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Colorful Characters
in San Francisco History

Opening Ceremonies:

President Louis Capuano opened the meeting today with a resonant clang of the bell at 12:29 pm and he welcomed everyone to "the greatest Rotary Club in the world with the greatest members in the world."

Pledge:

Tarina Hall led a sterling Pledge of Allegiance.

The Rotary Moment:

Gary Lucas gave the Rotary Moment, comparing "a good man" with "a better man," the latter a man who can acknowledge a mistake.

Visiting Rotarians:

Ray Mattison introduced five visiting Rotarians, all from the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa (aka the Downtown Club).

Guests:

Two visitors were introduced, including Gail Johnson’s guest, Pamela Nobel, a prospective member visiting for the second time.

President Louis thanked Jack Bill for today's set-up and takedown; Bob Harris for today's photos; Nobody (filling in for Past President Brian Herndon) for ticket sales; and Jim Hinton for writing today's Bulletin.

Announcements:

HomeTreasurer: President Louis asked Pat Stoll to stand and then announced that CPA Pat has volunteered to become the club's new Treasurer. Pat received a big ovation. Pat replaces Marci Pierce, who has had to resign as Treasurer due to a job transfer to San Francisco. Marci has done a great job for the club as Treasurer, and Pat will too. Thanks, Marci. Thanks, Pat.

Crab Feed: There will be a Crab Feed Committee meeting next Monday, December 1st, immediately following the club meeting.

Christmas Brunch: The Christmas Brunch will be on Sunday, December 7th, at 11:00 am, at Josef's Restaurant. Spouses are invited. It's a great menu for $30.00 per person. Please e-mail John Meislahn to confirm that you are going.

Crab Feed Tickets: Bob Zeni has the tickets. He accepts cash, checks, Master Card and VISA.

Crab Feed Raffle Tickets: Jim Benoit has the raffle tickets. They are $10.00 each for a chance to win a fabulous four-night Baja cruise for two.

Crab Feed Silent Auction Donations: Tarina Hall thanked all who have made silent auction donations so far, and she asked everyone to come up with some additional special items. She will arrange for pick-ups, if needed.

Dictionaries: David McDonald announced that the dictionaries would arrive this week. He really needs help with labeling them, which will happen at Mike Moore's office, Discovery Office Systems. Delivery to the schools is scheduled on December 2nd and 3rd. Please contact David to help.

Bell Ringing: Bell ringing for The Salvation Army will be on Thursday, December 18th, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., at Coddingtown.

Exchange Student: Sara Castellain, our outstanding exchange student from France, will have lots of available time to go places and to do things during her Christmas vacation from Maria Carillo High School. If you can include her in your Christmas-time plans, please call her host parents, Susan and Dean Nowacki until December 7th and Neil and Susan Silverman after December 7th.

Rotary Float: Look for the Rotary International float in the Rose Parade on New Year's Day. President Louis announced that our club has contributed $100.00 for the float.

Rotaract Club: President Louis announced that the five Santa Rosa Rotary clubs have decided to form a Rotaract Club for young men and women ages 18 to 35. He asked for someone to volunteer to be our club liaison for this project.

A Special Recognition of Citibank:

President Louis asked Terry Galazzo to stand, and he then announced that Citibank, her employer, has contributed $5,000.00 to the Dictionary Project on behalf of our club. She received hearty thank you applause from the members, and then President Louis reported the double-result of Citibank’s donation. It allowed our club to divert the money we had previously committed to the Dictionary Project to another important community project--providing much-needed musical instruments to Roseland School District. Lots of hoorays and thanks to Terry Galazzo and Citibank.

Other Recognitions And Fines (Lots of Them):

John Palmer was recognized for his recent trip to Mississississississippi. President Louis levied a $10.00 fine.

Ken Prouty tendered $8.00 of it from John's winnings at his table raffle. John still owes $2.00. He was mysteriously absent when all of this was happening, and he will be expected to explain his absence at next Monday's meeting.

John Withers was recognized for his grandson's weekly accomplishment on Cardinal Newman High School's track team. It cost him only $5.00 -because he was tagged for $15.00 last week for the same outstanding grandson.

Ken Davenport was hit for $10.00. Why? It must have been for talking about Carson Mitchell's 1965 photograph (with bow tie, of course) which he allegedly still uses.

Dale Sipe was fined $5.00 because he hasn't been fined in a long time.

Fred Zmarzly was fined $10.00 for completing his harvest of grapes and other fine Mendocino County agricultural products.

Bob Marigo was fined $10.00 for being, which he adroitly diverted to his tablemate

Ken Kushnir, who attended the inauguration of our new governor (of California). Ken was fined an additional $5.00 for some bump-in with (actually it was a shoulder rub from) our recently fired governor.

David Wattell was fined $5.00 for having way too many membership meetings.

Carson Mitchell was fined $5.00 for his bow tie.

Susan Nowacki was fined $5.00 for doing such a great job as Program Chairperson.

Ron Allen was fined $10.00 for his "old Ferrari" and for his new venture as compliance counselor for telemarketers dealing with "do not call" lists.

And finally, Judith Light was fined $5.00 because it's great to have her back after a long absence.

The Raffle Ticket Winners:

Steve Wright had a good shot a winning $550.00 with only 13 marbles in the bag, but, alas, he didn't pick the black marble. So sorry, Steve.

John Hathaway walked away with a plastic-wrapped bottle of white wine, a Mike Moore gift, with his winning ticket.

The Program - Colorful Characters In San Francisco History:

Gordon Amrein, our speaker today, was introduced by Susan Nowacki. A retired long-time State Farm employee, he is now engaged in many volunteer roles, including a docent at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, a tour leader at the Lake Sonoma Visitor Center, and the Outreach Coordinator at the Sonoma County Museum.

Gordon presented an entertaining program about some colorful and famous - and infamous - characters in San Francisco's 1800's. Among them were:

Emperor Norton, a "comic opera" figure who paraded the streets in an absurd uniform and counseled city leaders and heads of state
Oofty-Goofty (sp?), a street character who earned a living by allowing people to strike him with sticks and baseball bats, at least until heavyweight boxing champion John Sullivan clubbed him
Charlie Parkhurst, a good ol' cowboy stagecoach driver whom they called "one-eyed Charlie," but "he" ultimately turned out to be "Charlotte"
Lilly Coit, a city volunteer and benefactor, who left one-third of her estate to San Francisco and thus funded the construction of Coit Tower
Frederick George Washington Combs, a street preacher.

Your Bulletin Reporter, Jim Hinton		Your Bulletin 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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