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Enjoy Art...
(and drink wine simultaneously...
works for me)

THE PRELIMINARIES

In his usual positive manner, President Mike brought the meeting attendees to their feet with the banging of the Rotary Bell.

The pledge was lead by Chris Rosell…the flag being in "the usual place."

The Rotary moment was offered by Terry Galazzo.

Doug Dilley introduced - and quite well, it should be noted - the Visiting Rotarians.

Guests of Rotarians were far and few between this week. "Ms. Projector" was acknowledged by President Mike for her attendance at a front table and as the keeper of the high-tech visual projection equipment for our guest speaker, Jack Stuppin. "Ms. Projector" did actually have a name…Heather Howell…or was it Powell?

Feeling lonely in the back of the room, Past President (the MOST recent Past President) Brian Herndon (PP 2001-02) offered the information that there were also no visitors at his table…the "pass me the money and I will pass you a plate" table. He was not wearing gloves either!!

As an aside, Ron Street interjected for some reason at this point that we should all wear shirts like he does (maybe President Mike brought it up…I couldn't really hear with all the plates banging behind me at PPHerndon's guestless table!). The bottom line was President Mike saying something to the effect that Ron obviously shops alone…since Debbie has better taste.) (But all is not lost, for at our last meeting Witch Glinda, (or was it Glenda?) granted Ron's wish to be "The Real Tommy 'The Shirt' Banana" -Ed J )

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ginny Pitts & Tarina Hall informed us of the Annual Bartley BBQ to be held at her home - Harvest Moon Winery - the evening of Monday, September 23rd (no meeting at Noon that day!). Talk about an annual event. This is it! Started many, many years ago by the late Bob Bartley (PP 1971-72), father of Scott (PP1993-94), this "be there or be square" MEMBER ONLY gathering is the highlight of the year for many Rotarians. For those who don't realize it, you might as well show up and eat (and eat some more!) because you will be charged anyway! It is worth going just to check out Ginny's new outdoor kitchen (Eat your heart out Julia Child!). You'll hear more as the date approaches. (Well after that preview it should be a sell-out! -Ed)

PP Herndon was invited by President Mike to come forward to the podium to make an important announcement. PP Herndon announced that Arnie Carston had found it necessary to withdraw as the President Elect-Elect (PEE…oops!) for the year 2004-05. He remains a member of the Club. In his place, the current Santa Rosa West Rotary Club Member of the Year, Jim Hinton, has become the new PEE. Congratulations, Jim! Well deserved!

(During the PEE announcement, while Brain (it's Brian, Bill J -Ed) had left his post unguarded, people who had not eaten lunch sneaked like snakes to the "guestless table," grabbed the remaining plates and heaped them with "food." He never did get the "plates dispensed" and the "monies collected" to balance! Earlier Brain (Boy, now you all have some idea of what this past year of editing was like! J -Ed) had been heard saying he has gone from being the CEO to CFO! Where's Doris when you need her?)

RECOGNITION

PDG John Withers, West Point graduate extraordinaire - where he was a muzzle-loading marksman - was asked if J. K. Withers was a relation. Standing at full attention and with a long held salute waiting for reciprocation from President Mike, he neglected to say "Sir" at the end of his answer. J.K. is a grandson…a track star at Cardinal Newman named to the 1st Team as a sophomore. President Mike dismissed Four Star General Withers with a $20 fine. You can put your arm down now, John. At ease!

Gary Bayless saved for 35 years to take his wife to Europe. After telling us his woes of contaminating a rental diesel Volvo with gasoline, he said, "but, Prague was cheap!" Wrong answer, Gary! $30.

Ginny Pitts returned (again) from gallivanting around the country. This time it was with her mother from Michigan who met her in Denver to attend a Dowel Show. No, I think she said a Dull Show. Oh, yes, actually it was a Doll Show. Ginny said three days was enough…let alone a week. $20

Bill Gittins (President Mike publicly said I could include what I wanted here but this is actually difficult, being the bulletin writer and being recognized during the same meeting!...oh, well, here goes!) was recognized for having one of his paintings awarded a 1st Place ribbon again. This time in the Sonoma County Fair fine art competition. President Mike asked, "What else is new?" To which Bill responded he will be having a solo show opening on Sunday, October 27th at the Fountaingrove Inn. Everyone is invited to attend the opening reception that Sunday evening. $20

(Oh yeah, Bill forgot to tell you about the party at his house that you're all invited to after his solo show J. Too bad he didn't know about the drawbacks to blowin' your own horn when you're the bulletin reporter. Fortunately, your Editor has a Solomon-like pen and uses it liberally. J  -Ed )

RAFFLE

$700 (President Mike told us PP Brain (there he goes again -Ed) was short $700!)

1st Ticket - John Withers (Sorry, John!)
2nd Ticket - John Withers (Wine…we're still sorry, John!)

PROGRAM

Our speaker was Jack Stuppin (pronounced, "steppin"), a local  yet internationally known landscape artist. Born in Yonkers, N.Y., in 1933, Stuppin attended Columbia College (AB, 1955) and the San Francisco Art Institute from 1966 to 1969. He has had 15 solo exhibits.

Jack showed us a television ad for the San Francisco Art Institute about being an artist that pretty much summed up the business…sleep in till 11:45 each day, make no money and look like Father Guido. Not true! Jack admitted to working 40 hour weeks as an artist after trading in his management hat of 50 to 60 hour weeks 18 years ago to paint fulltime. He still serves on numerous public and private company boards. He has lived in Sebastopol for 16 years.

Jack discussed his opinion of what the conscious brain (Hmmm, correct that time J -Ed) will comprehend. "We see more than the brain can process," he said. When painting en plein air (painting out of doors - "in the air") he said, "we see things in the natural environment that we don't even know we see." To make up for this shortcoming, he adds "escaped vibrants" of color to his paintings…a violet here, a red here, and a pink there.

He told us of one of his experiences during his early training when his art instructor came up to a painting he had proudly completed. The instructor walked around it contemplating what he was seeing and then proceeded to put a large "X" across it, saying, in affect, "You are not a camera. It is important to have an emotional reaction to what you see."

It is clear Jack does have an emotional reaction to what he sees. Check out his colorful landscapes currently showing at the Sonoma County Museum through October 6th. The museum is located in the old post office building at 425 Seventh Street and the show is open from 11 AM to 4 PM Wednesday through Sunday.

We had the pleasure of interacting with an icon of the art world.

(Bulletin Writer editorial comment: Art is like wine, you either like it or you don't. And that is OK! Enjoy what you like…but enjoy!)

Thanks, Bill, not only for a well-written bulletin, but also for your service to the members of our club in sharing your artistic expertise. As your Bulletin Editor, I'd also like to thank Bill Dodson, our newest Club Service Director, who is doing an outstanding job. Scheduling one of our members, who also happens to be an artist, to write this bulletin was exactly the kind of vision that makes my job easy. Bravo!

Bulletin Writer: 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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