Issues are arranged in reverse order. Scroll down to find the issue you want.
July 24 - Petaluma Art & Equestrian Festival
July 28 - Dark
August 4 - District Governor Maureen Merrill; Bring a child to Rotary Day!
August 11- Club meets at the Sonoma County Fair
August 18- DUI Checkpoints
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When our text failed to arrive we asked our readers to help complete this edition of the Rota-Teller. Paul Lounibos (PL) and Michael Nistler (MN) submitted their recollections and we are publishing them below. Thanks, guys! |
PRESIDENT JOANNE said, "While size doesn't matter, I want to hear your voices loud, proud, and strong!" –PL
PRESIDENT JOANNE said, "While size doesn't matter, I want to show my loyalty to the Liberals which is why I'm holding the flag with my left hand.” –MN
BARNEY opened his mouth and out came the voice of Kenny Rogers." –PL
BARNEY opened his mouth and espoused the benefits of being both a rambler and gambler — we will all drink to that even if we can't keep up with the pro! –MN
LEE BEAN looked her in the eye and said, "You never met a boy named Sue?" –PL
LEE BEAN looked her in the eye and said, “I'm a Minute Man — give me 60 seconds and I'll have these boys saying ‘AYE’ in a quick vote.” –MN
JEANNETTE CLARK said, "I have four basic food groups, all found in Irish coffee!" –PL
JEANNETTE CLARK said, "I have four fingers. One of them may be for you so pay attention — got it?” –MN
Missing from the birthday table were new members Geoffrey Rush (July 6), Forest Whitaker (July 15), and John Glenn (July 18). –PL
Missing from the birthday table were the Gang of Six, chatting about the US debt, and pinup Miss July — hmm, which did we miss the most? –MN
Looking at “a horse with no name" straight in the eye, JUDI ALLEWELT announced that she will expect every member to attend the PAEF. –PL
Looking AL straight in the eye, JUDI ALLEWELT warned, ”If you don't get your camera outa' my face, I'll shove your camera glass up your....” –MN
OREST BALYTSKY tried to look away, but LARRY JONAS mesmerized the audience with stories of his boyhood. –PL.
OREST BALYTSKY tried to look away but LARRY JONAS was heard to be saying, "Who said I put too much garlic on my plate?” –MN
"I hold in my hand the envelope. As a child of four can plainly see, this envelope has been hermetically sealed. It's been kept in a #2 mayonnaise jar under Funk and Wagnall's porch since noon today. No one knows the contents of this envelope, but I can sense there is a Czech in here....or is it a cheque?" –PL
"I hold in my hand the envelope. As a child of four can plainly see, this envelope has been hermetically sealed. It's been kept in a #2 mayonnaise jar under Funk and Wagnall's porch since noon today. No one knows the contents of this envelope, but since I'm now no longer your Club President, I no longer open no stinking envelopes!” –MN
“I opened this envelope from Publishers' Clearing House and there was a $250,000 check made out to cash...yes, Johnny Cash!" –PL
"I opened this envelope from Publishers Clearinghouse and the good news — it's a cashiers check for one million dollars. The bad news is that it's payable in the year 2020 when US currency is worth about as much as Monopoly money. Hey now, that gives me an idea!” –MN
“I paid for this microphone and I'm gonna take it with me when I go on the road with Barnum and Bailey as the barker!" –PL.
"I paid for this microphone and I'm gonna caress, fondle and love it just like do with your stock portfolios.” –MN
“Let me tell you about my son-in-law. He sure as hell did not inherit my athletic skills; he takes after his own father." –PL
"Let me tell you about my son-in-law. He is a good kid, a nice kid, a chip off the old block. Yeah, now that I think about it, he's a GREAT kid and his name is... ah, err, let me get back to you on this. Raising your kids Catholic does present it's challenges.” –MN
“Actually, I never saw her before, but she followed me home, and next thing I knew, there was a horse with no name in my back yard." –PL
"Actually, I never saw her before but she submitted to both the Rotary and my personal four-way test and passed both with flying colors — story at 5, film at 11PM.” –MN
“You don't really have to write your own Rota-Teller, but I have writer's cramp from writing the great American novel." –PL
"You don't really have to write your own Rota-Teller but, in reality, when you have the ‘power of the pen’ your word ***IS*** law.” –MN
“I can "write the bulletin, play golf, and raise my family" with my eyes closed.” –PL
"I can zzzz (snore) with my eyes closed! Huh, what was that question again? — it's a bit hard to hear with my eyes closed.” –MN
“When I fell out of the blimp, I said to myself, whatever happens next it was a Good Year!" –PL
"When I fell out of the blimp the next thing I knew my face was in the lights with Sierra Nevada on tap surrounding me. Did you know that tapping a tasty Sierra is certainly less costly than tapping into... well, scratch that thought since I'm already over my fine schedule.” –MN
“I can't believe what I'm seeing. It looks like Michael Caruana riding one of his Arabian horses inside the restaurant.....with spurs!” –PL
"I can't believe what I'm seeing! It looks like it's a bird. No, it's a plane. Yeah, it's the Supermen. Mike Caruana is mild mannered Clark Kent while Larry definitely thinks he's the caped crusader wearing a yarmulke.” –MN
“When I took this out of a hermetically sealed mayonnaise jar, I found the last will and testament of Charles Mayo (the Mayo Clinic).” –PL
"When I took this out of a hermetically sealed mayonnaise jar I found hermits, mayo and... Wait! Hold the hermits and mayo, I'll split my raffle winnings with gramps if he can keep up with me running laps around the track.” –MN
Looking JUDI straight in the eye, ANDY KVALHEIM challenged her to a duel in the sunset...cream puffs at Sunset Line and Twine. –PL
Looking JUDI straight in the eye, ANDY KVALHEIM challenged her to a lap dance with greenbacks clutched in hand. –MN
MIKE BADDELEY explains why a plea bargain would have spared these visitors from an interrogation by the entire Rotary Club. –PL
MIKE BADDELEY explains why a plea bargain would have met with a HARD sentence for "cocky" coaches looking away with their hands gripping who-knows-what in their pockets. Well, they DID say school budgets were mighty tight these days. –MN
This week's scheduled Rota-Teller editor: Geoff Ellis.
July 21 - Football coaches from Petaluma, Casa Grande, and St. Vincent high schools
July 24 - Petaluma Art & Equestrian Festival
July 28 - Dark
August 4 - District Governor Maureen Merrill; Bring a child to Rotary Day!
August 11- Club meets at the Sonoma County Fair
August 18- DUI Checkpoints
PRESIDENT JOANNE FERRIS opened the meeting . . .
. . . and asked BARNEY FAUSS to lead us in song. As usual, he crooned like a pro and set the mood for the audience.
PRESIDENT JOANNE FERRIS reviewed a few business items . . .
. . . and asked MICHAEL CARUANA to update us on the Petaluma Art & Equestrian Festival. He told us there is great participation from members and spots are still available for helping with the Set-up and Takedown this upcoming Saturday and Sunday. Please contact him or LARRY JONAS. The Festival is Sunday from 11am – 4pm at the Polo Grounds at 7600 Lakeville Ave.
PRESIDENT JOANNE FERRIS then announced that STEVE OLMSTED was retiring as Club Secretary after many years of service. She then asked ALL Past Presidents who had STEVE OLMSTED as their Secretary to stand and share a memory of working with him.
KIP HERZOG, LOU STEINBERG, LEE BEAN, ONITA PELLEGRINI , TAWNY TESCONI, and CLARK ROSEN all told great stories about Steve and his complete dedication to our Club. He helped each new President understand what needed their attention and took care of the details that made everything run smoothly.
THANK YOU STEVE FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE!
The Raffle money went unclaimed and this week’s pot is $300!
KIP HERZOG introduced our speaker, County Supervisor David Rabbitt. Supervisor Rabbitt gave us an update on Sonoma County’s business over the past few months and his impressions of the office of Supervisor. It was a very good report, albeit in difficult economic times, and the leadership from Supervisor Rabbitt should be applauded. There are difficult decisions being made every day and our elected officials have serious pressure from all constituents to keep their interests in mind. Thank you.
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Ricardo Marzo.
July 14 - David Rabbitt - County Supervisor
July 21 - Express meeting for PAEF final briefing
July 24 - Petaluma Art & Equestrian Festival
July 28 - Dark
This first Thursday in July was the first meeting for newly-minted PRESIDENT JOANNE FERRIS. Though she confessed to being ‘nervous,’ she was fully in charge and dressed for success (at least according to her husband…:)!). The day was sunny, warm, and Mister Magoo’s parking lot was full of Rotarians headed for a tasty lunch, warm fellowship and the start of a brand new Rotary year.
In the absence of a microphone (where or where is MICHAEL NISTLER when we really need him???), PRESIDENT JOANNE loudly called the meeting to order and led us in the pledge of allegiance.
Song master BARNEY FAUSS (that’s ‘Mr. Fauss’ to the rest of us) led the club in a spirited, microphone-less round of “I’m a Rambler” (Ever wonder what ‘gypo’ means? According to the Urban Dictionary, a ‘gypo’ is “a working class male or female prone to petty crime and antisocial behavior”…really???) followed by “God Bless America.”
Firecracker-Girl JANE SALDANA-TALLEY (who was born on the Fourth of July) shouted out the most famous passage from the Declaration of Independence as a reminder of what that day really means for Americans.
After our usual rowdy club greetings, PRESIDENT JOANNE (who finally was handed a microphone) got us back on track by asking GREG O’BRIEN to introduce visiting Rotarians.
Wulff and Wulff.
Turns out, PRESIDENT JOANNE had a ‘body guard’ in the audience in the way of Area 9 Assistant Governor Wulff Reinhold from the Rotary Club of Rohnert Park-Cotati.
Rotarians with guests included KATHY O’CONNOR (who introduced her friend, Jimmy), Dan Libarle (who introduced his daughter, Nicole Marzo), RICK MOSSI (who jokingly introduced our very own Past President Ralph Sartori), and Past President CLARK ROSEN (looking strangely calm and unflustered…who introduced his close acquaintance and JIM BECKER’s guest, Fred).
Somewhere in all of this, members heard a sound PRESIDENT JOANNE described as ‘an animal in distress’ that thanks to Assistant Governor Wulff was quickly squelched!
PRESIDENT JOANNE yielded the floor briefly to Past President CLARK ROSEN (Clark who????) who confessed to being to being so swept away during his debunking celebration that he forgot to hand out some very special recognitions to several folks who had made his year such a success. These included: DAVID SOLO, for increasing the Club’s Rotary Foundation contribution; LOU STEINBERG, for revitalizing the Youth Exchange Program; and JIM BECKER, for organizing a year of exceptional programs.
He also handed over the “Harvey Freetly Ties” to PRESIDENT JOANNE, with all confidence that she will figure out how to put them to good use. In the sunshine report, PRESIDENT JOANNE let us know that President Elect LORETTA CATAROZOLI was recovering nicely from surgery to repair the two broken wrists she got from her recent fall from a golf cart…take good care, Loretta!
PRESIDENT JOANNE reintroduced Assistant District Governor Wulff Reinhold who announced the District Foundation/Membership Super Seminar on Saturday, August 20 at SCOE and the Institute for Leadership on Friday/Saturday, October 7 and 8 (for more information, see http://www.rotary5130.org/ifl/IFL_June_and_Oct_2011_Courses_flyer[1].pdf).
Other announcements included a reminder that Thursday, August 11 is Rotary Day at the Sonoma County Fair from noon to 4:00 pm…buffet lunch from 1:00 – 2:00 pm…$35 per person…RSVP by July 11 to GAIL CARDAROPOLI (note…the Club is dark that day).
Past President LOU STEINBERG extended his thanks to those members who assisted with this year’s RYLA Camp BBQ. Ten students from Petaluma attended the camp this year. PRESIDENT JOANNE also recognized LEE REPOSA for his leadership on this project.
PRESIDENT JOANNE next introduced LEE BEAN for our “meeting within the meeting”…otherwise known as the Annual General Membership Meeting of the Rotary Club of Petaluma Foundation. Lee announced the Foundation had a good year and the donations now total nearly $390,000, with over $165,000 awarded. This year’s grant cycle was started earlier and deemed a success with 25 of 47 requests funded (and another five funded by the Club). Lee shared thank you notes from awardees. A subcommittee is exploring ways to increase the return on these funds and the possibility of investing through the Petaluma Education Foundation…a decision will be made sometime in August. The only vote put to the members was to elect two new members (BABE AMARAL and JANE SALDANA-TALLEY) to the Foundation Board (moved, seconded, approved). With Lee’s encouragement to make donations to PEF’s Alphabet Soup store, the meeting was adjourned.
PRESIDENT JOANNE introduced Christine Walker who has been working with MICHAEL CARUANA and LARRY JONAS on the upcoming Petaluma Art & Equestrian Festival (July 24). This year’s goal is to increase the attendance from 700 to 1,000. Christine outlined all that has been done to promote this event including print signage, media, paid advertising, online calendars, partnership promotions, social media, email blasts, and analytics (which will help us know what worked and when). With three weeks to go, Christine distributed a flyer letting members know how they can help get the word out.
MICHAEL CARUANA told us about improvements and changes to the event for this year. WHIT HALL put out the call for volunteers and PRESIDENT JOANNE pointed out the variety of children’s activities planned for this year (including a coloring contest).
PRESIDENT JOANNE’s first ‘fine’ session nabbed a number of members…PAT CONKLIN gave it up for having such a “smooth” Sonoma-Marin Fair this year.
Fair Board Members, JAMES BURLESON and DAN LIBARLE’s daughter and Fair Board President, Nicole Marzo, offered up $40 each (actually Dan paid for Nicole and it sounds like he will pay again soon for an upcoming family vacation to Hawaii!) for their part in a Fair that so for has had nothing but “positive feedback”…
DAVID SOLO gave $25 for his “famous younger sister” who is a member of the World Cup USA Women’s Soccer team…
and TOM BAKER, with a “you got me” grin, coughed up his change from the “C Note” he left at the sign-in table saying to PRESIDENT JOANNE when she called him on it, “I guess it’s yours”.
The weekly raffle had Past President Ralph Sartori taking home a nice bottle of wine.
PRESIDENT JOANNE was this week’s speaker and she did a wonderful job sharing with us in both images and words the history of our Club and who inspired her to become a Rotarian. She ended by asking each of us to reflect on when we joined Rotary, how old we were when we joined, who brought us into the Club, and how old they were when they made that invitation. Her talk was truly inspiring to us all. Congratulations, PRESIDENT JOANNE, on a great first meeting!
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Jane Saldaña-Talley.