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DIGITAL EDITION No. 198  October 26, 2016  EDITOR: Sam Saunders PHOTOGRAPHER: Diane Moresi PUBLISHER: Richard Lazovick

Our Program for November 2nd:

THE MIDDLE EAST REFUGEE CRISIS
John Namkung

namkung-john_picIn March and April of 2016 John Namkung went to Greece as a volunteer to assist refugees from Syria and other parts of the Middle East as they made their journey toward Europe.  On November 2 he will share his experiences and what he learned from his journey.  This is a program we will not want to miss.  Bring a guest.

John is a retired special educator who lives in Sebastopol.  During his career, he taught children with learning disabilities and later became an administrator, responsible for the coordination of special education programs throughout Sonoma County school districts.

He currently volunteers with the International Rescue Committee, an agency funded by the U.S. government to assist with the resettlement of refugees in the United States. He serves as a Family Mentor to newly-arrived refugees to the Bay Area.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Wednesday November 2: Middle East Refugee Crisis
Wednesday November 9: Veterans Program (CLUB IS DARK)
Wednesday November 16: SRJC International Students – CCI Program
Wednesday November 23: CLUB is DARK for Thanksgiving !

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

THE WIND-UP

dscn2206President Jose Guillen set us in motion with the Rotary bell and his patented hearty greeting.

Playing hardball today and knowing that today’s program requires a full hour, he benched most of the usual meeting agenda.

PLEDGE

A smooth delivery by Past President and ‘crooner extraordinaire’ Don McMillan.

INVOCATION

Past President Will Haymaker pitched a child’s story about the seven Wonders of the World not being the man-made objects but rather the best seven human qualities. Thoughtful.

VISITING ROTARIANS

Mikki Cardoza introduced several visiting Rotarians.

GUESTS OF MEMBERS

President Jose graciously welcomed all of our guests today, which included the six speakers, Jim Sparks, Los Barron (now interning in our Club), Bruni Thylin, Charles Hoffman, Matt Everson, Chris Mattie, Kellin Gilbert and Michael Brouse.

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SUNSHINE REPORT

Ginny Cannon brought cloudy news that Jack Abercrombie is homebound with pneumonia.  Richard Lazovick really does need a kidney NOW, so if you can or know someone who can donate, please contact him. (Click to download flyer) The memorial service for Dick Jenkins will be at First Presbyterian Church on Saturday, November 5 at 11:00AM.  A memorial service for West Club Rotarian Phil Talamantes will be at the Hyatt Hotel on November 20 at 2:00PM.

RAFFLE (STRIKE OUT AGAIN!)

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Don McMillian draws for the raffle

Robby Fouts was willing but Past President Rich de Lambert was unable to win the $42 pot.

He did get a refund of his ticket cost

THE PRESIDENT’S POST

President Jose thanked President-Elect Julia Parranto for doing such a great job as Acting Club President on October 12.  In fact, so much so that she earned that title again next week (Nov 2).

Rich de Lambert presented a memento mug to Julia from his visit to the Sacramento Kings’ new arena (Golden 1 Center).

Intern Sargent of Arms - Los Barron

Intern Sergeant of Arms – Los Barron

President Jose presenting a blue badge to Matthew Henry

President Jose presenting a blue badge to Matthew Henry

President Jose proudly presented a blue badge to Matthew Henry and Los Barron was presented with a shiny Sergeant at Arms In Training badge. Matthew’s name was shown as Matt, so back goes the badge for another correction.

Los was thanked for agreeing to train for the Sergeant-at-Arms job (thank you Los!).

Reminder – no club meeting on November 9 (dark due to the Veteran’s Lunch that day).

 

President Jose raised $80 for the Polio Plus campaign by auctioning a piñata (with candy) fashioned after Presidential candidate Donald Trump.  Don McMillan was the highest bidder (hmmm . . . ).

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PROGRAM

dscn2204Past President Bill Rousseau introduced six speakers today, each one a candidate for the Santa Rosa City Council in the November 8th election.  They are: Brandi Asker, Julie Combs, Ernesto Olivares, Chris Rogers, Don Taylor and Jack Tibbetts.  Each candidate weighed in on several questions posed by Bill in the Q&A format.  The questions were: (1) Tell us about yourself and why you are running for the city council; (2) Do you support expanded access to children’s drama programs? (3) Should the city increase housing supply?  If so, how?  If not, why?

One question was allowed from the floor:  How do you think the homeless housing matter should be solved on a short-term basis?

All of the candidates seemed to agree that the City of Santa Rosa faces challenges in the area of affordable housing, homelessness, crime prevention, road maintenance, job creation and increased funding for drama education (ed. – where did that come from?).  Each candidate had, and expressed, their own set of solutions.  Some ideas were commonly shared. (Ed.- I say get two more council members to resign and elect all six of the above as a new slate.)

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THE CLOSER

President Jose thanked today’s Rotarian volunteers: Laura Held, Steve Baime, Karen Ball, Robby Fouts and Los Barron.

OFFICERS

Rotary Club of Santa Rosa Officers

President: Jose Guillen, President Elect: Julia Parranto, President Elect Nominee: Tony Roehrick, Past President: Doug Johnson, Secretary: Debi Zaft, Treasurer: Cecil G. Humes, Sergeant at Arms: Jack Geary

President Rotary International

John F. Germ, member of the Rotary Club Of Chattanooga, Tennessee

Governor, District 5130

Wulff A. Reinhold, Sr. member of the Rotary Club of Rohnert Park – Cotati

Attendance Secretary

Debi Zaft P.O. Box 505 Santa Rosa, CA 95402 707-538-4770

Board of Directors

Kathleen Archer, Jack Atkin, Gesine Franchetti, Ray Giampaoli, Will Haymaker, Elizabeth Karbousky, Steve Marburger, Jackie McMillan, Diane Moresi