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COMING EVENTS

June 6 - Will Travis - Rising Ocean Levels
June 13 - Arnold Kunst - Abraham Lincoln
June 20 - Dr. Paula Dhanda - World Wide Healing Hands
June 28 - Debunking (Club dark on June 27)

Sophie, Saara, and Nina pose with President Nancy before the meeting.

With a resounding tone of the club bell, PRESIDENT NANCY COOLEY opened our “Rotary Goes Nighttime” meeting, her 4th to the last as president, in a spacious banquet room at the Sheraton.

DAVID SOLO led our club song and then launched into a deep baritone rendition of “God Bless America”!

Nina Breece, Saara Nikula, and Sophie Gardner.

Rotarians with Guests included: ONITA PELLIGRINI introduced Sally who is a supporter of Rotary. SHERRY BURWEN introduced her husband Michael (again). MIKE STAUBER introduced three young women who are all participants in the International Rotary Youth Exchange Program: Nina, Saara and Sophie (more on these three to come). And AL CATTALINI introduced his wife Joan (again).

PRESIDENT NANCY then announced that our District Conference was being held this coming weekend, May 31st - June 2nd at the Hyatt in Santa Rosa. Also that invitations to her debunking WOOHOO! were going out that day so watch for them in your mailbox.

Then two very special certificates were presented to two gentlemen who are significant and long-term members of our Petaluma Club: DON RAMATICI and Dr. AL RICHARDS. Each received a certificate and letter confirming their induction into the Rotary International Hall of Fame for their long years of service and generous contributions to Rotary International. Congratulations DON and AL!

PRESIDENT NANCY then acknowledged and thanked both JANE SALDAÑA-TALLEY and DAVID SOLO as chairpersons of our “Rotary Goes Nighttime” meeting and were applauded by all in attendance.

DAVID then introduced our program “Rotary Youth Exchange Program” and speakers for the evening. Our guests included Sophie Gardner of Petaluma who will be visiting and living in Erba, Italy from September, 2013 to June 2014, and speakers Nina Breece of Petaluma who just returned from a 2011 through 2012 visit to Denmark, and our visiting Exchange student from August 2012 until June 2013, Saara Nikula from Finland.

Nina presented her year in Denmark both verbally and pictorially with great enthusiasm and appreciation for its life changing impact. While in Denmark she was able to live with three different host families, each who represented a distinctly different family experience. Because of her significant positive experiences abroad and meetings with other foreign exchange students from around the world, Nina plans now plans to pursue International Studies during her undergraduate college studies.

Saara won the raffle — and our hearts.

We were then addressed by Saara (SAR - ah) Nikula (KNEE - coo - lah) from Finland, a country of 5.4 million total population. Nina had prepared an extensive and fascinating presentation both spoken and in pictures starting with an overview of Finland including vital national statistics, then a political and social overview, moving to her local home town and then onto her family, friends and personal life experiences.

Each speaker received numerous questions and rousing rounds of applause from the club members. A very enriching and educational evening presentation. Each young lady then signed our traditional student dictionary and received an honorary Rotary pen.

PRESIDENT NANCY then closed the meeting with the chime of the bell and the words "Three to go!" (Think she's ready for a change?)

This week's Rota-Teller editor: Jim McNulty

COMING EVENTS

May 30 - Rotary Goes Nighttime; Youth Exchange students (5:30 p.m.)
June 6 - Will Travis - Rising Ocean Levels
June 13 - Arnold Kunst - Abraham Lincoln
June 20 - Dr. Paula Dhanda - World Wide Healing Hands
June 28 - Debunking (Club dark on June 27)

President NANCY COOLEY, who seemed keenly aware of the precise number of meetings remaining in her term, called the meeting to order and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

DANNY FISH demonstrated that he can sing as well as anyone in the Witness Protection Program, leading us in "God Bless America".

CHRIS RANNEY delivered a timely thought for the day, reflecting on the meaning of Memorial Day. He noted that men and women in the armed forces, especially those who have lost their lives in service to their country, exemplify our own ideal of "service above self".

PAUL LOUNIBOS introduced visiting Rotarian Dan Powers of Petaluma Sunrise, who is almost as good-looking as his grandfather DON RAMATICI.

President NANCY reminded us that our May 30 meeting will be an edition of Rotary Goes Nighttime, including an opportunity to meet our Youth Exchange students.

The upcoming District Conference will have plenty of stimulating and educational events, but none more memorable than a party in ONITA PELLEGRINI’s room.

And a final calendar note from our President invited us to give her the respectful sendoff she so richly deserves but is still known as the Debunking.

Foundation Chair DAVID SOLO gave a comprehensive report on our participation in Rotary International, including the announcement of five members who will be honored next month with Paul Harris Fellowships: WALLY BRAGDON, AL CATTALINI, JOHN DADO, RICK GORMAN, and KIP HERZOG. Of this bunch RICK is receiving his first Paul Harris award. The other recipients have achieved the level multiple times.

MICHAEL CARUANA gave an update on our club’s activity in international projects. We have leveraged our efforts by joining with other clubs in clean water projects and a project in Nepal aimed at alleviating poverty.

LOU STEINBERG announced that four Petaluma High students with promising leadership potential have been selected to attend RYLA camp.

Kathy not only bakes the cakes, she serves them as well!

A collective sigh of relief greeted President NANCY’s announcement that her fine collection for the year was substantially complete and there would be no victims that afternoon.

Raffle winner CHRIS ELZI was pleased with his bottle of wine, confessing that had he won the cash, he would have spent it on wine anyway.

President-Elect RICK MOSSI led the club assembly. Everyone was impressed at how RICK’s talk about club business was so much more interesting than a speech about banking. RICK announced his board members and key committee chairs and gave a good overview of his philosophy and goals for the coming year. The positive "buzz" following the assembly indicated members are looking forward to a great year under RICK’s leadership.

This week's Rota-Teller editor: Clark Rosen

COMING EVENTS

May 23 - President-Elect Rick Mossi - Club Assembly; David Solo - Rotary International Foundation
May 30 - Rotary Goes Nighttime; Youth Exchange students
June 6 - Will Travis - Rising Ocean Levels
June 13 - Arnold Kunst - Abraham Lincoln
June 20 - Dr. Paula Dhanda - World Wide Healing Hands
June 28 - Debunking (Club dark on June 27)

PRESIDENT NANCY: After today, only five more meetings!

BARNEY FAUSS: I’m a rambler, I’m a gambler . . . .

SHERRY BURWEN: My life as a Rotarian — I love Rotary!

PAUL LOUNIBOS to MICHAEL NISTLER: A small child asked his mother, “Mummy, how do lions make babies?”  “Good gracious child,” replied the mother, “How should I know that? Your father's a Rotarian.”

JUDI ALLEWELT: This $2000 check is from the Petaluma Council of Realtors to buy Christmas gifts for needy kids.

PRESIDENT-ELECT RICK MOSSI: Don’t miss next week’s meeting; I’ll tell you what’s planned for next year.

CHRIS ELZI: Ticino roots, Petaluma coots, legal pursuits, resolving disputes, Baddeley cahoots.

DAVID SOLO: What you missed at our tailgate party is coming up next.

PRESIDENT NANCY: Steve Ellison, retired PHS football coach, this Paul Harris is for you!

JOANNE FERRIS: After being swept out to sea and crashing into the couple’s massage session, we . . .

LEE REPOSA: Mount Whitney is 14,505 feet above sea level. I climbed it.

Ron Malnati: $200 for a blue rock?

KATHY O’CONNOR: This yoga guy is really something! (And his tie matches my jacket.)

Shy Sayar: Breathe in, belly out. Heels down. Alternate. Use it or lose it. Unstress.

This week's captions by Al Cattalini; Rota-Teller editor Ricardo Marzo was stuck in a meeting.

COMING EVENTS

May 16 - Shy Sayar - Yoga One, Petaluma
May 23 - David Solo - Rotary International Foundation; President-Elect Rick Mossi - Club Assembly
May 30 - Rotary Goes Nighttime; Youth Exchange students
June 6 - Will Travis - Rising Ocean Levels

Our Club had the unusual honor of meeting at McKinley School where our Rotary Club members had volunteered their time during the school year to support the efforts of both the students and teachers in 4th, 5th and 6th grade science classes.

Upon arrival on the school grounds the aroma of barbequing steak wafted throughout the playground and picnic area as our seasoned team of barbequing Rotarians, JAY PALM, DAN FISH, RICK GORMAN, LEE REPOSA, and MIKE MADDALENA prepared our scrumptious lunch. A few students actually wandered over with longing looks expressing their willingness to help us eat the steaks!

The breezy outdoor meeting was then opened by NANCY COOLEY, our Club President (her 7th to the last lunch.

Then three courageous McKinley students did us the honor of leading everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. They were then invited to join us for lunch.

We were then sweetly serenaded by the dulcet tones of the 4th grade classes of Ms. Wood and Ms. Alton in their rendition of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty”... Definitely breathing new life and inspiration into usual song together!

PAUL LOUNIBOS delivered the “Thought for the Day” with an extensive excerpt from Paul Harris’s writings on the value of Rotary International in times of war. First during World War I and then World War II Rotary was uniquely qualified to respond to the times and inspire others by their service to “Liberty for All”. Their modified wartime efforts clearly demonstrated a core Rotarian value of “Service Above Self”.

Sunshine reports included sending our good thoughts and prayers for BABE AMARAL’s mother. RICK VAN BEBBER let us know his wife has temporarily moved into a local care and recuperation facility to assist in her long term rehabilitation, and BANO CUMMINGS continues her physical therapy is well on her way to a full recovery.

Then PRESIDENT NANCY reluctantly suspended her usual rollicking extraction of fines for the meeting and introduced CHRIS RANNEY.

CHRIS greeted the club and let everyone know that our club members have been supporting science classes at McKinley school through the year and we would have the chance to visit the Science classrooms to meet the teachers and students escorted by our Rotary volunteers after lunch. The Rotary volunteers or Quantum Leapers, (as coined by WHIT HALL) include: WHIT HALL, CHRIS RANNEY, PAT SCHAEFER, MICHAEL CARUANA, AL CATTALINI, JOANNE FERRIS, MIKE STAUBER, MIKE MADDELENA, CLARK ROSEN, WALLY BRAGDON, JUDI ALLEWELT, and MICHAEL NISTLER. Chris then introduced our own MIKE BADDELEY, as a member of the Petaluma Schools, Board of Education.

MIKE who is currently serving as Clerk on the Petaluma Schools, Board of Education thanked WHIT HALL and all the Rotary volunteers and acknowledged the positive value of their actions for the students and teachers at McKinley School. “It is these and other such supportive actions by our local community coupled with those of the teachers and parent that explain why our local students are doing so well”. He further remarked that many Petaluma students excel academically and are finding placement, and in some cases substantial scholarships, in some of the top universities in the US. Mike then introduced Matthew Harris, Principal of McKinley School.

Matthew Harris, just completing his first year as Principal of McKinley School gave us a little history lesson about the school. 2012 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of McKinley school that began as a one-room schoolhouse located where Whole Foods now sits on East Washington Street. It then grew to a two-room schoolhouse and then in 1954 moved and expanded to its current size and location on Ellis Street.

This year the two highest priority goals set for the school were to substantially increase parent and local community involvement at the school and the advancement of English language development. Even though an exact percentage of past parent participation was not exactly known it has been noticeably low, so the ambitious goal of 80% involvement was set. For the school Open House last month 76% of all student parents attended — a truly remarkable success. And it is projects such as the applied sciences classroom projects supported by our Club that help advance the understanding and application of English language skills for all the students and especially our bilingual students.

Oh yes, the lunch was scrumptious! In recognition and appreciation a rousing round of applause went up for the cooks! We then learned that LEE REPOSA (the lunch’s head cook) is a proud alumnus of McKinley School! Another local boy makes good!

Immediately following lunch PRESIDENT NANCY adjourned the meeting and then students of the 6th grade science classes launched their homemade air/water pressured rockets in the middle of the play yard with varied results. Some rockets went very high, some went sideways and some got the students a bit wet. A great study in the physics of rocketry and NO combustible propellants were used!

We then broke into small groups with our Rotary volunteers and had the honor of touring a classroom where they had worked during the year and briefly met the teacher and then students individually explained their applied science project.

Each student had created a project, made a theoretical supposition, did the research, built any necessary apparatus, described their findings and formed conclusions proving or disproving their hypothesis, then created a visual and verbal presentation of the project. There was quite a diversity of materials used and some presentations were created and presented on computers and electronic tablets utilizing current presentation software. Truly inspirational, worthwhile and personally enriching!

This week's Rota-Teller editor: Jim McNulty.

COMING EVENTS

May 9 - Luncheon BBQ at McKinley School
May 16 - Shy Sayar - Yoga One, Petaluma
May 23 - David Solo - Rotary International Foundation; President-Elect Rick Mossi - Club Assembly
May 30 - Rotary Goes Nighttime; Youth Exchange students
June 6 - Will Travis - Rising Ocean Levels

PRESIDENT NANCY COOLEY promptly opened the meeting at the Sheraton Sonoma County and we all joined her in the Pledge of Allegiance.

JUDI ALLEWELT gave the thought of the day which was about luck and how lucky she is to be living in our wonderful town of Petaluma.

PAST PRESIDENT JIM McCAFFREY led us in song, starting out with "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and then followed by "My Country Tis of Thee". Did you know the song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is a 1908 Tin Pan Alley song by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer which has become the unofficial anthem of baseball, although neither of its authors had attended a game prior to writing the song? The song (chorus only) is traditionally sung during the seventh-inning stretch of a baseball game.

This was followed by our usual hugs and handshakes.

PAST PRESIDENT PAUL LOUNIBOS introduced out visiting Rotarians and guests which included our youth exchange from Finland, Sara.

We were all happy to see PAST PRESIDENT LOU STEINBERG was back and looking healthy.

SHERRY BURWEN reported that BANO CUMMINGS is doing well from getting her new hip.

RICK VAN BEBBER informed everyone that his wife is doing much better after dealing with a serious infection that put her in the hospital.

If you need a green card, Shari Ranney can get you one.

PAST PRESIDENT CLARK ROSEN announced that next week’s meeting will be held at McKinley School in the courtyard. LEE REPOSA and JAY PALM will be cooking up a tasty steak meal for everyone.

Other announcements included a Save the Date on June 20th for RYLA and the Valley Club’s Golf Tournament May 23rd.

Mike Stauber is looking for host families for our exchange student.

One of our newest members, KATHIE POWELL, gave her craft talk. She was born in Rochester, NY and originally went to school to be an Anthropologist. After getting married she went to work for a hospital and decided that she would only work for one if she was running it. She went back to school to get her Masters and quickly moved into upper management. She is now the CEO of the Petaluma Health Center and has 2 sons ages 22 and 26.

PRESIDENT NANCY continued the day with fines beginning with DANNY FISH. He paid $100 for taking a fishing trip to Lake Pillsbury where he caught over 131 fish.

The PREZ then called on JANE SALDAÑA-TALLEY to promote SRJC’s new show honoring The Mahoney Family which will run from May 1st to July 25th in the Herold Mahoney Library. She paid $100 for her plug.

The raffle winner was CLARK ROSEN who took home a nice bottle of wine.

DANNY FISH introduced our speaker, . . .

. . . Pat Fuscaldo, SSU’s men’s basketball coach. He gave a nice talk on the influences in his life that led up to him becoming the SSU coach. He also gave us all a great quote, "God give me patience and make it damn quick."

Our PRESIDENT NANCY wished everybody a wonderful day and adjourned the Meeting.

This week's Rota-Teller editor: Brian Breen.