Issues are arranged in reverse order. Scroll down to find the issue you want.
October 4 - A. J. Maldonado: Keep That Body Moving
October 11 - Dina Sanders: Educating a Green Generation
October 18 - Steve Rustad: Video and the Internet
October 25 - Brian Fishman: Al Qaeda, terrorism and Iraq
PRESIDENT LOU called the meeting to order, introduced himself, waited for the applause, and waited some more.
Then he called on our own Three Tenors, DAVE AMUNDSEN, ANDY KVALHEIM, and STEVE RUSTAD for a musical opener. After warming up with Rambler, Gambler they led an unforgettable patriotic song which shall be nameless.
MICHAEL WHITE was up next with our Thought for the Day, a bit of philosophy from Walt Disney.
JOSEPH MOORE introduced our sole visiting Rotarian, a fellow from Leesburg, Florida.
These folks at the Birthday Table, GRETA VIGUIE, JOSEPH MOORE, WILL SOPER, DAVE AMUNDSEN, and DEAN ABERCROMBIE escaped with a $5 fine and a slice of cake. Forgetful celebrants paid $10.
PRESIDENT LOU announced that the Rotary International Website would be unavailable from September 27 to October 1. On October 8 RI will launch an entirely new Website with an updated look and enhanced features, including streamlined navigation, a library of Rotary images, an easy-to-read Club Locator, and an improved search function.
Who remembers why LOU called on “Chief” DAN LIBARLE? First person with the correct answer (or any answer) will be recognized here.
The former KATHY O’CONNOR BURROUGHS announced that, after a surnamectomy, her name is now simply KATHY O’CONNOR. But the big news was that the Member Holiday Party would be Saturday, December 1 at the Sheraton Petaluma. (This is a new date, so be sure to check your calendar!)
NANCY KOENITZER, called on the carpet to explain her late arrival to the meeting, explained that after patiently waiting for a promised ride to the meeting from an unnamed fellow member, she finally gave up and drove herself.
Always a gallant gentleman, GEOFF ELLIS rose, acknowledged his transgression, and was socked with a $10 fine by PRESIDENT LOU.
Back from a vacation (sans kids) in Sydney, Australia and Christchurch, New Zealand, RICARDO MARZO extolled the beauty of the land down under, said he’d love to do it again, but that next time he’d arrange for more responsible childcare arrangements.
Ever hear of anyone getting their limit of abalone on their first ever attempt? Well, not only did OREST BALYTSKY do exactly this, he also landed a big rockfish. And he did all this from a kayak? It cost Orest $50 but he didn’t seem to mind.
A smiling JAMES BURLESON happily paid a $50 fine after acknowledging that the Bloomberg gurus had given his firm a top rating. Congratulations, James!
NIT ANDERSON rose to announce that she’s back on her feet and that her daughter, Natasha, upped her graduate school grades and increased her scholarship. All this good news cost Nit a $50 fine.
JUDI ALLEWELT had the winning raffle ticket, pulled a rock out of the bag, and won a bottle of wine which, according to PRESIDENT LOU, was worth more than the $25 grand prize. Next week the prize will be $50. We guarantee that the wine will be worth somewhat less.
CLARK ROSEN introduced our guest speaker, a long time member of the San Francisco Rotary Club who now lives in Arizona and researches Rotary history.
Bill Sturgeon described the fascinating history of “Rotary’s Number Two Man,” Homer Wood. While many will remember him for transforming Rotary from a solitary club in Chicago to an ever-expanding network of Rotary Clubs, including founding Club Number Two in San Francisco, we’ll remember him for founding the Rotary Club of Petaluma!
Save the Dates: November 8-12, 2008
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Homer Wood.
September 27 - Bill Sturgeon: Homer Wood and the Founding of Petaluma Rotary
October 4 - A. J. Maldonado: Keep That Body Moving
October 11 - Dina Sanders: Educating a Green Generation
October 18 - Another interesting program
October 25 - Brian Fishman: Al Qaeda, terrorism and Iraq
PRESIDENT LOU opened the meeting by informing everyone that he is still the President of the Petaluma Rotary Club.
He brought up STEVE RUSTAD to lead the room in 'America the Beautiful.'
JIM BECKER had the thought for the day which was more of a history lesson on how various obscure phrases made their way into our lexicon from the 1500s. Included was the anecdote that an entire family used to use the same bath water and, since the baby bathed last when the water was filthy, everyone was cautioned not to 'throw the baby out with the bath water.' He then led us in prayer.
BRIAN introduced visiting Rotarians and Andrea introduced the guests of Rotarians.
The announcements were as follows:
PRESIDENT LOU reminded everyone that the SCARC meeting would be taking place Thursday, September 27th and is being hosted by the Petaluma Valley Club. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend. The program will be 'Bridging the Avenues of Service and Beyond.'
GRETA VIGUIE announced that the scholarship committee would be meeting immediately after today's meeting.
ED FULLERTON announced that a local Rotarian had been elected to the board of Rotary International. The Rotarian is John Blount of the Sebastopol club.
MIKE BADDELEY demanded 100% participation in this year's Friendship Feasts that will be taking place the final three weekends of October. This benefits our world famous dictionary program every year and is always a great way to get out and socialize with your fellow Rotarians.
With the formalities being out of the way, PRESIDENT LOU's power of fine came crashing down on the following poor souls:
BILL GROVERMAN was hit for $40 because his wife Christina and his two kids appeared in a giant FULL COLOR photo for being a team coordinator in the Relay for Life. No good deed goes unpunished as they say. Perhaps JIM BECKER can explain next week where that phrase originated.
BABE then got dinged for fifty as his wife, Emily, was a top fundraiser at the event.
DAVE AMUNDSEN was then fined for a laundry list of good happenings that included his birthday, his grandchild's 1st birthday, a trip and a wedding. While individually, each of those things are finable offenses, Dave got off with a relatively modest $50.
Your faithful editor (GEOFF ELLIS) was then made to stand up and was fined for poor babysitting. His nephew/godson (fellow Rotarian RICHARD MARZO's son) sustained a fractured collar bone while under my care. As there was no precedent for this fine, some discussion ensued to determine the value of a collar bone.
DAN LIBARLE was unsure how severe the fine should be, the editor pleaded for $40 but Lou made the executive decision that $50 was the number.
A surprise announcement was made by SHERRY SCHEROTTER-BURWEN. She has officially simplified her name down to SHERRY BURWEN. Although her chicken badge has yet to be modified, be assured that you can safely call her just SHERRY BURWEN.
STEVE POWELL was then fined . . .
. . . for a photo in which he appeared to be attempting to channel his inner alien. It was apparently part of his celebration for having placed 2nd in a recent golf tournament and a testament to the number of cocktails that followed.
AL KAPLAN was lucky enough to win the $300 raffle and donated all the money to the dictionary program. Let that be an example to follow for everyone.
JOSEPH MOORE introduced our speaker, . . .
. . . Kevin Muller, a retired San Francisco police officer and historian. He gave an interesting lesson on the evolution of Chinatown and the culture of crime that was present in the late 19th and early 20th century.
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Geoff Ellis.
September 20 - Kevin Mullan: History of Crime in SF's Chinatown
September 27 - Bill Sturgeon: Homer Wood and the Founding of Petaluma Rotary
October 4 - A. J. Maldonado: Keep That Body Moving
October 11 - Dina Sanders: Educating a Green Generation
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Ricardo Marzo; photos and captions by Erik Gunheim.
September 13 - Randy Smith: Racing Cars Just for Fun
September 20 - Kevin Mullan: History of Crime in SF's Chinatown
September 27 - Bill Sturgeon: Homer Wood and the Founding of Petaluma Rotary
PRESIDENT LOU called the meeting to order and asked . . .
. . . STEVE RUSTAD to come forward and led us in song. Steve welcomed us to join him in singing “My Country Tis of Thee” which was followed by “I’m A Rambler, I’m A Gambler …”.
ROBERT MITCHELL gave the thought for the day. He spoke about a plaque on his grandfather's office wall that started out “Today is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life….” The point was to do what you can enjoy the day and help others because once tomorrow comes today is gone.
JUDI ALLEWELT introduced our visiting Rotarians from the following clubs: Marin Evening, Petaluma Valley, and Newark, New Jersey.
The lone Rotarian with a guest was GRETA VIGUIE.
PRESIDENT LOU then called upon those Rotarians with announcements:
Past President JEANNETTE CLARK reminded us that the Friendship Feast would be starting in October. She asked that if any one would like to open their home for a dinner to please contact her or MIKE BADDELEY. She also said to check the dates, as there may have been a misprint in some information that went out. President Lou reminded us that THE PROCEEDS FROM THE FRIENDSHIP FEAST BENEFIT THE DICTONARY PROJECT.
Our visiting Rotarian from the Marin Evening Club outlined the Aviary Project that their club is sponsoring at Casa Grande High School. Many items are needed for phase one which includes electric, water, and drainage. Please contact President Lou if you can supply any of these items.
TED ADKINS then asked President Lou if all the clubs song leaders would please stand up for a moment of silence to pay their respect to opera singer Luciano Pavarotti who passed away today.
PRESIDENT LOU then moved right into fining people.
PAST PRESIDENT TAWNY was the first person called upon. President Lou announced that TAWNY and Michael were married in Oregon last Sunday. Tawny shared some details of her wedding day with us and hinted that some of our Rotary members attended the wedding and enjoyed themselves (some more than others). She gladly paid a fine. Congratulations Tawny and Michael.
BRIDGET DOHERTY admitted that she attended the wedding and said rather than go into details she would just pay a fine.
ONITA PELLEGRINI said she attended the wedding with Marlene Freetly and it was a wonderful wedding. Onita also said that on the way back she was able to stop and spend some time with her 12-year-old granddaughter.
PRESIDENT LOU asked for any deer hunters in the room to stand up. About seven Rotarians stood up. President Lou then said that anyone who had not harvested a buck could sit down. Then there were two.
RALPH SARTORI said he harvested a buck with his 9-year-old grandson. It took four shots but in the end he had sausage meat. He paid $10.00 per shot and $10.00 for not being confused with RALPH BETTINELLI.
BILL GROVERMAN said he only took one shot to harvest his buck and would gladly pay $10.00. This proves it pays to be a good shot.
LARRY JONAS was called upon to pay his fine for The Longest Drive at the Golf Tournament, Winning the putting contest by outputting PRESIDENT LOU, taking a trip to Florida with someone special, and for not leaving a phone number where he could be reached in an emergency. Seem Larry’s son started a kitchen fire while Larry was at a Jazz Concert in San Francisco. Larry’s son is doing fine and the kitchen will get fixed. President Lou did fine Larry in the end.
DAVID SOLO was fined for making the Time Magazine national publication. David said the article focused on how the Petaluma Boys and Girls Club are helped by local businesses. Lou said that HENRY HANSEL was also featured in the article. President Lou fined David and said he would talk with Henry at a later date. Thanks Henry for your support.
GRETA VIGUE was rewarded for bringing a guest to today’s meeting. She had the right raffle ticket. With $275 in the pot she reached in and pulled a blue rock.
She walked away with a bottle of wine.
Our program for the day focused on Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). PRESIDENT LOU reported on the program and how approximately 70 students participated in this years event. He then introduced two Petaluma High School students who attended this year’s camp. Both students covered different aspects of the program and told of how the benefited from having the opportunity to attend camp. They both thanked us for supporting the program and said how it changed their view on the perception of life.
To learn more about RYLA go to http://www.rotaryryla5130.org/.
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Ralph Sartori; photos and captions by Erik Gunheim.