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Speak from within
and find your voice

Call to Order

As usual, Prez Mike brought the meeting to order in a timely fashion and asked for the Pledge.

Pledge:

Chuck Stark..."Where are you Chuck?" said Prez Mike. No answer. Gil Lucas ably volunteered.

Moment:

Bill Fisher approached the podium and informed us that Leland Albert Geisenhofer had passed away on December 28th. Who might he be in the scheme of things? He was the person responsible in the mid-1960's from the Santa Rosa Rotary Club - our Mother Club - for establishing our Club, then West Santa Rosa Rotary (now, Santa Rosa West Rotary). It was appropriate that Bill Fisher made the announcement, as he was our Charter Member Prez in 1965...long, long, long before Prez Mike. Thank you, Bill, for a true Rotary Moment - a moment of our history.

Visiting Rotarians:

"Von" Von Der Mehden introduced the multitude of visitors…too many to list!

Guests of Rotarians:

Neil Silverman introduced his wife, Susan. Good to see you BOTH again!

Mid-Meeting Raffle:
Prez Mike raffled off four tickets to attend some assorted functions down in Marin County that had been donated by Bill Fisher. $70 to John Withers - that is $70 apiece, John!

Announcements:

Holiday Bell Ringer's Report:

David McDonald had those who participated stand to be recognized for their efforts. $272 this year. $34 per hour in loose change - not bad! Thanks, folks!

District Assembly:
Prez Mike announced a half day of pure enjoyment to be had at the District Assembly, to be held in Ukiah. Prez Mike encouraged folks to attend. Incoming Prez Louie said, "I have to go!" Wait until you come back from PET's, Louie…then it will be, "I can't wait to go!" Rah, rah, rah…

Crab Feed:

It will be on January 25th in case you have forgotten, Red Badges!

Co-Chair Chris Parr encouraged us to all dress in a roaring 20's garb. "Dress up! Have fun!" Bob Zeni warned us that the remaining tickets will soon be sold out. Tarina Hall thanked those who had donated auction items and begged for more. Arnie Carston is on the hunt for more live auction items. Expect a call!

Red Badge to Blue Badge: Prez Mike called on Judith Light. Finally she was here to get her Blue Badge, but now the Blue Badge wasn't in the room! Secretary Fred has it and he is gone (ably filled in for by Bob Harris today!). And here Judith had brought her check. Dang, some more missed monies!

Fines:

John Hathaway, Tarina Hall, Pat Stoll - birthdays on the 17th: $5 each.

	Roger Olson - 22nd anniversary on the 17th: $5.
	Dennis Kelly -18th anniversary on the 14th: $5.

Marv Hyman - birthday on the 10th, in the desert. If you read this, Marv, send a check: $5. (Just kidding, Marv!)

Paula Wrenn - husband's birthday: reminder only! (Is Prez Mike digging for material, or what?!)

Jim Valinoti - birthday on the 15th: $5 Bring it in personally, "Ed!" (blood...turnip -Ed J)

Prez Mike announced since things are slow he is "going looking" for real fines...

	Ray Mattison -  not much going on here. Maybe Switzerland, maybe not. Could be a biz deduction? Mr. Decaffeinated is fined $10.
	Carson Mitchell - not much here either. "Are you happy with the club, Carson?" Response, "Do I have any choice?" $15.
	Chris Rosell - no fines to date. Why? Per Chris, bankers are boring, not biking down hills into fences, but had decided to cohabitate with Susan (ah, the 21st century...out of the dark ages!). Went skiing for the holidays: $15

Dennis Wilkinson - bought 2 acres in Shasta County. No power, no sewer. $15. (Bet he will complain when he does get power and PG&E doesn't get it back on for a week following a storm!) 

Raffle:

For $325, 105999 Blue ticket. Dave Wattell, wrong marble. Wine, 105968 Blue ticket. Louie Capuano.

Program:

Paula Wrenn introduced today's speaker: Samantha Paris, owner of Voicetrax. Samantha started Voicetrax in 1988, offering workshops, seminars and private coaching to actors and individuals studying "voiceover." As she explained, a "voiceover" is when we see an ad on television, for example, but do not see any actor. We only hear a voice making the pitch.

Over 2200 people have studied with Samantha. She offers classes 24/7 all year long to beginners with no experience and professionals who want to hone their skills. 60% to 70% of people who study with her come from non-acting professions. Many of these people are now augmenting their income or earning a living solely through voiceover work.

Samantha introduced Johnnie Anderson who had previously worked for an airline. She worked with Samantha to increase her confidence in making presentations at her work. She is now doing voiceover work and helping train with Samantha.

Samantha encouraged us to "become owners of what you present." To do so, she told us to toss out any scripts and notes. We should speak from within and find our voice.

Volunteers she found in our audience included Arnie Carston, Jim Benoit,

and Jack Bill, Judith Light and Pat Stoll. She encouraged them to assume the role of someone they are NOT! And they DID, in a masterly fashion.

Giving gut laughs and voices of children and cartoon characters, they all seemed to enjoy doing something they had not done since they were probably 6 years old. As Samantha said at the end of her presentation, "We felt their humanity." Yes, we did...

What a shame we adults have lost contact with that carefree self that still lives, but hides, within each of us. While many folks watching were thankful we were not volunteered to do a gut laugh or play a cartoon character, at the end - inside - we really wish it had been us. To feel again what it was like to be six without a care in the world.

Kudos to the volunteers for making our day a little brighter. Maybe we can make it "days."

Your Bulletin Reporter: Bill Gittins

Your Editor: Jim Valinoti

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Changes or comments?

Contact Jim Valinoti at valinoti@sonic.net or (707) 829-2300.

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