August 2005

Issues are arranged in reverse order. Scroll down to find the issue you want.

August 25, 2005

COMING EVENTS

September 1 - Dictionary Project at Work: History from St. Vincent's Elementary School
September 8 - Dale Brian, Core Action Association
September 15 - Pat Schaefer introduces new CEO for Health Systems
September 22 - Whitney Hall presents a special McKinley School program

Judge Leroy Bean Returns

One cannot put into words the feelings of Rotarians as PRESIDENT (JUDGE) LEROY BEAN returned to preside over our Rotary Club Meeting. PRESIDENT LEROY opened the meeting and said it was a welcomed feeling to be back with the Rotary Family. STEVE RUSTAD came forward and led us in the singing of “My Country Tis of Thee.” BANO CUMMINGS gave the Thought for The Day.

LOU STEINBERG introduced our lone visiting Rotarian from the Petaluma Valley Club. Rotarians with guests included RON HARRIS, JEANNETTE CLARK, JIM BECKER, and PRESIDENT LEROY who introduced his wife, Oralee.

Oralee Bean presents gift to District Governor Charlie Kelly.

Sunshine Report: HARVEY FREETLY is in the Hospital undergoing observation for a high fever. Let’s all keep Harvey in our prayers and hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Announcements: DAVE AMUNDSEN needs help to assist with a food booth at Infinion Raceway this weekend. Call Dave at 763-1156 if you can help. You will be able to stay at the racetrack after serving your shift.

JOANNE FERRIS reported that TAWNY TESCONI needs members for a workday to be at Steamer Landing Park on Saturday, August 27 from 8:30 am. until noon. We need to do planting, cleanup, and fence building. Bring tools and wheelbarrows if you can.

Rotarians with August Birthdays were welcomed. STEVE RUSTAD led the group in singing Happy Birthday to the group.

PRESIDENT LEROY called PAT SCHAEFER to come up and open a package. To Pat’s surprise inside the box was a hospital gown that Leroy wanted returned to the hospital. Seems the Judge slipped out of the hospital with the goods and then got cold feet. PAT then announced that the fountain to be erected across from the new Theater would have tiles placed on it. These tiles would be hand made tiles. Anyone wishing to make a tile should plan on coming down to the theater area on September 24th and 25th to design their original tiles. The completed tiles will become a part of the water tower fountain in the town square.

NIT ANDERSON then presented PRESIDENT LEROY and District Governor Charlie Kelly with hand carved wooden bark artwork of Forest scenes.

PRESIDENT LEROY thanked all the Rotarians for the many calls and gifts he received in the hospital. He especially thanked JEANNETTE CLARK for keeping the house in order and presented her with a bouquet of fresh cut flowers.

Special thanks were given to JIM McCAFFREY for sending Four Get Well cards to President Leroy. President Leroy questioned Jim as to whether he intended to send four cards or did he forget that he sent a card.

Then we were all treated to a singing bear that was given to President Leroy by Past Present BABE AMARAL. Actually some members of the club thought it was a Babe Bear.

PRESIDENT LEROY then announced that NO FINES would be assessed to members this week.

ONITA PELLEGRINI was then called forward to induct RICK RUCKER into the club. Onita asked Rick’s sponsor JIM BECKER and District Governor Charlie Kelly to come forward and assist with the induction of our newest member.

RICK VAN BEBBER had the winning raffle ticket and picked the right color rock. Rick walked off with the cash prize of $175.00.

Past President ED FULLERTON then introduced District Governor Charlie Kelly from the South Ukiah Club.

District Governor Kelly stressed that Rotary has lasted over 100 years because of “SERVICE”. The efforts of Rotarians have made a difference to millions of people on this earth. We never may know whom we helped, but we must remember, “SERVICE Makes a Difference”.

After the golfers completed the course and had a few drinks the meeting was called to order by PRESIDENT LEROY BEAN. He had HEIDI KIBBE give the thought for the day and BARNEY FAUSS lead us in singing. Barney tried to get the group to compete in "Row, Row Your Boat" with some success. He then led us in singing "God Bless America".

PRESIDENT BEAN then turned the meeting over to MARK STOKES who awarded the prizes to the golfers.

The team that finished First consisted of GARY BRODIE; BARNEY FAUSS, and non-Rotarians by the name of Hutchington and someone known to us only as Dan. (Dan must have been the ringer of this group and apparently doesn't want us to know his last name.)

The second place team was headed by Rotarian JOHN DADO. He had a father and son combination by the name of Carl and Scott Nygard. (Carl is John's barber.) The other member of their foursome was Jim Maestretti.

Third place went to the TOM BRANDAL team with his foursome made up of Benson, Ron Cromwell and Emswilder.

MEN'S LONG DRIVE (59 and under in age) was Rob Catelli, a member of the SANTOS-TUCKER foursome.

MEN'S LONG DRIVE (60 and over) was Deri Hildebrand who played on the JONAS team.

CLOSEST TO THE PIN (Women) was won by our Rotarian GINA PITTLER.

CLOSEST TO THE PIN (Men) was won by our Rotarian GARY BRODIE.

PUTTING CHAMPION - Larry Harrelson.

WOMEN'S LONG DRIVE was again won by one of our Rotarians, GINA PITTLER.

ACTING PRESIDENT MIKE BADDELEY, filling in for recuperating LEROY BEAN, opened the meeting by calling on BABE AMARAL to lead the crowd in singing the Ave Maria but quickly reversed course

                  . . . and called on TED ADKINS for more traditional fare. It was God Bless America. Nicely done, Ted. Thanks!

Then HEIDI KIBBE delivered the Thought for the Day: One person (you) can make a difference. MIKE then asked LORETTA CATAROZOLI to introduce the visiting Rotarians. But following hoots and catcalls from the crowd, our Acting President reversed course again and called for the traditional handshakes and hugs.

Then it was time for LORETTA to introduce the three visiting Rotarians. Two Rotarians introduced their guests. DON RAMATICI introduced his grandson Andy, a sophomore at Arizona State University while JIM BECKER introduced Rick Rucker, Director of Operations at the local Sheraton Hotel.

JOHN DADO then gave the Sunshine Report. LEE BEAN is feeling better and hopes to make a brief appearance at Monday’s golf tournament. He hopes to be back at our August 25 meeting hosting the District Governor.

TAWNY TESCONI advised that the dedication of Steamer Landing Park, our Rotary Centennial project, would be on Monday, September 12. We’ll have a work party on Saturday morning, August 27 (8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) to install kiosks and a split rail fence.

MIKE then auctioned off two tickets to Saturday’s 49er-Raider game, donated by an anonymous “generous member.” JUDI ALLEWELT captured the tickets with a $100 bid.

Then it was time for fines. Victim number one was JOHN SCHARER. But John was wisely absent. So LORETTA CATAROZOLI, an executive with John’s bank, was called on to discuss John’s new house in Idaho and a “house of cards” advertisement for the bank. When she was done, she was %50 poorer.

Next victim: JIM MICKELSON. But he was absent as well. So WHITNEY HALL was summoned front and center. Whit proudly described becoming a grandfather when his son recently adopted two Russian orphans and admitted to a recent Hawaii trip (ten days on Kauai). He surrendered $100 or, as he put it, $50 per grandchild.

Next victim: ERIK GUNHEIM. Oops! Absent. Next: GARY BRODIE. Oops, again! Absent again. This prompted Past (distant past) President LARRY JONAS to advise MIKE that squared-away presidents don’t call on people who aren’t present. Looking around the room for someone who was present, Mike then called on BABE AMARAL.

BABE admitted to some quiet time when his wife Emily recently took a solo trip to Alaska to see the grandkids. He apparently spent the quiet time watching television as he then reported seeing HENRY HANSEL in a Toyota commercial with Steve Young. Anyway, it cost Babe $50.

DON RAMATICI’s grandson, Andy, was next. He was asked to recite a memorable quote from his grandfather (“The future belongs to those who achieve.”) and to recommend an appropriate fine for DON to pay ($75, which Don paid).

STEVE LAFRANCHI was next. And he was present. He admitted to a Caribbean trip to Anguilla where he attended a Rotary meeting. It cost him $50.

MIKE remembered the raffle but nobody remembered the bag of rocks. AL CATTALINI held the winning ticket and had a choice of wine or nothing. He took the zinfandel while BABE AMARAL was drafted to take Al's photo. It seems that Babe is better at watching TV than he is at operating a camera.

CHRIS ALBERTSON then introduced fellow Rotarian Pamela Tuft, General Plan Director for the City of Petaluma. Pam explained the general plan process to date, noting that the recently developed “Draft Preferred Plan” would be the key to future changes and planning.

The cell phone that rang during her presentation didn’t go unnoticed by our Acting President. MIKE assessed JIM BECKER (his guest, Rick Rucker, had the offending phone) a fine of $30 ($10 per ring) before adjourning the meeting.

TED ATKINS led us in God Bless America.

LARRY JONAS gave us the thought for the day, look out for the slivers.

HEIDI KIBBE introduced the visiting Rotarians. From Petaluma Sunrise, Damon Doss, Greg and Lilly Freitas; From Oakland #3, Dean Abercrombie.

The one student guest was the incoming Interact President Alyssa David (who was actually working). No other guests.

Sunshine Report. KAREN VAN BEBBER had successful surgery according to her husband RICK, who indicated she had been spayed. PRESIDENT LEROY is coming home today and we all wish the two of them speedy recoveries.

JOHN DADO reminded everyone about the Golf Tournament on Monday August 15th. 12:30 shotgun start at PG&CC. Contact ONITA PELLEGRINI if you are bringing a guest for dinner.

MICHAEL CARUANA is looking for help on the power point presentations. VOLUNTEER!

JEANNETTE then reminded August birthdays and anniversaries of what date to celebrate.

Damon Doss requested participation in the Petaluma Health Care District Survey. This is part of the follow-up for the Hospital lease which is 10-years old and has 10-years left. The Survey is on-line; go to the district website.

New member JAY PALM gave his craft talk. He is the owner of a western wear and saddle shop on Petaluma Blvd. North and the proud father of twin boys, 10 months old.

MARY ANN SHOEMAKER then gave her craft talk. A 37-year resident of Petaluma with 36 years of banking. She started with the old Bank of Marin, went to Bank of Petaluma and is now with the new Bank of Marin. Enjoys time with her grandkids.

Welcome to both new members.

FINES

JOHN DADO paid $50 for celebrating his 45th Wedding anniversary with a limo ride to the Giants game and a trip to Southern California to visit baby Charlie, his new grandson.

KIP HERZOG also paid $50 for his family trip to Tahoe and Maine and his newly acquired Ford pickup.

LARRY JONAS paid $50 on his fine schedule and $50 to the Paul Harris in celebration of his daughter Josette’s marriage last Saturday. The editor attended and it was a great time and Larry held back on no expenses.

Raffle was won once again by lucky RON HARRIS, a bottle of wine (not that lucky)

Joanne Ferris introduces the guest speaker.

Our speaker was Bill Fishman, a local attorney who is the President of Petaluma Ecumenical Project, a non profit housing program for senior housing. It was a great and informative presentation.