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April 4 - Gary Schlossberg - Senior Economist, Wells Capital Management
April 11 - Club dark; Farmers & Merchants Night on April 12
April 18 - Frank Dean - Superintendent, Golden Gate National Recreation Area
The Grand Ballroom of the Petaluma Sheraton was filled with Rotarians and their guests when PRESIDENT NANCY called the meeting to order. This wasn’t just another Thursday meeting; it wasn’t even another "Rotary Goes Nighttime." We were celebrating 90 years of Rotary in Petaluma, a remarkable achievement that began with the founding of the Rotary Club of Petaluma in 1923.
After leading the Pledge of Allegiance our President called on former member Lucie Sweda to lead us in a rousing rendition of our National Anthem.
SECRETARY PAUL LOUNIBOS was up next to deliver the invocation. We didn’t follow with the usual hugs and handshakes but that had been going on for quite a while before we sat for dinner. Maybe we can credit the conviviality to the great wine reception hosted by 16 Past Presidents: BABE AMARAL, MIKE BADDELEY, TOM BRANDAL, LEROY BEAN, WALLY BRAGDON, JEANNETTE CLARK, JOANNE FERRIS, HENRY HANSEL, KIP HERZOG, DAN LIBARLE, PAUL LOUNIBOS, JIM McCAFFREY, ONITA PELLEGRINI, CLARK ROSEN, LOU STEINBERG, and TAWNY TESCONI and by Bob Cooley–Benovia Winery.
First husbands Mike Ferris and Bob Cooley were superb sommeliers, expertly pouring great local wines.
We did have our traditional introduction of visiting Rotarians, but let’s just say that it was an introduction of Rotary VIPs who had descended upon Petaluma from everywhere to celebrate our 90 years. After PRESIDENT NANCY introduced Dave Johnson, President of the Petaluma Valley Rotary Club, and Monica Sligh, President of the Petaluma Sunrise Rotary Club, the three of them introduced a litany of present, past, and future District Governors and other distinguished mucky mucks.
Our District Governor, Mike Juric, honored us by inducting our three newest members, CHRIS ELZI, TOM GAMBONINI, and KATHIE POWELL. Welcome to the Club, Chris, Tom, and Kathie. What a way to start your membership!
We didn’t just celebrate new members. We also celebrated some old, — scratch that! — lets call them "longtime," members, DON RAMATICI and AL RICHARDS. Don and Al were presented plaques by District Governor Mike Juric recognizing their having been members for 50 years.
Our own PAST DISTRICT GOVERNOR ED FULLERTON had the honor of introducing our keynote speaker, Cliff Dochterman, Rotary International President, 1992-93.
Cliff has been credited with speaking before more Rotary Clubs than anyone in the world, and tonight he added one more to his list. It’s no wonder that he is invited to so many Rotary events; he’s a magnificent speaker who just radiates what Rotary is all about. His beautiful blending of humor into a serious message just made you proud to be a Rotarian and want to do more. Cliff, we are honored that you and Mary Elena made the drive from Moraga to help us celebrate our 90th anniversary!
When Cliff’s talk concluded, members of Boy Scout Troop 8 were presented a check for $250 in recognition of Cliff Dochterman’s long involvement with the Boy Scouts of America.
It was a great evening, and it wouldn’t have happened without the hard work of PAST PRESIDENT JOANNE FERRIS and her committee: JUDI ALLEWELT, TOM BAKER, NANCY COOLEY, ED FULLERTON, Dave Johnson, PAUL LOUNIBOS, Shelley Moller, RICK MOSSI, MICHAEL NISTLER, Jerrie Patterson, ONITA PELLEGRINI, CHRIS RANNEY, PAT SCHAFER, AND LOU STEINBERG.
SUNSHINE REPORT. And speaking of LOU STEINBERG, he wasn’t able to attend the dinner. He’s in California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco battling colitis. His grandson Nathan, who flew in from Colorado to spend the weekend with his grandparents, was identified as probably the only person in the room who’d be around in another 90 years. Go Nathan!
For lots of photos from the celebration click here.
The butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker. Which one doesn't appear in this 1929 movie of Petaluma Rotarians at work and at play? Click the image above to find out. Michael Nistler added the great musical track to this silent movie which was shown at our 90th anniversary celebration.
Also shown at the March 28 dinner was this Michael Nistler slideshow featuring the service, fellowship and history of Petaluma's three Rotary Clubs over the years.
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Al Cattalini.
March 28 - 90 Years of Rotary in Petaluma
April 4 - Gary Schlossberg - Senior Economist, Wells Capital Management
April 11 - Club dark; Farmers & Merchants Night on April 12
April 18 - Frank Dean - Superintendent, Golden Gate National Recreation Area
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Ricardo Marzo.
March 21 - Scott Holder - Mountain Climbing
March 28 - 90 Years of Rotary in Petaluma
April 4 - Gary Schlossberg - Senior Economist, Wells Capital Management
April 11 - Club dark; Farmers & Merchants Night on April 12
April 18 - Frank Dean - Superintendent, Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Despite the absence of President NANCY COOLEY, there was no absence of leadership, as Past President TAWNY TESCONI took the reins and called the meeting to order.
DAVID SOLO led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Songmeister BARNEY FAUSS hit all the right notes of "I’m a Rambler . . ." followed by an inspiring "God Bless America".
PAT SCHAEFER introduced visiting Rotarians Linda Pinocchi of Windsor and Lily and Greg Freitas of Petaluma Sunrise.
Guest introductions had to wait until microphone steward TOM BRANDAL could locate the microphone that had been in his grasp only a moment earlier. It was found in the possession of JOANNE FERRIS, not generally known for larcenous behavior but sometimes seated near a certain fellow who is.
JOE TAMBE introduced Kathie Powell, Executive Director of the Petaluma Health Center. SHARAHAZAD HAMIDI introduced Karen Tarver of her Spring Hill Academy administration. RICK GORMAN introduced Rebecca Spencer of PEP Housing and mortgage broker Tom Gambonini. And MIKE BADDELEY introduced fellow barrister Chris Elzi.
JOANNE FERRIS reminded us of the upcoming celebration of 90 years of Rotary in Petaluma on the evening of March 28, encouraging all to make reservations online.
Acting President TAWNY pitched the April 12 Farmers and Merchants Night as one of the best bargains for a fun and tasty evening at the ridiculously low price of $20. A head count is needed by STEVE GAVRILOFF verrrry soon.
The Rotary District Assembly in Mendocino is coming up soon — April 5–6. See MARLENE FREETLY for reservations.
Recently inducted member SHARAHAZAD HAMIDI delivered her Craft Talk, which would have been interesting enough as a recounting of her own life story and career path, but SHARAZAD used most of her time to talk about education and the growth of Spring Hill Academy.
Acting President TAWNY had come prepared to levy a few fines.
BABE AMARAL didn’t think he should be penalized for a cattle truck displaying a somewhat truncated "CHO" on the tailgate. But he did cop to a romantic 9 days in Hawaii with EMILY and gave up $50 to the Club foundation.
Since DAVID SOLO was given the honor of honoring an honoree — scheduled to introduce 2013 Citizen of the Year GARY IMM at that evening’s Community Awards, DAVID was happy to contribute $25 to the Club.
Yes, that was MARLENE FREETLY zipping around town in a brand new Toyota Camry, but it cost her only $25 (the fine, not the car).
SHERRY BURWEN generously volunteered a $25 fine for relationship to one of the next Dancing With the Stars Contestants, Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman. It was noted that Ms. Raisman is actually the second DWTS celebrity with a connection to our club, the first being Olympic soccer star Hope Solo, though no one could recall to whom she is related.
AL CATTALINI had the lucky raffle ticket and plucked a blue rock from the bag. AL and his bottle of wine looked like they belonged together.
DAVID SOLO introduced guest speaker Rebecca Spencer, who traced the proud 35-year history of Petaluma Ecumenical Projects (PEP Housing), one of our town’s stellar home-grown non-profits. Now with 14 properties and still growing, PEP Housing has served over 1100 senior residents since its founding.
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Clark Rosen.
March 14 - Mary Stompe - PEP Housing
March 21 - Scott Holder - Mountain Climbing
March 28 - 90 Years of Rotary in Petaluma
April 4 - Gary Schlossberg - Senior Economist, Wells Capital Management
PRESIDENT NANCY COOLEY promptly opened the meeting at the Sheraton Sonoma County and we all joined her in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PAST PRESIDENT LOU STEINBERG led us in our club song, “Rambler” followed by “God Bless America”.
PAST PRESIDENT PAUL LOUNIBOS gave the thought of the day explaining that March is Literacy Month in Rotary. This was followed by our usual hugs and handshakes.
We had no visiting Rotarians but did have a few guests. RICK MOSSI introduced his guest, Tom Gambonini. STEVE POWELL introduced his guest from Wells Fargo, Jay. And our PRESIDENT welcomed her hubby, Bob Cooley.
PAUL LOUNIBOS announced the member Anniversaries.
At the request of our President, Captain Brogan from the Two Rock Coast Guard Base also joined us for lunch. To thank him and the base for their continued generosity in having our yearly meetings there, the club donated $500.
The Coast Guard will apply the funds to their Boys and Girls Club program.
WHIT HALL was called upon to explain why he tried to schedule a meeting during the same time as our 90th Anniversary Party . . .
. . . that PAST PRESIDENT JOANNE has been working so hard on. He said it was a pure accident . . .
. . . but thanks to PRESIDENT NANCY it became an expensive accident. WHIT paid $90.
After numerous grueling months of wearing the blue badges, JASON GOOCH and TARA SMITH finally received their Chicken Badges. Congratulations to both of them.
TARA was then fined $100 for a trip to Italy. JASON paid $50 for his badge.
PRESIDENT NANCY continued her day of fining and called on DANNY FISH to explain his recent travels on a cruise and to Disneyland. He paid $50.
She then went after his buddy, JAY PALM. JAY’s son wrote the club a thank you letter for receiving a Dictionary. Since JAY saved so much money on not having to buy his son a Dictionary, he paid $50.
Clark Rosen also forks over some money.
Our speaker could not make it so JIM BECKER stepped up to the plate to discuss Rotary’s Heartbeat International Foundation. He did a great last minute presentation on how this foundation provides pacemakers to those less fortunate and in need throughout the world.
Our PRESIDENT NANCY wished everybody a wonderful day and adjourned the Meeting.
This week's Rota-Teller editor: Brian Breen; photos by Michael Nistler.