DIGITAL EDITION   No. 54     November 20, 2013     EDITOR:  Jim Johnson     PHOTOGRAPHER: Diane Moresi

No meeting Wednesday, November 27th due to Thanksgiving

Our Program For December 4th

CHRISTMAS WRAPPING PARTY

As in past years, the club will be sponsoring  a group of local children to attend the Nutcracker at Spreckle’s Theatre.  After the performance, Santa Clause will be in attendance handing out gifts purchased by the club.

Gifts will be wrapped during the December 4^th  weekly meeting.

Additional help is still much needed–If you are interested in volunteering with the event or with shopping for the gifts please contact Carrie Ludtke at 707-495-5434
carrieludtke11@sbcglobal.net

Come to the meeting and help wrap presents for the upcoming Nutcracker Program. There will be food and eggnog served. Bring a good pair of scissors and some tape.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

November 27: No Rotary meeting due to Thanksgiving Holiday
December 4: Christmas Holiday Gift-wrapping Party—Flamingo Ballroom
December 11: Chef Gerard Guidice, with holiday recipes and gourmet tips

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.com
Visit the Sonoma County Superior Court at: http://sonoma.courts.ca.gov/

OPENING CEREMONIES

President Peggy called today’s meeting to order and called on Vickie Hardcastle to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and asked Past President Marnie Goldschlag to give us some thoughts for the day. She suggested 10 free random acts of kindness that we could practice:

1. Hug your loved ones for no particular reason
2. Hold the door open for the person behind you
3. Offer your seat to someone (on the bus, in a waiting room, at Starbucks)
4. Write a note of praise or call someone’s manager or supervisor of a waiter or waitress, teacher, or customer service person
5. Make eye contact with a stranger; smile and say hello
6. Give someone a genuine compliment or say something nice just because
7. Send a card to someone serving in our military
8. Write something funny or inspiring and leave it for someone to find (in a library book, in the office copy machine, etc.
9. Donate used books to a local shelter school, or senior center
10. Ask others, sincerely, what you can do to help

VISITING ROTARIANS

Carrie Ludtke introduced our lone Visiting Rotarian today, retired public safety officer and today’s speaker and trainer, Wulff Reinhold.

GUESTS OF ROTARIANS

With eight guests of Rotarians attending today’s Rotary Club meeting, Carrie Ludtke began today’s introductions. A big job but somebody has to do it, and Carrie did it perfectly. Teray McBride was the guest of AJ Printing (Greg Johnston); Rotarian Darren Elliott introduced his guest, attorney Theresa Fritz, with the remaining guests invited by Steve Olson and Sam McMillan: From Elsie Allen High School—Grant Ermis from Elsie Allen High’s Ag School, Gayle Smith from the ag group at Santa Rosa High School, and Past President Steve Olson’s two guests from the Future Farmers from Santa Rosa High, Caroline Ballard and Brittney Kozenko. A hearty Rotary Welcome to all of today’s honored guests.

PROSPECTIVE NEW MEMBER

Troy Ingold, formerly of the Fortuna Sunrise Club, was introduced by Jack Abercrombie.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT

President Peggy presented the election slate of nominees for Officers and Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa, reading off the names of the new officers for two-year term from 2014 to 2016 and calling for nominees from the floor. There being no further nominations from the floor, the slate of nominees was unanimously elected.
Nominees for the Board of Directors’ two-year terms: Tim Delaney, Karen Ball, Tim Fawcett, John McHugh, and Bill Hatcher.
Nominee for President-elect for 2014-15: Jose Guillen
Nominee for President-elect Nominee:  Doug Johnson
Secretary: Jack Abercrombie
Treasurer: Cecil Humes

RAFFLE

Tim Delaney is becoming an old pro at running Rotary’s Raffle, calmly announcing that today’s Jackpot was only $40 shy of breaking $1,000, giving remarkably  favorable odds of one in 25 for each of the holders of all those little red tickets. Left holding the lucky ticket was United Way’s Mike Kallhoff, whose luck ran off his “ road to riches” when he failed to draw one of the Jokers, leaving him with $10 in consolation cash. But the odds are excellent that we’ll be playing next week for a $1,000 Jackpot, at least.

DARREN ELLIOT’S CRAFT TALK

When a fellow Rotarian is introduced to participate in one of our club’s traditions, you never know if we’re going to hear a speech, listen to a presentation, or enjoy the musical talents of one of our members. When Darren walked on stage with his guitar, we knew what was next—a musical craft talk from new member Darren Elliott. Seems like there’s a lot of that going around our Rotary Club lately. Great performance of your craft talk, Darren!!

JOHN BROWN MEMORIAL VETERAN’S SCHOLARSHIP

“John’s” scholarship matching fund continues to grow thanks to the contributions from many very generous Rotarians. The goal was to raise $3,000 additional dollars by December 31st and we have raised $1,950 in the first eight days of the program. The Rotary Club of Santa Rosa Foundation wishes to thank the following matching fund donors:
Eileen Carlisle          Sam McMillan
Vickie Hardcastle     Kim Murphy
Will Haymaker          Steve Olson
Doug Johnson          Cathy Vicini
Jeanne Levin            Ted Wilmsen

Additional Rotarians are encouraged to donate before the end of the year. Checks should be made payable to the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa Foundation and mailed to PO Box 1513, Santa Rosa 95402 or they can be given to Judy Glenn, Jeanne Levin, or Steve Olson at a Rotary meeting. You can also donate using PayPal through the Foundation page on the club website.

ROTARY’S NUTCRACKER SUITE

One of the most enjoyable and rewarding volunteer opportunities every year has to be helping with the classic children’s adventure, the Nutcracker Suite Ballet. Held on Saturday afternoon at the Spreckles Auditorium in Rohnert Park., the performance is perfect holiday fun for our guests, disadvantaged school children, their parents and friends.

Our fellow Rotarians will be wrapping gifts for the youngsters during our Rotary meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 4^th, as we get ready for the ballet performance on Saturday afternoon, December 7^th. Carrie Ludtke needs volunteer shoppers to shop for children’s gifts. Just give her call or email her to volunteer as a shopper and to prepare for Santa’s visit to the Spreckles Center after the performance, complete; complete with refreshments and lots of gifts and toys for the children.  With only 10 days left before the performance, time is running out.  If you would like to join us and the young children at the Nutcracker Ballet, contact Carrie Ludtke. Her contact information is in the Rotary Roster.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our Rotary Club’s first corporate members were officially welcomed to this 93 year-old Rotary Club. In coming weeks, track down Eric Goldschlag, Lance Badger, and Tom Schwedhelm. Introduce yourself and welcome them to Rotary.

Rotary Clubs all over the United States—and the world—are sending Shelter Boxes to the storm-ravaged Philippines, including this Rotary Club’s World Community Service Committee, who voted to send a shelter box on behalf of our club.

President-elect Mark Burchill caught us up to date on some housekeeping announcements: Effective January 1, the cost of lunch at the weekly Rotary meetings will be increased from $20 to $22 per person. Mark asked Rotary Club members if we wanted sandwiches for lunch every 4 to 6 weeks. Sandwiches won out in the informal survey.

Sam McMillan announced that all of the meat from the County Fair has been delivered. Contact Sam to make arrangements to pick up what you bought.

Christmas bell-ringing volunteers for The Salvation Army are needed for short two-hour shifts on the two weekends before Christmas: December 13 & 14 or Dec. 20 & 21. Contact Jock McNeill to sign up!

Yale Abrams announced that several hands-on “Laguna Projects” will be coming up soon: Contact Yale to sign up.

Poinsettia volunteers are needed to sell Rotary’s Christmas flowers and deliver them on Wednesday, December 11^th, to seniors living at the Vigil Light homes near the Flamingo. Orders will be taken only one more Wednesday—December 4^th. The price of the potted flowers is $9.25 each, which will enable us to give the poinsettias as Christmas gifts from our Rotary Club

PROGRAM

Rotary District 5130 now requires that all Rotarians who are involved with our youth and youth programs—even on a casual basis–receive specialized Youth Safety Training. President Peggy introduced Wulff Reinhold, from the Rohnert Park-Cotati Rotary Club, a District trainer and retired policeman who devotes much of his time to Rotary for the District. Reinhold began by emphasizing that this training—required and enforced by Rotary International Policy—not only for the protection of our youth but to protect Rotarians, and others, who work and interact with young people.

This marks the third year of the local compliance training in the District. The initial training concluded with all Rotarians in attendance signing that they had attended the training, with the reminder that this was only the initial training. Those Rotarians working with youth on a one-on-one basis would need even more training. Because of the cultural differences and boundaries that exist in these communities, Officer Reinhold emphasized the need for training at all levels and provided club members with contact information to enable all Rotarians who have contact with local youth workers receive the additional training.

THANKS TO TODAY’S VOLUNTEER HELPERS

Vickie Hardcastle for leading us in the Pledge
Marnie Goldschlag for the Invocation
Tim Delaney for conducting today’s Raffle
Carrie Ludtke for welcoming Visiting Rotarians
Judy Glenn for collecting tickets
and Greeters Jack Atkin & Jock McNeill

PEGGY’S CLOSING QUOTE

“Safety is something that happens between ears, not something you hold in our hands.”

OFFICERS

Rotary Club of Santa Rosa Officers

President: Peggy Soberanis, President Elect: Mark Burchill, President Elect Nominee: Jose Guillen, Past President: Bill Rousseau, Secretary: Jack Abercrombie, Treasurer: Cecil G. Humes, Sergeant at Arms: Jack Geary

President Rotary International

Ron D. Burton, member of the Rotary Club of Norman, Oklahoma, USA

Governor, District 5130

Helaine Campbell, Rotary Club of Sebastopol Sunrise

Attendance Secretary

Jack Abercrombie P.O. Box 505 Santa Rosa, CA 95402 707-538-4770

Board of Directors

Debra Dorfman, Matt Fannin, Jose Guillen, Doug Johnson, Nicole Le, Robert Pierce, Jack Tolin, Creed Wood, Cathy Vicini