DIGITAL EDITION No. 249 December 13, 2017  EDITOR: Layne Bowen PHOTOGRAPHER: Diane Moresi PUBLISHER: Jack Atkin

Club is Dark Wednesday December 20th, 2017

 

Our Program For December 27, 2017

Trivial Pursuit & Annual Meeting

President turns Trivia guru

The ever popular annual Trivia Pursuit will return on Dec. 27th with a new Master of Ceremonies, Julia Parranto.  We have had two speakers this year teaching us how to use our brains more effectively.  So begin forming your teams and come prepared for a rousingly fun meeting

This will also be our Annual Meeting to elect club’s incoming president and new Board of Directors.

Wednesday December 20th:  Club Is Dark 
Wednesday December 27th:  Annual Trivia Contest & Annual Meeting
Wednesday January 3rd, 2018: The Power of Rotary – From Devastation Comes Inspiration

USEFUL LINKS

Visit our district at: http://www.rotary5130.org
Check out Rotary International at: http://www.rotary.org
Come see us at: http://rotarymeansbusiness

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OPENING CEREMONIES

President Julia called the meeting to order.

Pledge:

David Berman

Reflection:

Cathy Vicini

Once upon a time, there was a man who worked very hard just to keep food on the table for his family. This particular year a few days before Christmas, he punished his little five-year-old daughter after learning that she had used up the family’s only roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. As money was tight, he became even more upset when on Christmas Eve he saw that the child had used all of the expensive gold paper to decorate one shoebox she had put under the Christmas tree. He also was concerned about where she had gotten money to buy what was in the shoebox. Nevertheless, the next morning the little girl, filled with excitement, brought the gift box to her father and said, “This is for you, Daddy!” As he opened the box, the father was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, now regretting how he had punished her. But when he opened the shoebox, he found it was empty and again his anger flared. “Don’t you know, young lady,” he said harshly, “when you give someone a present, there’s supposed to be something inside the package!” The little girl looked up at him with sad tears rolling from her eyes and whispered: “Daddy, it’s not empty. I blew kisses into it until it was all full.” The father was crushed. He fell on his knees and put his arms around his precious little girl. He begged her to forgive him for his unnecessary anger. It is told that the father kept this little gold box by his bed for all the years of his life. Whenever he was discouraged or faced difficult problems, he would open the box, take out an imaginary kiss, and remember the love of this beautiful child who had put it there.In a very real sense, each of us has been given an invisible golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

GUESTS 

No guests were present today.

VISITING ROTARIANS

No visiting Rotarians

SUNSHINE

Former club member Bill Gass passed away.

RAFFLE

Doug Chase had $78 in the kitty. Bill Hatcher only walked away with the $10 consolation prize.

POLIO PLUS

Julia announced that there were only 16 new cases of polio in Afghanistan and Pakistan this year. By working together, these two countries are immunizing at transit hubs. Our club has achieved 71% of our fundraising goal. We are currently 9th in the District at just over $4,300. Our new board has 31 squares open at $10 per square. Buy as many squares as you can!

Is this Cathy?CATHY’S A CLOWN

  • Santa was having a rough December. A bunch of elves got sick from some bad eggnog, and toy production was way behind. Then Santa’s mother-in-law showed up for Christmas, with a lot of “free advice,” and Santa felt his stress levels rising. On top of that, a couple of the reindeer had wandered off into the tundra, and three more had somehow got themselves pregnant. Then during his pre-Christmas flight safety check, Santa found the maintenance team had totally neglected the sleigh: the runners were rusty, the paint had cracked, and some of the wood was infested with termites.Frustrated beyond belief, Santa went into the house for a hot cider. But the elves had raided the cellar and it was dry as a bone. “No wonder they’re all sick,” he muttered. He reached for a cookie and accidentally knocked over a king-size candle which splattered giant sparks all over his coat and beard. He managed to extinguish the sparks but his red coat was charred and his beard smelled horrible. Then, at that very moment, somebody rang the doorbell, and kept right on ringing. Reeking of smoke, and definitely not in his happy place, Santa jerked open the front door and there stood an angel with a Christmas tree. The angel said, “Santa, we got you a beautiful tree this year. Where do you want me to put it?”And that, as it happens, is how the angel got to be sitting on top of the Christmas tree.

 

Ted WilmsenANNOUNCEMENTS

  • Julia reminded us that she is hosting a social at her house this Saturday, the 16th at 5:30. Don’t bring food, wine optional.
  • Don’t forget the meat from our Fair purchase will be auctioned at Julia’s party.
  • Rich de Lambert thanked Rotarians who participated in bell ringing.
  • Jackie asked us to answer the survey to determine which river cruise would be preferred in 2019.
  • Debi asked Rotarians who lost their home to take Christmas ornaments displayed in the back.
  • Kris Anderson announced that any woman not a Rotarian needing clothes can come to Sonoma Academy on Sunday the 17th.
  • Ray Giampaoli thanked those who have purchased raffle tickets and asked members to sell 100 tickets each. Blocks of tickets are available now.
  • Rose Frances asked that Rotarians attend their holiday social this Sunday.
  • Rich DeLambert thanked Rotarians who delivered libations to Rotary bell ringers.
  • Cathy Vicini shared this note she received from Santa Claus:

I am writing this note to inform you that inflation has taken away the things I hold most essential: my workshop, my reindeer, my sleigh. Now I’m making my rounds on a donkey; he’s old, and ornery and slow. So if you don’t see me at Christmas, I’m out on my ass in the snow.

 

  • Ted Wilmsen asked for 16 more signups for dictionary giveaways in January.

Bob SorensenCRAFT TALK

Peter Holewinski did a lunch interview and prepared a craft talk for Bob Sorenson. Peter is proud that Bob is a member of our club due to a life well lived. Born in Pasadena, Bob attended Claremont College. He achieved a PhD in Management Psychology. Bob and his wife Marge were married for 61 years until her passing. Bob was a professor at Cal Poly and a Rotarian, holding many positions in his club. He was active in international Rotarian activities. Bob moved to Santa Rosa in 1997, and is active with various committees and fundraisers. Thank you Bob for your many years of Rotary service!

GOOD NEWS

 

  • Julia recognized Richard Lazovick who has been dealing with kidney failure for some time. Richard announced that a donor has been found and January 5th, Richard expects to have a new kidney. We are so happy for you, Richard and wish you the very best results.
  • Tim Delaney joyfully announced his wife is now cancer free.
  • Cathy that the wine industry came together and replaced the wine she lost in the fires.
  • Jeff Gospe got teased for always showing up late, but Ann’s quick thinking saved him.
  • Laura Held announced that Cardinal Newman is still in business but spread around at 4 different school campuses. She is proud of the CN football team’s success especially given the circumstances. Finally, by mid to late January, Laura is happy to announce that the full campus will reopen!

David Gambill ChocolatierPROGRAM


Jackie McMillan introduced Chocolatier David Gambill, who for the last 4 years has been voted the Best Tasting the chocolateChocolatier in Sonoma County   David gave us a history lesson about cacao, found in Central America and later in South America. Cacao beans are now grown in Africa and Southeast Asia. Cacao beans are always fermented, otherwise they are inedible. The beans are then cracked revealing “nibs”. It is now cocoa.

David noted that milk chocolate is mostly milk and sugar and of little nutritional value. Dark chocolate, however, is loaded with antioxidants, and is, in small amounts good for teeth. Other health benefits are suspected but not absolutely substantiated.

David passed out whole beans, nibs and unsweetened and finished chocolate so that we could better understand the stages of processing Cacao into cocoa and then into chocolate. He then passed put samples of their award-winning caramel chocolates and then an orange flavored sample. Needless to say, this was one tasty program!

 

 

Additional Photos

Ornaments for those who lost their homesBill Hatcher draws a marbleDebi & Rose

OFFICERS

Rotary Club of Santa Rosa Officers

President: Julia Parranto, President Elect: Tony Roehrick, President Elect Nominee: Cathy Vicini, Past President: Jose Guillen, Secretary: Debi Zaft, Treasurer: Cecil G. Humes

President Rotary International

Ian Riseley of the RC of Sandringham, Australia

Governor, District 5130

Bob Rogers, Rotary Club of Sebastopol

Attendance Secretary

Debi Zaft P.O. Box 505 Santa Rosa, CA 95402

Board of Directors

Kathleen Archer, Ray Giampaoli, Steve Marburger, Jackie McMillan, Diane Moresi, Laura Held, Peter Holewinski, Steve Baime and Jeff Kolin