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Home | Bulletin Who's Who Calendar | Projects Area Meetings | District 5130 Rotary International |
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Home | Bulletin Who's Who Calendar | Projects Area Meetings | District 5130 Rotary International |
Bulletin Have You Ever Been Caught in a Blizzard in May?PLEDGE, ROTARY MOMENT, VISITING ROTARIANS Susan Nowacki lead us in the pledge. The Rotary Moment was given by Anne Abrams, who thanked Rotary in general for the many contributions that it makes to our community and communities around the world. She also recognized The Rotary Club of Santa Rosa West for it's ongoing contribution to the children attending the Multicultural Preschool. The Visiting Rotarians were introduced by Chris Parr. ANNOUNCEMENTS Past President Jeff Boal from the Rotary Club of Sebastopol announced that his club would be celebrating its 75th Anniversary. It will be a weeklong event with many activities scheduled to commemorate this major milestone. Jeff remarked that milk was still being delivered in bottles when his club was chartered. I don't think that the delivery of milk was what was being monitored in 1925! (Boo Boop Ba Do!) President Elect Chuck Stark reminded everyone that next Monday we will be celebrating our 35th Rotary anniversary. Remember that spouses are invited to attend. Immediate Past RI Director Paul Sandas and his wife Katy will speak. Also, the Rotarian of the Year will be recognized. Special plated lunch will be served at the regular price. Plated lunch? WHAT A DEAL! I guess they won't trust us with the good china anymore. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Harry Rubins announced that our club's applicant for the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, Jared Shipley has made it to the finals. Janet Codding announced that our club was well represented at the Rotary District Cruise and that it was a great event. RECOGNITION
Our acting fearless leader Past President Richard Pratt, asked Past District Governor John Withers about his most recent trip. His response was, "Have you ever been caught in a blizzard in May?" With an immediate "NO!" response, Rich endeared himself to all by scuttling any further discussion on the matter. He then congratulated PDG John on having just delivered the all time best of his infamous eye witness reports. PP Rich then announced that it would be a "fine free" day and thereby set the stage for some spontaneous "confessions". George Michelson celebrated his 85th Birthday today. Congratulations George! George has been a "Perfect Attendance Rotarian" since our own Past District Governor Dick Keith inducted him into Rotary on May 8, 1955! May is a month in which he and his family celebrate many important anniversaries, birthdays, etc.
Mike Moore and Bill Dodson also celebrate birthdays this week. Unfortunately they were not in attendance. Mike was floating north to Alaska with "the Bobs" (Marigo and Miller) Bill was just AWOL. They must of thought today was going to be a fine day. Susan Nowacki just returned from a wonderful trip to Japan and the Philippines. She returned with a flag from a Japanese Rotary Club. Past President Rich continued his flight back in time via another club bulletin from his presidential year (circa '85-86). Jeff Ray just looked into his tea and mumbled "who keeps bulletins from 1986?" Rich went on to remind us that women were first to join Rotary in May 1986. Janet Codding helped found the Windsor Rotary Club shortly thereafter. Now there's a lady that doesn't let anything stand in her way. Judge Antolini, back for a most welcome visit shared with the club his involvement with the Superior Court program titled Malicious Prosecution. He also ragged on his best bench buddy Past Judge Brian Jamar for reneging on his promise to be around for council, even after he retired.
Chuck Olsen, Chuck Stark, Jim Sullivan and one additional club member won the Rotary District Conference Golf Tournament. Ginny Pitts was asked about her Hawaii trip – She announced that it was old news. PP Rich acknowledged Arnie Carston for a job well done for his work as program chair. Jim Benoit shared a few oxymorons with us. They are: Tom Skinner & Family Vacation, Military Law, Civil Law, Sober Irishman (O’Mally Twins Joke).
Jimmy Underhill was welcomed back from a brief medical leave. Welcome back Jim. RAFFLE Chuck Olson held the winning ticket for $850.00 but pulled out a green marble. Better luck next time Chuck. Janet Codding donated her $20 winnings to Kids Street Theatre – Thanks Janet. SPECIAL RECOGNITION Even the 49ers couldn't "4 Peat" but when Caroline Fox took the reins as Assistant and later Interim Bulletin Editor (in addition to her duties as Webmistress) I felt that we had an excellent chance to once again walk away with the honors for District 5130's Best Bulletin. There was a lot more competition this year, especially with a few more clubs putting their bulletins on their new websites. But The Rotary Cub of Santa Rosa West has once again prevailed, and Caroline brought home from this year's District Conference yet another plaque confirming the excellent job she has done for the club. Congratulations Caroline! PROGRAM Program Speaker: Heidi von der Mehden gave an eloquent, thought provoking and entertaining talk about her experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania. Heidi is the daughter of long time member Henry "Von" von der Mehden. After graduating from Ursuline High School (like Mom) she headed for Santa Clara University. It's a family thing you know. Dad attended Santa Clara as did Mom and numerous other family members so Heidi always knew where she was going to attend college. In her senior year she applied to be a volunteer in the Peace Corps. The application process took about 9 months, after which she was dispatched to Tanzania. She taught high school chemistry and physics in a small village at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Soon after Heidi arrived, she was appointed the chemistry department chair. Her class averaged 50 students. After school activities were virtually non existent so Heidi started a women's Frisbee club.
This gave her an opportunity to interact with her female students outside of class. It also gave her a chance to acquaint them with the concept of "empowerment" as she observed that most women were quite subservient and would benefit from a different perspective. In addition she educated these young women about the realities of the aids virus. She indicated that approximately 50% of the population are HIV positive and that the middle-aged population is "dying out" as a result of the virus. It is very common that grandparents are raising young children, as one or both of their parents have died. A high point of her week was to visit the open-air market that offered many food items and clothing. The market was attended by hundreds of people from surrounding villages. Heidi described to us what it was like to be the only "white" person for many, many miles around. For some of the people that lived in her village she was the only white person that they had ever seen. Heidi also brought us up to date on the club's donation of textbooks for her classes. The Schoolbooks from the Santa Rosa Rotary Club took over 3 months to get through customs but were very well received. A program is currently being designed to prevent books from disappearing. These books are very valuable due to the color photographs. There was a little time left after Heidi's excellent slide presentation and she answered questions about the Swahili language that she learned, and the level of education and the curriculum that she taught.
Your reporter for this bulletin was Dan Wylie (his first such effort and a great job, Dan!)
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