February 2016

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COMING EVENTS

It was a beautiful, sunny day as ‘Post-Crab-Feed-Super-Raffle’ PRESIDENT GARY BRODIE called together the Rotary Club of Petaluma at the Petaluma Golf and Country Club (the greens are especially green thanks to all this rain!).

PRESIDENT GARY welcomed the assembled members with three hearty dongs of the club bell (was that in celebration of being past the Crab Feed?) and a shout out to the members noting that he was “acting” as our president for only a few more months (March, April, May, June to be exact…but who, besides PG, is counting?).

PRESIDENT GARY led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. He called on BARNEY FAUSS, who was “feeling great” to lead the club in song and true to form BARNEY started us off with I’m a Rambler (giving those who didn’t know the definition of “gypo” as an “independent contractor”…is that a word in the dictionaries we give to the kids?). BARNEY then lead us in a particularly lovely rendition of America the Beautiful.

PRESIDENT GARY tried to sell Super Raffle tickets to members who maybe haven’t been paying attention to what we’ve been up to for the past couple of months, but there were no takers. He then called on SHARI RANNEY to give the Thought for the Day. SHARI’s “last minute” contribution was from Innsbruck and didn’t make much sense until she translated from Austrian (we think that was what she spoke!) to note that one of the reasons we are all so fond of nature is because it has no opinion about us (whether Democrat, Republican or Independent)…nice! Thanks SHARI! Hugs and greetings followed.

We had one visiting Rotarian, Maureen Francis from Petaluma Valley and an active member of the Petaluma Service Alliance. Rotarians with guests included CHRIS RANNEY who introduced MAUREEN RUDDER’S daughter, Ave Seltsam, WALLY BRAGDON who introduced the new development officer for Petaluma Valley Hospital, and RICK GORMAN, who introduced Royce Van Bebber “for the last time.”

PRESIDENT GARY got into announcements by calling on LEE BEAN, chairman of the Rotary Club of Petaluma Foundation Board, who announced the opening of this year’s grants program application cycle. Go to the club website for more information and the application (due at the end of May). This has been a great program for local schools over the years, though this year’s allocation may be reduced by fluctuations in the stock market. LEE also mentioned that member donations to the Foundation amount to just over $500 each year. He encouraged all of us to consider making a direct donation to the Foundation and thanked us in advance for our generosity.

GEOFF ELLIS was next up telling us “the time is upon us”…what time is that, you say? Dictionary Project time! GEOFF thanked TAWNY TESCONI for storing the hundreds of thousands of dictionaries we will distribute this year to every 3rd grader in all public and private schools in Petaluma. Sign-up sheets were circulated. GEOFF noted he is still waiting to identify dates for some schools and team leaders for each, and encouraged everyone to sign up for at least one school distribution…it’s so fun to see how excited kids get when they receive their very own book! The experience is not to be missed if you care at all about kids and literacy. Call or email GEOFF with any questions.

A “very proud” PRESIDENT GARY took time to thank everyone who helped make this year’s Crab Feed/Super Raffle such a huge success…that would be CHRIS RANNEY, JOANNE FERRIS, RENEE HAYES, TONY WESTERN, CHARLIE STUART, RICK MOSSI, Carol Ann Libarle for her ‘Extreme Makeover’ decorations, MAUREEN RUDDER, KIP HERZOG, CHAD FILLINGER, MICHAEL NISTLER, RICARDO MARZO, ‘The Reverend’ DAN LIBARLE, LEE REPOSA, and all the club members who sold tickets, bought tickets, and helped with this very fun event. PRESIDENT GARY noted the sign of a great event is when no one wants to leave, and that was surely the case this year! He was proud…very, very proud! Team winners will be announced next week.

LEE REPOSA did announce that we sold 1,362 Super Raffle tickets and brought in $28,000!!! Wow…now PRESIDENT GARY has some money to spend!

Next up was Maureen Francis from Petaluma Valley Club who gave us an update on Walnut Park and brought to our attention the concerns that she and others have about the security issues in the park. She encouraged those who were interested to attend the Neighborhood Town Hall meeting on Walnut Park security issues and proposed solutions on Thursday, March 3rd at 6:00pm in the Cavanagh Center. The meeting is being organized by the Petaluma Service Alliance, the Petaluma Police Department and the Petaluma Parks and Recreation Department. Proposed solutions include establishing a satellite police substation in the existing office of the Walnut Park Community Building, installing additional security lighting and cameras.

PRESIDENT GARY then called on PAST PRESIDENT RICK MOSSI for the induction of two new club members…JUDY MC REYNOLDS (sponsored by SHARI RANNEY) and ROYCE VAN BEBBER (sponsored by RICK GORMAN). They each received their new member badge and a small chicken pin (as a placeholder for their eventual chicken badge) and the members present gave them a standing welcome ovation. We now have six new members and we’re excited to see what they each will contribute to our already outstanding club!

PRESIDENT GARY called out this week’s raffle winner…RICK MOSSI (can bankers really smell money?) who got himself a nice bottle of wine instead of the $125 prize (guess not).

PRESIDENT GARY ratted himself out this week by confessing that he didn’t arrange for birthday cake for our February birthday bunch, and expressed his ‘gratitude’ to the tune of $20. This month’s birthdays included LEE REPOSA, KATHY O’CONNOR, ROY MUSICK, STEVE OLMSTED, AL CATTALINI, WALLY BRAGDON, BRIAN BREEN, WHITNEY HALL, AL KAPLAN and CHRIS ELZI…don’t recall we sang to them (must have had to do with no cake). PRESIDENT GARY then announced the February anniversaries…JOANNE FERRIS to Michael (6 years), NANCY COOLEY to Bob (16 years), and STAN LAWSON to Gabriella (9 years). Congratulations one and all!

CHRIS RANNEY introduced the day’s speakers along with LEE REPOSA (decked out in his own softball hat) who moderated the program. Program guests included girls softball coaches Curt Jastro (Petaluma HS), Scott Seavers (Casa Grande HS), Pete Secora (St. Vincent’s HS) and Don Jensen (St. Vincent’s HS). Prompted by LEE’S questions, each of them talked about their background, their mentors, their coaching style and philosophy, and what matters most to them. Curt even described watching JOHN DADO play when he was young, and all shared wonderful stories of working with their “student athletes.” It became very clear, very quickly how fortunate we are to have these guys working with our young female athletes…truly none better! Thanks for a great program and for all you do to support our youth!

PRESIDENT GARY (technically ‘Coach’ GARY…seems he has 15 years of coaching experience…probably what makes him such a great president!) gave each speaker our traditional “medicinal gratitude”…a nice bottle of wine for post-practice enjoyment.

See you all next week!

This week's Editor: Jane Saldaña-Talley

COMING EVENTS

This week's Editor: Ricardo Marzo

COMING EVENTS

MR WATSON, COME HERE, I WANT YOU Imitating Alexander Graham Bell President GARY BRODIE opened our weekly meeting by testing the improved sound system with his capable assistant, MICHAEL NISTLER.

After the Pledge to our flag, President GARY called upon BARNEY FAUSS for double duty.

PUMP UP THE VOLUME. BARNEY, in good voice, led the singing of (--------------------------) and (--------------------------------). You may fill in the blanks!!

Still pumped up by world events, BARNEY spoke his mind and concluded with his fervent prayer for our member, JESSE AMARAL.

Visiting Rotarians included CASSIE MOYERS (Petaluma Sunrise) and JOHN BURNS (Petaluma Valley).

Rotarians with guests were LEE REPOSA and RICK GORMAN, who upstaged President GARY by introducing HEIDI BRODIE. Who bought Heidi’s lunch??

A LETTER TO THE EDITOR : Prompted by President GARY’s letter about our Crab Feed in the Argus-Courier, LEE REPOSA implored all members to remit their Super Raffle ticket stubs and money ASAP. Anyone who needs additional tickets may contact LEE, BRIAN BREEN, or RICK GORMAN but do it today!!!

RENÉE HAYES is happy with Crab Feed ticket sales at 400 but President GARY would be happier if we sold out for the event! RENÉE suggested that members not attending buy one Crab Feed ticket and one Raffle ticket each as a donation.

JOANNE FERRIS appealed to the Club for help on the day of the event. Please refer to this notice and sign up wherever you can: HELP IS NEEDED!!!

New members Maureen Rudder, Linda Black, and Anne Gealta.

ROTARY IS THE DOOR TO FRIENDSHIP. LET US THROW IT OPEN. (The Rotarian magazine, Paul Harris, July 1922). For the first time since the Club inducted four female members when JOHN DADO was president, RICK MOSSI presented three new members and their sponsors: ANNE GEALTA (sponsor GAIL CARDAROPOLI); LINDA BLACK (by ONITA PELLEGRINI); MAUREEN RUDDER (by RENÉE HAYES). A standing ovation hailed our newest members. Congratulations to all and thank you to their sponsors! Remember when you joined Rotary? Have you ever sponsored a new member? Open that door!!!

EDUCATION IS THE MOST POTENT WEAPON PLACED BY GOD IN OUR HANDS TO COMBAT IGNORANCE (Message to 1918 RI Convention by our founder Paul Harris). PRESIDENT GARY announced our receipt of $2,500 donated by the Petaluma Valley Rotary Club for the annual Dictionary Project. Delivery sign-up sheets will be coming soon.

Acknowledging that travel is educational, KATHIE O’CONNOR spent vacation time on the beach in Maui with members NANCY COOLEY and TARA SMITH, for which she offered $50.

Meanwhile, HEIDI BRODIE continued to spin the web entangling GARY BRODIE and BILL GROVERMAN in the ongoing saga of Super Raffle ticket sales. PRESIDENT GARY and BILL each offered $20.

Raffle winner OREST BALYTSKY arrived at 12:45, won the raffle at 1:00, and almost left without his bottle of wine at 1:30!!

THIS IS AN EXPERIMENTAL AGE IN A CHANGING WORLD… (Paul Harris, Peregrinations, Volume III). Program Chair JOANNE FERRIS introduced our speaker, Matt Stevens, Public Relations manager for the Smart Rail & Pathway Project, who shared with us the progress and highlights of the SMART Train.

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This week's Editor: Paul Lounibos

COMING EVENTS

On the evening of Thursday, February 4, our club enjoyed a purely social gathering at Mario & John’s. The event was well-attended by members, spouses, and friends, who had a good time chatting in a relaxed atmosphere.

Some of our more senior members shared stories about the Figone brothers, Mario and John, and the grocery store that used to be operated by John immediately adjacent to the bar. According to JOHN DADO, the bar had long been a favorite meeting place for both business and personal contact, even though it was in an East Petaluma location.

While no formal club business was conducted, there appeared to be delivery of a number of envelopes containing cash, checks, and raffle ticket stubs. All should be reminded to complete the sale (or purchase) of any remaining Super Raffle tickets and get those $$$ and stubs to the team captain!

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This week's Editor: Clark Rosen; photos by Michael Nistler