Santa Rosa West

Coming up

January 16th
Crab Feed

January 18th
El Nino & La Nina

January 19
Captain Al Haynes speaks to Windsor Rotary (See Announcements)

February 1
Assembly

March 15
Support Our Schools Program Update

Criminal Diversion Offers Alternative

January 4, 1999

Happy New Year!

King Richard began the meeting on time with a chiming of his bell. New member Tom Boylin led us all in the pledge and a stirring invocation ushering in the new year was given us by Chuck Baker.

Patsy Barnes introduced the visiting Rotarians including 11 from the "other" club, 1 from Santa Rosa Sunrise, 2 from Windsor, 1 from as far away as Beaverton OR. And, oh yes, Paul Risore (booooooo).

Rotarians With Guests

Paul Stychno introduced Ron Allen of Ron Allen and Associates. Ron was recognized for his gracious support of our weekly raffle.

Mark Matson introduced his best friend and lovely wife Elizabeth.

Announcements

Paul Stychno (right) announced that our sister club in San Jose, Costa Rica is seeking donations of used crutches, canes or walkers which they will assemble into a lending bank. Contact Paul for further details. Remember, this year's Ski Challenge will be on the weekend of March 5, 1999. The particulars will be announced as soon as they are known. But, as this trip generally fills up very quickly, advanced registration is advisable.

Windsor Rotary Club is having a special speaker, Captain Al Haynes of United Airlines, who will be sharing with them the inspiring and life changing story of United 232.  January 19, 1999, 7:00 a.m., at Luther Burbank, $10.00, continental breakfast, call Beverly Graham at (707) 838-3737 for reservations and info.

Crab Feed

Bob Marigo told us there is only two weeks left until the crab feed and we need donations. Ron Street clarified that, although there are two weeks left before the crab feed, if the donors wish to be recognized in the Program, then the deadline is Wednesday, Jan. 6, 1999.

Dennis Wilkinson announced that we need people to sign up to help tend bar. It was suggested to Dennis that Bob Miller and Jim Sullivan not be allowed to tend bar together again this year. Neither Bob nor Jim thought that was a particularly helpful idea.

Ginny Pitts (right) announced that she was looking for a good few good men. Janet Codding volunteered. Actually Ginny is looking for help in setting up and taking down the silent auction tables (both men and women). Ron Street announced that we need help in going around and picking up the donations. The Bobs volunteered for this duty (Marigo, Zeni, and Miller).

Chris Rosell reminded us to send in our ticket stubs to avoid having to wait in line for auction booklets, etc. at the crab feed.

Ron Street announced that we were trying to put together a Kirkwood ski package and asked if anyone knew a car dealer who could rent us a vehicle for the winner to get up to the slopes.

Tickets are still needed. If you or anyone you know have tickets that they are not intending on using please contact Tom Tessier or Bob Marigo.

January Is Rotary Awareness Month

President Richard encouraged us to check out the Rotary International WebSite and reminded us that videos and literature are available for us in our continuing effort to share the gift of Rotary in our community. In celebration of Rotary Awareness Month, King Richard suggested it might be a good idea for us to bring a friend to lunch at our group to share with people what Rotary is all about. President Richard then shared with us a little bit about the history of the Four Way Test. It was developed in 1932 by Hubert J. Taylor. He used it in his successful efforts to bring around a failing company which he had taken over. He then brought it into Rotary. Its application in Rotary has been hugely successful and now it can be found at every meeting worldwide helping Rotarians in their daily lives to improve the quality of their interactions with others.

District Recognized For Honduran Relief

Our district was recently recognized along with Lou Del Sol for raising $20,000 (by mid-December) to assist the effort to help victims of the terrible flooding in Central America.

General Recognition (A.K.A. Fines)

Mark Matson and his wife Elizabeth were recently in Cancun for a week over Christmas. They were successful at staying out of the sun during the day but the call of the nightlife was too much for them. $25.00.

Phil Talamantes celebrated the birth of a new grandson and has another one on the way. Congratulations Phil. $20.00

Ginny Pitts was overwhelmed the by the torrent of holiday frenzy and was unable to give Chuck Baker assistance ringing the bell. A truly reticent Ginny was let off for only $20.00

Dennis Wilkinson didn't see the Denver Broncos lose to the Miami Dolphins. When asked if he was concerned about the possibility that the Broncos might meet the 49ers in the Super Bowl he opined that he did not believe it would be a problem as long as the officials started calling the fumbles (a reference to an alleged fumble by the immaculate Jerry Rice that was not called in the 49ers recent victory over Green Bay). Dennis agreed to pay the $40.00 fine as long as it would count toward the birthdays and anniversaries for which he has not been recognized over the past three years.

Anniversaries

Ginny Pitts (29 years); Bill Gittins (32 years).

Raffle

This week, we had $780 in the pot. Gordon Shurtleff got the chance to pull the magic marble but luck eluded him. Phil Talamantes received the second place prize and promptly donated it to the Community Fund.

PROGRAM: Sonoma County Criminal Justice Diversion and Education
Ken Dansie (right), after much interruption and distraction, was finally able to introduce Andrea Glasnow of the California Human Development Corporation.

Ms. Glasnow (left) runs the Sonoma County Criminal Justice Diversion and Education Programs for the CHDC. These programs include "Project Intercept" which is a pretrial diversion program for first-time misdemeanor offenders. A judge might offer this program as an option after charges have been filed. The "Adult Diversion Services" program is a pre-filing program where the district attorney's office can refer an offender even before criminal charges are filed. The "Deferred Entry of Judgment" program offers post-plea services for adult misdemeanor and felony drug offenders. Finally, the "Educational Sentencing Program" offers post conviction alternatives to traditional sentencing options.

All of these programs offer needs-assessment and counseling sessions, workshops, drug testing (where appropriate), referrals to appropriate self-help programs, to training and education, and two other social resources. The object of these diversion programs is to substitute, where possible, re-constructive rather than punitive responses to offenders' mistakes and misdeeds. The idea is that, for many first-time offenders, their criminal activity is a response to causes and pressures in their lives which, if dealt with constructively, will lead to personal growth and civic responsibility rather than recidivism.

The programs are favored by Judges, District Attorneys and Public Defenders alike because they take pressure off overcrowded courts and jails, lower recidivism and address the real problems and needs of criminal offenders. The increasing use of these programs within the criminal justice system is a testament to their effectiveness. Recidivism among non-drug-related offenders without diversion is approximately 25%. With diversion it has been reduced to 5%. The cost of criminal prosecution is also dramatically reduced. The cost for diversion averages only $21.00 per case. Compare this to the thousands of dollars spent on even a single criminal prosecution.

This bulletin is respectfully submitted by David Bjorklund.

New E-mail address or Fax number?

Let me know at DRBjork@thegrid.net or
phone (707) 576-7632 or fax (707) 576-7672.

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