September 2016

Issues are arranged in reverse order. Scroll down to find the issue you want.

COMING EVENTS

We were welcomed to the Rotary Club of Petaluma’s meeting at the beautiful Petaluma Golf and Country Club by our PRESIDENT, LEE REPOSA. The PRESIDENT has been missing his bell and gavel for some time so he replaced it with a digital bell from his cell phone.

PRESIDENT ELECT ELECT MICHAEL NISTLER presented him with another stand-in bell to use in the meantime.

We all joined LEE in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by MIKE STAUBER who led us in the song.

Your editor gave the thought of the day around Five Things Geese Can Teach Us About Teamwork. With that, our usual handshakes and hugs followed.

September Birthdays were announced and we sang Happy Birthday.

GREG O’BRIEN tried sneaking on to the birthday table to only realize his birthday is in October.

MIKE STAUBER announced the Youth Exchange BBQ is coming up.

GREG O’BRIEN applauded the golf tournament committee for all their hard work. We raised over $11,000.

GREG also awarded the all ladies 5-some team a sleeve of pink balls for holding up the game.

CHRIS ELZI relayed the message from missing PAST PRESIDENT MICHAEL BADDELEY that the Friendship Feast will be October 14th so please sign up now.

PRESIDENT LEE announced that there are 7 tickets left for the Fork to Field Raffle benefiting the Miracle League.

PAST PRESIDENT TAWNY TESCONI announced Art the Pasta King is having a huge celebration for his birthday and everyone is invited. Call TAWNY for tickets and more information.

PRESIDENT ELECT ELECT MICHAEL NISTLER received a unanimous vote from the members to be our next President after CHRIS RANNEY.

We had one visiting Rotarian, Jennifer from the Sebastopol club.

PAST PRESIDENT MICHAEL CARUANA won the raffle and a bottle of wine.

DISTRICT GOVERNOR WULFF RHEINHOLD was introduced as our guest speaker. Before he started his talk he began with an auction. He is touring every club in the district and while doing this, he is receiving a gift basket from one club, then bringing it to the next club to be auctioned off. The basket he brought to our club was purchased by PAST PRESIDENT KIP HERZOG for $350.

KIP turned around and donated it to the Miracle League.

DISTRICT GOVERNER WULFF had a great presentation. He discussed new Rotary branding and thoughts around membership participation. He received a standing ovation.

LEE wished everyone a great day.

This week’s Editor: Brian Breen; photos by Michael Nistler

COMING EVENTS

Who's got the ding dong, who's got the bell?
Somebody know but nobody tell.
Cause somebody bad stole de Rotary bell.

With apologies to Eartha Kitt, our thoughts turned to this golden oldie as PRESIDENT LEE opened the meeting with gavel in hand, but no bell! Nonplussed, he welcomed the large crowd and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Continuing his tradition of revolving songleaders, each chosen by the previous songleader, he called on President Elect Elect MICHAEL NISTLER to select this week’s leader.

LARRY JONAS got the nod and, after a warm-up I’m a Rambler, led a spirited God Bless America.

PRESIDENT LEE’s Thought for the Day was a quote from Mark Twain, Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile.

There were no visiting Rotarians but dozens of other guests. introduced by TOM BRANDAL, RICK MOSSI, ONITA PELLEGRINI, JOANNE FERRIS, MICHAEL NISTLER, CHRIS RANNEY, MIKE AMBROSIO, KIP HERZOG, BRIAN BREEN, and ELIAS HUSARY.

We can’t print what caused this reaction!

PRESIDENT LEE announced that members were invited to the ribbon cutting for the new police substation at Walnut Park on Friday, October 7 at 4pm. Click here for more information.

No fines today! We moved right to the raffle (now $250 for the brown rock) and Jennifer Richardson, one of today’s presenters, had the winning number, drew the brown rock, and donated the $250 to the Miracle League North Bay.

CHRIS RANNEY introduced our three speakers, on hand to introduce the Club to our new, multi-year sponsorship project, the Miracle League.

Phoebe Ellis, noting that she is the wife of GEOFF ELLIS, daughter of DAN LIBARLE, and sister-in-law of RICARDO MARZO — all of whom were conspicuously absent today, spoke first. She described how she chanced upon Miracle League during a visit to Green Bay, Wisconsin with Geoff. This amazing institution provides opportunities for children with disabilities to play Miracle League baseball, regardless of their abilities. There are over 700 Miracle League fields in the U.S., but only two in California (in San Diego and Modesto). She’s part of the Fab Three (JOANNE FERRIS’ term) who are well on their way to opening the third field in Petaluma.

Alicia Hansel, once an All American water polo player at UC Berkeley, related how her background drew her to recognizing the athletic interests of the disabled and ultimately to the Miracle League North Bay project.

Jennifer Richardson told how her experiences with a disabled son drew her to the Miracle League project. She introduced a Miracle League video:

She explained that they are working with the City to site the Miracle League complex in Lucchesi Park, between the community center and the Little League fields. Estimated cost is $2 million with fundraising to start soon. More details are available at the Miracle League North Bay website.

PRESIDENT LEE announced a unique raffle to kick off our fundraising for the project. The raffle winner gets $100 gift certificates for 14 local restaurants (Cucina Paradiso, Wild Goat Bistro, Central Market, Risibisi, Washoe House, Dempsey’s Restaurant and Brewery, The Shuckery, Seared, Rosso Pizzeria and Mozzarella Bar, Luma, Beyond the Glory, Graffiti, Lombardi’s Gourmet Deli and BBQ, and Sally Tomatoes at Somo Village) and 14 bottles of wine. Only 100 tickets will be sold at $100 each. Since the restaurant certificates and wine were donated, the raffle will net $10,000 for the project.

Tickets went on sale after the meeting, and judging by the interest, they may be all gone already. If you want one, check with CHRIS RANNEY to see if any are left!

This week’s Editor: Al Cattalini

COMING EVENTS

After a wonderful day on the golf course, we convened for dinner and our meeting in the clubhouse. PRESIDENT LEE REPOSA opened the meeting at 6:20pm and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and God Bless America.

CHAD FILLINGER announced the awards from the day’s round of golf:

• Long Drive — Mike Hollingsworth
• Closest to the Pin — MICHAEL NISTLER & KATHY O’CONNOR
• Closest to the Line — Mike Hollingsworth & Carol Drysdale
• Putting Champion — Mitch White
• 4th Lowest Score — Drysdale Group
• 3rd Lowest Score — Reposa Group
• 2nd Lowest Score — Mossi, Baddeley, Shinn Group
• Lowest Score — Clover Group with a 58

CHAD then thanked all our sponsors: Hansel Auto, Henris Roofing, McNears, Clover, Pure Luxury, Tom Rose Construction, Van Bebber Bros., Heidi Brodie.

CHAD then announced the Raffle Prize Winners:

• $100 Gift Certificate to Hollingsworth Jewelers — KATHY O’CONNOR
• Framed Payne Stewart Picture — JUDY McREYNOLDS
• Louis Thomas Button-down Shirt — Coach Doug Johnson
• Beer — ROYCE VAN BEBBER
• Day at the Fair 2017 — MAUREEN RUDDER
• 25 Bottles of Wine — Kyle Edbedge
• Case of Wine — STEVE POWELL
• 3 Bottles of Wine — Mr. Whorton

PRESIDENT LEE thanked CHAD FILLINGER and GREG O’BRIEN for organizing this year’s golf tournament. He also recognized TAWNY TESCONI for her event management.

PRESIDENT LEE then introduced JOANNE FERRIS for a surprise announcement.

JOANNE, chair of the five-Past-President nominating committee, announced that . . .

. . . MICHAEL NISTLER had been nominated as President Elect Nominee, to serve as Club President in 2018-19.

For lots of photos from the Golf Tournament, visit Ed’s Album.

This week’s Editor: Linda Black

COMING EVENTS

Look what Lee is holding in his hand!

PRESIDENT LEE called the meeting to order noting that at his family dinner table, when he welcomes everyone to the Reposa Family Club introducing himself as the father, his wife rolls her eyes, his daughters mutter Dad! but son Grant stands and applauds. Grant will be attending the Giants game next week with Dad!

Following the Pledge of Allegiance, CHARLIE STUART led God Bless America.

PRESIDENT LEE gave two Thoughts for the Day. PLEASE NOTE THE WEEKLY MEETING DUTY SCHEDULE IS ON THE CLUB WEBSITE. EVERYONE SHOULD CHECK TO SEE WHEN THEY ARE SCHEDULED!

BILL GROVERMAN introduced his lovely daughter Megan who has grown up before our eyes. She leaves soon to attend Cal Poly SLO.

CHRIS RANNEY announced we will be dark October 6 meeting and all members are encouraged to attend the Chamber of Commerce Business Expo that afternoon. We will have a Rotary booth at the Expo and look forward to seeing all members visit or staff the club booth or their particular business booth.

CHRIS also announced the program on Sept. 22 will be very special — the representatives from The Miracle League Northbay will be here.

GREG O’BRIEN thanked the golf tournament organizing committee members.

CHAD FILLINGER announced the tournament reached our sponsorship goal of $10,000 and all foursomes are filled. Guests and members not golfing are welcome to join the dinner ($45) at 6:00 pm. There will be wine raffle of 25 bottles of great wine donated by members.

MIKE STAUBER announced members are needed to help with the Youth Exchange Barbecue on Friday, October 14. Please contact Mike if you can help!

PRESIDENT LEE announced the Foundation Dinner South is Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Flamingo Hotel. The cost is $70 per person. This is a great event and members are encouraged to attend. Everyone should have received a direct email through which you can register. If you need assistance, please contact LEE or GAIL.

PRESIDENT LEE asked BILL GROVERMAN about Megan’s high school GPA which was an impressive 4.17. Beyond her high intelligence, Megan is an accomplished hunter. This year she drew tags for two zone hunts. The conversation continued about BILL’s freezers at full capacity with elk and antelope meat and sausage. There is also 50 pounds of salmon from the family’s trip to Alaska this summer. BILL was willing to trade the proposed $100 fine for salmon fillets, elk and antelope sausage at a future club event.

NANCY COOLEY, who was the first active member to deliver a baby 16 years ago, gladly paid a $50 fine as this baby, Grant, has earned his driver’s license.

ELIAS won the raffle and a nice bottle of wine.

CHARLIE STUART introduced our speaker, Hong Lin, Ph.D, Senior Engineer with the California Department of Water Resources. Dr. Lin spoke on the Sustainable Groundwater Management Program.

This week’s Editor: Joanne Ferris

COMING EVENTS

We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to the people.
When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.

Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac (1949)

Conservation is a state of harmony between men and the land.

Ibid, Part III, The Land Ethic

A real field trip takes place in a field.

For the first time in our documented club history, the Rotary Club of Petaluma took a field trip away from our regular meeting place.

We met at Tolay Lake Regional Park (formerly the Cardoza ranch) hosted by Carol Eber, Board Chairperson of the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation.

President LEE REPOSA led our group in the Pledge to the Flag and called upon MICHAEL NISTLER to lead us in song: I’m a Rambler followed by God Bless America.

After the usual meet and greet time, President LEE announced that we would be updating our club committee information on our website.

LEE did not announce that he is now driving a new Ford F-150 XLT pickup truck.

After STEVE POWELL won a bottle of wine in the weekly raffle, RENÉE HAYES introduced Carol Eber, who in turn presented her colleague Melissa Kelley, who is the Executive Director of the Regional Parks Foundation.

CAROL introduced Brandon Bomeo, who not only resides on the premises but also is the supervising park ranger over all fifty Sonoma County Regional Parks. Brandon informed us that the 1700 acres which comprises Tolay Lake Regional Park will be adding 1600 acres through the Sonoma Land Trust. He presented us with an expert knowledge of the agricultural and archeological history of the region.

Carol made her sales pitch for the educational programs offered at the site, which serves 2,500 students during the school year.

Melissa told us about a matching funds project being undertaken to improve Helen Putnam Regional Park.

Most of the group remained for an old-fashioned hay ride, with ranger Brandon driving the tractor.

Grace Nistler took this great video of the hayride.

He stopped twice to discuss areas of interest and returned us safely.

ODE TO TOLAY LAKE

A regional gathering place,
For many a diverse race.
What a glorious day!
On the lands of Tolay!
A mosaic of open space!

This week’s Editor: Paul Lounibos