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COMING EVENTS

PRESIDENT MICHAEL CARUANA welcomed all the members and guests to the Club meeting . . .

. . . and LOU STEINBERG led us in song.

KATHY O’CONNOR reminded us of the community and support that has been exhibited following the Napa earthquake in her Thought for the Day. There were several guests in attendance, including JOHN DADO and his wife, Sharon, who recently won the top prize at the Sonoma County Fair’s Hat Day.

One guest who was not properly introduced by her host was Diane Caruana, wife of PRESIDENT MICHAEL CARUANA. The omission was not forgotten by the membership and some jeers were heard in the crowd.

The Birthday Table was absent one member, DANNY FISH, who preferred to stick with his usual tablemate, JAY PALM.

MIKE STAUBER and PRESIDENT MICHAEL CARUANA called upon the club to help find a suitable home for the Rotary exchange student, who is visiting from Italy. All three Petaluma Rotary clubs participate in hosting the student and our club needs your help. Rotary has a great record of hosting exchange students and if you know of someone (does NOT have to be a Rotarian) who may be willing to help, please contact us as soon as possible.

Monday, September 15th is the Golf Tournament and some spots are still available. You do not need to field your own foursome and can sign up as an individual and enjoy a great day of camaraderie — contact TOM GAMBONINI for more details.

JOHN DADO was a recent “Pick Six” winner at the horse track and gave some back to the Club Foundation.

JOANNE FERRIS had a great European vacation and donated some $$ for her husband’s recent press exposure in the Argus Courier. She gladly paid the fine and noted that “microbiologists do it with culture and sensitivity”. Bumper stickers will be available at the next meeting.

STEVE POWELL received his third (!!!) Paul Harris pin. Thank you for your generous support of Rotary.

SHERRY BURWEN announced the results of the membership survey and asked that all members take the online survey in order to help shape the future events of our club.

Chris Ranney wins the raffle, then introduces the speaker.

Our speaker was author/artist Annette Jennel, who was the first solo woman to circumnavigate the globe in an automobile. Her story of “One Planet, One People” was funny, insightful and poignant. As she traveled from Germany eastward, she asked men over 35 years old to write something on her car. Messages of peace, love and understanding were the dominant themes and were evidence of the global humanity that exists in each of our lives. This was a great and entertaining presentation. Thank you!

This week’s Rota-Teller editor: Ricardo Marzo.

COMING EVENTS

President MICHAEL CARUANA called us to order and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

LOU STEINBERG invited us all to join him in “I’m a Rambler . . .” followed by “God Bless America”.

Volunteering an impromptu substitution for missing-in-action JAMES GOTELLI, the eloquent CHRIS ELZI recited Groucho Marx’s apt description of politicians. Warm greetings were then exchanged around the room.

CHRIS RANNEY introduced visiting Rotarians Margaret Walker from the Novato club and Bob Jensen from Valley of the Moon.

LEE REPOSA introduced his son Grant, who could think of nothing he would rather do in the waning days of vacation than attend our meeting.

ED FULLERTON delivered a sunshine report on DAVE BARBIERI, who has been suffering with nasty back problems. ED found DAVE out in front of his house working on his granddaughter’s car . . . probably not the therapy recommended by medical professionals.

An enthusiastic trio of the Golf Tournament Committee — GREG O’BRIEN, TONY WESTERN, and TOM GAMBONINI — filled us in on the need for sponsorships, available at a variety of levels, and turning in lists of foursomes. As TONY explained, there is room for less than a foursome — singles, twosomes and threesomes can also be added.

SHERRY BURWEN gave us the remarkable results to date of a membership survey on revival of two old traditions, the All-Day Breakfast and the Friendship Feast. With responses from about half the club, there appears to be strong support for bringing back both, and a surprising number of respondents are volunteering to host a feast. Those who have not yet completed the survey can do so in less than one minute online at Survey Monkey.

WHIT HALL provided a brief history of our club’s support of McKinley School and the positive impact we have made. For the benefit of both new and seasoned members, WHIT gave a preview of areas in which we can give time to make a difference for McKinley kids, including help in preparing a team for competition in the County-wide Science Olympiad and coaching students in a new public speaking program. Members interested in volunteering can contact either WHIT or CLARK ROSEN.

JANE SALDAÑA-TALLEY was the sole target for a fine. JANE was willing to pay, not just for enjoying an 11-day Alaska cruise, but for missing a Rota-Teller editor assignment while napping on a deck chair.

The raffle winner was young Grant Reposa, whose friends may have questioned his idea of summer fun until learning that he drew a brown rock for a substantial sum of money. Even after splitting with ticket-partner BILL GROVERMAN, Grant’s haul was not bad at all. President-elect GARY BRODIE may have to prepare for next summer’s explosion of attendance by minors.

DAVID SOLO introduced guest speaker . . .

. . . Brian Alexander, Chief Administrative Officer of Novato Community Hospital (where 10% of the patients are Petalumans, we learned). Brian gave us a sobering, mind-boggling look at the challenges and complexity of providing quality hospital services.

President MICHAEL closed the meeting with a touching recollection of his struggle to learn English as a second language, baffled by rules of grammar, and eventually learning that subordinate clauses are Santa’s helpers.

This week’s Rota-Teller editor: Clark Rosen.

COMING EVENTS

A packed house was welcomed to the Rotary Club of Petaluma weekly meeting at the beautiful Petaluma Golf and Country Club by our PRESIDENT, MICHAEL CARUANA.

We all joined THE PREZ in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by PAST PRESIDENT BARNEY FAUSS leading us in the club song followed by God Bless America.

The PREZ gave the “thought of the day” or better yet “the political joke of the day”.

This was followed by our usual hugs and handshakes.

Sherry Burwen introduces our visiting Rotarian.

For visiting Rotarians we had Dan Powers from Petaluma Sunrise.

For guests we had SHERRY BURWEN’s husband, CHRIS RANNEY introduced the speakers for the day, and JAY PALM welcomed his two boys. JAY asked the boys to tell the club some stories from deer camp and they responded, “What happens at deer camp, stays at deer camp.”

PRESIDENT CARUANA gave a sunshine report on DAVE BARBIERI. He has been out with some serious back issues.

GARY BRODIE was called upon to remind everyone of the upcoming club golf tournament happening September 15th. Get your 4somes together ASAP.

THE PREZ then began dishing out the fines beginning with one of our newest members, SARAH CUMMINGS for the article in the Argus Courier about the success of the Sonoma-Marin Fair. She paid half her fine schedule, $50.

He then turned his attention to MIKE STAUBER to tell the club about his recent water skiing vacation on Lake Trinity. He also paid half his fine schedule of $50.

His last victim was PAST PRESIDENT “Long Lost” LARRY JONAS for continuing to build Mc Mansions and his recent travels to Alaska. He paid $20.

The raffle winner(s) were JAY PALM’s boys. They both had huge smiles when THE PREZ awarded them $25 each.

This week was the Club’s Annual Local Foundation Meeting. PAST PRESIDENT LEROY BEAN and JAMES BURLESON presented on the following agenda items: 1) discussion regarding the status of Foundation, 2) Annual Financial Report of the Foundation, (3) Election of members to fill three opening positions to the Board, and, 4) discussion and vote on an amendment to the bylaws to add term limits for Board members.

Judi Allewelt wrote the checks for a long list of grant recipients.

CHRIS RANNEY then introduced and called up his guest, . . .

. . . Mike Gorman, a member of the board of directors for the Petaluma Art Center. Mike then introduced our guest speaker, Executive Director of the Petaluma Art Center, Val Richman.

Val discussed the Art Center and how it impacts and benefits the Petaluma community.

With that, PRESIDENT CARUANA, wished everyone a great rest of the week and farewell until next week.

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

COMING EVENTS

PRESIDENT MICHAEL opened our first meeting in August with a tap on the bell and our Pledge to the Flag.

LOU STEINBERG followed, leading us in I’m a Rambler and God Bless America.

Next up was CHRIS ELZI with his Thought for the Day, a maxim from George Carlin. “Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don’t have time for all that.”

There were no visiting Rotarians so designated introducer OREST BALYTSKY got to keep on eating. Three Rotarians brought guests. JOANNE FERRIS introduced Deb Sammon from St. Vincent High School, LEE BEAN, his wife Oralee, and RICK GORMAN brought his son Ben.

August anniversaries remain a mystery. Stay tuned next week.

President Elect GARY BRODIE reminded everyone of our upcoming golf tournament on Monday, September 5. In addition to arranging foursomes, GARY is looking for Flag Sponsors ($250), Hole Sponsors ($150), and Cart Sponsors ($50). Golfer or not, you’ll want to attend the legendary prime rib dinner that evening at the bargain price of $35.

PRESIDENT MICHAEL then read a thank you note (for a generous donation) from the head of the SRJC Petaluma Campus, our own JANE SALDAÑA-TALLEY. Another note, from Monica Payne and Susan Blaschak, thanked members for their interest in last week’s from Operation Rainbow presentation.

PRESIDENT MICHAEL announced the August 26 SCARC dinner at Sally Tomatoes in Rohnert Park. He also announced an available “public member” position at LAFCO. For details click here.

It was time for fines and AL CATTALINI was up first. He described missing last week’s meeting while on an extended visit to Oregon and Washington. He offered to pay a $50 fine for his fun and thanked MICHAEL NISTLER for taking photos at the meeting he missed. PRESIDENT MICHAEL seized on this mention and announced that he should fine NISTLER $50 as well. CATTALINI objected, saying that rather than fining MICHAEL, the Club should give him a round of applause for all the work he does for the Club. Applause ensued and no more was heard of the fine.

MICHAEL, seen here in a rather compromising photo, was inspired by the applause and volunteered a $25 fine. Thanks, MICHAEL! (Both of you.)

Next finee was JIM BECKER, just back from a 12-day trip to Russia. There he purchased a nesting, Russian doll set with a likeness of Josef Stalin. Jim pointed out that Stalin, sans moustache, looked just like PRESIDENT CARUANA. Judge for yourself. $50 fine assessed.

With Russia on his mind, our president then called on JOHN ZIMMERMAN, recalling John’s earlier trip to Russia. Showing no mercy, our president extracted $50 from John.

RICK MOSSI rose to give a status report on Matt Remee, our former Sally Tomatoes server who is recovering from brain tumor surgery. Matt is doing well and appreciates all the support from his Rotary family.

RICK had barely reseated himself when his ticket was drawn in the weekly raffle. He went home with a nice bottle of wine. Next week there will be $200 in the pot and one less rock in the bag. The odds are looking pretty good!

DAVID SOLO beamed as he introduced this week’s speaker, Maureen Highland of the Petaluma Educational Foundation.

Maureen described how the PEF has been supporting Petaluma schools since 1982 with grants, scholarships, endowments, and its Alphabet Soup stores.

PRESIDENT MICHAEL concluded the meeting with this thought: “Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.”

So it’s time for your humble editor to offer a pearl of wisdom. In keeping with today’s meeting’s themes, it’s an observation of George Carlin about a school-related phenomenon. “Here’s a bumper sticker I’d like to see: ‘We are the proud parents of a child who’s self-esteem is sufficient that he doesn’t need us promoting his minor scholastic achievements on the back of our car.’”

Have a great weekend!

This week’s Rota-Teller editor: Al Cattalini.