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May 30, 2002
COMING EVENTS
June 6 - Another interesting program
June 13 - Another interesting program
June 20 - Barbecue luncheon at McNear Park (Playground Dedication)
June 28 - Debunking (Club dark June 27)
Our soon to retire PRESIDENT JIM called today's meeting and noted that he was on the downhill side of the mountain as his days were numbered. Many Rotarians showed non-verbal signs of relief knowing that the end was in sight. (Actually, JIM, you will be missed as you have proven to work hard and support our club in every way possible.) It will also be good to have you on the other side of the fine table.
TED ADKINS led us in a spirited singing of "GOD BLESS AMERICA." Even the birds outside were taken by surprise by the quality of our club's ability to sing with perfection.
BRIAN HOOVER gave the invocation and reflected on the word "Problems." There are all kinds of problems. In the end the world will be a much better place for all of us and we will feel much better by being Problem Solvers rather than Problem Makers.
LORETTA CATAROZOLI introduced visiting Rotarians from the Downtown Santa Rosa Club and the Petaluma Sunrise Club.
Guests for today's meeting were introduced by their sponsors who included JERRY GILLESPIE, KAREN VAN BEBBER, LINDA ZACHARIN, FRED WULFF, PAUL LOUNIBOS, and MIKE MADICK.
The Sunshine report was given and we were all glad to see that ART AGNEW was back with us. PRESIDENT JIM got away with one as he welcomed ART back (shouldn’t he have said, "Welcome back, Past District Governor Art?) We all wish DAVE AMUNDSON's wife, Gail, a speedy recovery of a broken wrist.
Announcements:
PRESIDENT JIM called on STEVE GAVRILOFF and asked STEVE where he went for today's meeting. STEVE reported he was at the meeting. After getting more details from STEVE it was reveled that Steve went to McNear Park thinking that today's meeting was at the park. Seems STEVE's navigator, TOM BAKER, fell asleep and didn't warn STEVE that he took a wrong turn. PRESIDENT JIM imposed a $25.00 fine on TOM and let STEVE off without a fine.
THE MEETING AT McNEAR PARK IS JUNE 20TH !!!!
JOE ALLEN gave a very informative craft talk. He even praised PRESIDENT JIM for not fining him. Good luck, JOE, after your fireside meeting. Seems JOE was born in Southern California and moved to Northern California when he was eight years old. After finishing high school he graduated from U.C. Irvine where he met his wife Lisa. Finally JOE and Lisa settled in Petaluma where they are raising their three sons. Welcome, JOE. Thanks for joining our club. It should be noted that PRESIDENT JIM fined JOE $5.00 for each page of notes and $5.00 per child. Thanks for the $35.00, JOE.
ONITA PELLEGRINI’s new car cost her $50.00 even after she told us of her accident which was responsible for her getting a new car, and how pleased she was with the HENRY HANSEL's Team (yes, HENRY, the gas tank was full) and NANCY KOENITZER for her help with insurance. NANCY got up and told PRESIDENT JIM that she would pick up $25.00 of ONITA's fine. Thank you, ladies.
GARY BRODIE was next called upon, Seems old GARY boy has been out and about visiting Yosemite, golfing in Monterey, winning big in Reno, etc., etc. Rotarian TOM BRANDAL was GARY’s golfing partner in Monterey, which put him in line for a fine. PRESIDENT JIM got $100.00 from GARY and $20.00 from TOM. Thanks, fellows.
The May birthday table was introduced and BARNEY FAUSS led us in the traditional happy birthday song.
Today’s raffle was won by RICK and KAREN VAN BEBBER’s daughter who picked the right colored rock and walked away with the cash. This took place after PRESIDENT JIM reported that he could not find his rocks. TED ADKINS reported that they were properly placed prior to the meeting and that he was not to blame. Finally the rocks showed up. Rumor has it that a person with the initials B.A. had taken PRESIDENT JIM’s rocks.
MIKE MADICK introduced our guest speaker, Heather Silacci, who spoke on the organization "Routes for Youth." This organization is a peer-based program that is part of the judicial system. Heather told of the real life experiences of the participants and how the program allows for teens to be counseled and judged by teens that have gone through the program. Teens actually go to court where fellow teens preside and issue rulings. Local attorneys and professional help oversee and work with the teens in the program. It was very rewarding for all of us to have such a positive young lady present a very professional and informative talk. Heather is a home grown Petaluma girl who we can all be very proud of. Her parents Don and Virginia can be very proud of her accomplishments.
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Ralph Sartori. .
NEXT WEEK'S ASSIGNMENTS
Visitors: Roy Musick
Microphone: Rick Mossi
Fine Can: Steve Lafranchi
Editor: Mike Baddeley
May 23, 2002
COMING EVENTS
May 30 - Heather Silacci - Roots for Youth
June 6 - Another interesting program
June 13 - Another interesting program
June 20 - Barbecue luncheon at McNear Park (Playground Dedication)
June 28 - Debunking (Club dark June 27)
Was that a new tie PRESIDENT JIM was sporting as he feebly called the meeting to order? We say “feebly” because his gavel was missing. The faint opening bell was quickly followed by $10 fines to Setup Committee members TED ADKINS and ANDY KVALHEIM for a variety of missing items including essential raffle equipment. “No rocks! Gotta have rocks!” JIM exclaimed as he called GENE BENEDETTI up front to lead the opening song. It was the expected Rambler, Gambler followed by God Bless America as only GENE can do it. But there was a twist. Our sharp eyed PRESIDENT observed that not-so-sharp-eyed GENE was wearing RALPH BETTINELLI’s chicken badge. “Jesus H. Christ!” GENE exclaimed and paid a $10 fine.
After that outburst, LARRY JONAS came up for equal time. LARRY’s inspirational thought for the day was taken from Cervantes’ Impossible Dream. Changing roles, LARRY then introduced our one visiting Rotarian, Kurt Schau, of the Petaluma Sunrise Club. DON RAMATICI introduced his wife, Janice, (“the real power in the Ramatici family”) and JOHN RAMATICI introduced his wife, Michelle. JERRY GILLESPIE introduced his guest, John Lehman, Principal of Petaluma Junior High School.
Sunshine Report. MIKE MADDALENA, who missed recent meetings with a health problem, is doing well. His ailment has been identified and is responding well to medication. He’ll be back at meetings in a week or two. PDG ART AGNEW had an unscheduled visit with his doctor this morning that led to a postponement of the scheduled Art and Paul Show. ART, we hope you’re feeling better; we hope to see you next week.
Local Foundation News. JOHN DADO announced that applications for this year’s Foundation grants must be postmarked by May 31. He also announced that the Foundation board would meet on Wednesday, June 12 (8:00 a.m., Bank of Petaluma administrative office).
Sunshine Club Debunking. Visiting Rotarian Kurt Schau announced that the debunking roast of outgoing Sunrise President Alan Anspach (and inauguration of new President Barbara Schroeder) would be Tuesday, June 25 at Hermann Sons Hall, beginning at 6:00 p.m. A $50 ticket covers the banquet, a fully hosted bar, and the evening’s festivities. For tickets or more information, call Kurt at 778-6454.
Our President Speaks. DICK WEBER received a hearty round of applause for his generous contribution of the 3,000 eggs served at the All Day Breakfast. Then PRESIDENT JIM described his experiences at the just-concluded District 5130 Conference in Yountville. Seems that someone doctored JIM’S photo on our club’s exhibit. He didn’t think the black eye, moustache and missing teeth contributed to his appearance and promised fines to the culprits, if apprehended. He thanked LOU STEINBERG and KAREN VAN BEBBER for their presentations (on RYLA and Youth Services, respectively). And he noted that our web site was honored as the best large-club web site in the District. (Your humble editor wants to note for the record that ED FULLERTON’s photos have made the web site a winner.) Finally he presented a $100 check to our local Foundation ($50 for redeeming his Fair director badge from TAWNY TESCONI, $50 informant fee for learning that KIP HERZOG had taken it.). He promised equal fines to TAWNY and KIP at a future meeting.
Craft Talk No. 1. ERIK GUNHEIM explained how his birth in San Francisco led to being raised (and raising pigeons) in Novato, dropping out of school to farm in Norway, traveling through Europe, Africa and Asia, meeting his future wife in the Basque region of northern Spain, graduating from SSU, entering law school, getting married, moving to Petaluma, graduating from USF Law School, moving to Penngrove when his second child was born and conducting civil and criminal litigation for the past 13 years. This, a letter from a potential client, and $10 got ERIK his chicken badge.
Our President Strikes Again. In honor of his outstanding service to the Club, our board rounded up JOHN RAMATICI’s Paul Harris account to the full $1,000 level. Proud father DON RAMATICI presented the Paul Harris certificate and medal to JOHN while JOHN’s mother, wife and brother smiled from across the room. Brother PAUL RAMATICI didn’t smile for long, however. Our Prez fined him $100 for his new home and added $20 more for his adventures at a Reno blackjack tourney. STEVE HENRIS was fined $20 for attending the same event. And STEVE LAFRANCHI paid a $100 fine for a 10-day vacation in Maui.
Craft Talk No. 2. Which of our members is a Palestinian-Arab Christian from Jerusalem who immigrated to America at age 3 and sings opera and belly dances (at the same time!) while rising to high levels in insurance marketing? If you attended the meeting you know that this amazing individual is LUCIE SWEDA. This talented lady paid $10 for her new chicken badge and another $20 for her new office in Novato.
Craft Talk No. 3. Who is the Cheesehead from West Allis, WI whose dad worked for Schlitz Brewing, whose grandmother ran a bar, whose family operated several more bars, who met her spouse in a bar, moved to California with two young children when her husband’s job relocated to the SF Peninsula, discovered Petaluma, and has been discovered by three local banks? It’s LORETTA CATAROZOLI, proud grandmother of three, who cheerfully paid $10 for her chicken badge.
Important Paperwork. President-Elect ED FULLERTON announced the survey and questionnaire mailed with this issue of the Rota-Teller. The information requested is needed for a smooth launch of the new club year. Please complete yours and return to the Club Secretary as soon as possible.
Working Together Internationally. JIM BECKER announced that he and LARRY JONAS are working with the Valley and Sunrise Clubs to establish a joint international service project sponsored by all three Petaluma clubs. A July fundraiser for this project will be barbecue dinners at local Rotarians’ homes (all you can eat and drink for $40 and a bottle of wine). More details next week.
After DAVID BARBIERI paid a $30 fine for something (not going anywhere?) Janice Ramatici won the raffle. Having located his rocks, (does that make you colorblind, Jim?) PRESIDENT JIM challenged Janice to pull a brown rock out of the bag. She grabbed a blue rock that JIM identified as red. This got Janice a bottle of wine and raises next week’s raffle to $125.
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Al Cattalini. .
NEXT WEEK'S ASSIGNMENTS
Fine Can: Clark Rosen
Microphone: Lou Steinberg
Visitors: Loretta Catarozoli
Editor: Ralph Sartori
May 16, 2002
COMING EVENTS
May 23 - "Paul and Art Show"
May 30 - Heather Silacci - Roots for Youth
If you who found yourself at the Veterans’ Memorial Building today for our usual 12:30 PM meeting wondering why you were stood-up, you weren’t. Petaluma Rotary made a pretty good showing at the 9th Annual Agri-Business Community Barbecue Lunch at Herzog Hall in the fairgrounds. As with any true agri-business lunch, there was barbecued chicken and all the fixin’s. There was entertainer, John Martin reciting Cowboy Poetry. The Dairy Princes, Jenna Dibble, graced us with her presence. There was a key-note speaker, Doug Mosbar from the Farm Bureau Association enlightening the audience with facts and figures about the state of our farms in California and the dangers of over-legislation and under-budget shortfalls facing all of us today. And there were comments and concerns expressed by the audience in return.
There were a dozen or so service clubs and organizations represented at the lunch; including, Petaluma Valley Rotary, Sunrise Rotary, Host Lions, 711 Lions, Kiwanis, Business and Professional Women’s Association, Petaluma Downtown Association, North Bay Dairy Association, Chamber of Commerce, Petaluma Counsel of Realtors, and the Sonoma-Marin Fair Association. Petaluma Rotary certainly helped PRESIDENT JIM MICKELSON fulfill his goal in expanding the awareness of Rotary in the community. We made an excellent show with many of our own members involved in organizing this event starting with PRESIDENT JIM who is a member of the Agra-Business Committee and helped in the kitchen. TAWNY TESCONI in her role as Fair Director was key to hosting and decorating the hall. ONITA PELLEGRINI, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, sent invitations and made reservations.
But more importantly, TAWNY acknowledged PRESIDENT JIM for his notorious Rotary fining and came forward with a retaliatory $50 fee to our President for his long lost Fair Board badge which had been missing for many months. And Tawny didn’t stop there. She made PRESIDENT JIM promise another $50 to Petaluma Rotary Foundation for her to reveal the thief and rat who was none other than KIP HERZOG. Look out KIP and TAWNY at next week‘s meeting!
But the Petaluma Rotary notoriety didn’t end there. Everyone waits for the grand-finale drawing at this event which allows the winner to invite their club president to perform a stunt devised to invite great laughter from the entire audience. And would you believe? The winning ticket holder, BABE AMARAL chose none other than PRESIDENT JIM MICKELSON to be invited on stage. ED FULLERTON, I hope you got real good shots of PRESIDENT JIM singing Old MacDonald Had A Farm on stage wearing a little tiny straw cowboy hat and pulling strings on a child’s toy which played recorded farm animal sounds .
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Applications for Petaluma Rotary Foundation grants are being accepted through May 31. They should be delivered to JOHN DADO or ART AGNEW.
NEW MEMBER PROPOSAL
The club has received an aplication for induction of the following new member. If any member in good standing has an objection to this person, such objection should be made in writing to the club board of directors within 10 days of receipt of this notice:
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Maureen Joyce. .
NEXT WEEK'S ASSIGNMENTS
Fine Can: Steve Lafranchi
Microphone: Nancy Koenitzer
Visitors: Larry Jonas
Editor: Al Cattalini
May 9, 2002
COMING EVENTS
May 16 - Community Luncheon - Herzog Hall
May 23 - "Paul and Art Show"
May 30 - Heather Silacci - Roots for Youth
Changing the lineup a bit, PRESIDENT JIM surprised everyone, including BABE himself, when he was called to lead us in song. Only temporarily confused and reluctant BABE rose to the occasion and we filled the room with “God Bless America.” LARRY GOTFREDSON gave the invocation, a pre Mother’s Day prayer. There were no visiting Rotarians. KATHY O’CONNOR BURROUGHS, STEVE LAFRANCHI, WALLY BRAGDON, ONITA PELLEGRINI, and PRES. JIM introduced their guests.
RALPH SARTORI thanked the Jr. and Sr. Interact Clubs, the Boy Scouts, the Dairy Princess, GENE GIORGETTI (for the use of his catering van) and everyone else for contributing to a successful All Day Breakfast. We served one more breakfast than last year. A special thanks was given to RALPH BETTINELLI for leaving his assignment in the kitchen to buy catsup. For the hour he was gone the overworked remaining Rotarians served a record number of people.
PRESIDENT JIM showed BABE and RALPH BETTINELLI pictures from the Argus of them cooking at last years Breakfast and fined them $40, but allowed them to pass on the fine. They chose the committee chairman RALPH SARTORI. He paid $20 and challenged all from the Ag community, past and present, (guests included) to make up the rest and more.
DON RAMATICI and KIP HERZOG were fined $20 each for discussing the finer points of scrambling eggs on the President’s time.
TAWNY TESCONI announced that next week’s meeting will be at the Fairgrounds, Thursday at noon. Bar opens at 11:30. The fair board will barbecue chicken. The all service club event kicks off the start of the fair season. Also the District conference is next week, May 17, 18 and 19th. See STEVE or PRESIDENT JIM if you need to register.
JOHN DADO announced that applications for a grant from the Petaluma Rotary Club Foundation must be in by May 31, 2002. Send them to him or our PO Box address.
LINDA ZACHARIN gave her craft talk. Born in Brooklyn, she graduated from SF State with a fine arts degree - photography. She traveled through Europe and South American and is currently in commercial real estate. Her hobbies are fly fishing and horses.
ROY MUSICK was fined $40 for partying late and $10 for having Linda drive him home. LORETTA CATAROZOLI paid $50 to the club for her new Mercedes. AL KAPLAN was fined for being in Seattle for the opening of the Yacht season. DUKE IVERSON won a bottle of wine in the raffle; the label was so badly mutilated by RICK OBERLIN that RICK was fined $20.
WALLY BRAGDON introduced the speaker, Bob Giacomini, from the Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. For our lunch Bob had brought a round of blue cheese made at his farm. It was outstanding! He talked about his family history in the area and how starting the cheese company allowed him and his three daughters to stay in the farming business. They milk only 280 cows now and that milk is converted into blue cheese at the farm. It takes 8 ½ pounds of milk and about 6-7 months to make 1 pound of cheese. The company is trying to fill a niche locally and nationally.
Remember - NEXT WEEK is at the Fairgrounds.
BILL HARTMAN phoned the Secretary on Sunday and informed him that his mother-in-law has passed away and he and Stephanie were on their way back to Michigan.
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Mike Madick. Next week's editor: Maureen Joyce..
May 2, 2002
COMING EVENTS
May 9 - Bob Giacomini - Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese
May 16 - Community Luncheon - Herzog Hall
May 23 - "Paul and Art Show"
May 30 - Heather Silacci - Roots for Youth
RECIPE FOR A SUCCESSFUL ALL DAY BREAKFAST
INGREDIENTS.- 1200 rolls, 238 milk cartons, 125 gallons orange juice, 25 boxes butter chips, 600 creamer boxes, 1 case oranges, 11 cases of strawberries, 14 lbs. coffee, 200 catsup bottles, 1000 place mats, 1 gal. corn oil, 1,000 each -- plastic forks, knives, and spoons, 850 juice cups,, 700 hot cups, 4 cans preserves, 800 packets each salt & pepper, 600 sugar packets, 1100 napkins, 200 sugar packets, 900 coffee stirrers, 3 sacks pancake mix, 4 gal. syrup, 3000 eggs, 360 lbs. sausage, 2,000 admission tickets, 75 posters, various supplies, plenty of fun.
MIX WITH: Rotarians, Interact members, Junior Interact members, and other helpers such as Dairy Princess, Boy Scouts, and others.
SERVES: Approximately 1,000 satisfied customers (actual number 923).
ROTARY WORLD NEWS ITEMS IN BRIEF -- FROM ROTARY WORLD
The Rotary Club of Abidjan-Lagunes, Cote d'Ivoire, has launched a project to help men and women start small businesses. Loans from club members allowed one entrepreneur to start selling baked goods along a major street, another to open a tailoring shop, a third person to set up a payphone service with a cellular telephone, and other individuals to operate kiosks offering cloth, cosmetics, and hot meals. More projects are in the works.
When a delegation from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, visited its sister city, Mar Del Plata, Argentina, the members brought along more than goodwill.-They also delivered seven wheelchairs, the first of 170 to be shipped to Argentina, where Mar Del Plata's seven Rotary clubs will help distribute them to the needy. The donation resulted from a collaboration between three service organizations.
Rotarians report achievements that they believe to be "firsts" in the annals of Rotary. The Rotary Club of Valencia Camoruco, Venezuela, inducted three sisters to the club at one time. A member of the Rotary Club of Stockholm has been a speaker 30 years in a row at the "summer vacation" club where he does make-ups.
The Rotary Club of Indraprasta, Semarang, Indonesia, has come, to the aid of refugees from upheaval in East Timor and West Iran who fled to central Java. The club launched a Rotary Community Corps whereby the impoverished refugees get help in starting small poultry operations to sustain themselves until their eventual return home.
NOTE FROM THE SECRETARY -- ROTARY CLUB OF PETALUMA IS NOW #399
I recently had correspondence with Rotary International and was advised I was using the wrong Club # 1397. Some time ago RI gave new numbers to older clubs and we never acknowledged it on our correspondence. You more astute members will note that I have changed the information on the Rota-Teller at the top portion of the printed newsletter.
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Paul Lounibos. Photos by Ed Fullerton.
NEXT WEEK'S ASSIGNMENTS
Fine Can: Brian Hoover
Microphone: Steve Lafranchi
Visitors: Rick Mossi
Editor: Mike Madick