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COMING EVENTS

PRESIDENT MICHAEL called the meeting to order and LOU STEINBERG led the club in singing one last time!

JIM BECKER gave the thought for the day Jeopardy style asking members to select which national group was responsible for a litany of bad behaviors.

After introducing Rotarians with guests, PRESIDENT MICHAEL read the September birthday list.

PRESIDENT MICHAEL reminded everyone they are invited to a reception for visiting District Governor Kevin Eisenberg at the Petaluma Yacht Club that afternoon at 5:30 pm.

We welcomed back our server Matt who is recovering from brain surgery with a round of applause and standing ovation.

It was a fine day at the ball park on Thursday, September 11. JOHN DADO and his wife Sharon were on TV in their Giant’s attire. Sharon was sporting a Hunter Pence autographed handbag.

JOHN’s fine schedule is complete so he gave a $50 gift to our local foundation.

But JOHN wasn’t the only member of the club missing a meeting that day....

DAVID SOLO took his staff to the game too. Important to note that David and crew sat in the bleachers, not the field seats of the Dado’s.

CHRIS RANNEY vouched for David’s work related field trip since he was at the game too.

JOSEPH MOORE stood up and confessed he was at the game too.

SHARI RANNEY’s admission of attending the game almost made it a quorum! DAVID, CHRIS, JOSEPH and SHARI each paid $25.

Our own LOU STEINBERG is moving to Greeley Colorado so he gave his craft talk to the club and as we stood in honor and sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,”

MICHAEL presented him with an engraved watch for his years of dedication and service to the club.

We will miss you LOU!

John Dado won the raffle prize, a bottle of wine.

Sargent at Arms MICHAEL NISTLER questioned PRESIDENT MICHAEL’s use of the microphone since it seems to need new batteries every week!

GREG O’BRIEN reported the golf tournament looks like it will net $14,000.00 this year thanks to the leadership of GARY BRODIE and the entire tournament committee! Well done!

Assistant District Governor Paula Reinhold introduces her boss.

District Governor Kevin Eisenberg complemented the members for continuing as a singing club. This tradition began in 1906 when the 5th member of Rotary, Harry Ruggles, led impromptu singing just before the punchline of an off-color joke.

DG Kevin gave a motivational talk about Rotary and encouraged every member to Light Up Rotary and the great work we do by spreading the word and inviting others to join us. Wear your pins....it can lead to a conversation and beyond.

This week’s Rota-Teller editor: Joanne Ferris.

COMING EVENTS

It was a glorious day for golf at the Country Club. Festivities started with a great lunch prepared by the impromptu catering firm of SARTORI and KAPLAN.

The tri-tip sandwiches were a bit slow in arriving, but everyone agreed they were worth the wait.

A candid video camera caught golfers addressing their balls. Replays were shown during dinner.

The golfers drove, sliced, hooked, drank, chopped, cursed, replaced divots, imbibed, putted, and performed other golfing necessities as they made their trip around the course.

The nineteenth hole became quite busy as the golfers put away their clubs and regaled others with tales of golfing prowess and wildlife sightings. But the conversations on the veranda were cut short with an early start to the 7pm dinner. (Maybe we were compensating for a late lunch with an early dinner.)

PRESIDENT MICHAEL tried to convene the official meeting but it took a while, and lots of clanging on glasses, to quiet the convivial crowd.

Asking the crowd to rise to salute the Flag, our PRESIDENT suddenly realized “that our flag was still there” applied at Fort McHenry but not at the Country Club. Without missing a beat, PRESIDENT MICHAEL pointed to a “virtual flag” and led the Pledge of Allegiance. True believers claimed they could actually see the flag hovering above.

BARNEY FAUSS led the crowd in I’m a Rambler, . . . and God Bless America after which we dined on romaine salad, asparagus, prime rib, and cheesecake.

As dinner concluded, PRESIDENT MICHAEL introduced TAWNY TESCONI, who despite her many accomplishments, was a “virgin auctioneer.”

The crowd enjoyed watching TAWNY lose her virginity and many opened their wallets to help the process along. Lucky bidders purchased winery tours, a Lagunitas tour, a visit to a Napa Valley castle, cases of wine, and other goodies.

AL KAPLAN described his contribution to the auction, a private dinner cruise on San Francisco Bay aboard a yacht like no other. After spirited bidding, a syndicate reputedly headed by KATHY O’CONNOR captured the prize.

PRESIDENT MICHAEL thanked President Elect GARY BRODIE for his work in organizing the tournament. Ever-gracious GARY then thanked the many donors who sponsored flags, holes, and carts — and offered a special thanks to the “ladies” who, he noted, had been an important part of the Club since 1988. GARY thanked the many Club volunteers who made the tournament a success: S and K catering for the tri-tip lunch , TAWNY TESCONI and her crew for handling check-in, money, and auction, NANCY COOLEY for “the best beverage treatment you could ever get at the putting contest” and MIKE NISTLER for live photo shots.

Here are the sponsors who who generously supported the tournament:

GARY then presented cash awards to winners of the various competition categories:

But the event wasn’t over until our President Elect was applauded for the great job he had done!

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

COMING EVENTS

It was a beautiful September day, when PRESIDENT MICHAEL CARUANA called to order the Rotary Club of Petaluma at the scenic Petaluma Golf and Country Club on this second Thursday of the month. PRESIDENT MICHAEL greeted us by saying “Good afternoon, boys and girls” (sans microphone and using his ‘outside voice’). He then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to kick off the meeting.

PRESIDENT MICHAEL invited LEE REPOSA to lead us in song and LEE started us off with our traditional I’m a Rambler and finished off with God Bless America.

BRIAN BREEN, shared a Thought for This Day (September 11) by noting that our meeting has occurred on only one other anniversary of 9/11 (in 2009). Patriot Day, as it’s come to be known, is a day we remember both the courage and loss of our nation. BRIAN asked for a moment of silence in memory of those who died on that day.

After club ’hugs and smooches,’ PRESIDENT MICHAEL announced September anniversaries (congrats to members FRED WULFF, BILL GROVERMAN, RICK VAN BEBBER, AL RICHARDS and FRED FROST). We had no Visiting Rotarians.

Rotarians with Guests included GARY BRODIE with Heidi, WALLY BRAGDON introducing fellow Petaluma Valley Hospital Foundation Board member, Sally Brasseur, and JOANNE FERRIS introducing Josh Reed (friend of NANCY COOLEY) and a volunteer with Environmental Travelling Companions (on today’s program).

PRESIDENT MICHAEL gave the floor to MIKE STAUBER who is looking for host families for this year’s Rotary Exchange Student (who hails from Italy). Contact MIKE if you’re interested.

PRESIDENT MICHAEL also gave the floor (maybe not so wisely) to JIM BECKER who gave a brief update on the World Community Service and “Travel” Committee. He announced the Festival of Brotherhood in Guadalajara, Mexico (January 23 to February1) and the November trip to Ecuador. Past District Governor ED FULLERTON and JIM are planning a program later this year on all the projects our club has supported of the last 15 years. JIM then razzed PRESIDENT MICHAEL for all the international travel he seems to do and the PREZ said to blame his wandering family.

PRESIDENT MICHAEL next gave the floor to GARY BRODIE who is in charge of this year’s Golf Tournament (Monday, September 15). GARY thanked everyone who has helped make this event a huge success. He announced they need one more foursome. GARY also shared we’re using a “new catering firm” for lunch that day...S&K Catering (SARTORI and KAPLAN with guest Chefs PALM AND FISH) That’s gonna be some lunch!

GARY’s lovely pal, Heidi, who noted she was his ’slave labor’ for the Golf Tournament given that she’s been in charge of the silent auction, shared some of the amazing prizes to be bid on...wine tasting and tours at the Castle and BR Cohn ...

...(and AL KAPLAN announced he’s donating dinner for 4 on his 47 ft. sport fishing yacht)...then Heidi issued a “His/Hers golf challenge throw down” to bragging that her foursome would beat GARY’s foursome. Come to the Golf Tournament and check out the fun, prizes, food and see who wins the challenge!!! Remember we’re dark this next Thursday.

PRESIDENT MICHAEL announced that District Governor Kevin Eisenberg will be visiting the club on September 25, so please plan to attend. PRESIDENT MICHAEL is looking for those who may be close to completing their Paul Harris so Kevin can make the award that day. An evening social is planned for that evening at the Petaluma Yacht Club. Let’s give him our best Rotary Club of Petaluma welcome!

During the fine portion of the meeting, PRESIDENT MICHAEL picked up some bucks from a few soon-to-be cash free members. TOM BRANDAL got nabbed for hanging out on the Golf Club balcony with his wife and friends during a recent meeting. TOM tried to say he was “watching” the meeting from the deck and PRESIDENT MICHAEL fined him $10 bucks for not hiding any better than that! Tom’s penalty for voyeurism was $100.

RICK MOSSI gave up $50 for being a proud father of the groom (who we’re told is working and even asked how to get off RICK’s cell phone plan!).

Lastly, MARLENE FREETLY threw in $50 when PRESIDENT MICHAEL challenged her “to give or not to give” for her recent trip to Ashland, Oregon.

The day’s raffle graced CHRIS ELZI with a nice bottle of wine that PRESIDENT MICHAEL got out of the storeroom cooler.

CHRIS RANNEY introduced guest speaker, Oren Fry, manager of the Sea Kayak Program for Environmental Traveling Companions (ETC) who gave an outstanding presentation on this amazing organization that makes the outdoors accessible to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity. He told us about rafting, sea kayaking, cross country skiing and summer youth leadership programs and described how participants go from fear to confidence to joy. He was joined by Josh Reed, who is a trained volunteer. Great presentation, David!

PRESIDENT MICHAEL’s parting comment harkened us back to a fond childhood toy...“Some people are like Slinkys...they make you smile when you push them down the steps!” Group groan...!

Next week join us for the Golf Tournament on Monday and take a day off on Thursday.

This week’s Rota-Teller editor: Jane Saldaña-Talley.

COMING EVENTS

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