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COMING EVENTS

A light rain had everyone in a good mood as the crowd gathered for our final meeting in the month of November.

President MICHAEL CARUANA started the proceedings with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

BARNEY FAUSS led us in the club song and “God Bless America”.

LEE REPOSA delivered a concise Thought for the Day, reminding us of the importance of action over words.

RICK GORMAN introduced guest Jana McClelland.

LEE REPOSA had two visitors to present, Chad Fillinger and son Grant Reposa.

JAY PALM introduced his guest Fred Schram.

And WALLY BRAGDON invited us to welcome June Lang.

President MICHAEL called attention to flyers on the table promoting the January 29 SCARC meeting hosted by the Santa Rosa Evening club, where the guest speaker will be past Rotary International President Rick King, always entertaining, informative, and inspirational.

LEE REPOSA gave an update on the launching of the Super Raffle campaign. Captains have selected their teams, and all members should soon have a supply of tickets to sell. LEE reminded us that a high volume of ticket sales means we can make a greater positive impact in our community.

KATHY O’CONNOR promised fine food, music, and good fun at our club’s Holiday Party on Saturday, December 6, at the Moose Lodge. All members are urged to deliver checks in advance.

President MICHAEL proudly presented a well-earned chicken badge to ELIAS HUSARY.

Membership Chair RICK MOSSI was called upon to induct new member CARLI THOMAS into the club, joined by her sponsor WALLY BRAGDON. CARLI was welcomed with a standing ovation.

After complaining that members he had planned to fine managed to stay away from the meeting, President MICHAEL recognized President-Elect GARY BRODIE, who suggested that our president might wish to explain his recent two-week absence and fine himself. We heard the reason why the chief executive appeared a little fatigued, as he described his visits with friends and family in Paris, the south of France, Istanbul, and finally South Africa, where he spent quality time with his son and daughter-in-law.

Noting that there would be no more meetings before December, the ever-thoughtful DAVE BARBIERI asked whether those having birthdays this month would be recognized. President MICHAEL’s doubts that anyone could have been born nine months after a month like February proved to be wrong, and the birthday song was warbled for the few November babies in the room.

Lucky guest Fred Schram was the raffle winner, plucking a blue rock for a nice bottle of wine.

DAN FISH introduced guest speaker Ingrid Alverde, Petaluma’s Economic Development Manager. In her third appearance before our club, Ingrid gave a brief overview of the benefits of economic development planning and specific progress made in the last several years in attracting new businesses, retaining existing ones, and helping business owners expand and improve their operations.

For those who may think the quality of his humor has hit a plateau, President MICHAEL explained that a plateau is actually a high form of flattery.

RSVP for the Holiday Party

This week’s Rota-Teller editor: Clark Rosen

COMING EVENTS

Standing in for our globetrotting President, PRESIDENT ELECT GARY BRODIE called the meeting to order, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and called on LEE REPOSA to lead us in song.

CLARK ROSEN was up next to deliver his Thought for the Day, a humorous variation on the Serenity Prayer.

RICARDO MARZO introduced visiting Rotarians from Petaluma Sunrise, Sonoma Valley, and Santa Rosa East. Four Rotarians brought guests; BILL GROVERMAN brought Carl Bundesen, CLARK ROSEN brought Todd Mendoza, JIM BECKER brought Matt Hudstock (?), and RICK MOSSI brought Chuck Isola.

Jim from the Santa Rosa East Rotary Club thanked our Club for its support of the new Rotary Center for Student Leadership at Santa Rosa Junior College. He had special thanks for JANE SALDAÑA-TALLEY and JOANNE FERRIS for their help.

LEE REPOSA announced that Team Captains have been selected for the Supper Raffle and that the member draft would take place tomorrow. The raffle takes place at the February 20 Crab Feed. Tickets should be available soon.

KATHY O’CONNOR reminded members to RSVP for the December 6 Holiday Party at the Moose Lodge. (Hint: you can do it online.)

Speaking of the holidays, JUDI ALLEWELT reminded members that the Petaluma Council of Realtors is a major financial supporter of our gift distribution to needy Petaluma kids. She is offering raffle tickets from the Realtors (great prizes!) which help pay for the gifts. Here are key dates for the gift program:

• Shopping for the Gifts — K-Mart, 7am, Monday, December 1 and Tuesday, December 2.
• Wrapping the Gifts — Coldwell Banker, 165 First Street, 9am, Saturday, December 6.
• Delivering the Gifts — Thursday December 18.

RICK MOSSI announced the winners of the recent membership survey asking for the steps new members must complete to earn their Chicken Badge.

ELIAS HUSARY (who isn’t wearing a Chicken Badge) won the contest and a bottle of fine tequila. Coming up with the “most creative” answers were CLARK ROSEN and LEE REPOSA.

PRESIDENT ELECT GARY then launched in fines. Except he doesn’t call them fines, he calls them “social networking.” First up was SHERRY BURWEN, just back from her 50th reunion at the University of Arizona. She brought back a banner from the Rotary Club of (somewhere in the Coachella Valley, maybe?). Your aging editor can’t remember where. And he can’t remember what, if anything, Sherry was fined. Oh, well!

Next up for social networking was BILL GROVERMAN. He was asked to identify the “world’s largest warship in 1945.” Bill guessed it was the USS Missouri, while Gary claimed it was the USS Midway. The penalty for the wrong answer was a $2 fine from each person at Bill’s table.

TOM BRANDAL was saluted for having his photo in the local business news. Seems that Tom has retired, sold his business to his daughter, and says that he “feels good.” The 61-year-old business is now in the third generation of the family. All this cost Tom $100.

MICHAEL NISTLER interrupted GARY’s social networking with some tips on microphone technique. Not sure I got it, but it boils down to “be patient.”

Claiming to be Ebola-free after traveling to East Africa, JUDI ALLEWELT gladly paid $50 for her safari through the Serengeti.

RICARDO MARZO concluded the social networking with an almost correct answer to Gary’s question, “Who did the Warriors play on Tuesday and what was the final score?” Ricardo correctly named the San Antonio Spurs but was a few points off on the score. Again, the folks at his table all paid $2.

BRIAN BREEN had a big smile on his face after winning the raffle and an imaginary bottle of wine.

DANNY FISH introduced . . .

. . . Corporal Zeus Rivera of the Petaluma Police Department for an informative presentation on the local gang situation. LARRY JONAS was suspiciously absent.

RSVP for the Holiday Party

This week’s Rota-Teller editor: Al Cattalini

COMING EVENTS

Acting President TAWNY TESCONI opened the first regular meeting of November in the place and stead of our traveling Prez, MICHAEL CARUANA, and had JIM BECKER lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a cacophonous rendition of our Club theme song (Gypo) and the Star Spangled Banner, led by BARNEY FAUSS. Your dear editor then delivered the Thought for the Day on campaigning and voting, followed by a hearty round of handshakes, hugs and busses amongst the members.

There were no Visiting Rotarians to introduce, but several guests of Rotarians joined us for lunch, including DAN FISH’s wife (Debra) and the respective guests of BABE AMARAL, WALLY BRAGDON and BILL GROVERMAN.

After a welcoming round of applause for our guests, ONITA PELLEGRINI pitched Rotary Foundation raffle tickets: $20 each or 6 for $100 (you can even “charge it”), all of which goes towards your Paul Harris Fellowship-call Onita for details.

Membership Chairman RICK MOSSI implored upon us to complete the Chicken Badge-Membership survey for big prize $$$ for the best of the bunch, and commented on what a great repast our caterer (Sally Tomatoes) had prepared.

KATHY O’CONNOR reminded us that the annual Holiday Party is Saturday, December 6, at the Moose Lodge – invitations have gone out so please be sure to calendar it and RSVP ASAP! Ms. TAWNY then encouraged any members (or their spouses) who want to shop ’til they drop to sign up ASAP for the Club’s Holiday gift-giving program for needy children – contact Tawny for details.

Next, PDG ED FULLERTON reviewed and proposed a change to the Rotary District bylaws regarding the District Nominating Committee, which passed (although Robert’s Rules of Order may never be the same!).

Embracing the power of the podium, the Acting Prez then turned on her constituents with all manner of fines. First, she fined WALLY BRAGDON $20 for being so active in the community, . . .

. . . followed by a $50 fine against RICK MOSSI for buying a new car (from HENRY HANSEL).

She then fined your dear editor (MIKE BADDELEY) $100 for winning re-election to the Petaluma City School Board getting the most votes.

Past-President KIP HERZOG, one of UC Davis’ finest, won the raffle wine, an extremely light vintage with no legs or aftertaste and a non-existent finish from IOU winery (because someone forgot to give the Acting Prez the raffle wine). A phantom toast to the Kipper for being so understanding of his empty-handed win!

DAN FISH then introduced our speaker, our former Police Chief and past club member, Steve Hood, who gave us an interesting presentation on his unit with the U.S. Army Asymmetric Warfare Group (AWG), followed by a great Q & A session. He received a coveted Rotary memento and a hearty round of applause for a program well received.

Is this the "gang expert"?

Following the program, the Acting Prez reminded us that next week our program will be on local gangs, as presented by the PPD gang expert, and summarily gaveled the meeting to a close.

RSVP for the Holiday Party

This week’s Rota-Teller editor: Mike Baddeley; photos by Michael Nistler.