October 2005

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

October 27, 2005

COMING EVENTS

November 3 - Club dark for Friendship Feast
November 10 - Mark Weston, Nurse at Katrina relief
November 17 - Dave Traversi, Petaluma Leghorns
November 24 - Club dark for Thanksgiving

After STEVE RUSTAD opened our final meeting of the month by leading America, the Beautiful.

LOU STEINBERG delivered his thought for the day, The Object of Rotary. CARRIE PIERSON introduced visiting Rotarians and LOU STEINBERG, CHRIS ALBERTSON, and DAN LIBARLE introduced their guests.

Mike Baddeley disses screwtops.

The Sunshine Report was positively sunny with no one reported under the weather.

ONITA PELLEGRINI announced the annual Foundation Dinner to be held in Santa Rosa on Saturday evening, November 19. Looks like a fun evening with a rock and roll theme. Contact Onita for info and tickets. You can win $500 that night, even if you can’t attend the dinner, by contributing to the Foundation. Every $10 of your donation gives you a chance — and goes toward your Paul Harris as well.

Joe Serra

Here’s another great Rotary opportunity, in case you missed PAUL LOUNIBOS’ announcement last week: Doctor Joseph Serra, an orthopedic surgeon and Rotarian from Stockton, will address the Sebastopol Rotary Club on Friday, November 18, 2005. The Sebastopol Club meets at the Sebastopol Community Church, 1000 Gravenstein Highway North. About twenty years ago, Dr. Serra gave a marvelous presentation to our Rotary Club on the Polio Plus Program which featured corrective surgery on Central African children enabling them to stand and walk.

HARVEY FREETLY, BRIDGET DOHERTY, LARRY JONAS, BABE AMARAL, CARRIE PIERSON, RICK SUSICK and ROBERT MITCHELL paid $5 apiece for celebrating October birthdays.

And STEVE OLMSTED paid $10 for leaving Robert’s name off the list. But why wasn’t PRESIDENT LEE fined for skipping the singing of Happy Birthday?

BRIDGET DOHERTY left her birthday cake to give her craft talk. A Petaluma native, she graduated from St. Vincent’s elementary school, Ursuline, and USC and now manages Cal West Rentals. Before returning to her cake, she warned our president that her beloved Trojans would soon be rolling over Lee’s hapless bears. A cakewalk?

Club Secretary STEVE OLMSTED was up next for a reprise of his craft talk. Like Bridget, he was born in Petaluma, but some 44 years earlier. After Washington Elementary School and PHS, he graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in printing engineering and a varsity letter in water polo. Army service in Korea was next, followed by a printing job in Hawaii, a Petaluma visit for JOHN DADO’s wedding, and a move to New York City. (He worked for the NY Times for one day?) Back to Petaluma where he married LEE BEAN’s sister (it lasted seven years) and a subsequent marriage to Charlotte. Our Secretary is the proud father of five daughters and one son.

After numerous attempts, PRESIDENT LEE cornered STEVE HENRIS and presented Steve with his long overdue Paul Harris award.

WHIT HALL was next on Lee’s list. No fine here either. Just acknowledgement of Whit’s having been identified by last week’s speaker as a past “Soccer Person of the Year.” While Whit claimed he got the award because of his advanced age, we know he’s being characteristically modest!

Now it was time for fines. RALPH BETTINELLI was recognized for his continuing service as Treasurer of the Sonoma County Fair. When BABE AMARAL rose to compare Ralph serving as a treasurer “like me being president of PETA.” Ralph offered to pay a $50 fine if PRESIDENT LEE would fine Babe $10. Done deal.

ERIK GUNHEIM was next. Seems this crazy guy went diving with great white sharks in the waters off Isla Guadalupe, Mexico. Fortunately the sharks practiced professional courtesy with their colleague and Erik returned to tell the story. And to pay a $50 fine.

Alden Hennings says he doesn't drive a Chevy.

LOU STEINBERG replaced his venerable Mercedes with a new Lexus and relocated his business back to Petaluma. He paid $20 for this with a promise of more to come.

After BABE AMARAL won a bottle of wine in the raffle, LARRY JONAS rose to announce that he had recently won $500 in the Petaluma Educational Foundation raffle. Larry graciously offered to donate $50 to the Club and another $50 to our international project.

Chris Albertson introduces bench and speaker.

CHRIS ALBERTSON introduced the day’s speaker, Dan Sunia, manufacturing technology teacher at Petaluma High School. He described an innovative program where students are manufacturing street furniture (benches, bike bollards, trash containers) for the city of Petaluma.

Dan Sunia and his student metalworker, Ashley.

Remember, we are dark next week!

PRESIDENT LEROY “The Judge” BEAN called the meeting to order and asked KEITH SOLTS to led us in song. Keith announced that today’s song would be “My Country Tis of Thee.” I think Keith did a Great Job of leading, but there is room for improvement. We need our songbirds back at the meetings.

PRESIDENT LEROY then called on MIKE BADDELEY to give us the thought for the day. “Mike, Mike are you here?” When it was apparent that Mike was not in the crowd BARNEY FAUSS said “I’ll give the thought for the day.” Barney did a great job reminding us that we all have so much to be thankful for and that helping others makes a difference.

There were no visiting Rotarians and no Rotarians with guests. This group of people missed out on a great lunch.

PRESIDENT LEROY reported that STEVE LAFRANCHI had been under the weather but was doing better.

PAUL LOUNIBUS then reported on Past Rotary History.

LARRY JONAS said that there would be a meeting at his house on Tuesday evening 10/25/05, 5:30 pm. for anyone wanting information on going to Thailand in early January.

GRETA VIGUIE then presented President Leroy with check for $3,075.00 from Petaluma Junior High for the “Rotary Katrina Relief Fund”. The money was raised by students and along with the $8,000.00 raised by our club will be sent to help those in need.

PRESIDENT LEROY then asked TED ADKINS if he could give his Rotary (craft) History talk. Ted said he was ready and came forward. He said that somewhere between 1965 and 1970 he became involved in Rotary. There were many special memories but he focused on a motorcycle related incident that took place many years ago. Seemed he and several other Rotarians thought it best to try the motorcycle out before it was raffled off. Then fearing the fine PRESIDENT MAX HERZOG would impose on him he hid in a closet for over 3 hours. He recalled his Presidential years of 1986/87 as being special. The Polio Plus Foundation was one of the projects he was very proud of. During his term he also recalls the first time of back problems in his life. This was one talk that will be remembered by those in attendance for years to come.

Finally MIKE (late) BADDELEY asked for time to remind all members that the Dinner Hosts of The Friendship Feast have their guest lists and members should be receiving their information shortly. Mike also thanked Ted for giving a better report than when he was president. He’s gotten better (even his back) over the years Mike said.

PRESIDENT LEROY then tried to sell Cal tickets for this week’s game along with tickets to the Valley Club’s Oktoberfest.

PRESIDENT LEROY reported that the Roster Book would not be updated and encouraged members to use our Web Site to look up information as the Web Site will be updated and kept current.

PRESIDENT LEROY then called upon JOHN SCHARER to stand up and explain to the club why he was pictured in the local paper as a Coach. John said it was a First Community Bank advertisement and that he was one of several coaches. Then John had to explain his new home purchase in Idaho. John said “it was my wife’s idea but I’ll pay.” Finally he had to explain the details about a recent hunting trip to Wyoming. After consulting with RALPH BETTINELLI, this editor will not report on John’s trip.

TOM BRANDAL was next on the firing line. Tom admitted traveling out of Penngrove to the Grand Canyon, Tahiti, and fishing out of state. Tom said he had a great time with his grandkids and truly enjoyed his time away from Penngrove.

JOANNE FERRIS introduced our guest speaker, Mr. Kevin McDonald. Kevin gave a very detailed talk about the Petaluna Youth Soccer League. He talked about the early years and what the future may bring. Today they play on 30 different fields, have over 400 volunteers, and provide Safe, Constructive, and Fun programs for the youth of our community.

October 20 - Marcus Benedetti presents an interesting program
October 27 - Heidi Kibbe presents an interesting program
November 3 - Club dark for Friendship Feast

PRESIDENT LEE BEAN called the meeting to order right on time.

HERB BUNDESON led us in song,

          . . . and ALDEN HENNINGS offered thoughts he found at a restaurant in Colorado Springs on what it means to be an American.

CHRIS ALBERTSON then introduced visiting Rotarians from the Sebastopol, Petaluma Sunrise and Petaluma Valley clubs.

PRESIDENT LEE reminded us that JOHN RAMATICI’s family should be in our thoughts.

MIKE BADDELEY urged all members to let them know whether they are attending a Friendship Feast. The goal is to raise $5,000.00 for the Dictionary Project, so fifty members plus guests are needed to participate.

JOHN DADO announced that March 3, 2006 will be the club’s annual Day at the Races and asked members to contact him for information.

DOUG GARRISON provided a “renewal” Craft Talk to assist some of the newer members to learn about the long- term members.

Carrie Pierson worked the fine can today.

CLARK ROSEN reminded the members about the Petaluma Educational Foundation dinner and auction Friday and Saturday nights, honoring retiring Director Sally Johnson. CLARK also had to explain how his photo ended up in an ad in the Press Democrat. His good month cost him $50.

STEVE GAVRILOFF complained that PRESIDENT LEE was picking on the Realtors, but he shared his good fortune while hinting in Oregon bagging a small buck and rescuing a 350 lb. Elk, all worth $50.

Harvey Freetly took this picture.

AL CATTALINI donated $40 for his description of his trip to the Sierras and another to Mobile, Alabama just before Hurricane Katrina.

PRESIDENT LEE admitted to some degree of depression over Cal’s loss to UCLA, then offered his 50-yard line tickets for auction for Oregon State and Washington State.

JEANETTE CLARK grabbed the Oregon State tickets for her husband KEN.

RICK VAN BEBBER forgot the raffle ticket box (what, no fine?),

          . . . but JUDI ALLEWELT still walked away with a fine bottle of wine.

Babe smiles after embarassing Tawny during the introduction.

Engaged? Show us your left hand!

PAST PRESIDENT BABE AMARAL introduced the day’s speaker,

Lex McCorvey, who offered comments on his concerns regarding the potential impact of Measure “M” on the county. He shared that the Sonoma County Farm Bureau had done a year’s research on the measure and found they could not support it. He introduced

          . . . Patrick Moore, Ph.D., former President of Green Peace, who provided several examples of how genetically engineered crops have many benefits including higher yields, reduced erosion, and lower usage of pesticides and fertilizers. In response to questions from the members, he offered that there is not much difference between the work of Sonoma County’s Luther Burbank and genetically engineered crops.

Steve Rustad delivers the Twenty-third Psalm.

Heidi Kibbe introduces visiting Rostarians.

Mike Baddeley wraps up arrangements for the Friendship Feast.

Rick Rucker presents his craft talk.

Onita Pellegrini inducts our newest members.

Lee welcomes new members Christopher Blakeslee and Orest Balytsky.

Looks like sponsors Rick Mossi and George Bunnell expect to be fined!

It's time to start fining.

Fred Frost celebrates his 40th anniversary in Molokai; gets fined.

Raffle winner Jay Palm admires his wine.

Jeannette Clark introduces our speaker.

Lauren Schwing of the American Heart Association.