Issues are arranged in reverse order. Scroll down to find the issue you want.
March 29 - MEETING CANCELLED
March 29 - SRJC Petaluma Clock Tower Dedication, 3pm, (honors PDG Duane Blackwill)
April 5 - Carl Rebstock, Rebuilding Together Petaluma
April 12 - Another interesting program
April 19 - Susan Rodkin, Principal of McNear Elementary School; Subject: Working in a California Distinguished Elementary School, McNear’s Nomination as a National Blue Ribbon Elementary School
As we entered the Petaluma Veteran’s Hall, we were greeted by JAY PALM, MARY ANN SHOEMAKER and GAIL CARDAROPOLI. They wanted to make sure everyone paid before heading to the bar, but also handed out the lucky raffle tickets.
The room was full of Rotarians and guests eager to share in fellowship with a beverage in hand. Ray Allena and Dick Bascherini made sure our glasses were full. The annual Farmers and Merchants Night was well under way.
BABE AMARAL took center stage and persuaded everyone to sit down. Dinner was ready.
RON WALTERS handed the microphone to our very own Kate Smith, BARNEY FAUSS, to lead us in our traditional “I’m a Rambler”. Ron led us in an enthusiastic “God Bless America” in honor of GENE BENEDETTI.
JIM McCAFFREY gave the invocation.
The Interact students quickly passed out bowls of salad, polenta and stew. BILL DATOR did a fantastic job.
RALPH SARTORI took center stage next to start the drawing for the raffle prizes. If you didn’t win, you can blame JAY PALM. He was picking the tickets.
Our PRESIDENT TAWNY thanked all the sponsors and co-chairs BABE AMARAL and BILL GROVERMAN.
TAWNY paused for a moment. She could have sworn she heard the lambs in her brother’s truck crying “BABE! BABE!”
District Three Dairy Princess helped serve delicious Clover ice cream for dessert. As we finished up the bottles of wine and Clover milk on the table, MARCUS BENEDETTI appeared on stage.
It seems the butter on the table was from Seattle. That little faux pas cost BABE $100.
Thank you BABE & BILL and your committee for a fun evening. Many retreated back to the bar to continue more fellowship.
For more Farmers Night photos click here.
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Loretta Catarozoli.
March 22 - Dark (meeting rescheduled to March 23)
TAWNY invited DAVE AMUNDSEN to open the meeting with song. Dave chose God Bless America and his fellow Rotarians sang it strong. During the song, hijinx were afoot and BABE was quickly fined for swiping LARRY JONAS’ moped helmet and hiding it.
You would think Larry would learn eventually—his helmet has been stolen at least a dozen times.
The invocation was delivered by STEVE POWELL and he read one of his favorite poems.
After the visitors and guests were announced, the lone sunshine report was delivered. Everyone was happy to hear that DICK WEBER will be returning the group in short order.
Upcoming events were announced:
TAWNY wielded her presidential power and levied the following fines for various ‘offenses’:
- JIM BECKER: $70 for a European sojourn. Even his bribe/present for our President did not bring mercy.
- TOM BAKER: $100 for unknown offenses. We can only assume Tom did something fine-worth but was unwilling to come clean.
- CARRIE PIERSON: $50 for hobnobbing with the elite at the wine and cheese event at the Sheraton as well as at least SIX trips to the slopes.
- ROBERT MITCHELL: $100 for being Mr. Hollywood and allowing a movie to be shot in the Sunset Line and Twine building. He offered another $100 toward his Paul Harris.
GAIL delighted and amused the audience with her craft talk. Among other things, we learned that Gail is afflicted with ‘middle child syndrome.’ She moved to California in 1969 and has a very eclectic work history having worked as a go-go dancer, in the wine business, the auto industry, consulting and the mortgage business. She assured the gathering that she will always have red hair.
BABE strode to the podium and tried to fine TAWNY for making fun of his stature, or lack thereof. The crowd was not sympathetic to his plight.
Dr. James Corbitt (visitor) won the raffle and gladly accepted his bottle of wine. It’s a good thing because I don’t think we would have let a visitor out of the building with our cash.
Sharon Rivken, a couples therapist, delivered the program based on her book,The First Argument. It was basically a discussion on how to break down the simple, trivial arguments that plague couples and get to the root of the issue. It was very interesting and topical to almost everyone in the room including our soon-to-be betrothed President.
With that, TAWNY closed the meeting.
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Geoff Ellis; photos by Erik Gunheim.
March 15 - Sharon Rivken, “The First Argument”
President TAWNY TESCONI opened (the meeting), . . .
Past-President JEANNETTE CLARK patted (Secretary STEVE OLMSTED) and thanked (all of us for our well wishes), . . .
STEVE GAVRILOFF invoked (the Thought for the Day), and the members all greeted (each other).
MICHAEL CARUANA introduced (visiting Rotarians), . . .
MARK STOKES confessed (new house project) and paid ($100 fine & $500 donation to John Ramatici Scholarship Fund), . . .
. . . and visiting Rotarian Paul Clayessens delivered (a disk of PDG ART AGNEW cross-dressed).
MARY ANN SHOEMAKER (Farmer's Night, 2/23/07 @ $20.00/person), . . .
. . . BANO CUMMINGS (Rotary Interact Dance), . . .
. . . and the Prez (SCARS meeting 3/29/07 and SRJC dedication 3/29 @ 3pm in honor of PDG DUANE BLACKWELL) all reported, . . .
. . . and LOU STEINBERG designated (his '07-'08 officers and Board: Secretary = STEVE OLMSTED; Treasurer = JOHN DADO; Past-President = LARRY JONAS; President-Nominee = RALPH SARTORI; and Board Members = JAMES BURLESON, MICHAEL CARUANA, LORETTA CATAROZOLI, BANO CUMMINGS, GEOFF ELLIS, ERIK GUNHEIM, STEVE HENRIS, AL KAPLAN, STEVE POWELL, and GRETA VIGUIE). The Club congratulated (all of them).
The Prez "badgered" (Past-President BABE AMARAL, . . .
WHITNEY HALL, yours truly, and others who weren't wearing their badges $5 each), . . .
. . . adjudicated (Past President KIP HERZOG, . . .
BABE AMARAL . . .
. . . and RICK MOSSI guilty of a Rotary Raffle ticket contest "conspiracy" as alleged by . . .
Past President HENRY HANSEL), and assessed ($1,000 from Henry, $500 from Babe, $250 from Kip, and $100 from Rick, all to the John Ramatici Scholarship Fund).
The Prez then "recognized" . . .
. . . RICK VAN BEBBER (new car, $50), GAIL CARDOROPOLI (son's birthday, $50), . . .
RON HARRIS (trip to Phoenix, AZ & VP of National Eye Assoc., $100), . . .
TOM BUCKLEY (Hawaii trip, $90), . . .
. . . and LARRY JONAS (wearing shorts, spindly legs, $10).
STEVE OLMSTED won (the raffle, bottle of wine), LOU STEINBERG corrected (his 1st meeting is 7/11/07, not 7/4/07), . . .
. . . program chair JOANNE FERRIS presented . . .
. . . (our speaker, Dick Herman, Sonoma County Specialty Manufacturing), and the Prez cautioned (ERIK GUNHEIM's 3/29/07 program = "R" rated), then adjourned (the meeting).
This editor then invited (all of you to have a great weekend).
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Mike Baddeley; photos by Erik Gunheim and Al Cattalini.
March 8 - Dick Herman - Manufacturing In Sonoma County
PRESIDENT TAWNY TESCONI called the meeting to order and asked . . .
. . . STEVE RUSTAD to lead us in song. Mixing things up, we sang “My Country ‘tis of Thee” and then . . .
. . . CHRIS ALBERTSON gave the Thought of the Day and reminded us the Ark was built by an amateur and the Titanic was built by a team of professionals.
PRESIDENT TAWNY TESCONI announced RICK VAN BEBBER is the Rotarian of the Month for February. RICK is an amazing member who works with the Interact programs and runs the ticket counter at the weekly meetings. Rare is the day that RICK is absent from his duties. He always has a smiling face and is quick to offer a handshake or a hug. He enjoys seeing everybody and likes the interaction with members. Congratulations Rick on a job well done.
RALPH BETTINELLI was in attendance after a brief illness. As his good “friend” BABE AMARAL mentioned in an earlier Sunshine Report, the bad news regarding the illness is that he is going to live. Welcome back, Ralph. Now get some new friends.
In a clear attempt to brownnose our President, TOM BRANDAL presented TAWNY with a letter opener from his recent trip to Australia.
BARNEY FAUSS gave us his weekly “Faussism” and the Club recognized the monthly anniversaries.
PRESIDENT TAWNY filled up the Club coffers by levying some fines . . .
. . . – including MICHAEL WHITE. It seems his son, Jackson, sent a Valentine card to the Petaluma Police Dept. and the staff was so overwhelmed with the gesture that they all showed up at Michael’s house to show their thanks. WOW. Most times, if Chief STEVE HOOD calls to see if your kid is home and he wants to come visit, that is not good news. Thankfully, this story has happy ending.
GRETA VIGUIE and GARY BRODIE were also fined for selling the winning tickets at the Super-raffle.
JUDI ALLEWELT won the Raffle and walked away with a bottle of wine.
Our speaker was . . .
. . . Sharon Howell, Casa Grande High School counselor. Her program on the college admissions process was informative and entertaining. Things have changed quite a bit since this editor went to college and our children need to be better prepared to compete for these coveted spots. Thank you, Sharon.
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 7 days of receipt of this notice.
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Ricardo Marzo; photos by Erik Gunheim and Ed Fullerton.
March 15, 2007
March 23 - Farmers & Merchants Night, 6pm
March 29 - Erik Gunheim - International Committee’s trip to Mexico last fall (Rated XX - Dos Equis)
March 29 - SRJC Petaluma Clock Tower Dedication, 3pm, (honors PDG Duane Blackwill)
April 5 - Another interesting program
April 12 - Yet another interesting program
Barney and Larry enjoy a quiet moment at the club's red-light district (i.e., the bar).
Tawny scans the dining hall for potential fine victims before the meeting begins.
Larry attempts to brush his hair out of his eyes and then realizes . . .
Pat does introduction of guests.
Lou has an announcement.
Greta has an announcement.
John has an announcement.
Babe objects to Tawny's little-guy joke as our president looks down at him.
Judi introduces our guest speaker.
March 8, 2007
March 22 - Dark (meeting rescheduled to March 23)
March 23 - Farmers & Merchants Night, 6pm
March 29 - Erik Gunheim - International Committee’s trip to Mexico last fall (Rated XX - Dos Equis)
March 29 - SRJC Petaluma Clock Tower Dedication, 3pm, (honors PDG Duane Blackwill)
Al and Babe relax at the club's watering hole before the meeting.
As the evidence clearly demonstrates, Tawny is not a two-fisted drinker. She's a three-fisted drinker!
Ted Adkins with God Bless America.
Click this image to view Arthea Agnew and her friends.
Ralph jumps to Babe's defense.
Henry tries to explain the Four-Way Test to Babe.
Steve is unaware that the real cartoon is seated behind him.
Sherry Ann had the fine can and Tom has the mike.March 1, 2007
March 15 - Sharon Rivken, “The First Argument”
March 22 - Dark (meeting rescheduled to March 23)
March 23 - Farmers & Merchants Night, 6pm
March 29 - Erik Gunheim - International Committee’s trip to Mexico last fall (Rated XX - Dos Equis)
Tom taste-tests various beverages before the meeting.
Steve leads us in song: I Feel Good!
Lou introduces his guest.
Ralph returns to roll the dice and enjoy his usual — a pink Martini.
Sherry Ann Scherotter-Burwen gives her craft talk.
Mary Ann has an announcement.
Lou has something else to say.
John has an announcement.
That Lou really likes to hear himself talk!
Guess which hand the $100 donation is in?
Neither! Ha ha ha!
Steve announces a drive to better equip the Petaluma P.D.
Steve found a lucky machine in Reno and got thousaands of dollars out of it. (Turned out to be an ATM.)
It's a beautiful carrot-type thing.
Onita gets fined.
28 police officers came to the house (and were greeted by Chris Hansen of NBC's To Catch a Predator)!
Dean Abercrombie has a fine time.
Greta introduces our guest speaker.
