September 2011

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

September 19, 2011

COMING EVENTS

September 22 - Club Dark
September 29 - Nyle Henderson - Bone Marrow Donors
September 29 (6pm) - SCARC Dinner, Windsor
October 6 - Gary Schlossberg, Senior Economist, Wells Fargo
October 13 - Steve Freitas, Sonoma County Sheriff-Coroner

As Rotarians, we all eagerly await our club’s Annual Golf Tournament. It’s a time for getting away from the daily grind to enjoy a fun filled day with friends at the wonderful Petaluma Golf and Country Club. For some it’s showing off their skills on the course and for others it’s trying not to lose too many balls.

The sky was blue, the greens were perfect, and boy was it a hot one! I believe the temperature was breaking the 90 degree mark so thankfully RICK VAN BEBBER was keeping everyone hydrated with lots of ice cold brew.

All the players were greeted at the sign-in table by our Past Presidents, ONITA PELLEGRINI and TAWNY TESCONI. Players received some golf goodies from LORETTA CATAROZOLI and golf balls from NANCY COOLEY.

Before play started, fellow Rotarians were well taken care of by filling up with some delicious burgers cooked up by Traxx owner, Chris Chenney.

The golf game started at noon with a shotgun start for the 18 foursomes.

Thank you to all our Hole Sponsors who raised over $2,000 for our club!

A little after 5pm the clubhouse filled up with sweaty golfers and their better smelling, non-golfing Rotarians and spouses. Everyone sat down to enjoy the legendary Prime Rib cooked by PAUL RAMATICI, John Barella, BUTCH SPOLINI, and STEVE HENRIS.

PRESIDENT JOANNE called on DON RAMATICI to hold the American Flag while we said the Pledge of Allegiance.

Then she called on BARNEY FAUSS to lead us in song, starting off with our club song, I’m a Rambler.

After dinner the prizes were presented to the tournament winners:

• First Place – team MICHAEL BADDELEY and STEVE LAFRANCHI (4 $100 bonds provided by First Community Bank)
• Second Place – team JIM BECKER (wine tour and tasting provided by Kastania Winery)
• Putting Contest - STEVE POWELL
• Longest Drive Men- Mike Ryan from TOM BRANDAL's team
• Longest Drive Women - Carol Drystal Olmsted
• Closest to the hole – LEE REPOSA.

Then the evening closed and Rotarians headed downhill filled with prime rib and strategizing on how they will beat MICHAEL BADDELEY’s team next year.

September 19 - Golf Tournament
September 22 - Club Dark
September 29 - Nyle Henderson - Bone Marrow Donors
September 29 (6pm) - SCARC Dinner, Windsor
October 6 - Gary Schlossberg, Senior Economist, Wells Fargo

On this day in history, the tide turned in the Battle of Britain (1940) and the Nuremberg laws were first imposed. Today was another historical day for our Rotary club in more ways than one!

An enthusiastic PRESIDENT JOANNE led the Pledge of Allegiance facing a real, standard sized flag. BARNEY FAUSS led us in the Club song followed by our national anthem. Thought-less for the moment, our PRESIDENT forgot the “Thought for the day” and launched into other business.

 
Bridget Doherty was Joanne's guest.

Visiting Rotarians included PAMELA TUFT, District Chair for ROTARY YOUTH SUMMER CAMP, and former member RICH RONSHEIMER. Rotarians with guests were TOM BRANDAL, JEANNETTE CLARK, ONITA PELLEGRINI, JAY PALM, and PRESIDENT JOANNE.

LEE BEAN verified the rumor that LORETTA CATARAZOLI had stepped down as President-elect for 2012-2013 for personal and family reasons. However, after reconvening the Nominating Committee, LEE announced our very capable replacement.

Congratulations, NANCY COOLEY!!!

After NANCY was elected by voice vote, AL CATTALINI shared his thoughts for the day on the federal income tax. (What is the difference between a taxidermist and a tax collector? Answer: The taxidermist only takes your skin!).

PAMELA TUFT appealed for donations to support the 2011 ROTARY YOUTH SUMMER CAMP (aka “Cool Kids’ Camp”) which was underfunded by $12,000.

 
Lou gives; Wally learns he's gonna give.

LOU STEINBERG immediately pledged $500 from excess RYLA funds, and President JOANNE promised to carry the appeal forward to her next board meeting, which is Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 4:00 pm.

ROTARY GOLF DAY is Monday, September 19th as JOHN DADO reminded all golfers to arrive by 11:30 and the dinner attendees to be there by 5:30. JOHN still has one opening for golfers.

MIKE STAUBER announced a tri-club barbecue for the Rotary Youth Exchange students (about fifty of them) on September 30th at 7:00 at the site of the Petaluma Boys’ and Girls’ Club.

Traveler MARLENE FREETLY was recognized for her two-week European trip ($50).

 
Fred pays, Joanne matches it.

Traveler FRED FROST received a Club Banner to exchange with a friend he met in Russia who resides in Australia. FRED paid the standard Rotary import/export fee of $50.

Raffle winner ONITA PELLEGRINI walked away with a nice bottle of Benziger wine. President JOANNE reminded us that raffle proceeds help fund grants for Lend A Hand to Education.

Our speaker, ninety-two years young TED ROBINSON, kept his audience entranced with his many stories about JFK along with his opinions on almost everything. A former “tent mate” of JFK, Mr. Robinson admired John Kennedy for his great sense of humor and his remarkable courage despite his physical condition (malaria, yellow fever, broken back, and so forth).

Mr. Robinson reported that JFK never indicated any political ambitions nor did he mention his brothers. He did discuss the concept of the Peace Corps with Ted long before anyone else.

After praising the good work of Rotarians in conclusion, the Club gave him a standing ovation. He remained after adjournment to sell copies of his book, “Water In My Veins”.

"Remember, we're dark next Thursday!"

September 15 - Ted Robinson - "JFK, a Young Naval Officer"
September 19 - Golf Tournament
September 22 - Club Dark
September 29 - Nyle Henderson - Bone Marrow Donors
September 29 (6pm) - SCARC Dinner, Windsor
October 6 - Gary Schlossberg, Senior Economist, Wells Fargo

Our illustrious President, JOANNE FERRIS, after asking the great unanswered question of her time (“Where’s the Flag?”), and promising serious sanctions if it remains missing much longer, led us in a robust, prideful Pledge of Allegiance, albeit with a smaller, interim Flag in place.

She then had the Club crooner, Past President BARNEY FAUSS, lead us in song (Gypo and God Bless America), followed by a somber Thought for the Day by STAN LAWSON (a 9/11 remembrance). The customary handshakes, hugs and busses ensued.

No visiting Rotarians joined us for lunch, but several guests of Rotarians did, including BRIAN BREEN’S young son (Brayden), who was quite precocious (look it up, Brian) and handled the microphone like a pro… or a future barrister! There was no Sunshine Report, which is a good thing, because it means all is well with everyone.

Next, Past-President JOHN DADO announced that the upcoming Annual Golf Tournament is full, but we still have openings for dinner – call John if you want to join us. Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. (golfers tee off at 12:00 p.m.).

The Prez then followed up with a few announcements of her own: (i) There are still seats available at the upcoming (Sept. 24) Rotary Foundation dinner event at the Hyatt in Santa Rosa – it’s only $50/per head, so call Joanne if you’re interested, and (ii) the monthly SCARC Dinner for this month will be the last Thursday (Sept. 29) in Windsor – again, call Joanne or Club Secretary GAIL CARDAROPOLI, if you are interested.

The Prez the immediately shifted into fine mode, and called upon FRED FROST to explain a banner of some notoriety, but he was nowhere to be found (now you know why we call him “fast Freddy”!), so the Prez leveled both barrels on JIM BECKER, who cheerfully coughed up $50.00 for a recent 2 week Mediterranean cruise with all the trimmings.

The Prez then did a little fine tango with DAVID SOLO, who paid $25.00 for his new car and having a gifted sister (Hope, the U.S. woman’s soccer team goalie) famous enough to audition on Dancing with the Stars (she’ll be on the Sept. 19 show) – congratulations to Hope (and her proud big brother)!

The Prez then called upon young Brayden Breen to answer a few questions as to how it came to pass that his father, BRIAN BREEN, and his father’s day laborer, LEE REPOSA, weren’t able to properly paint Brian’s fence – not enough paint, too much beer, porous wood, you make the call – either way, it cost Brian $25.00 to appease the Prez!

It’s always news when an octogenarian enjoys his first anything, and so it was that for the very first time past-president JIM McCAFFREY finally won the weekly raffle, and pulled out a blue rock for a bottle of wine – talk about the luck of the Irish!!

The solicitous Prez then returned PDG ED FULLERTON’S lost badge sans fine – do politicians look after each other, or what?

Past President TOM BRANDALL, then introduced our speaker, Sara Brandenburg, Operations Manager of Royal Petroleum Company, who gave a very informative presentation on the history of the company, and the oil business at the local level. An autographed book was donated in her name to the PHS library for a program well received. The Prez then reminded us of next week’s program (Ted Robinson, Ret. U.S. Navy, PT-109), and adjourned the meeting.

September 8 - Jim Dalton, Royal Petroleum - Gas and Oil
September 15 - Ted Robinson - "JFK, a Young Naval Officer"
September 19 - Golf Tournament
September 22 - Club Dark
September 29 - Nyle Henderson - Bone Marrow Donors

On Thursday, the 1st day of September, 2011, the Rotary Club of Petaluma met at Mister McGoo’s for fellowship and good food.

The bell sounded at precisely 12:30 and PRESIDENT JOANNE FERRIS started the meeting with a request for BABE AMARAL to hold the flag (looks like our flag is still missing) while we recited the Pledge to the Flag.

Song leader, LOU STEINBERG, led us in song with “God Bless America”. SHERRY BURWEN gave the “Thought for the Day”.

The usual hugs and handshakes quickly followed. The visiting Rotarians were introduced next by DAVE BARBIERI. The Rotarians with guests were then introduced.

Good news!! There were no names mentioned in the Sunshine Report. Looks like September is a good month to get married. The anniversaries for the month were TAWNY TESCONI, BILL GROVERMAN, RICK VANBEBBER, BUTCH SPOLINI, FRED FROST and FRED WULFF.

Where’s RALPH BETTINELLI? He was supposed to show up to talk about the nice “Thank you” note we received from the young man whose lamb the Club purchased from the fair. RALPH represented us in the purchase.

JOHN DADO announced the Golf Tournament is full but the captains need to let him know the names of their team mates. Please let ONITA PELLEGRINI know if you can volunteer to help at the event. Please let JOHN know if you are attending the dinner. Remember, PAUL RAMATICI and crew will be preparing the usual delicious prime rib dinner.

PRESIDENT JOANNE presented a check for $300 to the Children’s Museum as a “Thank You” for setting up a fun booth at The Petaluma Art and Equestrian Festival.

It was time for PRESIDENT JOANNE to make some cash for the Club. It started with TOM BRANDAL’s saga of the trials and tribulations of trying to add The Rotary Wheel to the McGoo’s sign. What started with merely adding a bolt or two to the existing sign ended with trips to Dairyman’s Supply and Rex Hardware. He grabbed Tony McCaughey and GARY BRODIE from across the street to help.

The good news is, the sign’s up and looks good. The PREZ felt so bad, no fine was assessed.

FRED FROST was another story. His little trip to Russia for 3 weeks including a boat tour with his wife, Linda, cost him $50. He managed to bring back a Rotary Flag but won’t pay the cash until the PREZ gives him one of ours to send back. She agreed and moved on to the next victim.

That would be our Chamber President, ONITA PELLEGRINI, whose picture appeared in the North Bay Biz Magazine on page 70. ONITA gave her honest opinion of the highway work which cost her $50.

LOU STEINBERG attended his 50 year class reunion in Crockett. Where’s Crockett? It’s in the East Bay, not too far from Benicia. LOU reconnected with his old classmates and offered a buck a year to the Club.

PRESIDENT JOANNE reminded everyone of The Foundation Dinner South on September 24th at the Hyatt in Santa Rosa. The tickets are $75 each. The club will pay $25 towards the cost of each member’s ticket. The raffle tickets will be good 2 drawings with prizes that include iPads. The Club has been asked to provide 2 gift baskets. If your talents run in that direction, please let PRESIDENT JOANNE know.

The raffle winner was lucky LARRY JONAS who drew the blue rock for a nice bottle of wine.

CLARK ROSEN introduced our speaker, Ingrid Alverde. Ingrid is the new Economic Development Manager for the City of Petaluma. Welcome Ingrid and best wishes with improving our city’s economy.

Meeting adjourned.