli cheddar soup, beef stew or chana masala.

Plan ahead and order early!  Please order your lunch no later than Monday at noon.

May Lunch Menu

Meals are provided by Party Helpers

Rotary Buddy Program

The Meeting Summary for May 18, 2022

• East Hills Drive. He came home from the hospital here but has little memory of it. He had relatives nearby. His parents divorced while at this house; but have remained on very good terms.

• Leigh Ave. His mother remarried. (His mother and step-father were in attendance today.)

• Ellerbrook Way. His parents still live there today. Sal saw the Dodgers beat the A’s at this house and also lived here during the Loma Prieta earthquake. Sal admitted his father raised him to be a Dodgers fan.

• Blossom Oaks apartment. Sal’s first apartment where he lived while going to SJ State.  His roommate helped him get his first job at the Mercury News.

• Francisco Torres Residence Hall and then Del Playa Drive, Isla Vista. Sal transferred to UC Santa Barbara for his last two years of college. This is where he honed his writing skills.

• Mansion Grove Apartment and Skyway Terrace Apartments, San Jose. He was a copy editor and then working high school sports stories for the Mercury News. This is where he developed his addiction to buying comic books. His garage is now filled with 5,000 comics.

• North Third Street apartment. He was there during the .com boom and described the vibrancy of downtown. He also developed his love of Mardi Gras and a road trip to New Orleans. He always celebrates Fat Tuesday at home.

• The Plaza. He bought his first condo which was 700 sq. feet. This was his grown-up place and this is where he was living when he met his wife Amy and realized he could follow in the footstep of Leigh Weimer.

• North 14th Street. He and Amy bought a craftsman home which only had one closet. They brought their daughter Mia and son Alex home to this house.

• Arroyo Way. By coincidence, Rotarian Sarah Clish grew up in this house. This is where he and Amy enjoyed a James Bond marathon during the pandemic. He is an admitted fan of good cocktails, stylish clothes and Austin Martins.