February 29, 2024
LEAP YEAR DAY!
Did you know that there are 5 million people worldwide who share a LEAP DAY BIRTHDAY on Feb. 29?? Kudos to Dan Berry and Cindy Thomas for combining their efforts and helping all those people celebrate by scheduling a pleasant social event at Volpi's and a most informative event at the PCA.
In spite of the very wet and rainy day outside the atmosphere was warm and fuzzy at the Volpi’s gathering where hors d'oeuvres and drinks were the order of the day! I am happy to report that Volpi's continues to maintain its charm and fame as the SPEAKEASY of yesteryear.
After satisfying our appetites at Volpi's, Cindy Thomas, who is Interim Executive Director at the station, led us across the way to the offices of Petaluma Community Access (CPA) where we were met by Station Manager Rob Tomaszewski.
While touring the facility, Tomaszewski gave us a historical background of the station since its inception in 2016.
When the group ascended to the Executive Offices on the 2nd floor, we were met by Pon Thoummavong, Director of Business Development and Strategy.
Her informative presentation was followed by a brief Q & A. And so ended our LEAP DAY fun filled journey!
REMINDER: Thursday, March 7 former District Governor Jennifer Strong will be our guest to discuss the Haiti Sanitation Project. Hope to see y'all then!
Today's Editor: Mike Ambrosio; photos by Cindy Thomas & Michael Nistler
February 23, 2024
Crab: a crustacean with a
broad flat shell, antennae, a small abdomen, and five pairs of
legs, the front two of which are in the form of grasping pincers (suborder:
Brachyura) + Feed: to eat, consume, devour, partake, swallow = Fun: a time or
feeling of enjoyment or amusement.
No matter how you define, boil or crack it, our Club’s “Totally
Clawsome” Annual Crab Feed dinner last Friday night at the Vets was a
lot of fun and a huge success.
Our all-business President, MIKE FERRIS, opened the event to a full house, welcomed everybody,
and immediately had President-Elect RICARDO MARZO and
his father-in-law, Past-President DAN
LIBARLE, lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by a rousing
rendition of God Bless America, complete with Dan’s signature “HIT IT” half-way
through!
The Prez, after a brief soul cleansing confessional, then had Father Gary Lombardi deliver the invocation….apparently it was a good one as there was plenty of fresh crab and it was really tasty!!
Next, the Prez thanked our Crab Feed Co-Chairs, CHRIS RANNEY and the entire
committee, for all of their hard work on the event (and for fulfilling the
Prez’ presidential campaign pledge of at least two crabs in every pot?!). They
received a well-deserved round of applause from the crowd in appreciation of
their efforts.
The Prez then turned the microphone over to the properly attired Petaluma River Park leaders, who gave us an informative presentation of their project, followed by a live auction which involved plenty of spirited bidding for some primo items.
After buckets upon buckets of crab
were consumed, along with plenty of salad, pasta and
bread (and maybe, just maybe, a few assorted alcoholic beverages), our Crab
Feed Raffle Co-Chairs, BRIAN BREEN and Past-President RICK
GORMAN,
had my favorite Padre, Father Gary, pull the winning tickets for the cash prizes…and the winners were:
6th Claudin Johnson
$300
5th Gary Miller
$400
4th Liobhan Kenney
$600
3rd Steve/Carolynn Gavriloff
$1,000
2nd Connie/Reny
Madrid $1,200
…and the $8000 grand prize winner was: PDG Doug Johnson (Rotary Club of Santa Rosa)!!
The Prez congratulated all the
winners, thanked all who played, and then invited
everyone to continue to enjoy the evening, and so they did…despite the fact
that the Prez never got to tell his favorite crab joke (or so I’ve been told):
Two Dungeness crabs went on
a date and were sunbathing at the beach on a warm
summer day. The girl crab suggested that the boy crab go get them each an ice
cream
cone. After purchasing two cones, the boy crab was making his way back to the
beach
and decided on the way to
eat his ice cream before it melted. By the time he had finished
his ice cream, he realized that his girlfriend's had started to melt and it was
dripping all
over his claw, so he licked it off and ended up eating all of that ice cream
cone, as well.
When he finally arrived back at the beach, the girl crab asked "Where's my
ice cream
cone?" He said "I decided to eat mine, then yours melted so I ate it
too." With
tears of frustration and disappointment welling up in her in her eyes, she
cried "You’re
so shellfish!"
Hey, it could have been worse…the Prez could have serenaded us with his
favorite song…Under the Sea, by Sebastian the Crab (with apologies to the
Little Mermaid)!
February 29, Club Field
Trip and Social
4:30 pm at Volpi's and Petaluma Community Access
See you at out next regular meeting (March 7)…try not to be too crabby in the meantime, ok!!
Today's Editor: Mike Baddeley
February 15, 2024
President MIKE FERRIS, after reminding us that yes, he is still our Club’s “101 st President”, opened our post-Valentine’s day meeting on the appointed half-hour (12:30p.m., to be exact!)
and immediately had our newest member JEREMY WROTEN lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a rousing rendition of God Bless America!
CHRIS ELZI, channeling his inner-PJ O’Rourke, then delivered a humorous
Thought for the Day,
and the customary handshakes, hugs, and busses amongst our members ensued.
Next, our Visiting Rotarians, including Dave Adams (the Club Secretary of the Sunrise Club) and Marissa Bender from the Sonoma Valley Rotary Club, were introduced, along with all of the guests of Rotarians who joined us for lunch, followed by numerous reports and announcements from the Prez and various members, including:
The Prez’ post-Super Bowl recap and Sunshine Report (PHIL HENRY is
recovering nicely from his recent foot surgery);
A Crab Feed update from Past-President CHRIS RANNEY…the crab has been ordered (from the Tides in Bodega Bay!!) and we’re good to go for a true cracked crab feast on February 23, at the Vet’s Building…call Past-President ANN GEALTA if you have any concerns about your seating assignment! Also, the Crab Feed committee is looking for volunteers to help with preparation and set-up;
President-elect, RICARDO MARZO, let us know that he’s looking for wine donations for the Crab Feed, so please call him if you happen to have a spare bottle or two, red or white;
BRIAN BREEN’s Super Raffle report: we’re on pace to exceed last year’s ticket sales, and in typical fashion TOM BAKER leads all sellers with 203 tickets sold thus far!! Brian went on to remind everyone that all ticket stubs should be turned into Past-President RICK GORMAN at the Exchange Bank by next Thursday (2/22/24);
The Prez gave a heartfelt shout-out to our very own celebrity
DJ, CINDY THOMAS, for her on-air radio promo of the Crab Feed and
other Club activities on her station KPCA (103.3 FM) show, “Inside Petaluma”!
He then went on to note that we’re having a Club social next Tuesday (2/20/24)
at the River Café, and that the next SCARC dinner meeting is on February 29 at
the Cloverdale Rotary Club (a Crab Feed, no less), so let Club Secretary GALE
CARDAROPLI know if you would like to attend; and finally,
DAN BERRY reminded us of the upcoming Club field trip…to Volpi’s and then over to the PCA studios for a visit…February 29 @ 4:30-5:30 p.m.!! He also wants you to save the date on May 29 for a Club field trip via ferry boat to the Giants vs Phillie’s baseball game on May 29!
The Prez then got to the favorite part of his presidential
duties…fining innocent, unsuspecting members for trivial transgressions, like
forgetting to wear a badge, which cost Past-President ONITA PELLIGRINI $10
…or for routine outings, like going skiing in Vale, CO (and Taos and Santa Fe, NM), then ending up in Las Vegas at the Super Bowl for a first class extravaganza with Past-Presidents HENRY HANSEL and DAN LIBARLE, and trying to shake it all off with Taylor Swift, which resulted in a soft fine of a mere $100 for President-Elect RICARDO MARZO!!
Raffle # 39424 proved to be a winner for JEREMY WROTEN and was
good for a a pound of Petaluma Coffee Company Coffee.
DAN BERRY then introduced our speaker, Marisa Bender from the Hanna Center (formerly the Hanna Boys School), who gave us a very informative presentation on all the changes they have made , including becoming a non-public placement facility, for special needs students and foster students.
She received a hearty round of applause, along with a nice bottle of wine and Rotary memento, for a program well received.
With that, the Prez,
after reminding us that our next meeting is
March 7, summarily adjourned the meeting and bid us all adieu!
See you at the Crab Feed!!
Today's Editor: Mike Baddeley for Doug Hecker
February 8, 2024
President Mike called the meeting to order, and we were all pleased to see a very special guest, Chris and Shari Ranney's pup, wearing a 49ers cap.
Jack Grimes led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
We all sang God Bless America.
Royce Van Bebber gave us the Thought for the Day (based on love, appropriately for a meeting so near Valentine's Day)…and (in honor of Super Bowl) ended it with, "Go 'Niners!"
Visitor Len Geraldi from the Sonoma Valley Club announced several winners from his Club's raffle, including some of us locals.
There was an announcement for the SCARC Dinner set for February 22.
Our own club is planning a February 13 dinner at the Water Street Bistro. (I love that place, and there may a ticket or two available.)
Chris Ranney gave us an update on the Crab Feed.
Brian Breen also gave us an update on the Super Raffle (including the always phenomenal Tom Baker, who has sold 183 tickets so far).
Kristin Myburgh then helped induct new member, Jeremy Wroten. .
We then had two raffles. Judy Allewelt won $25 in the regular raffle, then courtesy of Shari Ranney, there was a second prize (including champagne) won by Bano Cummings.
Jan Grimes and Cary White then told us about the New member Project, in which the new members were given $2500 to use for such good cause or causes as they determined. They directed it to a truly beautiful project, the Rotary Planter Boxes Project -- money and a lot of hard work, gladly offered, as well.
Kristin Myburgh then introduced our guest, Dylan Koenig. Together they work at Blue River Technology, a company that uses truly complex and advanced technology to solve many problems in agriculture, including (just by way of an example) a Star Wars-like mechanism that determines exactly where (and how often) to spray for weeds, thus eliminating unnecessary groundwater pollution --and thus also saving money for farmers and ranchers by avoiding unneeded and costly spraying. It was a great program, and they explained it so well that even I almost understood it.
With that, President Mike thanked them and the meeting was ended.
Today's Editor: Chris Elzi
February 1, 2024
President Mike called the meeting to order and then mentioned that our own San Francisco 49ers will be playing against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl on Sunday February 11th... Go Niners!! He also asked folks who are interested in attending a special club social, a Mardi Gras dinner at Water Street Bistro on Tuesday, February 13th at 6:00pm, to let Gail know after the meeting.
Adrian Cremedis led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Larry Jonas led us in song with God Bless America.
Lori Matthews delivered the thought for the day.
Cindy Thomas let everyone know that our fellow Rotarian Tom Baker was hospitalized after suffering a massive stroke last Tuesday. He's currently in the ICU under the care of Kaiser's top Neurologists in Redwood City.
Kristen Myburgh introduced guest Jeremy Wroten who is attending his third meeting with our club.
Mike
Ambrosio introduced Len Gerald who is visiting from the Rotary Club of
Sonoma Mountain Twilight. Len mentioned that his club is selling tickets
for a restaurant raffle to raise funds for their club and will remain after our
meeting today if anyone wishes to purchase tickets at $20 each.
Chris Ranney gave us an update on our club's 2024 "Totally Clawsome" Crab Feed being held on Friday, February 23rd at the Petaluma Veteran's Building. This year the event will benefit the Petaluma River Park. Chris advised members and their guests who have not yet purchased their tickets to do so ASAP so the committee can have an accurate count of attendees for ordering the crab and for seating attendees.
Anne Gealta showed us the seating chart she's using to organize the dining room for the crab feed. She reminded everyone that club members with guests who wish to sit at their table must notify her as soon as possible so she can accommodate everyone's requests.
Brian Breen gave us an update on ticket sales for the Annual Tom Baker Super Raffle. To date, 465 tickets have been sold which puts the club in the black as far as expenses go. But we can't stop now as this is the club's biggest fundraiser which allows us to continue with all the great projects we do. Brian has asked that each member please sell a minimum of 12 tickets each to make this a success.
Shari Ranney gave us an update on what's happening with the International Committee. If anyone wishes to attend the committee's meeting next Monday, it's being held at the home of Larry Jonas.
Marge Limbert, who is with the Petaluma River Park, gave us an overview of the five awesome packages being presented at the crab feed's live auction.
Shari Ranney was the winner of the lunchtime raffle. As luck would have it, Shari pulled the brown rock for a cash prize which she generously donated back to the club's International Committee.
Dan Berry introduced our guest, Yensi Jacobo, Director of Youth Services with Petaluma People Services Center.
Yensi oversees the Mentor Me program which has been serving youth ages 5-17 since the year 2001. Mentor Me currently has 250 active mentorships and nearly 90 youth on their waiting list. Trained adult mentors spend at least an hour a week with their mentees in Mentor Centers located on partner school campuses in Petaluma, as well as at the Mentor Me Cavanagh Recreation Center. Those who are interested in becoming a mentor can contact Yensi at yensi@petalumapeople.org
Today's Editor: Cindy Thomas