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DIGITAL EDITION   No. 49     October 9, 2013     EDITORS:  Julia Parranto & Jim Johnson     PHOTOGRAPHER: Kris Anderson

Our Program For October 16th

THE STATE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT

The Honorable Rene’ Auguste Chouteau, Superior Court Justice

judge-rene-chouteauWe can thank Jose Guillen for Rotary’s distinguished speaker next week. They know each other from working together in the Sonoma County Courts but, unlike Jose, Judge Chouteau’s American roots go back to the Louisiana Purchase. His descendant and namesake—Rene’ Auguste Chouteau—was the French-American founder of St. Louis, Missouri. But this week’s speaker is about as local as most of us who live in Sonoma County. He grew up in the Bay Area, received his law degree from Stanford University, worked for Sonoma County Office of Education, served as city attorney for Santa Rosa, and is an avid surfer & outdoorsman who lives in Alexander Valley and keeps in shape swimming in the Russian River. Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn about California’s Superior Court.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS….

October 23: John Blount, Director, Rotary International (2009-11)
October 30: S A Y stands for Social Advocates for Youth
November 6: In observance of Veterans Day; no Wednesday meeting

NOTE: The October 23rd meeting will be held at St. Rose Hall

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 assigned Jack Abercrombie to be the designated leader of today’s Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and asked the club’s Poet Laureate, Robbie Fouts, to lead us in the Invocation.

ROTARY MAGAZINE QUIZ

What country’s political and religious leaders boycotted the polio vaccine in 2003 and is now the only place in the world where polio cases are increasing (in 2012, 122 cases were reported, more than twice as many as in 2011?

VISITING ROTARIANS

“The Mother Club” was honored today by visiting Rotarians from four Northern California Rotary Clubs, introduced by Jane Duggan: Annette Musson, in marketing and public relations, from West Santa Rosa, Steve Amend, retired contractor from the Santa Rosa Sunrise Rotary Club, Erick Van Cleave, Website Marketing, from the Rotary Club of Glen Ellen/Kenwood, and Troy Ingold,, retail management, representing the Fortuna Sunrise Rotary Club.

GUESTS OF ROTARIANS

Past President Bill Rousseau introduced today’s main speaker, the Assistant Registrar of Voters for Sonoma County, Gloria Colter. Nicole Le welcomed her guest Joyce Coll. Ryan Thomas welcomed Daryl Reese, legal assistant with his firm, Johnston-Thomas. Jack Abercrombie introduced Kelly Pappas, whose career is in aviation. Bill Hatcher, chair of our club’s High School Recognition Committee, welcomed back Brad Coscarelli, Santa Rosa High School Principal, attending with guest student of the month Felix Herbst.

Judy Glenn, President Peggy and Shannon McConnel

Judy Glenn, President Peggy and Shannon McConnel

BLUE BADGES

Old timer Judy Glenn knows the drill from Red Badge to Blue Badge and Shannon McConnell was eager to trade her red badge for a shiny new blue one.  For a small price, of course! Congratulations to Judy, back in Rotary where she belongs, and to Shannon, who has found her place at our Rotary Club.

RAFFLE

The loosing cards left in the deck were down to only thirty, $665 in the Rotary Jackpot and two winning Jokers lurking in the velvet bag. Things really looked good for our side until once again Jane Duggan ran across the 7 of spades and was forced to settle for another $10 consolation prize.

DOUG JOHNSON ON “DRAISING”

Doug Johnson puts the "fun" in "fundraising"

Doug Johnson puts the “fun” in “fundraising”

The word is actually “Fund Raising” but Doug didn’t think you would pay attention as he announced some of the obligations of being a Rotarian and what was in the works to generate the funds we need to operate as the type of Rotary Club we want to be.  We will be hearing more about Doug’s “Draising” plans in the near future.
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HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OF THE MONTH

One of the oldest on-going projects of our Rotary Club—so long ago that no one remembers when it began—is recognition of each high school’s outstanding student by Sonoma County’s largest and oldest Rotary Club.

Student of the Month Felix

Student of the Month Felix Herbst of Santa Rosa High School

The chair of our club’s High School Recognition Committee, Bill Hatcher, introduced Santa Rosa High School principal Brad Coscarelli, who emphasized how important it is for our community to support our schools and celebrate our students, and introduced Student of the Month, Felix Herbst, a graduating senior with a story that is quite amazing. Felix moved from Germany to the United States at the end of first grade, where he knew almost no English. In his first year, he picked up the English language and has never slowed down. He spent his elementary years at Hidden Valley Elementary School, went to the Santa Rosa Accelerated Charter School for sixth grade, then to Rincon Valley Middle for 7th & 8th grad. Felix and his parents then made the choice to send him to Santa Rosa High School, where has been for all four years.

An amazing student, he has been in the Choir and a touring member of the San Francisco Chanticleer Youth Choir. He has played the violin since he was seven, playing in local youth ensembles, and the Oakland Youth Orchestra, traveling last summer to Argentina.

His principal praised Felix as a scholar athlete for the school, in cross country, making the varsity after four years, and traveled last week to the Huntington Beach cross-country invitations. He played all four years on the varsity tennis team and was made captain of the team just this month. Along with all this, Felix has participated in the Battle of the Bands and will try out for the school musical.

An academic leader with a 4.42 GPA, he earned a perfect score on all five courses and perfect scores on the SAT & ACT. Outside of school, he volunteered for the Sonoma County Animal Shelter and has taught ballroom dancing at Nordquist Dance Studio for the last six years. Brad ended his remarks by saying that Felix has no idea what to do in college. He’s applying for the U. C. Schools, Stanford, Ivy League schools, and thinks he may study music & biomedical research.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT

ROTARY DIRECTORS 2015-16

Karen Ball
Tim Delaney
Tim Fawcett
Bill Hatcher
John McHugh
President Elect Nominee 2016-17: Doug Johnson

PERFECT ATTENDANCE AWARDS

Rotary Club of Santa Rosa 2012-2013

Two Years
Marnie Goldschlag
Bill Rousseau

Five Years
Matt Everson
Jack Geary
Jeff Gospe
John McHugh
Carmen Sinigiani

Twelve Years
Jack Abercrombie
Bill Hatcher

Thirteen Years
Kathleen Archer

Fourteen Years
Paul Hamilton

Seventeen Years
Tim Fawcwtt
Sam McMillan
Debi Zaft

Eighteen Years
Mark Burchill
Cecil Humes

Twenty Seven Years
Ted Wilmsen

Twenty Eight Years
Dan Bornstein

Thirty Nine Years
Steve Olson

ROTARY MARKETING COMMITTEE

Darren Elliott announced that the new marketing committee was up and running with the light-hearted slide show presentation that focuses on the importance of communications within the club. Rotary Means Kindness is the theme of the public campaign which will be underwritten by sponsors to inform the public what Rotary means to the well-being of the entire community. We need the help of the entire club, targeting local businesses and organizations, and getting them involved in informing the community all that Rotary means to our community.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Rotary Social & Barbeque at Wayne Rowlands
This is our Rotary Club’s gala social where we all feast on the barbeque lamb and pork our club purchased at the Sonoma County Fair auction. Check our club’s website for more information and directions to Wayne’s home on Tuesday afternoon, October 22nd

501(c) 3 Non-Profit Grants & Projects
Ted Wilmsen
urged us to contact all non-profit organizations to urge them to consider making an application for a Rotary Grant for a worthwhile community project. Cathy Vicini is the Director for our Rotary Club’s Community Outreach.

Craig Meltzner: Thanks to SRA
On behalf of Santa Rosa Rotary’s Youth Exchange, Craig thanked Santa Rosa High School for their support and assistance.

Annual Veterans Luncheon on November 7th
Sponsored by the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs of Santa Rosa, tickets are now on sale for annual Veterans Day luncheon at noon on Thursday, Nov. 7th at the Veterans Memorial auditorium.  Tickets to this outstanding event are only $15 each to honor our local veterans for their service. Past President Ray Dorfman urged us to purchase tickets now for ourselves, our guests, and a few extra tickets for veterans who need extra help to attend. Our club’s goal this year is to purchase 150 tickets, Remember that the Santa Rosa Rotary Club will be dark on Wednesday, Nov. 6th, the day before the big Veterans Day recognition.

Rotary Dinner Reminder
The Rotary District 5130 Foundation Dinner South is only two weeks from this weekend. All Rotarians are encouraged to support the Foundation by attending this important event on Saturday evening, November 2nd, black tie optional. Until the end of October, our Rotary Club will match all contributions between $100 and $300 made to the Rotary Foundation, plus each contributor will be entered in the raffle which will take place at the Foundation dinner.  The Foundation dinner is from 6 pm to 11 pm to be held at the Sally Tomatoes Event Center, 1100 Valley House Drive in Rohnert Park.  For more information and directions and a map go to the Santa Rosa Rotary events calendar at www.https://santarosarotary.com/events.

YMCA Golf Tournament next Friday
Join your fellow Rotary golfers as we compete against the other Rotary Clubs in this area. Tee-off time is next Friday afternoon, October 18th, at 12:30 pm, at the Windsor Golf Club.  Past President Bill Rousseau would love for us to bring the bragging rights home to our club next week!

ROTARY MEETING CHANGE: OCTOBER 23

The October 23rd Rotary meeting will not be held in the Ballroom at the Flamingo Hotel. On Wednesday, Oct. 23, it will move to the alternate meeting location at St. Rose Hall, on Tenth Street, adjacent to the Catholic Church.

OPENING THE DOOR TO POLIO ERADICATION

It’s been more than two years since the last polio case was reported in Côte d’lvoire, time enough for people to become complacent about immunizations. But that would be a mistake – a potentially deadly mistake. The public in countries like Côte d’lvoire do not understand why after so many rounds of polio immunization they are still being asked to be inoculated again. The answer is that they cannot let up against this tenacious and crippling disease. With Nigeria being one of the polio epidemic countries, the risk of fresh breakouts in this African country is so risky. After coming this far the only way to keep polio from coming back is fresh inoculations every year of all children five years of age and under. For more information click on this link:

Read more
Contribute to End Polio Now

PROGRAM

Everything you always wanted to know about elections:

Speaker Gloria Coulter with Bill Rousseau

Speaker Gloria Coulter with Bill Rousseau

Program chair Wayne Rowlands introduced Past President Bill Rousseau and Sonoma County’s Assistant Registrar of Voters, Gloria Colter. As of next month, Bill will have served the citizens of Sonoma County as Sonoma County Clerk, Recorder, Assessor, and Registrar of Voters for 30 years. He described the job as a complex group of duties that includes conducting elections, registration of voters, procuring election sites, recruiting poll workers, providing information to voters and candidates, educating the youth of the community who will become voters, and what appeared to be other endless responsibilities.

After answering questions from the floor, Bill passed us along to Gloria Colter, who quickly brought us up to date on the many responsibilities they have to voters, candidates, monitors, and all who participate in a long list of mandates that govern and regulate the voter systems in California and the United States of America that is constantly being revised and changed. What a comprehensive education packed into what turned out to be too much information for such an important subject in too little time. Thanks to Bill and to Gloria for giving us a fleeting glimpse of a small part of voting, and  the promise and expectations of things yet to come in the American democratic process.

PEGGY THANKS HER HELPERS

John Berto for leading us in the Pledge
Robbie Fouts for the Invocation
Paul Hamilton – Visiting Rotarians
Jason Black for conducting the Raffle
Judy Glenn for assisting in ticket sales
Darren Elliott for collecting tickets
and Greeters Kris Anderson & Yale Abrams

TWO CLOSING QUOTES

“Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.” George Bernard Shaw

And from John Stewart: “You have to remember one thing about the will of the people: It wasn’t that long ago that we were swept away by the MACARENA.”

 

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