Issues are arranged in reverse order. Scroll down to find the issue you want.
September 30, 2004
COMING EVENTS
October 7 - Supervisor Mike Kerns - Tolay Lake Park and more
October 14 - Tony Poggi - Secret Service
October 21 - District Governor Bruce Campbell - Official Visit
October 28 - Mike Kohill - Sutter Hospital
November 4 - DARK (Friendship Feast)
November 11 - John Dell'Osso - Pt. Reyes National Seashore
November 18 - Marty Rubina - Marin Independend Journal
The bell was tapped lightly at precisely 12:30 and PRESIDENT BABE called the meeting to order.
GENE BENEDETTI led us in a jolly rendition of “I’m a Rambler” followed by an enthusiastic “God Bless America” with some great harmony from BARNEY FAUSS and TED ADKINS.
DAN REED stepped up to the podium next for the invocation. DAN told the story of a successful businessman who bought himself a brand new beautiful Porsche. As he was driving, a brick hit his car that caused a huge dent. When he got out of the car, he discovered a little boy with his brother. His brother had fallen out of his wheelchair and no one stopped to help. The little boy’s only recourse was to throw the brick to get someone’s attention. The businessman never got the dent fixed in his car. It was a reminder to him to slow down and appreciate what he has.
The usual hugs and handshakes quickly followed. The tradition seemed a little louder and longer than it has been in awhile. PRESIDENT BABE had to tap the bell to get everyone back to their seats.
There were no visiting Rotarians. DAVE AMUNDSEN introduced the only guest. He brought Mark, the vice-president of Interact.
PRESIDENT BABE gave the sunshine report next. Our beloved HARVEY FREETLY is in the hospital. We miss you. Get well soon.
ROY MUSICK and helpers will be selling raffle tickets before our meeting for the next couple weeks. The money will benefit the Rotary Foundation.
MIKE BADDELEY wanted your choice of nights for the Friendship Feast by Thursday night. By the time you read this and you haven’t signed up, it might be too late. I hear MIKE can be bought, so you better be quick. The dates again are October 16, 21-23.
JIM BECKER told us about a great trip to Guatemala. The date is January 20th and he needs to know by the end of October.
PRESIDENT BABE couldn’t wait to announce a whole slew of ROTARIANS with birthdays in September. The lucky people sitting at the birthday table paid $5. Those away from the table paid $10 except for GARY BRODIE. GARY tried to tell the PREZ that his birthday was really in October. That little comment cost him $20. LARRY JONAS let everyone know it was Pam’s birthday. That cost him $20. Before we could sing “Happy Birthday” out observant PRESIDENT BABE noticed the cake had been cut and moved over to MIKE BADDELEY’s table. Our PREZ was so upset that he fined the barrister $20 and forgot to have the crowd sing “Happy Birthday”.
PRESIDENT BABE proceeded to pick on AL KAPLAN. It seems AL went on a fishing trip and caught a good size salmon, which cost him $100. It got out that TENNY TUCKER was on the trip too. A big 55 lb. halibut cost him $20.
The birthday issue was not going to die with RALPH BETTINELLI around. RALPH reminded the PREZ that he forgot the birthday song. PRESIDENT BABE instructed RALPH to come to the front of the room and get the microphone and lead us in song. To the PREZ’s surprise, RALPH did a great job.
GINA PITTLER was up next. It seems GINA bought a brand new black Thunderbird Convertible at HENRY HANSEL’s dealership with a full tank of gas from ONITA’s dad, Joe. She bought the car because our very own RICKS (OBERLIN and VAN BEBBER) told her to. When Barbie and Ken (GINA and her husband, Gerry) drove to L.A two weeks after she bought the car, they hit a deer. The PREZ showed her no sympathy and charged her $50 for the experience plus another $10 for the hit and run.
One would think that most ROTARIANS would know by now that you can’t put anything past our PRESIDENT BABE. HE observed TOM BAKER, RALPH BETTINELLI and JERRY GILLESPIE dozing off during last week’s guest speaker. That little snooze cost them each $10.
For some unknown reason, BARNEY FAUSS’s Rotary mail has been coming back. BARNEY joked that he’s been in the county jail for many years (they let him out on Thursdays) and his address hasn’t changed. Our usually trusty secretary, STEVE OLMSTEAD, could not find the evidence of returned mail. This cost STEVE $5 and BARNEY sat down.
JEANNETTE CLARK drew the winning raffle ticket.
A very disappointed RICK OBERLIN was the lucky winner of a bottle of wine. A record $450 will be in the pot next week.
JOHN DADO introduced Teejay Lowe from G&G Market as our next speaker. Teejay gave us the family history of the business. He attributed their success to the high quality of their products, customer service and their competitive prices. Their family is a part of the community and generously gives back to it.
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Loretta Catarozoli.
NEXT WEEK:
Set-Up: Keith Solts & Steve Rustad
Fine Can: Bill Groverman
Microphone: Steve Powell
Visitors: Loretta Catarozoli
Editor: Mike Baddeley
REMINDER: Excuse yourself to the speaker and Babe if you need to leave early.
September 23, 2004
COMING EVENTS
September 30 - Teejay Lowe - G&G Markets
October 7 - Supervisor Mike Kerns - Tolay Lake Park and more
October 14 - Tony Poggi - Secret Service
October 21 - District Governor Bruce Campbell - Official Visit
October 28 - Mike Kohill - Sutter Hospital
November 4 - DARK (Friendship Feast)
November 11 - John Dell'Osso - Pt. Reyes National Seashore
November 18 - Marty Rubina - Marin Independend Journal
With the comment, “I’m gonna try it again for one more time.” PRESIDENT BABE called the meeting to order and summoned . . .
. . . TED ADKINS who led the familiar God Bless America.
LARRY GOTFREDSON followed with the Thought for the Day. Your editor remembered this line: “The guy who dies with the most toys is still dead.”
When the ensuing hugs and handshakes had mostly subsided, our President commented that RALPH BETTINELLI seemed to spend a lot of time hugging the ladies. When LORETTA CATAROZOLI interjected that the gals love Ralph’s hugs, PRESIDENT BABE fined her a quick $10.
While RON HARRIS reported that there were no visiting Rotarians, three members introduced non-Rotarian guests.
TAWNY TESCONI introduced Petaluma Police Chief Steve Hood, JIM BECKER introduced John Cook, a “results coach” and RALPH SARTORI introduced Ed Cardoza, a Portuguese “Risotto King.”
Sunshine Report. ED FULLERTON reported that HERB BUNDESEN had been in the hospital for a few days last week but is now back home.
TAWNY TESCONI reported that the Chamber of Commerce “Business After Hours” featuring Petaluma’s three Rotary Clubs would be held Thursday, September 30 at the Community Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
MIKE BADDELEY announced that this year’s Friendship Feasts would be held on October 23 with alternate dates of October 16, 21 and 22. Members were requested to select their dates by next Thursday, September 30. For more information and a reservation form you can send back to Mike click here. Reply soon!
ROBERT MITCHELL has donated a pair of 49er season tickets to the club. PRESIDENT BABE will auction them periodically with proceeds split between the dictionary and Guatemala projects. NIT ANDERSON got tickets for the Rams game for $90 each, ED FULLERTON paid $10 for asking if that game was in St. Louis, and JEANNETTE CLARK paid $80 apiece for the Cardinals game. Watch for more auctions at future meetings.
JEANNETTE CLARK proudly paid a $50 fine for her grandson’s wedding and her “business” trip to Canyon de Chelly, Arizona where she hiked to the White House, a listing which has been vacant since 1275.
CHET SWANSON, who is looking for country living, was fined $100 for the record price tag on his downtown Petaluma home. (Note to Jeannette: Maybe you can sell him the White House; it’s out in the country!)
It seems that RALPH BETTINELLI is a regular for daily coffee at the Lakeville Garage. It also seems that Ralph collects unusual roadkill, such as the red fox-coyote crossbreed he brought to the garage for show-and-tell one morning. Enough said, except that he forgot to remove the carcass from his trunk until after three days of 100º weather. That should have been enough of a penalty but PRESIDENT BABE wanted a $20 fine . . .
. . . which GEORGE TOMASINI gladly paid.
STEVE HENRIS apparently went on a hunting trip where he lost a substantial sum gambling with a minor. Steve kept the fine for this infraction at $50 by promising BABE dirt on another member.
JIM BECKER paid a $50 fine for travels to Holland, Germany, Poland, Canada and Cooperstown, N.Y. plus a $20 surcharge for observing that the Hitler statue he saw in East Berlin reminded him of BABE.
JIM got lucky (sort of) by holding the winning raffle ticket. He got a bottle of wine. Next week the jackpot is $425 with only three rocks remaining in the bag!
Program chair MARCUS BENEDETTI introduced
. . . State Superior Court Judge Gayle Guynup who presented a judge’s perspective of Sonoma County issues.
Coming next week: Information on the Rotary Foundation Harvest of Heritage event at Richard's Grove in Windsor on October 16.
ATTENTION: Those male members who are coming to the meetings in shorts are going to be subject to the wrath of our President — however he thinks Bermudas are OK!
NEW MEMBER PROPOSAL
The club has received an application 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: Al Cattalini.
NEXT WEEK:
Set-Up: Robert Mitchell & Pat Schaefer
Fine Can: Gene Andrews
Microphone: Carrie Pierson
Visitors: Joe Allen
Editor: Loretta Catarozoli
REMINDER: Excuse yourself to the speaker and Babe if you need to leave early.
September 16, 2004
COMING EVENTS
September 23 - Gayle Guynup - Traveling Judgeship
September 30 - Marcus Benedetti presents an interesting program
October 7 - Supervisor Mike Kerns - Tolay Lake Park and more
PRESIDENT BABE rang the meeting to a prompt order on the beautiful Indian Summer Thursday.
TED ADKINS was called upon to lead us in song. His leadership skills shone bright as he led the group in a rousing “God Bless America”. AL CATTALINI was called upon to deliver the thought for the day. We were asked to bow our head in an extended silence for the Past District Governors who recently passed awa , DUANE BLACKWILL, LOU DELSOL & ALDO SIMONETTI. Al resumed the invocation by quoting University of Chicago’s Amos Alonzo Stagg who said that a coach’s win on the field is not reflective of what the coach knows; rather what he has taught his players. Thanks Al, for the great lesson!
VISITING ROTARIANS
Carrie Pierson was asked to introduce the visiting Rotarians: KATHLEEN DOYLE and LILLY GOODMAN both from the Petaluma Sunrise Club; PAMELA TUFT, from Petaluma Valley Rotary Club and DENNIS MATSEN, from San Rafael Rotary.
ROTARIANS WITH GUESTS
AL RICHARDS was pleased to introduce his wife of 47 years, Gillian.
INTERACT STUDENTS
We were happy to have 10 students from Petaluma High School Interact who looked eager to begin the new year of service.
SUNSHINE REPORT
NIT ANDERSON was called upon. She is walking and has two more weeks before she can step back into her sports car. KAREN VAN BEBBER was recently hospitalized but is doing better and is at home. PRESIDENT BABE spoke of PAST DISTRICT GOVENOR DUANE BLACKWILL who was a former member and past president of our club, as well as the founder of RYLA. PRESIDENT BABE spoke about what an exceptional man he was.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PAMELA TUFT will be riding her bike in the MS Waves to Wine fund-raise this weekend. Pamela is looking for sponsors as she undertakes the 50 mile two-day bike ride, to be held September 18 and 19. If you are reading this after the fact and would like to donate, contact Pamela.
TAWNY TESCONI, our raven haired brick queen, announced that bricks for the McNear Peninsula Restoration Project are still on sale! She asked those who were procrastinating to purchase their bricks now. Sales will cease on October 1, 2004. TAWNEY made another announcement inviting one and all to the Chamber Business After Hours, sponsored by all three Petaluma Rotary Clubs. This will be a time to educate and recruit new members to Rotary. Please mark your calendars for next Thursday, September 30, 2004 at Petaluma Community Center (Luchessi Park), 5:30pm to 7:30pm. Fabulous food will be provided by Encore!
FINES
AL RICHARDS was called upon by our benevolent leader and easily forfeited $25.00 commemorating his 47 year marriage to GILLIAN.
Inspector Gadget aka NORM SANTOS is known to be a man who has more gadgets than God. He shared with us his recent Man vs. Machine story whereby his electric golf cart ran away, leaving him with a 15 stroke penalty. Norm donated $25.00 to the fine can.
PRESIDENT BABE turned the attention to HENRY HANSEL by pointing out that local folks can now play a new game called Where’s Henry? Our president pointed out that all one has to do is look at a newspaper, magazine or television only to find Henry. PRESIDENT BABE brought attention to Henry’s appearance in a recent issue of “TIME” magazine. Henry was also spotted at the Summer Olympics in Athens and being the good sport he is, he donated a dollar for each medal the US won in the Summer Games, $103. Way to go, Henry!
DAVE AMUNDSEN was called upon and asked if he recently took a trip? Doctor Dave confessed to a trip to Atlanta, but explained he went on a golf vacation and wound up working. Sounds of dulling banjos rang when Dave spoke of his first taste of moonshine and forfeited his family name of “UDIE” (short for Uncle Dave). UDIE gave $20 to the fine can.
LEROY BEAN, our President Elect, was one of four top players in the Cerini Golf Tournament. Although LEROY wouldn’t disclose who was the top golfer of the fab four, he drove $40.00 into the fine can.
Speaking of the Cerini Golf Tournament, Mr. Two for One” aka, KIP HERZOG, was called upon by PRESIDENT BABE. Our fearless leader asked if one of Kip’s foursome was a golf teacher. Four way test notwithstanding, Kip denied he had a teacher among his foursome and equally denied that his golf tournament/lesson made his foursome lag 30 minutes behind. While maintaining that our President was wrong, a “teed off” Kip sliced $20.00 to the fine can.
RAFFLE
Past President ED FULLERTON was the holder of the winning ticket which allowed him to pull a blue rock from the bag. Next week’s raffle will be a record $400.00. Remember that proceeds from the raffle provide money for teacher mini-grants.
JOHN DADO introduced today’s speaker, Steve Olson, Dean of Instruction at Santa Rosa Junior College.
The meeting was adjourned promptly at 1:30pm
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Connie Heizer.
NEXT WEEK:
Set-Up: Daniel Marsh & Carrie Pierson
Fine Can: Heidi Kibbe
Microphone: Marcus Benedetti
Visitors: Ron Harris
Editor: Al Cattalini
September 9, 2004
COMING EVENTS
September 16 - Steve Olson - Santa Rosa Junior College Shone Farm
September 23 - Another interesting program
September 30 - Another interesting program
PRESIDENT BABE AMARAL called the meeting to order and introduced HERB BUNDENSEN forward to lead us in song. We all joined in that great American song “God Bless America.”
Past President ED FULLERTON gave the invocation. Ed’s invocation recalled “The Most Caring Child Contest”. It was short and to the point. Hopefully some of our other long speaking members (Larry) giving the invocation in the future will take note of Ed’s to the point approach of giving an invocation
LARRY JONAS then introduced the visiting Rotarians from the following clubs: Santa Rosa East, Petaluma Sunrise, and Ignacio.
JIM McCAFFREY reported on the Mini Grants that have been awarded to local schools as of this date. Casa Grande High, Grant Elementary, Penngrove Elementary, and Petaluma High were the recipients so far this year. The funds are supported by the raffle tickets sales on meeting days.
PRESIDENT BABE then announced that it was time for fines to be levied on those members who have it coming. Before President Babe could get started TOM BAKER arose from his chair and reported that a stranger at his table had not been introduced and that it would be proper to have the Rotary members with guests introduce their guests. President Babe agreed and MIKE WHITE proudly introduced his father Bill White.
GRETA VIGUIE was first to be fined twice. The first time was for not having the microphone ready ($5.00). Then it was reported that Greta and her husband are the proud owners of a new homestead. This cost Greta $50.00 which she said is the amount that the school district is hoping voters will approve for a parcel tax to benefit the schools this November.
RICH POREMBA then was called to stand up and explain why AL CATTALINI had trouble with a term Rich had used at a prior meeting. Rich asked President Babe if he could first talk about our exchange students. President Babe said go ahead for $10.00. Rich reported that both our past exchange student and our present exchange student were doing fine, and that our present exchange student from India would visit our club in the near future. Rich paid an additional $20.00 for his confusing Al Cattalini with questionable words.
DAN LIBARLE was called upon to tell the club what it’s like to live with a “Jewel of Petaluma.” Dan said something, which drew a laugh from the crowd and then told of how proud he was of his wife Carol and that we should never forget that behind every good woman is a great man. Dan proudly offered $100.00 to the club for having such a sharing wife.
ALDEN HENNINGS was called a “World Traveler” by President Babe and asked to report on his recent trip. Seems Alden made it all the way to South Dakota with visits to Rotary clubs in Big Fork, Montana and Rapid City, South Dakota. Alden reported that President Babe has to be the shortest Rotary President West of the Mississippi River. Alden was fined $20.00 for the Short Joke and $50.00 for the trip.
PRESIDENT BABE called upon JIM MICKELSON. Seems The Mickelson kids are showing nothing put champion beef cattle. President Babe was not going to fine Jim however, after several remarks by President Babe, Jim volunteered to give the club $50.00. Present Babe thanked Jim and said he is nearing the $331.00 amount Jim fined him when Jim was president.
PRESIDENT BABE asked BARNEY FAUSS if the hat President Babe was holding looked familiar to him. Barney acknowledged it was his hat and that he had left it on a table outside of the meeting room. It was a special hat of foreign origin that was assembled in Sebastopol, California. Barney agreed to pay a fine equal to half the price he paid for the hat (which was $0.00). In the end Barney got the hat back for $5.00.
RICK MOSSI won a bottle of wine for having the right raffle number.
Today’s speaker was Larry Levy who gave a very informative talk on “What Employers Do or Don’t Do That Get Them Into Trouble”. He covered twelve points that if not done properly could make life miserable for employers.
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Ralph Sartori.
NEXT WEEK:
Set-Up: James Burleson & Suzanne Irwin-Wells
Fine Can:
Microphone: Clark Rosen
Visitors: Lou Steinberg
Editor: Connie Heizer
September 2, 2004
COMING EVENTS
September 9 - Larry Levy - Consultant on Employee Relations
September 16 - Steve Olson - Santa Rosa Junior College Shone Farm
President BABE AMARAL convened the meeting at 12:30 whether members were in their seats or not.
GENE BENEDETTI led us in song, waving his cane like a conductor's baton.
Then the Reverend (or is it revered?) DON RAMATICI offered the thought for the day, according to the gospel of George Carlin. President BABE thought the list of paradoxes was too long. Maybe he wasn't listening. It's not the number of breaths you take that count, but the moments that take our breath away.
ERIK GUNHEIM introduced our visiting Rotarians, but there were neither guests nor Interact students to be found. The sunshine report finds MIKE MADICK improving, and the Club sends our best wishes.
MIKE BADDELEY reminded members that the Friendship Feasts are coming on October 22 & 23 and 29 & 30. MIKE will be notifying hosts, who will then contact their guests directly. Remember that proceeds from the Feast support the Club's Dictionary Project.
RALPH BETTINELLI reported the purchase on behalf of the Club a lamb for $400 at the Sonoma County Fair and shared a Thank You card from the young person who raised the lamb. It wasn't clear what RALPH did with the lamb. President BABE queried RALPH about his luck at dice, then fined him $5.00 for failing to go to church (again).
LARRY JONAS shared a plan to collect pens with company logos from Club members to distribute to two high schools Rotarians will visit in Thailand during November. Call LARRY for details. President BABE wouldn't let LARRY sit down yet, as he wanted to know where LARRY had been when our President called him recently on his cell phone. Was it Mexico or Hawaii? Someone was confused, but LARRY fessed up to flying United and keeping his cash in the U.S. It still cost him $25.00 for his Club.
DAN REED was singled out for purchasing a new Hummer and taking up two parking spots, not only a gas guzzler but a land grabber. DAN admitted to the Hummer (Hell, his name's on the door!) but complained that he's received death threats for driving such a beast. President BABE showed compassion and only fined him $50.00.
MIKE CARUANA joined the fine ranks due to a three-week trip to Poland and Germany where he enjoyed beautiful scenery and toured an Arabian horse ranch. He tried to get President BABE's good favor by attending a Rotary meeting in Warsaw and bringing back a club flag, but that only gave him $5.00 credit. In the end, his trip cost him $50.00 anyway.
President BABE continued his Club quizzes, this time on the Olympics, and the members continued to show the same collective knowledge. . . .
. . . RALPH SARTORI, however, pointed out the Portuguese Olympic team had just arrived in Athens, a bit of wisdom that cost him $20.00. Sometimes, RALPH, it just doesn't pay to be helpful.
CARRIE PIERSON pulled the lucky raffle ticket, but her luck ran out with a bottle of wine. Next week's raffle will climb to $350.00!
JOHN DADO introduced the program, our own STEVE RUSTAD, who temporarily shed his marketing eye and cartoonist pen to share his experiences as a Federal Sky Marshal.
STEVE entertained us with tales of protecting Pan Am flights (remember them?), his guns, and silver bullets. The advent of pre-flight screening ended the Sky Marshal era, and no, he did not get to keep the frequent flyer miles. STEVE signed a book for our local schools, and President BABE announced the meeting closed.
REMINDER: Excuse yourself to the speaker and Babe if you need to leave early.
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Doug Garrison.
NEXT WEEK:
Set-Up: George Bunnell & Joanne Ferris
Fine Can: Al Kaplan
Microphone: Greta Viguie
Visitors: Larry Jonas
Editor: Ralph Sartori