April 2017

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

COMING EVENTS

Talk to any reporter and they will say they just want to report the news; never become the news. Unfortunately, this reporter broke that rule on the day she planned to complete the April 27 Rota-Teller by stepping in the wrong Petaluma pothole on her way home after participating in SRJC Petaluma’s entry in the Butter and Egg Days Parade. Fractured wrist of her dominant hand, visit to PV Hospital ER, visits to orthopedist, two weeks letting the swelling go down, and surgery last Monday. Hence, an embarrassing nearly month-long delay in meeting her obligations. Still bandaged up, but determined to get this thing done. Thanks to Al Cattalini for his patience and to you all for your understanding!

It was a beautiful pre-Butter and Egg Day’s Thursday when PRESIDENT LEE REPOSA called together the Rotary Club of Petaluma at the Petaluma Golf and Country Club. The PREZ noted with some surprise that we still love him after all this time (yes…we do!). Turning toward the flag, PRESIDENT LEE then led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Afterward he asked PREZ ELECT CHRIS RANNEY to lead the club in song. CHRIS jumped in with gusto and we responded with a full-throated rendition of I’m a Rambler and God Bless America.

PRESIDENT LEE called on TONY WESTERN for the Thought for the Day. He chose to keep it light by sharing a quote from Dave Barry: I argue very well. Ask any of my remaining friends. I can win an argument on any topic, against any opponent. People know this, and steer clear of me at parties. Often, as a sign of their great respect, they don’t even invite me.

Hugs and greetings followed and we did that so well the PREZ has to ask us to settle down. JOE TAMBE announced Visiting Rotarians for the day, including Bruce F. from Reno and newly minted Petaluma Chief of Police Ken Savano from Petaluma Sunrise (the day’s guest speaker). Rotarians with Guests included BANO CUMMINGS with guests from the Petaluma High School Interact Club (students Ava, Jamie, and Jordan, along with their advisor Mariah).

PRESIDENT LEE called for a moment of silence in prayer for past member BARNEY FAUSS’s daughter Brenda Richard and her husband Mark Richard, both missing after their plane disappeared on April 17.

GAIL CARDAROPOLI let us know about the SCARC dinner that evening.

PRESIDENT LEE then reminded everyone about the District Conference in Tahoe scheduled for May 12-14. He’s otherwise engaged in a tournament that weekend, so CHRIS RANNEY will head the club contingent and host the club reception. If you’ve never been, check it out!

PRESIDENT LEE next gave an update on the upcoming RYLA Leadership Camp (June 18-23). The club will sponsor four high school juniors this year and the PREZ is still taking recommendations so let him know if you know of a student leader in the making. Our club will be partnering with the Sunrise and Valley clubs to host the Wednesday evening BBQ, and if you’ve a mind to volunteer now would be the time to step forward.

PRESIENT LEE called on JIM SYMONS, who (with JIM’s wife, Sue) hosted the first of several Friendship Feasts. Early reports suggested TEAM SYMON’s set a stiff pace for others set to host feasts scheduled for Friday and Saturday evenings. Despite all attempts to find out exactly what happened at the SYMONS gathering, no specifics were revealed. Apparently, what happens at a SYMONS Friendship Feast, stays at a…well, you know (might want to remember that for next year!). The PREZ reminded everyone to have fun and stay safe.

JIM SYMONS used the opportunity to ask members to consider supporting his daughter, Jaime, who’s attending Tulane and participating in a charity bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. JIM left information on each table and invited interested members to email him directly. Jaime spoke to our club some time back about her experiences overseas and she’s clearly still out there making a difference in the world!

MICHAEL CARUANA (who said he would take a train from SF to LA for charity…) gave details about the upcoming Santa Rosa Bocce Ball Tournament on August 19. He’s looking for club members willing to join the team. The only requirement is that you be able to perform better than potential 85-year-old competitors. MICHAEL is hoping to hold onto last year’s ’perfect’ score!

PAST PRESIDENT ED FULLERTON mentioned that five members of his family joined in the SF to LA ride a few years back and encouraged us to support JIM’s daughter. ED went on to bring to our attention that McKinley Elementary Principal Matt Harris received the Excellence in Education award this year. Matt leads McKinley School and has been a key player in the partnership our club has with that school. Congratulations, Matt!

BANO CUMMINGS stepped to the microphone with her Interact guests (students and faculty advisor) to give the club an update on all the good work being done by these next gen leaders. These active students meeting every Friday at lunch from 12:25 – 1:05 and between 25-30 students attend. They’ve supported a fun run and held bake sales in downtown (we’re waiting for them to come to a future meeting!), helped fellow students with prom expenses, volunteered for numerous community events including our Crab Feed, and generally made the world a much better place. Thanks to BANO for her ongoing support of the club, Advisor Mariah for making this club possible, and for Petaluma HS students Ava (President), Jamie (Social Media Guru), and Jordan (Active Member) for their leadership and positive energy!

THE PREZ next called on BRETT SHINN who missed last week’s meeting and the announcement of the 14th Annual Benedetti Leadership Celebration. This year’s event will honor Mike and Sally Tomasini with the Gene and Evelyn Bendetti award for their support to our community. The event raises funds for hospital equipment and tickets and sponsorships are available. BRETT ponied up $20 for the opportunity to brag about an event he’s worked so hard to make successful!

PRESIDENT LEE called out the week’s raffle and the winner was PAST PRESIDENT TOM BRANDAL, who got a blue rock and a nice bottle of Cline Cellars bubbly.

CHRIS RANNEY, introduced our program speaker, Chief Ken Savano, Petaluma’s home grown Chief of Police who started out in 1994 on foot patrol and mountain bike handing out baseball-like cards to members of the community. Today, he leads the department and one of the best examples of community-based policing in the nation. Chief Savano left cards on each table showing ways to Connect with PPD and his presentation covered the department’s goals, values, outcomes and what he sees for the future. We are very fortunate to have him at the helm and hope to welcome him back soon!

Finally, PRESIDENT LEE closed the meeting noting that Saturday should be a beautiful day for the Butter and Egg Days Parade!

This week’s Editor: Jane Saldaña-Talley

COMING EVENTS

President LEE REPOSA opened our penultimate April regular lunch meeting precisely at 12:30 p.m. with a very halting, tentative ringing of the bell (probably due to some post-tax day malaise?!).

After welcoming one and all, and leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance, the Prez selected WHITNEY HALL to lead us in song, which he did by singing Gypo and God Bless America in honor of Gene Benedetti, who always had us sing it loud and proud and from the heart!

ANNE GEALTA then delivered our Thought for the Day, followed by the customary handshakes, hugs and busses amongst members.

Next, DAVE BARBIERI introduced the Visiting Rotarians, followed by the introduction of the guests of Rotarians who joined us for lunch.

Club secretary GAIL CARDAROPOLI then announced that the April SCARC meeting will be hosted by the Rotary Club of Sebastopol on April 27 at the Sebastopol Community Church hall — call Gail if you would like to attend.

The Prez then followed-up with a reminder regarding the upcoming (May 12-14) District Conference in Incline Village at Lake Tahoe — call Gail or the Prez if you would like to join our Club’s contingent at the Conference.

Your dear editor then gave a Friendship Feast dinner update: The guest lists have been completed and sent out to the hosts, and all of the guests have now been contacted and notified of their assigned venue. Remember, if you are attending a Friendship Feast dinner but haven’t paid yet ($50 per person), please pay Club Treasurer TAWNY TESCONI, JUDI ALLEWELT or Emma at MICHAEL BADDELEY’s office (17 Keller Street).

Said editor also informed everyone that the Debunking Committee had convened and set the date for this year’s Debunking on June 24 (Saturday) at the Petaluma Golf & Country Club, so mark your calendars accordingly.

Past member Greg Freitas, now with the Sunrise Rotary Club, gave us an update on our District’s 2017 Group Study Exchange team (from India), who will need local accommodations when they are in our area — please call Greg or the Prez if you can host or otherwise help out.

The Prez then reminded us of the upcoming Annual Gene and Evelyn Benedetti Leadership Celebration sponsored by St. Joseph’s Health at PVH on May 6 — contact BRETT SHINN or the Prez if you would like to attend or make a donation.

#9689422 was the winning ticket for RICK MOSSI, who pulled out the brown rock and collected $225 in cash, $100 of which he generously donated to the Club’s local Rotary Foundation — thanks, Rick!!

The Prez then turned the microphone over, albeit somewhat reluctantly, to Program Chairman JIM BECKER...

who introduced our Speaker (Dr. James Gude)...

and his team of amazing doctors from China. Dr. Gude gave a very informative and inspiring presentation of the Global Offsite Care Telemedicine program and all of the good work they do.

After a great Q & A session, our Speaker and his team (including Jim Becker who is their Shanghai trip director) received a hearty round of applause and a Rotary memento (or maybe the raffle wine?!) in appreciation. Whereupon the conclusion thereof, and without fining anyone during the entire meeting, the Prez summarily adjourned the meeting.

This week’s Editor: Mike Baddeley; photos by Michael Nistler

COMING EVENTS

All hail the Chief (after all, happiness is being a short timer).

Our speaker was introduced by ANNE GEALTA who worked the crowd right from the start.

Rather than type in the standard format of events that take place each week, I thought it beneficial to highlight the Speaker of the Day, Mike Toy.

Mike is an entertainer, corporate speaker and a magician, among other duties. He presented us with a question: wouldn’t we all like to have more influence on our lives — our time, our relationships and our own lives?

He recounted the story of his first business, which was a student tutoring center. He asked his mother for a 20k loan and all he had to show for this expenditure was a mailing list that produced ONE PHONE CALL — and that person asked to be taken off the list! He explained his family dynamic (first generation American) and the relationship he had with his mother and father; and how one was nurturing and one was toxic. He was consumed with negativity surrounding his failures that he became a DDIY person — Don’t Do It Yourself. He stayed away from everything and t, until he pulled himself up and began his personal transformation. He challenged us to ask ourselves: what is holding you back.

His three tenets of success are:

1. Do it to get through it. You may not like something and it may be difficult at first, but if you apply this rule, you will understand that finishing the task will bring a greater reward than the pain of thinking about doing the task.

2. Be interested, not interesting. In order for us to connect and impact others, we need to listen and learn, and not make ourselves the center of focus/attention. My being interested in others, you connect on a deeper level and people know you care about them and you will benefit greater.

3. Don’t take it, trash it. Get rid of all the excess baggage and garbage that suffocates your life. We all carry too much in our lives and it continues to grow, unless we can trash it. This will alleviate the negative and allow more positive into your life.

He quoted some of Forbes Magazine’s interviews with successful people and their biggest regrets and some of the highlights were:

• Working too much
• Not intervening when seeing something wrong
• Not staying in touch with people
• Not being confident

Every person has the potential to change and earn positive capital. Through our own experiences, we can influence and change others, but we first have to take inventory of our own lives, then expand from there. Thank you Mike Toy for a great presentation!

Thank you to MIKE AMBROSIO for all of the Spring Training gifts that were presented!

Have a great day! Editor Richard Marzo

A few notable photos:

This week’s Editor: Ricardo Marzo; photos by Michael Nistler

COMING EVENTS

President LEE REPOSA did his usual fine job as a gracious host, welcoming all. Everyone enjoyed the always-delicious feast of beef stew and polenta and lively conversation among new and old friends.

A happy crowd of Rotarians and guests gathered on Friday evening at Herzog Hall for the annual Farmers and Merchants Night, a tradition of our club since 1930, when it was first launched as Farmers Night.

The great food coming out of the kitchen was the work of JAY PALM, BILL GROVERMAN, Ralph Sartori, Fred Corda, Alan Brody, Jim Moreda, Eddie Cardoza, Joe Moreda, and Bob Moyer.

TONY WESTERN made sure the bar was well-stocked, well-staffed, and running smoothly.

ANNE GEALTA directed a most impressive cadre of Liberty 4-H members and St. Vincent High School students throughout the set-up, meal service, and clean-up.

Masters of Ceremonies RICK MOSSI and MIKE BADDELEY set the tone for an evening of good humor, contributing not only their own jokes but also $50 each as a prize for the best joke of the evening. There were plenty of competitors for the prize, and it was difficult to tell which of the gold-plated gags was attracting the biggest laughs.

Past DG Ed tips the hat for applause?

Even Dentist Orest has a sense of humor!

Better laugh Joe’s jokes...or else ;)

Joanne’s charisma mesmerizes the masses...

 
Shari deadpans right up to the punchline and hubby Chris appears Presidential.

Politics aside, Supervisor David Rabbit is cajoled into sharing a funny.

Meanwhile Rancher Mike rips off a bunch before we could get the mic back.

Jokes as only Dairyman Ralph dare tell.

Clark shares his blend of Jewish humor.

And just watching Roy’s facial gestures were more than enough to tickle the masses.

 
Michael steps away from photos but his wife Grace earns the last word.

Secretary Gail sticks to her script.

Esquire Mike at his finest moment!

By crowd acclamation, the $100 prize went to the youngest contestant with the shortest and most tasteful offering: Grant Reposa. It is safe to assume that Grant, hardly a stranger to Rotary, will continue to visit us from time to time. And if you were not in attendance and wonder what that winning joke was . . . well, you should have been there. Next year!

Finally, it’s time for the raffle with tons of awards and once again, Grant Reposa again takes command of the drawing with Rotarian winners:

Marcus

Shari

Anne

Kathy

Tony

Bankers enjoy fruit of the vine :)

and many, many thanks to all of our wonderful guests...

The awards kept going on and on, thanks to our generous Rotarians and the many sponsors who agreed with our Rotarian motto - SERVICE ABOVE SELF.

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