June 17, 2022

Celebrating Rick Gorman

Rotary Club of Petaluma President 2021-2022

FULL PHOTO ALBUM FROM TONIGHT

On a warm June Friday, we celebrated the 2021-2022 Rotary year under the leadership of President Rick Gorman.  Members and guests gathered at Seared for a celebration of our 99th year and the start of our 100th year!

The gathering started  with our usual social/cocktail hour.  President Rick worked the room like a local bank branch manager.

The evening's master of ceremonies sporting the persona of a founding member of the club in 1923, AKA President Elect Mike Ferris opened the program with a few remarks about how important this evening really was. 

Fellow stoic and friend of President Rick, Dan Berry cited a few of President Rick's finer traits.  Judging from this image, Dan also has experience as a "Toastmater."

Board Member Raine Howe shared tha many expressions of our fine leader this year.  She also spoke about Rick's solid support and encouragement on the Polly Klaas Theater Renovation Project.

The third debunking presenter, Past President Rick Mossi and senior banking officer to President Rick gave him his performance review for the past year.  The chants "Four more years" were heard throughout the room.

Dan Berry was announced by President Rick as Rotarian of the Year!

President Rick thanked his board members, especially club secretary Gail Cardaropoli.

And... for the 100th time, the peaceful tranfer of power from one administration to the next transpired as now Past-President Rick Gorman pinned the club president pin on Royce Van Bebber, our 100th Club President!

President Royce took a few moments to thank everyone and introduce his board for the 2022-2023 year.

Royce's first meeting is July 7 at the Petaluma Golf and Country Club.  We look forward to sesing everyone there!

Our 100th President Royce Van Bebber listening to advice from Past President John Dado and his wife Sharon.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS VERY FUN EVENING,

Today's Editor: Joanne Ferris

June 9, 2022

So, it all started with President Rick Gorman opening the last meeting of his term (sans, bell…  what’s up with that?) with a bright smile and positive vibes.    

Brett Shinn led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Dan Libarle led us all in song with God Bless America.

Prior to delivering the thought of the day, Mike Ambrosio asked all Rotarians to acknowledge the efforts of President Rick during the last year which resulted in a standing ovation. Mike then gave us the thought of the day which was a tribute to Best Friends Day which occurred the day before.    

Rick welcomed back Ed Fullerton who has been recovering from health issues and then requested a moment of silence for former Rotary Club member Roy Musick who recently passed away. 

Joanne Ferris reminded us of a variety of events to make sure we have them on our calendars… the first being a RYLA BBQ on 6/15; the second being the debunking of President Rick on 6/17;  the third being the Rotary social on 6/22 at McEvoy Ranch.

And, not to miss an opportunity to collect fines for the club’s purse, President Rick called on Maggie Radany to give us details on a dinner at Petaluma’s “D” Street Fire Station which was a raffle win that was awarded to Maggie, Kathy O’Conner and Judy McReynolds at our club’s 2020 crab feed. In this case, no fine was imposed.

However, Dan Labarle didn’t fare so well and paid a fine of $100 for his 3 grandkids that recently graduated.

President Rick gave thanks to everyone for making a good year happen for him, to include:

the folks on his meeting set-up crew; Al Cattalini for his photography; Gail Cardaropoli, Judy Allewelt, and Carolyn Buck for administrative support; Chris Elzi and Mike Ambrosio for the many Thoughts of the Day; Anne Gealta for organizing the golf tournament; Maggie Radany for helping organize the holiday event and other events; Brian Breen for organizing the Super Raffle; Chris Ranney and Michael Caruana for organizing the Crab Feed; Joanne Ferris for organizing the SCARC Dinner (and all the other help she offers); and Exchange Bank for providing support that allowed Rick to spend extra time to attend to his duties as our President. 

President Rick then announced his choice for ‘Rookie of the Year Award’ which went to Jaime Symons who really stepped up to the plate to be involved with club functions, especially with the local Rotary fundraiser to assist the people of Ukraine.

This week’s raffle winner was Mike Baddeley, who walked away with a fine bottle of wine.

Dan Berry introduced the speaker for the day…

John Stout, Manager of the Sonoma County Airport gave us the status of what’s happening and what’s yet to come at our local county airport. 

Today's Editor: Cindy Thomas

June 2, 2022

Wow!  Was there a presidential coup?  President Elect Royce Van Bebber presided at today's meeting!

To confuse everyone further, he called upon President Rick Gorman, who was sitting at the farthest table from the podium, to lead the club in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Setting precedent....or maybe returning to a simpler time, Pres-Elect Royce called upon Past President Kip Herzog to lead the singing of God Bless America.  Past President Joanne Ferris launched the club singing "I'm a Rambler...."

Now things got completely out of control when Pres-Elect Royce invited members to share a little fellowship at their appropriate comfort level.  Members sprang to their feet and worked the room like a politician at a fundraiser!

Shari Ranney introduced Pamela Valdez and Charlie Stuart introduced Norm Cole who were visiting the club.

John Zimmerman introduced his guests:  Kristie Hubacker, Sonoma Marin Fair CEO, Brian Sobel, Dominic Grossi, Mike Parks and Ralph Sartori.

Pres-Elect Royce, looking like he was getting very comfortable at the podium mentioned there are a lot of rumer curculating about all the "revolutionary" changes coming next Rotary year.  And this was just a tease.  We'll hear all about it at his first official meeting on July 7.

Past President Joanne Ferris, who never misses a chance to talk at a meeting, thanks everyone for pitching in to make the SCARC barbecue at Miracle League a success on May 26.   

She also told members to save June 22 on their calendar for a no host member social at McEvoy Ranch.    Members and their guests are invited to make their own reservations for "Wine Down Wednesday" from 4 pm to 6 pm.  HERE'S THE LINK

Past President Elias Husary announced the debunking of President Rick Gorman will be Friday, June 17 starting at 5 pm at Seared.  Please RSVP to Joanne Ferris.

Current President-In-Exile Rick Gorman reminded members that our club is barbecuing dinner at RYLA on Wednsday, June 15 starting at 3 pm.  All members must have completed youth safety training (online) to attend.   Please contact Past President Lee Reposa for more information.

Golf Tournament News:
President-Elect Royce set the date for our Annual Golf Tournament on September 9 at the Petaluma Golf and Country Club.  He challenges members to register foursomes that contain only two club members.  Let's bring in outside golfers to fill out all available spots!  Shout out to Past President Anne Gealta and Chad Fillinger for joining the tournament committee.   ROYCE INVITES A MEMBER TO STEP AND CHAIR THIS EVENT.

Royce and Genevieve leave tomorrow for the Rotary International Convention in Houston,  He looks forward to drinking more kool aid and returning with even more Rotary enthusiasm!

Save the date:  Our first Club Field Trip will be to Reared In Steel 110 Copeland St, Petaluma, CA 94952on Thursday, July 21.  The club visited this very cool metal sculpture business in 2019. 

There was some doubt as to whether the President Elect could levy fines on members.  So Royce decided to levy "Happy Dollars" on a few members:  

Past President Elias Husary happily paid $100 in honor of his son George who is graduating from Casa Grande High School and attending University of the Pacific this fall majoring in Mechanical Engineering.  He earned three scholarships along the way.  Congratulations George!

Sue Symons' granddaughter is graduating pre-med from UC Davis with her eye on medical school then orthopedics.  Sue noted that when she was a junior at Petaluma High School, a teacher encouraged her to write an essay that was among a few selected from accorss the country for an elite summer program at Stanford.

Past President Tawny Tesconi announced that romorrow (Friday) is her final day before retiring from Sonoma County Farm Bureau.  She happily paid $50!

Pamela Valdez was the lucky raffle winner and took home a bottle of wine.

President-Elect Royce turned the program over to Past President and soon to be retired Tawny Tesconi.  She presented the history of our fairgrounds and the legal interpretation of the use of this parkland.  Mike Parks explained the status of the fairgrounds property lease future and answered the many questions from members.

Today's Editor: Mentor Joanne Ferris & Mentee Cindy Thomas