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Changing Hearts and Minds,
Giving Hope...through S.O.S.

Call to Order

President Mike used his napkin, placed his glasses on his nose, and took a sip of tea then called the meeting to order at 12:18 by Los Robles clock.

Rotary Moment:

Chuck Olson was absent and Chuck Baker stepped in to deliver a moment. He said that, if St. Patrick's got a day for chasing all the snakes from Ireland, he would hope that Rotary would be given a similar honor one day soon when Polio is eradicated. A "Rotary Day". A wonderful thought!

Visitors:

Past President Brian Herndon led us in welcoming several Visiting Rotarians from the Downtown Club and the Sebastopol Club. Chris Parr introduced guest Edwin Schultz from Saturn of Santa Rosa. Neil Silverman introduced guests Chris Young and Wes Hardy.

President Mike extended thanks to Caroline Fox for taking photos and Steve Wright for being Cashier of the Day. (These are the guys that should be paid!! J -Ed)

Announcements:

A bit of spring housecleaning: Doug Dilly cleaned out the Rotary closet at Los Robles only to find a dust-covered "Paul Harris Award," which was claimed by Brian Herndon. He can't remember when he received it, but $10.00 please, Brian.

More Lost and Found: Joe Perez tried to dodge a $10.00 fine for a lost (but now replaced) new Blue Badge. President Mike reminded us that we are a non-profit and these expenses are our individual responsibility.

Board Meeting: Tuesday, March 11 at Josef's Restaurant at Hotel La Rose.

President Mike thought it was at 12:00 but was corrected. It's 11:45 AM, which explains why he has been late to all those board meetings. You can count on 2 to 2.5 hours for the meeting. (Editor's note: Ever gracious with those who would speak during his Board Meetings, President Mike took us through this past Board Meeting of 3/11 smoothly and without any major delays. Such is the ebb and flow of Board Meetings when the make-up of those attending and speaking changes.)

St. Patrick's Day: Next week, March 17th, we will be dark at noon, but will meet at Los Robles at 6:00 PM for a special St. Patrick's dinner at $20/per. Please RSVP to Susan Nowacki. Don't forget to wear green.

District Assembly Reminder: The DA is this weekend in Ukiah beginning with breakfast from 8-9. The conference will go from 9-3:30. Janet Codding is attending with 20 others riding along with her. Check with Janet for travel plans.

Rebuilding Together: David McDonald and Terry Galazzo are coordinating our hands-on project this year with "Rebuilding Together". They need 20 volunteers to help with our club's team. We will build a fence and cleanup a house for a retired police officer that has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. We are promised help from someone who knows how to build fences. This is a wonderful way to give to our community. David, sign me up to help. David can answer your questions via email.

Visitor (from Georgetown, Texas) David Dunn, former Deputy District Attorney from the Santa Rosa office exchanged his Texas flag for one from our club. He claims that he was welcomed to our club with words that Texans are not welcome here! But David generously assured us that Californians are welcome in Texas. He has decided to retire there. Wonder why!

Anne Abrams announced a Fireside event for April 10 from 5:00-7:00 at the Multi-Cultural Child Development Center. Please come and see how Rotary has helped us develop a model program for preschool children and their families. We want to say thank you for all the support Rotary has generously given to help us to provide vital educational services to our most needy and youngest members of our community. Refreshments will be served. An Invitation is in your email, hard copy available next week. Everyone welcome. Bring your spouse or friends.

Fred Zmarzly is having a "fireside" in May. It will be on a Saturday at 11:30 with appetizers and wine tasting at his beautiful vineyard overlooking mountains and valley. He will be serving all Mendocino grown wines. A salmon lunch will follow at 12:30. Signup early as there is only room for 30. If there are many more interested persons than can be accommodated, Fred will have another event later in the year.

Jeff Ray announced the results of the big Ski Race last Thursday and Friday, including several club members: Bill Dodson, Chris Rosell, Gary Lucas, Roger Olson, Ken Prouty, Jim Hinton, and John Hathaway. They came in 18th out of 50, which is apparently very well. However, had Bill Fisher showed up they could have gotten 2 points just for him finishing which would have put them in 4th (extra points for age and miles traveled). Ken Prouty hosted a steak dinner that Pres Mike called a "Real Man's Outing". No women showed for this event, though they were invited to join in.

Anne Abrams was fined $5.00 for not having a birthday until next weekend or perhaps for last year's birthday, we aren't sure which. Jim Underhill was fined $10.00 for his birthday on the 9th. Will Anne have to pay another $5.00 next week?

David MacDonald won a chance to draw the black marble for $275.00. Nope...to a huge Awww! from the crowd. Chris Parr took home the red wine.

Scott Bartley was recognized for graduating from the "Bob Zeni School of Involvement" as the new member of the Planning Commission for the City of Santa Rosa. He has received many lunch invitations since being appointed and something about visiting a lot of back yards. Sounds like heavy a commitment on top of 10 years on "Design and Signage". Thanks for your commitment to community service again, Scott. That will be a $10.00 fine for rewriting the "sign ordinance".

Gary Lucas was congratulated for 34 years marriage to his first and only wife. Gary gives credit to her for survival of the union. He admits that his peers back when voted him and his wife "least likely to stay married". They are all divorced giving Gary the final word on that. $10.00 please.

Program:

Support Our Students: Annual Report

Barbara de Oddone, Rotarian of the Downtown Club, thanked all Rotarians for their support for the SOS Program. She acknowledged Bob Marigo for many years of steadfast commitment to SOS fundraising and support.

Also named were this year's SOS committee: John Palmer, Bob Zeni, Ginny Pitts, and Tarina Hall.

Barbara recounted the founding of the SOS program. She acknowledged founders the late Gordon Loftgren and PDG Larry Bello for the vision to respond to concerns about school truancy. Truancy problems have deep roots and children need someone with whom to talk, to address severe underlying problems. Today this program has evolved as a joint project of all five Rotary Clubs in Santa Rosa.

Next year, due to budget cuts, our schools and children may loose all their school councilors. It is vitally important that SOS continue to serve our community more than ever before. (Ginny Pitts is raising money through the Human Race for this valuable program.)

Barbara introduced Dr. Mark Doolittle who has been a force with SOS for over 10 years, as Director of the program that utilizes students from Sonoma State University Counseling Program to work with children and families in our schools throughout the county.

Stacy Almy the Director of the Board for Family Education Center of Sonoma County spoke about her involvement with the program. She cited 28 years, 10 years with Rotary support, to provide quality parent education to families of school children who receive no-cost counseling through SOS. This dual approach is essential to children's success in overcoming their challenges and issues. Over 3,000 families (representing over 10,000 children) have received free parent education, guidance and informational newsletters, to assist with raising children in today's world. Stacy states, "It is a terrific program".

Dr. Doolittle recounted that for every $7,000. Rotary donates to the SOS project they are able to fundraise $100,000 annually to support SOS. SOS provides 75,000-80,000 hours of counseling and they hope to expand to the Roseland School district this year. This program has become a model for other SOS programs that are being established in Windsor, St Helena, and other communities.

Dr. Doolittle rued the passing of founder Gordon Loftgren who, like Bob Marigo, was an avid supporter for SOS. Bob Marigo "goes to the mat to fight for this program". What SOS gives children are their "hearts, minds, and hope". Children daily in our community must overcome abuse, neglect, domestic violence, divorce, gangs, bullies, anger, fear, depression, suicide, sexuality issues and more. They cannot go it alone; what they need most is someone to listen. As one youth put it "I just want to be seen for who I really am inside". SOS councilors have the talent to really listen to these kids. They believe something is "wrong with them". Councilors help them to see the good in themselves so that it can become successful.

Counselors Chris Bomgardt and Emily Cate recounted experiences with SOS and some of the children they have engaged with during the past year. They both gave very moving accounts of the positive influence counseling has on the children and families whose lives they touch.

Dr. Doolittle expressed sadness at the loss of one counselor, Rob Powers, who died two weeks ago at age 40 from cancer. He spoke of the magical spirit Rob had in his work with children and that he will be sorely missed by all the councilors and families whose lives he touched. Robb was what's missing from so many of our children's lives: a brother, a father, and a friend. They need someone who they can relate to and admire. Our children are watching us and listening to us. In these times of uncertainty they need reassurance, to be heard.

NEXT WEEK: Dark at noon, St. Patrick's Day dinner meeting at Los Robles for 6:00 PM. March 17.Bring a friend. Join us for green beer and green ice cream. (I think dinner comes with that for $20/per)

Your Bulletin Reporter: Anne Abrams		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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