March 2006

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

March 30, 2006

COMING EVENTS

April 6 - Maureen Middlebrook - Open Space
April 13 - Bill McCubbin - SOCO R.E.
April 20 - Lou Steinberg presents Bill Sonoma
April 27 - Committee Report on the "Future of the Rotary Club of Petaluma"

Oh, it was a glorious day as TED ADKINS kicked off the meeting with what began as a rousing version of “God Bless America” – but without his baton, Ted and the audience were not in synch. Five dollars later, Ted completed his duties and passed the microphone to

           . . . DAVE AMUNDSEN for the Thought of the Day. His was a long and meandering story, but he too got back on track and closed strongly. The moral being: “don’t hire relatives, hire hobos”.

Chris Albertson will be on Tawny's board.

PRESIDENT ELECT TAWNY TESCONI announced her Board and received a nice round of applause from the crowd.

More of next year's board members.

Please fill-out the upcoming survey. It helps the Club place the right people in the right committees.

More of next year's board members.

For a listing of Tawny's board, click here.

The Annual Canoe Challenge between the three Petaluma Clubs will take place April 22. Sign-up soon and let’s show our strength on the river!

David Barbieri and Kip Herzog were among the folks at the Birthday Table.

PRESIDENT LEE BEAN called up DAN LIBARLE and JIM BECKER to induct our newest members,

Sponsor Jim Becker with Tom Buckley.

           . . . TOM BUCKLEY of the Sheraton Petaluma

Dan Libarle stands on box to pin Rotary emblem on Geoff Ellis.

           . . . and GEOFF ELLIS from Lace House Linen.

ONITA PELLEGRINI spoke of the importance and responsibility members have to Rotary and the importance of recruiting new members. We appreciate our newest member’s commitment and we welcome them to the Club.

Next up were JENNIFER WEISS, MARY ANN SHOEMAKER and DEAN ABERCROMBIE. PRESIDENT LEE handed out their chicken badges

Hey Steve, how did Dean's name get misspelled on his badge?

           . . . and gave them the secret handshake.

RICK MOSSI drew the winning ticket and took home a bottle of wine.

Our speaker was none other than LARRY JONAS, who gave us a wonderful recap of the Club’s water purification projects in Thailand.

With the help of ONITA PELLEGRINI,

           . . . FRED WULFF and

This is how we do a goodwill visit?

           . . . AL CATTALINI, Larry highlighted the spirit and effort of this amazing trip. The photos were beautiful and Larry’s side comments were very entertaining, but the faces of the children were the best part of the show. Thank you to all the Rotarians, especially NIT ANDERSON, who traveled to Thailand and represented our Club so well. Great job, Larry.

President Lee receives memento from a Bangkok Rotary Club.

See you next week.

FARMERS NIGHT was a huge success with approximately 240 in attendance. RALPH SARTORI and his committee did a great job and there was plenty to eat and drink.

This year we had a raffle and 15 winners. Thanks to all of the contributors to the raffle prizes.

Festivities began at 6pm and we were served by members of the Petaluma High School FFA and Interact Club. Cleanup was provided by the Boy Scout Troop.

Lots of salad, polenta and stew and no one was watching their diet.

BILL GROVERMAN was responsible for selling the tickets at the door.

Erik Gunheim captured another Steve at the bar.

PAUL RAMATICI and STEVE HENRIS handled the bar.

PRESIDENT LEROY announced the raffle winners.

Thanks again to all who attended and brought guests.

           . . . Past President JEANETTE CLARK 's thought for the day (buy and sell real estate to achieve true security and inner peace…or something like that!). The customary handshakes and hugs ensued.

Another photo of Ted Adkins?

There were no visiting Rotarians who joined us for our lunch of traditional Irish faire (you know, too much beer, not enough potatoes…actually it was great corned beef and cabbage, but I digress); however, there were plenty of guests of Rotarians to take up the slack. Fortunately, there was no Sunshine Report (a misnomer, if ever there was one!).

RALPH SARTORI then reminded one and all of our Club's upcoming Annual Farmers and Merchants Night event next Thursday, March 23 (the Club is dark that day), so if you like polenta and stew (as opposed to say, shepherd's pie), and would like to pay tribute to our friends in agriculture, be there. RSVP Ralph or BILL GROVERMAN.

The Prez then announced that our Club's Board has recommended ED FULLERTON as a nominee for District Governor. No word on whether or not he'll be doing the traditional River Dance (Petaluma style) at his induction! Congratulations, Ed!

Where are my wee lassies?

Wee lassies, JENNIFER WEISS and MARY ANN SHOEMAKER, were then called upon to receive their coveted Rotary Chicken badges, but they were both conspicuously absent.

WHITNEY HALL then announced that the Youth Commission is looking for a few good…digital cameras. Call Whitney if you have one you would be willing to donate (or at least lend) to a worthy cause.

The Prez then started putting the old shillelagh to people, as TENNY TUCKER paid a $20 jewelry tax for his company's recent "diamond rating" in a local business magazine,

           . . . while RALPH BETTINELLI got his kilt in a ringer and was fined $30 in hush money for a recent South Dakota getaway, the reasons for which seemed quite circumspect according to the Prez…but the tight-lipped Ralph didn't have much to say about who, what, when, why or how. Maybe it was just to see if President Lee is on Mount Rushmore yet? Thanks, guys.

Sure and begorra, and proving once again the 4-way test really does work, Past President JEANETTE CLARK 'fessed up to being "mechanically challenged" and offered up a $10 fine, which gratuitous offering the greedy Prez gleefully grabbed gratefully. Thanks, Jeanette. The Prez then fined every member who was sans Rotary pin $5 for the transgression.

Secretary STEVE OLMSTED then told a near legendary Irish tale (or at least one that should be) about going to the horse races last week at the Club's Annual Day at the Races event. It seems that after a fat-free breakfast (4 Bloody Marys) and a few light appetizers (3 beers) before lunch, Steve hauled his shamrocks up to the betting cage and proceeded to pick the wrong horses for the wrong races in the wrong order, and ended up winning $780 on his 2-$10 tickets! Talk about the Luck of the Irish (O'lmsted is Irish, right!?)—Steve gladly donated $10 to the Club and $50 to the local Rotary Foundation for his good (hic!) fortune. Thanks, Steve.

Ticket #933 proved to be lucky for new member, JAY PALM, who couldn't find the brown Blarney stone to kiss, so he settled for the wine.

CHRIS ALBERTSON then introduced our speaker,

           . . . Paul Andronico, Sr. Vice President of Basin Street Properties, who gave us a very informative presentation on the history of the downtown renovation by Basin Street, followed by a lively Q & A session. He received a Rotary memento as a token of our appreciation, and an autographed book was donated to a local high school library in his name.

Little Leprechaun Tom Baker handled the fine can.

Meeting adjourned. I hope all you little Leprechauns have a safe, Happy St. Patrick's Day…just need to make sure you pace yourself, right BABE?! See you on Farmer's Night.

PRESIDENT LEE asked for a volunteer to lead us in song. BARNEY FAUSS jumped up and led us in a jolly rendition of “I’m a Rambler” followed by an enthusiastic “God Bless America”.

JUDY ALLEWELT gave the invocation. She told us a story of what constitutes a real hero.

The usual hugs and handshakes quickly followed. BILL GROVERMAN introduced the visiting Rotarians. The Rotarians with guests were then introduced.

LOU STEINBURG announced that tickets to Sonoma State’s Bidnight Madness are now available. Please see LOU for tickets.

TAWNY TESCONI took center stage next and reminded us of the upcoming District Assembly. Please see Tawny if you’d like to attend.

RALPH SARTORI would like to wrap up the sign-ups for Farmer’s Night by the next meeting. Please let him know how many people you will be bringing.

JIM BECKER and ROBERT MITCHELL thanked everyone who helped fill the last container to Guatemala.

Rohnert Park - Cotati Rotary President Mike Doyle announces its Trio of Tournaments (Poker, Golf & Bunco).

PRESIDENT LEE then announced that the tower at the J.C. will be named after former DISTRICT GOVERNOR DUANE BLACKWILL. He followed by reading a thank you card for the flowers sent to the family of GENE BENEDETTI.

It was time for OREST BALYTSKY to get one step closer to his Chicken Badge by giving his Craft Talk. OREST came to the United States from the Soviet Union in 1992. He is a dentist and his wife is a physician. They have two daughters. Before coming to California, they spent 12 years in Pennsylvania.

Jay Palm receives his Chicken Badge from President Lee.

JOANNE FERRIS formed a mother/daughter reading club when her daughter was only in 3rd grade. The club is still alive and well and her daughter is now a senior. This wonderful idea of JOANNE’S cost her $50.

DOUG GARRISON was featured in the front page of the newspaper with the plans for the huge expansion of the Petaluma Campus of the Santa Rosa Junior College. This honor cost him $100. He took some of the other members that have been instrumental in promoting the campus with him. ONITA PELLIGINI was proud to donate $50 to the Club. PRESISENT LEE hit JOHN DADO and DAN LIBARLE for $10 each.

Orest Balytsky does double duty, pays fine.

BARNIE confessed to spilling a pitcher of iced tea. His comment was “no harm --- no foul”. That cost him $10.

TED ADKINS had the lucky winning raffle ticket. He walked away with a nice bottle of wine.

JEANNETTE CLARK introduced our guest speaker,

           . . . Ken Nugent, who is an elder at First Presbyterian Church in Petaluma. He gave us a very enlightening talk on some stained glass windows that had been stored for the church in Jim McDowell’s’ barn for over 40 years. There is some very interesting history behind those windows. The most amazing thing was that Jim had never sold them.

Wear it!

A little warning from this editor: The PREZ might be fining members who do not have their rotary pins on at the next meeting.

Noting that we are a nation at war, song leader STEVE RUSTAD chose the Star Spangled Banner as our opening song and led a rather stirring rendition of our National Anthem.

MICHAEL CARUANA followed with his Thought for the Day, the recitation of a classic poem.

JAMES BURLESON introduced the visiting Rotarians, including Past District Governor John Strong, visiting from the cross-town club.

PRESIDENT-ELECT TAWNY TESCONI urged our newer members to join her and her board at the District Assembly, Saturday, April 1 in Eureka. Held at the College of the Redwoods, the Assembly is a great way to learn how Rotary Clubs really work. Contact Tawny for more information.

RALPH SARTORI reminded members that Farmers and Merchants Night would be on Thursday night, March 23. Sign-up sheets will be available at next week’s meeting.

ROBERT MITCHELL reported the successful loading of a Guatemala-bound container the previous Saturday and sought more volunteers to assist loading a second container on Saturday, March 4.

PRESIDENT LEE presented BRIDGET DOHERTY with her Chicken Badge, collecting a $10 service charge for the transaction.

Then he inducted our newest member, DEAN ABERCROMBIE, who is transferring from another Club. Dean’s classification is Banking and he’s with the Bank of Petaluma. Welcome, Dean!

A smiling ROY MUSICK announced his retirement from practicing medicine. He happily paid a $50 fine, noting that while he actually retired on March 1, that was a Wednesday and his regular day off making today the first “real” day of retirement.

A slightly blushing JUDI ALLEWELT confessed to traveling with her pants off during the Club’s recent goodwill mission to Thailand. It seems she hired an umbrella artist to paint a design on her posterior and then couldn’t sit in the hired van with wet paint on her bottom. Anyway, she paid a $50 fine for this lack of decorum.

JIM MICKELSON explained the subtleties of livestock judging terminology and he tried to wiggle out of yet another fine for the successes of his children. He didn’t wiggle enough and paid a $20 fine.

PRESIDENT LEE acknowledged

           . . . WHITNEY HALL and RALPH SARTORI who are being honored at the 2006 Community Recognition Awards on Friday, March 24. This event at the beautiful Grand Ballroom of the Petaluma Sheraton features great nibbles from local restaurants and caterers and a no-host bar. Reserve your $20 tickets at the Petaluma Chamber of Commerce, 762-2785.

Speaking of local caterers, BILL DATOR, who does such an excellent job of feeding us every Thursday, was summoned from the kitchen and fined for his good deeds. Bill cheerfully contributed $150 to the Club.

DAVE AMUNDSEN held the winning raffle ticket but couldn’t pull the right rock out of the bag. He walked away with a bottle of wine and next week’s raffle will be worth $150.

DOUG GARRISON introduced

           . . . Jan Tumini of the Children's Museum of the North Bay. She described discovery museums and the plans to establish one in our area.

A conceptual bubble chart of the proposed museum.