July 27, 2023

President Mike called the meeting to order using a miniature liberty bell.....more on that below.

Maggie Radany led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Past President Joanne Ferris led members singing "God Bless America."

Jan Grimes gave three thoughts for the day!

Past President Onita Pellegrini spoke about Petaluma Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Petaluma program.  The club sponsored Dan Berry for the most recent year.  Onita asked any members who were graduates of this program to raise their hands and the response demonstrated that Rotary is a place for leaders!

Raine Howe invited members to attend the first ever movie night at the Polly Klaas theater.  Guests will enjoy popcorn and refreshments while viewing Super Mario Brothers movie on the new "Breen Screen" Projections system.

Shari Ranney announced there was an upcoming World Service Committee meeting.  Pelase contact Shari for details.

Our annual Members Golf Tournament is Monday Sept.11.  Dan Berry reminded everyone to recruit your foursome members!

Past President Chris Ranney expressed his thanks to everyone who made last week's special program at the Polly Klaas Theater possible.  Martin and Sigge's talk was very compelling.

Immediate Past President Royce Van Bebber (the most relaxed person in the room) gave a brief report about his family's trip to Mexico.

President Mike announced the July Rotarian of the Month is.......Gail Cardaropoli.  Congratulations Gail!  Well Deserved.

President Mike called upon Brian Breen with the hope that there was some news about the missing bell.  There was an update.  Apparently, it has been reported that an unidentified person was seen running with the bell towards a neighboring business outside of Cattlemans (Unlimited Pleasures, Too!).  Brian continues the noble quest to recover the club bell.

Past President Elias Husary, after several lame excuses admitted there was a slight chance that he was not at the nomination ambush for President Mike.  This cost him $100.  But Pres. Mike matched his fine.

The weekly raffle ticket winner was Chad Fillinger.

President Mike declared a special Barbie raffle this week for all ladies in attendance.  He selected the member who most resembled Ken,  Chad Fillinger to pick the wining pink ticket.  

Our Barbie Raffle winner was Jan Grimes who walked away with a very nice, pink bottle of sparkling wine!

District Governor Tom Boylan talked about three areas for this next Rotary year:

• Membership
• Environment
• Mental Health

Today's Editor: Cindy Thomas

July 20, 2023

It was a beautiful day to leave the heights of Country Club Drive and come down to the heart of downtown Petaluma. 

We met today at the beautifully restored Polly Klaas Community Theater.

After delicious box lunches in a room behind the stage, we all enjoyed the comfortable theater seats as we “watched” the meeting.

President Mike, bemoaning the lack of a bell, called the meeting to order and dispensed with the pledge, thought for the day, song, hugs and handshakes, fines, and raffle.

He introduced our first speaker, Assistant Governor (Area 10) Bonnie Cordoza.  She works with the six Rotary clubs in the southwestern corner of District 5130, namely, the three Petaluma clubs, the Rancho Cotati and Rohnert Park-Cotati clubs, and the Rotary Club of Sonoma Mountain Twilight.  What? Never heard of that last one?  Me neither.  They’re a new club that meets Thursdays at 6pm at the Stony Point Room, 216 E. School Street, Cotati (adjacent to the Cotati Police Department).  (Click for website.)  Bonnie gave an overview of District 5130 as a prelude to next week’s meeting which features our new District Governor, Tom Boylan.

Exuberant as always, Raine Howe, Executive Director of the Polly Klaas Foundation, welcomed everyone to the theater.

Then Chris Ranney introduced his houseguests, Sigge and Martin Stengard, visitors from Sweden and the presenters of today’s program. 

Sigge is a 16-year-old young man diagnosed in childhood with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness.  He and his father, Martin, shared the family’s inspiring story of meeting the challenges of their life and of Sigge’s involvement with Para Esports, an organization for disabled gamers, which Martin created in 2021. The participation in team Para.Ghost broke Sigge’s involuntary isolation and gave him a fuller, more meaningful life.

Shari Ranney described the sights they visited with the Stengard family during their California stay.

President Mike adjourned the meeting (sob, no bell) and reminded everyone that next week’s meeting will feature Tom Boylan, District 5130 Governor 2023-2024.  (In advance of this meeting, the Board will meet at the Country Club at 10am.)

Today's Editor: Al Cattalini

July 13, 2023

Club Social at Henhouse Brewing!

Our first social brought members and guests to the Henhouse Barrel Palace on a lively (windless!) evening.  We snacked on shrimp po-boys and cornbread fritters while sipping craft beers on the club.

Today's Editor: Joanne Ferris

July 6, 2023

Our illustrious “101st President”, MIKE FERRIS, opened his inaugural meeting precisely on the appointed half-hour, and immediately had MIKE AMBROSIA lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance,

followed by a rousing rendition of God Bless America led by MIKE STAUBER… talk about a real Mike-fest!! 

CARY WHITE then delivered the Thought for the Day.  The customary handshakes, hugs, and busses amongst our members ensued. 

Next, our Visiting Rotarians were introduced by our Club’s first lady, JOANNE FERRIS, who along with her beloved spouse (our new Prez) are the first President/Past-President tandem in our Club’s 101-year history – talk about the ultimate Rotary power couple!! 

The Pres then introduced all of the guest of Rotarians who joined us for lunch…all of whom were his close friends who no doubt wanted to make sure it was true…he really was the new Rotary Club President!

There were then a medley of announcements from various members, including:

GAIL CARDOROPOLI, who shared with us that her grandson (Clayton Andrews) is now a Major League baseball player with the Milwaukee Brewers – congratulations Clayton (and proud Grandma Gail)!

Past-President RICK MOSSI, Chairman of the Club’s local Rotary Foundation, who gave us a summary of the purpose of the Foundation and what it does, and informed us as to the distributions made by the Foundation this year, including donations to the Polly Klaas Theater, the welding and woodworking sections in the CTE program at Petaluma High School, and Una Vida for its youth swimming program.

DAN BERRY, who reminded us that next week (Thursday, July 13) the Club will be dark for a social event at Henhouse Brewery (4:30 – 6:30) – call Dan for more details.

KRISTIN MYBURGH, who informed us that the Club will be resuming its Fireside Chats for new members to become more familiar with the ways of Rotary – call Kristin for further details.

Past-President ANNE GEALTA, the Committee Chair for the Club’s Annual Golf Tournament, who confirmed that this year it will be on September 11 (at Petaluma Golf & Country Club).  It’s a modest $150/per player, and she’s looking for at least 60 golfers this year – call Anne for further details.

The Prez let us know that our District Governor will be with us at our July 27 lunch meeting, and the good Guv is looking for someone to represent our Club in the District’s new Governor Environmental Citation Award – call the Prez for further details. 

He went on to announce that the Annual Beer Fest event sponsored by the Valley Rotary Club will be held on September 9 this year, which Past-President ONITA PELLIGRINI confirmed, and noted that the Chamber of Commerce will be a part of it, as well. 

The Prez then concluded the day’s announcements by sharing with us that our new Exchange Student is from Finland and we will be meeting him soon – please call Mike or Joanne if you’re interested in hosting him during his stay in Petaluma. 

KRISTIN MYBURGH then conducted the induction of our newest Club member, LORI MATTHEWS, who received a nice Club welcome – happy to have you with us, Lori!

The Prez finally (no pun intended) got down to business…by fining Past-President ELIAS HUSARY a hefty $100 (a mere rounding error for Elias) for a dubious “missed President Nomination Committee meeting”, that ultimately led to the selection of the Prez…or was it President-elect RICARDO MARZO…either way, apparently Elias voted with his feet! 

Next, the Prez called upon immediate Past-President ROYCE VAN BEBBER to shed some light on the missing Club bell, last rang and seen by Royce at the Debunking, who suggested that perhaps Past-President LEE REPOSA might know something about it…

Lee was quick to propose that he would be willing to form a Missing Bell committee to get to the bottom of the Bell Be-Gone caper!  The befuddled Prez failed to fine either of his primary suspects but soon enough we will all know for whom the bell tolls!!

Raffle # 1578506 proved to be a winner for MAGGIE RADANY and was good for a primo bottle of vino. 

In lieu of a meeting, the Prez then outlined his goals and focus for the year, including establishing a social media committee, doing a membership drive, having a community liaison position on the Board, and sharing Rotary moments by the members.  With that, the Prez summarily adjourned his first meeting …and it was a good one…even without the official gong of the missing bell to close it!

Today's Editor: Mike Baddeley