UKRAINE, Land of Unlimited (and Unlocked) Potential – Oct. 12, 1998

Columbus Day (Not a Banker was stirring...)

Well another day another dollar and "King Richard" called the October 12th meeting to order at 12:32pm (fashionably late). The pledge by Phil Talamantes with a moment of silence for the passing of Rotarian Ken Glover. The Invocation was prose from Fred Zmarszley.

Paul Schwartz recognized our 16 visiting Rotarians, noting that all the bankers were absent this Columbus Day, but all the good Italians were here, including Bob Marigo (right).

Two political guests were introduced. Wally Lowery (running for city council) and Don Zumwalt running incumbently for Trustee of SRJC. Don said he "needed" a 2nd term, and promptly donated $100.00 to SRWR.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

GSE Team Needs a Hand

Paul Stychno reminded us that he would like a volunteer Rotarian from our club to head up the GSE team. He needs a candidate by November 6th. If interested give Paul a call 526-2033.

Crab Feed

Bob Marigo (right) and Chris Rosell have agreed to co-chair the Crab Feed.

GENERAL RECOGNITION (fines)

Graduates of UC Berkely and USC were fined $5 each for their contribution to one of the greatest football games ever played.

Arnie Carsten was recognized by President Standard for his ongoing support of the Luther Burbank Center. Arnie wished to remind us that 9 Rotarians, three from each of the Santa Rosa Clubs, made the LBC a reality. The facility is one of the finest in Sonoma County, all made possible by the dedication of Rotarians and the support of the community. No fine on that one.

Ginny Pitts, was recognized for her recent trip to London & Glasgow with her mom as well as the recent birth of her grandson. No fine.

Ken Kushnir, as always, had the last word when King Richard tried to blackmail Ken regarding a badge. Ken said he don't need no stinkin' badge...Because he have 2 nights at a French Hotel in Nice donated by a nice Rotary Club for our Crab Feed, in Nice. Nice. Real Nice. How Nice was Nice? $20.00, Badge...Free.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS …

October 16 – Golf tournament, contact Jeff Ray; OK to attend dinner only – need 7 more to break even.

RAFFLE $1,260 with 13 Marbles Left

Louis Capuano pulled a green marble from the bag, increasing the pressure for next week's contestant and Von von der Mehden donated his $25 back to the club.  Thanks Von. 

There is no ownership of private property. Most conservatives in the government are not in favor of private property rights. Equipment is difficult to buy and maintain. Not many Russian products on the market.

Currently only Chevron and McDonald's are two of  the few American company's investing in the Ukraine. Most entrepreneurial endeavors are circumvented with a shadow economy of barter. Most hard and soft goods come from elsewhere and are not manufactured in the Ukraine. So there is no investment in Ukrainian products.

There is a Rotary Club in Cherkassy, however, the oldest club in the Ukraine only 8 years old. The District Governor is in France.

Bill Clinton has nothing on Robin!!! Robin "stark naked" talked with the fully dressed Cherkassy Rotary Club president in a 3 piece suit. (Go no further with this!) Meeting the president in the baths, the President asked Robin to relay a request to SRWR to assist Cherkassy with their support of a local orphanage. They would like to establish a "fully dressed" relationship with us.

With 40 political parties the Ukraine has a long road ahead. But, even with this...Rotary is alive and well. Thanks Robin.

Robin presented King Richard with the flag of the Ukraine for our display of country flags.

Meeting adjourned...Ron Street

OFF THE WALL (Notes from this Month's Board Meeting)

Starting in January, lunch fees will go to $12 a week. Bob Marigo has indeed come on board to bang the crab feed into shape. Look for messages from Bob in upcoming editions of The Bulletin. Helping Ridgeway high school build a library was suggested as a potential project. S. O. S. funding was approved. Updating the roster was also approved. We have 93 members. In August, our membership attendance was down to 80.6%.

WHAT'S WITH HARRY?

What is Harry Rubins doing sitting in the back of the room? Doesn't he know we just finished a raffle? Well, the truth is Harry is a lot more on the ball than that.  The raffle that you saw Harry selling tickets for at the last meeting was to support the Rotary Foundation in its international efforts.  It is often easy for us to overlook the international aspect of Rotary.  But, as Robin Marrs made exquisitely clear to us this week, the aid that Rotary provides worldwide is one of the most important and necessary aspects of Rotary.

The raffle will be held at the Rotary Foundation Dinner on Saturday Nov. 7, 1998, at the Sonoma Golf Club on Arnold Drive in Sonoma.  Grand prize will be a one-week stay in a two-bedroom penthouse suite with an ocean view in Pebble Beach, CA.  Many other prizes will also be awarded.  Raffle tickets are $10.00 each and money spent on raffle tickets can be credited toward achieving a Paul Harris Fellowship (or conversely, the money which would otherwise be spent toward a Paul Harris Fellowship can be used to get some free raffle tickets).  Tickets for the Rotary Foundation Dinner are $40.00 each.  It is shaping up to be a gala event.

FUN, FELLOWSHIP, SERVICE:
"FESTIVAL OF BROTHERHOOD," FEB., 1999

What could be more rewarding than a service project that you know will help people who really need help? A service project that combines good Rotary with good fun and the spring-like sunshine of old Mexico. The third "Festival of Brotherhood," a district-to-district and club-to-club world community service activity, will take place in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta Feb. 12-20, 1999. Four days in the Colonial beauty of Guadalajara and four days at the premier Krystal Vallarta combined with international Rotary fellowship and outrageous fun make for a package that will leave you fulfilled and proud of what you and Rotary do together. The entire package, including air transportation, hotel, cocktail welcome parties, taxes, and transfers is only $895 per person, double occupancy. Isn't it time you got involved in the international work of our organization? For more information and reservation forms by mail or fax, call Larry Kavanaugh at (707) 585-28604 or Sid Berlin at (707) 942-6566. Join us for this adventure in service. You need to act soon to reserve your seat on Mexicana and your hotel space. Thank you.