Bulletin for June 1, 2009
GSE team: Home from Brazil
By Anne Abrams
Preliminaries
 President David McDonald welcomed everyone to the meeting at St. Rose at 12:30. |
|
||||
|
Thanks to the following Rotarians for their assistance with today’s
meeting: Secretary: Janet Codding, Cashier: Gary Lucas, Greeter: Susan Nowacki, Tickets: Rich Pratt, Rotary Moment: Laura Buhrer, Photos: Jim Valinoti, Bulletin, Anne Abrams, Program: Chris Parr-Feldman, Set-up…I bet Dale Sipe had something to do with that again. Thanks, everyone. |
The Pledge:
Pres David called on former member John Meislahn,
visiting the Hawaiian-shirted group, to lead us in the salute to our flag.
The Rotary Moment:
Laura offered a moment, a quote from Stephen Covey
about success through goal setting.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests:
Susan Nowacki introduced visiting
Rotarian, Don Johnson who took spouse Gail’s place for the
day. John Meislahn introduced Tom
Bieri, Director of Social Advocated for Youth who is interested in
joining a Rotary club. Darcie Fellows
introduced her guest
Sheree Kamler of SC Designs.
 |
 |
Announcements & Such
Prez David announced a Polio Plus match of $250.00 for a donation of $50 under the Gates Grant program. The donation and match will count towards a Paul Harris Award. David took a raise of hands and thinks we will make our club’s $3,000 goal in three years and we will make it in just one year. Awesome! Brian Herndon gave $140 check to the cause.
Chris Parr-Feldman announced that $35.00 will buy you a listing in the Rotary club’s "yellow-blue" pages. This is a soon to be published "yellow" page listing of businesses operated by Rotarians from Petaluma to Crescent City and including Napa. Get your business card and fee to Chris if you wish to be included. This is an on line listing to be posted on the website for the club.
| Chris Parr-Feldman described the memorial service for John Strong, Past District Governor and excellent Rotarian and Community Worker from Rotary of Petaluma Valley. He will be missed by so many. John was listed in the Congressional Record by Lynn Woolsey. |
 |
Recognition
Mike Moore asked Pres David about his posting on the activity flyer on the tables, and next to the Cabo Wabo Tuna recipe it talks about a fireside hosted by David at McDonald-Leavitt the point being that his company is now Hover, McDonald and Leavitt, and he left out the Hover part of it. David graciously accepted a $20 fine and a $50 donation to Polio Plus.
 |
 |
Chuck Baker appeared at the meeting with an obvious black eye. He isn’t sure how he got it, it just appeared. He did point out he is married… naw that can’t be it. He was fined $15.
 |
 |
Tarina Hall was recognized for a 14 page spread in the Sunday paper all about her work with Rebuilding Together. A well deserved recognition of her many good works. She donated $50 to Polio Plus.
Bill Fisher hasn’t been doing much except for working in the yard since his return from a sailing trip in the Caribbean six months ago. $20!
Phil Talamantes was out raged about something, a letter? He spent a day at SRJC in traffic school and only missed one question. He is excited his 3 year old grand son is arriving soon from Spain.
 |
 |
Pete LaMonica had to answer the "where were you?" question regarding the fireside at his golf and swim center. Several Rotarians showed up but where was he? He was helping to care for a 16 month grandbaby for four days and nights. Yes, proof that a child in the picture changes the whole picture. We look forward to another opportunity to visit the club. Pete graciously donated $100 to Polio Plus for the mistaken event.
Mike Merrill has been riding his bike to work and helping the green zone. He also went on a weekend tour of Oliver Ranch in Geyserville when he met the director of SF MOMA and spent 5 hours touring the ranch which is the current home for a group of artist built edifices on the acreage there. Got photos? Another $50 for Polio Plus from Mike.
 |
 |
Chris Parr-Feldman was fined $14 for being recently "Rotarized" having attended the District Conference and the District Assembly. Cheers for Chris!
John Meislahn was fined $20 for visiting and bringing a prospective member to the club. Now is that really fair? Well, he didn’t seem to mind. Thanks John!
Marvin Hyman has been down south in the desert land and had a Buddy Greco lunch. He’s been retired for 20 years. Doing nothing is great! $100.
 |
 |
Brian Herndon spent a good amount of time golfing, swimming and sunning in India or is that Indio? He's also been to the Sacramento Jazz fest and a Calistoga rally. His wife’s grandchild was named after two fathers William and Thomas. He feels left out enough to donate $55 to the cause.
Brian Jamar: has been busy doing "what ever his wife tells him". Apparently retirement relieves him of making any more decisions. He is enjoying going to Mendocino County with 300 Trailblazers for a camp and horse riding weeklong event. Enjoy! ($10)
 |
 |
Terry Galazzo is enjoying each of her grandchildren the most recent is two week old Marina. The third is expected in December. Enjoy!
Jim Hinton couldn’t pass up the opportunity to say that his grandson is in a Pixar Disney movie named "Up". Grandson has the voice of the character Carl as a child. He recommends we all take our children and grandchildren.
Raffle
$800.00 the long anticipated moment arrived and David thought to postpone it for a week to boo and hisses. Janet had the ticket to draw the marble but, alas the black one eluded her. Terry Galazzo won a bottle of Randy Zin.
Program: GSE Team: Home from Brazil
GSE Team member Michelle Arellano is the Executive Secretary for the Director of Sonoma County Health and Human Services for the county. She was born and raised in San Francisco and graduated from Sonoma State University with a BS in Business Administration.
 |
 |
 |
Meghana Kamdar was born in Queens, New York, raised in East Bay and earned a Masters degree in City Planning. Her work experience includes International Development, Community Development and Affordable Housing in Oakland and Marin. She enjoys travel, painting, dance and jewelry design.
Both young women, recently back from the GSE’s trip to Brazil, offered their impressions and highlights of the trip. The team visited the central area of Brazil, toured several cities, stayed in homes of host families, and were treated to tours of schools, businesses, mines, forests, and hospitals. Major industries in the region are emerald mining as well as other metals, agriculture including dairy, and steel production.
Both enjoyed learning Portuguese, the national language of Brazil and the only South American country to have a language other than Spanish as a national language. Despite its third world status Brazil offers its citizenry universal health care.
The group also enjoyed touring steel foundries, paper mill, taking jeep rides in the country, visiting cities and museums and taking samba dance lessons.
What Michelle liked about her experience was firstly how they lived everyday, visiting in homes of awesomely friendly people who opened not only their homes but their hearts to them. Secondly she loved the food. The day started with breakfast. Lunch (almozo) was the biggest meal of the day and as everyone works and schools nearby home everyone gets together for the most important meal of the day. Dinner in the evening is what we would call possibly a snack.
A traditional and favorite food was BBQ with lots of salt.
Meghana found interesting the "Novela" which was a popular soap opera about Brazilians living in India. Her country of origin is India so much was said about that. She also appreciated getting to know the other members of the GSE team that she traveled with and the opportunity to represent Rotary in Brazil.
The weather on the trip was ideal. It was in the high 70’s most of the time: T-shirt weather.
During the Q and A someone asked what the most recurring political question was. They were asked a lot about the economic crisis and President Obama. Obama is pretty much a super star and is aligned with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Meghana and Michelle disagreed in one respect in that one felt they saw a representative view of Brazil’s middle class and the other felt there is the two class economy of the haves and the poor. Both however agree that it was the experience of a life time and are grateful to Rotary for the opportunity.
| Bulletin Reporter: Anne Abrams  |
Bulletin Editor: Jim Valinoti  |