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COMING EVENTS

We were 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.

Stepping in to give the Thought of the Day, was none other than our PRESIDENT MICHAEL.

This was followed by our usual hugs and handshakes.

We didn’t have any visiting Rotarians however we had two guests joining us and were introduced by CHRIS RANNEY.

We sang “Happy Birthday” to our February honorees, but PAUL LOUNIBOS observed that “Since President MICHAEL forgot a birthday cake today, perhaps he will remember the birthday table in March if he wears his birthday suit to the meeting.”

PRESIDENT MICHAEL thanked JAMES BURLESON and RICARDO MARZO for the great job they did on the Crab Feed.

MICHAEL also thanked RICK GORMAN, BRIAN BREEN, and LEE REPOSA for putting on a successful Super Raffle.

RICK GORMAN thanked all the team captains and everyone who got out there and sold tickets. He explained that with the Crab Feed, the Super Raffle is our clubs major fundraiser. This year we sold 1,533 tickets which nets us right around $34,000.

GORMAN then announced the top ticket sellers, team sales, and winners.

A special thanks to our top sellers: TOM BAKER was #1 with 178 sold, then PAST PRESIDENT NANCY COOLEY with 140, PAST PRESIDENTS HENRY HANSEL and KIP HERZOG both had 75, and STEVE GAVRILOFF with 70.

Our Top 3 Teams were CHRIS RANNEY’s Team with 299 tickets sold, PAST PRESIDENT ONITA PELLEGRINI’s Team with 237, and PAST PRESIDENT TOM BRANDAL’s Team in third with 201.

PRESIDENT MICHAEL awarded TOM BAKER with a special bottle of wine from Sonoma County. TOM corrected the PREZ and returned the bottle and wanted nothing to do with it because it was actually from Lodi.

PRESIDENT MICHAEL fined GAIL CARDAROPOLI $50 for a nice write-up in the Chamber Newspaper.

The raffle winner was RICK GORMAN and he took home BAKER’S rejected bottle of wine.

We had a second raffle winner, CHRIS RANNEY who also took home a bottle of wine.

Our speaker was Tyler Chartier, a commercial photographer. Besides discussing his trade, he also shared with us his appreciation for Petaluma and how much he, his wife, and 2 kids love this community.

Before wishing us good day, PRESIDENT MICHAEL searched high and low and was able to find 2 local Sonoma County wines which were presented to TOM BAKER. TOM left a much happier man and THE PREZ could feel a little better after his “Lodi” confusion.

This week’s Rota-Teller editor: Brian Breen

COMING EVENTS

Event co-chairman RICARDO MARZO welcomed a teeming sold-out crowd to the Veteran’s Auditorium for our club’s 45th Annual Crab Feed.

President MICHAEL CARUANA extended his own welcome and introduced dignitaries in attendance: City Councilman CHRIS ALBERTSON and Past Rotary District Governor ED FULLERTON.

LEE REPOSA led the throng in song with “God Bless America”.

A proper blessing before the meal was delivered by a true professional, Father Gary Lombardi.

President MICHAEL gave recognition to club members and volunteers: Co-chairs RICARDO MARZO and JAMES BURLESON, event workers GAIL CARDAROPOLI, CARLI THOMAS, and RENEE HAYES, decorators Carol Ann LIBARLE, Sharon DADO, JOANNE FERRIS, and (for the 15th consecutive year) the Lace House Linen crew, CHRIS ALBERTSON for his expert command of the kitchen crew, the Petaluma and Casa Grande Interact Clubs, and a team of volunteers from the Petaluma High School Wild Life Museum.

And not wishing to ignore any important contribution, our President thanked the iPod for the evening’s musical entertainment.

After consumption of impressive quantities of delicious food, it was time for the Super Raffle drawing. President Michael praised the good work of raffle co-chairs LEE REPOSA, BRIAN BREEN, and RICK GORMAN, then called upon the unassailable Father Gary Lombardi to pluck the winning ticket stubs. And heeeeere they are:

      $200 — Nicole Oblad
      $400 — WHIT HALL (Yes, that one.)
      $600 — Art Ferris
      $1,000 — Steve Atwater
      $1,200 — David Kassis
      $8,000 — Karen Griffith

Based on the size and energy of the crowd and the smiles and satisfied looks on those hundreds of faces (not just the raffle winners), the 2015 Crab Feed can be judged a smashing success.

This week’s Rota-Teller editor: Clark Rosen

COMING EVENTS

PRESIDENT MICHAEL CARUANA kicked off the meeting . . .

. . . by asking BARNEY FAUSS and LEE REPOSA to lead us in song. The duet of “God Bless America” was amazing . . .

. . . and then BARNEY FAUSS followed up with a great Thought for the Day. His theme was about respecting each other, respecting one’s religion and respecting the right for everyone to pray together, regardless of differences. It was a very nice moment.

Onita introduces visiting Rotarians.

There were plenty of Rotarians with guests, but RICK MOSSI forgot to introduce his guest AND he didn’t even sit with him. This cost him $10 and the entire table was fined $5 each.

PRESIDENT MICHAEL CARUANA announced some upcoming events, including the 3-Club Social on Monday, Feb 23rd at Petaluma Hills Brewing Company, 1333 N. McDowell Blvd. (across the street from the big dog, Lagunitas) 5:30-7pm. Appetizers, wine and beer provided by Petaluma Sunrise. There is also a 3-Club Social at Rooster Run on May 28th.

The fine can made its weekly appearance and GREG O’BRIEN was $10 lighter for introducing City Councilman CHRIS ALBERTSON as a guest. He was quickly reminded that CHRIS ALBERTSON is a member in good standing (even if he never comes to the meetings!).

OREST BALYTSKY donated $100 for his recent excursion to Utah, where he mixed in some skiing along with dental conferences.

An additional $50 was contributed by this editor for just being a great guy.

TOM BAKER won the raffle and walked-off with a bottle of wine.

DANNY FISH introduced our speaker, Dan St. John, from the City of Petaluma. Dan is the Director of Public Works and Utilities and he gave us a great presentation about how his department works and how the city is managing its resources. Dan is a consummate professional who has private sector experience and he is building a strong relationship with local businesses. The City of Petaluma should be proud of his hard work. Thank you.

CRAB FEED THIS FRIDAY, 2/20 AT THE VETS BUILDING

6:00PM NO HOST COCKTAILS

7:30PM CRAB FEED

This week’s Rota-Teller editor: Ricardo Marzo

COMING EVENTS

President MICHAEL CARUANA opened the first regular meeting of February at the appointed half hour and immediately led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, . . .

. . . followed by a rousing rendition of our Club theme song (Gypo) and God Bless America, led by Past-President BARNEY FAUSS.

Your dear editor then delivered our Thought for the Day, followed by the customary round of handshakes, hugs and busses amongst the members.

MICHAEL NISTLER introduced the Visiting Rotarians who joined us for lunch, followed by the introduction of the guests of RICK GORMAN, JANE SALDAÑA-TALLEY, and LEE REPOSA.

The Prez then went on to deliver a medley of announcements, including a tri-club meet and greet event on May 28 at Rooster Run, the Cloverdale Rotary Club crab feed on February 26, the Santa Rosa Rotary Club bocce ball tournament on May 30, and a reminder that there are still commemorative bricks available for the Walnut Park restoration project...contact the Prez for details.

Jerrie Patterson from the Petaluma Valley Rotary Club concluded the announcements by informing us that PVRC is holding an RI dinner fundraiser on Tuesday eve, February10, at Lagunitas Brewery...$20 gets you in the door for lots of food and drink.

Next, Past-President CLARK ROSEN gave the best kind of Sunshine Report by pointing out that two of our members, namely DAVE BARBIERI and JIM BECKER, who had been in ill-health were “in the house” to have lunch with us...welcome back, guys!

JAMES BURLESON then gave us a Crab Feed update, reporting that 400+ dinner tickets have been sold and he only has 40 or so left, so get ’em while they last...call James if you still need to buy some or if you can help out! Instead of thanking James, the Prez, apparently doing his best impression of a socialist reformer, fined him $100 “just because”...thanks, James!

TONY WESTERN was then assessed a $50 travel tax by the Prez for Tony’s recent trip to Vermont even though Tony spent most of his time stranded at O’Hare airport due to bad weather conditions!! Welcome back, Tony.

Dispensing with Club protocol, the Prez saved the best for last (hopefully by design and not omission) last, by calling upon past-presidents RICK MOSSI and PAUL LOUNIBOS to induct CHAD FILLINGER (sponsored by LEE REPOSA) as the newest member of our Club...welcome aboard, Chad, we’re happy to have you!

Ticket #8890015 proved to be a raffle winner for Past-President LEROY BEAN, who pulled a blue rock to claim a nice bottle of cabernet.

DANNY FISH then introduced our speaker, . . .

. . . Cliff Nannini, who gave us a very informative first person account of the Bosnia-Serbia-Croatia civil war. After a solid Q&A session, he received a Rotary memento and a hearty round of applause for a program well received!

See you all next week!

This week’s Rota-Teller editor: Mike Baddeley