Issues are arranged in reverse order. Scroll down to find the issue you want.
June 7 - Kids Day; Evelyn Rosas and David Martinelli - Petaluma Bounty
June 14 - Stan Lawson - The Aging Crisis in America
June 21 - Maureen Middlebrook - Redwood Medical Group
June 29 - Debunking (Club dark on June 28)
Opening her last meeting in May — and with only three more in June — PRESIDENT JOANNE was all smiles as she rang the opening bell.
First up was FRED WULFF to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
BARNEY FAUSS was next and segued beautifully from I’m a Gambler . . . into God Bless America.
Note the bare foot.
The Thought for the Day was next and PRESIDENT JOANNE delivered it herself. Noting that today marked the anniversary of Lady Godiva’s famous ride through Coventry, she proclaimed the value of going barefoot.
DANNY FISH introduced two visiting Rotarians and BILL GROVERMAN introduced his guest, Tony Western. The visiting Rotarian from the Santa Rosa club announced the July 7 Giro Bello cycling event.
The May birthday table was empty; LEN MYGATT and JASON GOOCH were fined for sitting elsewhere while RALPH BETTINELLI, JAY PALM, and MARCUS BENEDETTI escaped a fine by simply not showing up. (President-Elect Nancy, this is something we need to fix!) When Jason pled ignorance, a sympathetic PRESIDENT JOANNE paid half of his $10 fine.
Sunshine Report. LEE BEAN was here, looking good!
GREG O’BRIEN reported that our members have been doing a great job of lining up sponsors for the July 29 Art and Equestrian Festival.
SHERRY BURWEN asked that members contribute raffle prizes for the festival.
LEE REPOSA, chair of the annual tri-tip barbecue at the RYLA camp in Westminster Woods could use a few more volunteers the afternoon and evening of Wednesday, June 20. He noted that KIP HERZOG would be coming. Why not join them for a fun time with a bunch of great kids?
Nancy's orientation is unchanged.
Then our PRESIDENT, obviously eyeing the end of her term, launched into a discussion of transition matters. She cited that history was being made as the new President’s sexual orientation would remain unchanged. As the puzzled audience gasped, and before the LGBT Alliance could organize a protest, PRESIDENT JOANNE retracted her words. What she meant to say, she explained, was that although the Club has had a number of woman presidents, this would be the first time that a woman succeeded a woman. O.K.
She then went on to announce that (1) PAUL LOUNIBOS would be the new Club Secretary and (2) that everyone should have received their invitations for the June 29 Debunking.
PAT CONKLIN reminded everyone of the June 20-24 Sonoma-Marin Fair. She’s looking for Rotary volunteers to staff the information booth (you get free admission for your stint) and noted DAVID SOLO’s great service as the “Voice of the Fait.”
CHRIS RANNEY, looking tanned and refreshed after a week in Hawaii, presented a flag from the Waikiki Sunset Rotary Club. We think that the beautiful flag so stunned our President that she forgot to fine Chris.
Faithful readers will recall that DAVID SOLO wore casual golf attire to last week’s meeting. He claimed that LEE REPOSA encouraged the attire, saying he’d be at the meeting, similarly dressed. Well, LEE was a no-show and DAVID paid a $50 fine with the understanding that LEE would be fined an equal amount the following week. After snorting that he wears “proper golf attire” while DAVID wears “caddy attire” LEE volunteered to double his fine to $100 and to contribute it to the Rotary Foundation where it would again be doubled by the Club. Also in the REPOSA-SOLO foursome at the Petaluma Valley golf event were RICK MOSSI and RICK GORMAN, both of whom escaped fines.
A smiling MICHAEL CARUANA announced good news from around the world. He was expecting a foal to be born tonight (actually the mare was expecting, not Michael) and his son in South Africa had announced a January 2013 wedding. When MICHAEL expressed some uncertainty in the timing of the new foal (“You know how you women are!”) he received hoots from the ladies in the audience. But they were quiet when he offered to provide the horse if any of them would like to be Lady Godiva. For all this, MICHAEL offered a $100 fine, $40 to the Club and $60 to the Rotary Foundation.
DAVID BARBIERI paid a $25 fine, celebrating his wife getting her car back after a college graduation. We understand that Linda is happy to give up driving the truck.
RICK VAN BEBBER is driving new wheels. He paid $50 to celebrate his new Jeep Sahrara.
The raffle was worth $275 today but MARLENE FREETLY didn’t pull the right rock. She’ll enjoy some fine wine however. President Joanne announced that, if the big jackpot isn’t won at the June 7 or June 14 meetings, the winner of the June 21 raffle will take home all the cash.
The program today was devoted to craft talks, the first of which was presented by JASON GOOCH. Jason was born and raised in Livermore. As the son of an architect/developer he grew up working on job sites in the Pleasanton-Livermore area. But, upon graduating from high school, he took a break from the construction arena to tour nationally as a championship jet ski racer. He subsequently returned to his family business, but in 1999 moved to Petaluma to start his own business. Buying a ranch on Hardin Lane, he built a home and became a farmer as well as the owner of a remodeling and new construction business. He has a 12 acre olive orchard (3,200 trees!) and raises chickens, pigs, and beef. Jason is married, has two sons with a third child on the way. His latest innovation is the development of a simple, starter home kit.
TARA SMITH was next. You may recall her visit as a guest speaker in August 2010 when she discussed how reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma led to her leaving an 18-year career in the long-term care industry to launch Tara Firma Farms on I Street Extension. Today she reprised that story and brought us up to date. Tara was born and raised in Michigan, spent four years in Vail, Colorado after college and then went to work for Microsoft before her years in the long-term care industry. Tara Firma Farms has thrived and today provides 873 families an organic food supply each week. The farm continues to grow. Grapevines will be planted soon and, in a few years, you can expect organic wine. Tara has hired managers to direct the day to day farm operations, freeing time for her new passion, food and health education. She described how reading Charles Murray’s Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010 has inspired her to develop a self-respect model for community. Tara and her husband, Craig, have four sons. She invites members to bring their kids and grandkids to weekend tours at 10am, noon, and 2pm. And, before you go, be sure to ask Tara about the daddy pig and the pink worm!
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Al Cattalini.
May 31 - Craft Talks from new members
June 7 - Kids Day; Evelyn Rosas and David Martinelli - Petaluma Bounty
June 14 - Stan Lawson - The Aging Crisis in America
June 21 - Maureen Middlebrook - Redwood Medical Group
The Club meeting on May 24th was a jubilant and entertaining affair. PRESIDENT JOANNE FERRIS had a long agenda of items to review and a few fines to doll out. Please follow the photos to see the play-by-play of the meeting – especially the program speaker. WHIT HALL gave a terrific presentation entitled “Sparta in Babylon”, which was enjoyed by all who attended.
Former member Steve Hood, passing through Petaluma on his way from Afghanistan to Djibouti (or wherever), leads the Pledge of Allegiance.
Lou Steinberg leads us in song.
Tara Smith delivers her Thought for the Day.
Judi Allewelt introduces visiting Rotarians (and hangs on to her bankroll).
President Joanne wonders what's with the shorts and ball cap.
David Solo claims he's on his way to a Rotary golf tournament.
Michal Caruana updates members on the Art and Equestrian Festival.
Joe Tambe opines on a weighty matter.
President Joanne asks everyone 75 years or older to stand.
Folks older than the Golden Gate Bridge stand — and avoid a $5 fine.
Lou Steinberg is fined for a trip to Southern California with his grandchildren.
Joanne loves the panda that Lou brought back from the San Diego Zoo.
Jim Becker delivers his Rotary Minute.
Sigrid Hall's consolation for listening to her husband is winning this bottle of wine.
Al Cattalini introduces Sigrid's husband.
Whit Hall traces the 236 year history of the Presidio of San Francisco with a beautifully illustrated presentation. Among the graphics were cartoons by Steve Rustad. You can view them here.
The end of PRESIDENT JOANNE FERRIS’ tenure is quickly approaching¸ but there are many events on our Club’s horizon over the next few months. So, please open up your calendars and take note:
June 14 – 17 District 5130 Conference in Fortuna
June 29 PRESIDENT JOANNE’S DEBUNKING!!!
July 29 Petaluma Art and Equestrian Festival
August 9 Rotary Day at the Races
September 17 Rotary Club Golf Tournament
In a slight deviation to the norm, we have included some choice words from Rotary’s founder, Paul Harris, that still strike a deep chord in today’s world. Enjoy!
Cultural Ignorance
Paul Harris believed that the most promising mechanism for reducing international conflict was to enhance cultural understanding through meaningful interactions. If you segregate yourself from other cultures, you will never understand them and will be inclined to demean them.
“When an individual, a sect, a clique or a nation hates and despises another individual, sect, clique or nation, he or they simply do not know the objects of their hatred. Ignorance is at the bottom of it. Ignorance is a menace to peace. The higher the general average of intelligence, all things else being equal, the less the disposition to be meddlesome, critical, and overbearing. Individuals and nations owe it to themselves and the world to become informed.”
(Paul Harris, This Rotarian Age, page 61) Reprinted by permission of the Rotary Global History from the Newsletter Nuggets Section of “What Paul Harris Wrote” (www.whatpaulharriswrote.org).
Diplomacy and Fellowship
Paul Harris believed, and the history of Rotary confirms, that creating a climate of fellowship in which people find common ground is the ultimate form of diplomacy. Peace is based on shared interests; war is based on non-shared interests. Since both are always present, stability will depend on which interests people choose to emphasize.
“Rotary’s program of promoting better understanding between different racial groups and between devotees to different religious faiths, so simply and yet so auspiciously begun in the year 1905 has met with greater success thus far than the negotiations of diplomats. It has been the way of Rotary to focus thought upon matters in which members are in agreement, rather than upon matters in which they are in disagreement. Rotary has satisfactorily demonstrated the fact that friendship can easily hurdle national and religious boundary lines.”
(Paul Harris, This Rotarian Age, page 61) Reprinted by permission of the Rotary Global History from the Newsletter Nuggets Section of “What Paul Harris Wrote” (www.whatpaulharriswrote.org).
Respecting Others
None of us controls our country of origin. Therefore, holding people responsible for their nationality is totally unreasonable to the point of being irrational. Moreover, Paul Harris argues that all nationalities deserve respect. Like most profound ideas, the beauty of this idea is its simplicity.
“One’s religion is one’s own possession and he has a right to it. One’s nativity is not of his own choosing, but whatever it may be, it is entitled to respect; and all nations have [an] honorable place in the world’s family.”
(Paul Harris, This Rotarian Age, page 61) Reprinted by permission of the Rotary Global History from the Newsletter Nuggets Section of “What Paul Harris Wrote” (www.whatpaulharriswrote.org).
International Understanding
The Rotarian movement emphasizes understanding through fellowship. This principle not only works well for individuals, but is also relevant for countries. When people view their country as “us” and other countries as “them,” they are simply accelerating the inevitable decline of their own country.
“Insularity induces the superiority complex, and the superiority complex is responsible for much trouble. Permanent superiority has never been realized by any nation in history. After the rise comes the fall.”
(Paul Harris, This Rotarian Age, page 61) Reprinted by permission of the Rotary Global History from the Newsletter Nuggets Section of “What Paul Harris Wrote” (www.whatpaulharriswrote.org).
Peace through Understanding
Paul Harris believed that the effort to understand people from other cultures was the single best way to assure peace.
“Charles Lamb, pointing to a man across the street, said to a friend: “I don’t like that man.” To which his friend answered: “Why, I didn’t know that you were acquainted with him.” Lamb whimsically rejoined: “I am not acquainted with him; that’s why I don’t like him.” How true it is that dislike vanishes in the light of acquaintance. The best guaranty of world peace is world understanding.”
(Paul Harris, This Rotarian Age, page 64) Reprinted by permission of the Rotary Global History from the Newsletter Nuggets Section of “What Paul Harris Wrote” (www.whatpaulharriswrote.org).
Attend the 5130 District Conference June 14-17 in Fortuna!
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Ricardo Marzo.
May 24 - Whit Hall - Sparta in Babylon
May 31 - A special program you'll enjoy
June 7 - Kids Day; Evelyn Rosas and David Martinelli - Petaluma Bounty
June 14 - Stan Lawson - The Aging Crisis in America
June 21 - Maureen Middlebrook - Redwood Medical Group
PRESIDENT JOANNE called on President-Elect Nominee RICK MOSSI to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
BARNEY FAUSS was up next leading us in song. After warming up on I’m a Rambler, . . . we launched into God Bless America. Sound familiar?
MICHAEL CARUANA’s Thought for the Day took us from the founding of the New York Stock Exchange in 1792 through a number of historical events to the upcoming market debut of Facebook. His take: Don’t bother.
There were no visiting Rotarians. Our one guest was Michael Burwen, husband of SHERRY BURWEN. We’ll repeat a shameless plug for this homeless couple. They are looking for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath rental on the west side of Petaluma. Keep your eyes open. It gets cold sleeping under a bridge.
Sunshine Report. JAY PALM reported that RALPH BETTINELLI is home from the hospital, doing well, and welcomes phone calls between 9 and 11:30 in the evening.
PRESIDENT ELECT NANCY COOLEY continued committee sign-ups in our four areas of service by issuing stickers to stragglers who missed last week’s Club Assembly. She also passed out a Club Events schedule for the upcoming club year. Use it to mark your calendar. You can find it on the Club Website.
PRESIDENT JOANNE announced that seats were still available at the Rotary table for the June 7th “State of the Campus” breakfast at the SRJC Petaluma Campus.
Coming up even sooner is the May 31 SCARC dinner in Sebastopol. Contact GAIL CARDAROPOLI if you wish to attend.
Matching season for gifts to The Rotary Foundation ends soon. If you haven’t met your “Every Rotarian Every Year” goal of $100, send a check, payable to The Rotary Foundation, to DAVID SOLO right away.
TOM BRANDAL and JASON GOOCH will be coordinating Petaluma Art & Equestrian Festival (PAEF) ticket sales at the Petaluma Farmers Market in the coming weeks. They need your help to staff our ticket table. It’s a fun way to meet your neighbors and help the Club.
Available on the lunch tables, in addition to the 2012-13 Events Schedule, were PAEF sponsorship flyers, info on the Petaluma Valley Rotary golf event, PAEF postcards, and information on the District Conference.
TOM BRANDAL and RALPH BETTINELLI need to get together to discuss how to safely drive small vehicles, or at least how not to crash them. While on a Caribbean cruise (New Jersey is in the Caribbean?) Tom and his wife, Kathy, decided to tour Bermuda in a rented motor scooter. (O.K., Bermuda isn’t in the Caribbean either, but you pass it on the way from New Jersey.) They crashed in a roundabout, were thrown from their scooter, and got banged up a bit. Good planning on Tom’s part had the hospital just two blocks away. They got back to the ship before sailing and enjoyed their cocktails that night. Tom was fined $25 for this adventure but generously upped the fine to $60.
Winner of this week’s raffle was Jake Smallwood, Information System Administrator of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties. Jake got a bottle of wine; next week’s raffle could net you $250.
Program chair GREG O’BRIEN introduced “Hope Solo’s brother,” DAVID SOLO, President/CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties.
David explained the great work performed by the B&GC and the funding challenges the organization is currently facing. If you want to help out with a contribution, you can do it on line.
Attend the 5130 District Conference June 14-17 in Fortuna!
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Al Cattalini.
May 17 - David Solo - Boys & Girls Club update
May 24 - Whit Hall - Sparta in Babylon
PRESIDENT JOANNE FERRIS opened the meeting at the great Mr. McGoo’s and began with a friendly “Welcome”. Al CATTALINI led us all in the Pledge of Allegiance.
This was followed by our song leader LEE REPOSA leading us with our club song, Rambler, and God Bless America.
Then the Thought of the Day was given by our own PAST DISTRICT GOVERNOR ED FULLERTON. His advice of the day was “never argue with an idiot.” The customary handshakes and hugs amongst the members ensued.
PAST PRESIDENT KIP HERZOG introduced the many visiting Rotarians from Petaluma Valley Club.
Our sole guest was our exchange student, Johannes Alvekranz.
DAVID SOLO updated us on the Foundation.
LEN MYGATT gave us an update on the artist line up for our upcoming PAEF
Thanks and praises went out to two new PAEF sponsors, PAST PRESIDENT DAN LIBARLE’s Lace House Linen and new members, CHRIS & SHARI RANNEY’s Ranney Capital Management.
Lou Steinberg explains the District 5130 incorporation votes which our members overwhelmingly approved.
The fines started with one of our newest members. CHRIS RANNEY was taught a lesson for not wearing his Rotary pin in a press photo. A $25 fine was due.
PRESIDENT JOANNE called on DAN LIBARLE to let the club know about a thoughtful gift to Petaluma Valley Hospital. Dan may have gotten off easy until he began throwing swear words around in front of the Prez. He may know how to get the linen clean but PRESIDENT JOANNE knows how to clean a dirty mouth. He paid $20 for plugging Lace House and $10 for his mouth.
Pat Schaefer thanks Rotarians for supporting the PVHF Benedetti Leadership Celebration.
PAST PRESIDENT KIP HERZOG tried to throw PRESIDENT ELECT NANCY COOLEY under the bus but she’s been in training. She turned her fine around and redirected it to RICK GORMAN and LEE REPOSA for not showing up to her Board Meeting.
PAST DISTRICT GOVERNOR ED FULLERTON was fined for updating us on some recent home construction.
KATHY O’CONNOR won the raffle but was not lucky enough to win the $200 pot.
JUDI ALLEWELT gave us her Rotary Minute which included stories of all the great relationships she developed.
JAY PALM gave us a Sunshine Report on RALPH BETTINELLI. RALPH recently had a serious ATV accident and had to be airlifted to the Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
We had a change to our normal lunch meetings, instead of a speaker, we had a Club Assemble. PRESIDENT JOANNE had all the members participate in some fun activities including “Rotary Speed Dating.” Shockingly, DAVID SOLO was a pro!
DISCLAIMER: Your Editor was unable to attend this eventful lunch due to an inexcusable work conflict however he wants to thank LEE REPOSA for stepping up and taking detailed notes. If any reporting is incorrect you may blame the editor not the messenger.
Attend the 5130 District Conference June 14-17 in Fortuna!
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Brian Breen.
May 10 - Nancy Cooley - Club Assembly
May 17 - David Solo - Boys & Girls Club update
May 24 - Whit Hall - Sparta in Babylon
President JOANNE FERRIS opened the meeting at the appointed half-hour, and immediately had DAVE BARBIERI lead us in the Pledge, . . .
. . . followed by a cacophony of sounds from JIM BECKER & The Margin Calls (CLARK ROSEN, DANNY FISH, OREST BALYTSKY and JAY PALM), who led us in song.
A multi-faceted Thought for The Day was delivered serially by Messrs. GREG O’BRIEN, CLARK ROSEN, JANE SALDAÑA-TALLEY, LOU STEINBERG and LARRY JONAS. The customary handshakes, hugs and busses amongst the members ensued. The Prez then reminded us all that next week is the District Assembly, to be attended by President-elect NANCY COOLEY and her merry band of mischief makers. There were no visiting Rotarians, but we had two guests of Rotarians who joined us for lunch: JIM McCAFFREY’s son, Chris, and BILL GROVERMAN’s friend, Tony Wester.
The Prez then paid homage to the fine institution of marriage by noting our May anniversaries (JEANETTE CLARK and GREG O’BRIEN were married in May… but not to each other!).
The Prez then read a thank you letter from one of our Community Achievement Award recipients, . . .
. . . followed by a RYLA reminder from LOU STEINBERG, who went on to point out that two of the Community Achievement Award winners (Jackie & Hector) were RYLA Interact students, each of whom received $1,000.00 – a beaming, proud LOU gladly paid a $5.00 fine for the privilege of being around such high achieving students. The Prez went on to remind us that monthly funds for RI contribution will last through June 30, and noted that your contributions go towards your Paul Harris Fellowship.
GREG O’BRIEN then gave a sponsorship report on the upcoming Art & Equestrian Festival (Elmer’s Glue and Dove Soap factory need not apply, right?!). Call Greg if you’d like to be a featured business sponsor.
MIKE NISTLER then thanked all of our club’s marketing and promotional people, especially the old Captain himself, AL CATTALINI, who does a tremendous job managing the Club’s website, at no cost to the Club – be sure to buy the old sea dog a drink the next time you see him, or at least let him know how much you appreciate all he does for us. Thanks, Al!
LOU STEINBERG then reviewed the process for the upcoming discussion and vote on whether or not to incorporate our District (5130), to take place at the District Assembly next week.
Next, the Prez reported that the Butter & Egg’s Day Parade flash mob, featuring RICK MOSSI, JUDI ALLWELT, PAT SCHAEFFER, MICHAEL NISTLER, the Prez herself, and (fortunately!) the St. Vincent’s High School cheerleading squad, was a huge success, and went off without a hitch… except for NISTLER’s upside down sign (dyslexia with a twist, right?). Mr. Nistler paid $100 towards his Paul Harris fellowship. Thanks, Mike.
MIKE BADDELEY conducted the induction for our newest member, . . .
. . . TARA SMITH, who was sponsored by KATHY O'CONNOR.
TARA operates Tara Firma Farms on I Street Extension.
Boring with a capital “B”, that’s how LEROY BEAN basically summed up his year so far – but he did offer up $50 for an upcoming Washington DC trip he has planned.
STEVE OLMSTED then gave us either a Rotary Moment, a craft talk, or a meeting filibuster… whatever it was, it was definitely entertaining and we learned a lot about the original “Steve-O” back in the day!
MARLENE FREETLY won the weekly raffle, and received a nice bottle of wine when she pulled out a blue rock.
Program Chairman GREG O’BRIEN then introduced our speaker, our own JIM McNULTY, from the Family Life Center, who along with one of his program directors (Kathy Moussadt) gave a very informative presentation on the history and purposes of the Family Life Center. A book will be donated to a local high school library in his name for a program well received
Whereupon, the Prez, with one mighty bang of her gavel, duly adjourned the meeting!
Attend the 5130 District Conference June 14-17 in Fortuna!
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Mike Baddeley.
