Bulletin for September 28, 2009
"Chops: Charles DeMeo Teen Center" with Kay Marquet and Diana Curtin
By Anne Abrams
Preliminaries
 A few minutes early, President Susan Nowacki welcomed everyone (to the Go-To Club for getting things done and having fun) wearing a lovely white and black dress and her usual radiant smile. |
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Thanks to the following Rotarians for their assistance with today’s
meeting: Acting Secretary: Janet Codding Cashier: Matt Delaney Greeter: Bo Kirschen Tickets: David Mc Donald Rotary Moment: Ralph Lassa Joke of the week: Casey Williams Photos: No photos Bulletin: Anne Abrams Program: Bill Dodson Thanks, everyone including the ever- reliable leader Tarina Hall. |
The pledge: We pledged to the flag off to the left.
The Rotary Moment: Ralph Lassa offered a quote from Bertrand Russell quote: "Humans tend to give affection most readily to those who seem least to demand it".
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Bo Kirschen introduced our one frequent visiting Rotarian, Pierre LaGourge, formerly owner/chef of Chez Peyo Restaurant. Welcome.
Announcements & Such
At the SCARC dinner in Penngrove there was an announcement that a member of our club will be the next DG Assistant to Jim Flannson, our next District Governor. Two drum rolls…….. the announced VIP is David McDonald! Congratulations! ($20 for the honor)
Gran Fondo Bike Ride: Our club will be sponsoring a rest stop for the Gran Fondo Bike ride. The ride sponsored by Levi Leipheimmer is to raise funds for Santa Rosa’s participation in the annual Tour de California bike race. Our Rotary Club is sponsoring the Duncan Mill’s rest stop. Those who volunteered, please check your email for car pool information for this Saturday, Oct 3.
Ginny Pitts announced there will be a Tour of the SRJC Library with a guide on October 21 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM with a social hour afterwards. Please let her know if you wish to attend. Chuck Baker will get parking passes for attendees.
Harry Rubins was introduced to talk about his favorite topic, the Foundation. The Foundation Dinner "Trek to the Stars" is on Saturday November 14 at the Double Tree Hotel in Rohnert Park. It starts at 6:00PM with a Champagne Reception and No host bar. Dinner is at 7:00 and will feature a Program with Rotary International past President Cliff Dochterman. There will be Music and Entertainment by Atomic Lounge. It is Black Tie Optional and $60 per person. Checks are payable to: District 5130 and Credit cards are okay. For $140 you can purchase 7 raffle tickets. This goes toward your Paul Harris recognition, tax deductible and supports worthwhile district and international Rotary projects. Any amount is much appreciated. Let’s get 100% participation by our club membership.
Club members who celebrate birthdays this week are Chris Rosell and David Wattel. Since Chris was the only one present we sang a moderately enthusiastic greeting to Chris, who was pretty pleased about that.
President Susan passed out raffle tickets to those who purchased tickets for the $10,000 or a trip to Europe raffle sponsored by another club. Make sure you get yours if you participated. The drawing will be in December.
There will be a Rancho Cotati Rotary Club fundraiser on 10/20 at the Rialto Theater. ("Polio: the Final Inch" will be viewed) Tickets are $20. Come see this informative film.
David McDonald announced the Veterans luncheon on November 5. It will
feature a panel of Vets from several wars. We are selling 100 tickets and
have just 27 left so reserve yours. Tickets are $15. The luncheon is at
11:30- 1:30 PM at the Vets Memorial auditorium. There will be music by the
Santa Rosa High School Band. We will be open for the Monday meeting as usual that week as we are
expecting a very special speaker. The Monday following we will be dark in
recognition of Veteran’s Day.
Recognition ...
Pete Lamonica passed the mic to Jim Sullivan who expounded on their recent trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Labrador (windy) Greenland (don’t bother) and Iceland (beautiful and clean), then the Shetland Islands and home again. Apparently Jim won at bingo and blackjack while Pete did not. Jim volunteered $18 for the trip and $2 for "having to spend 18 days with Pete." They were fined $40 each.
"Is Pam Davis talking trash again?" Susan asks. Apparently she has been speaking the language of refuse at many different Rotary clubs in the district: Sebastopol, Windsor, Healdsburg, and Rohnert Park. Too many to count she says. Sporting a black orthopedic boot, she explained a ruptured planter fascia as she heads for Sandrine with cobblestone streets. Watch your stepping, Pam.
Tracy Kline is back from Maui and Minnesota feeling "culture-shocked." Maui was peaceful sitting on her lanai with laptop and thinking… life is good.
President Susan was fined by the club for expounding about her adorable granddaughter, now one, dancing around in a yellow bumble bee outfit.
Ginny Pitts is depressed now that her company has all flown off and is nurturing her loss with a glass of vino. Her grand-daughter newborn is named Elaine May and weighs 8# 15 oz. Congrats Ginny!
Bragging Bucks:
Chris Rosell has started his first day at work at his new job with Bank of Marin in their Petaluma branch office. He is enjoying the new routine working with friends. The job switch was by his design and he welcomes the change. Congrats, Chris.
Brian Herndon is back from a five week bout of illness. He was diagnosed with Swine flu twice and then was found negative after tests. His liver enzymes were "out of wack" and they thought it was pneumonia and/or mononucleosis. He lost 8 pounds over the ordeal but now is feeling fine. He has sold his older motor home and gotten a new 45 ft rig. He had a harrowing tale of riding with the new owner of his old motor home to Petaluma driving through the cement barricades on 101 through the construction zone. He enjoyed his new motor home at Lake Havasu though it was 115 degrees down there. Future trips include: Vegas, Tucson, Sun City, Florida and Alaska. They plan to be here in Sonoma County for the holidays.
Bo Kirschen and wife Janet celebrated their 36th anniversary!
Ken Prouty traveling in Oregon didn’t go to the CAL game where Cal
lost by a dismal 39 points. He went to the Ukraine, Warsaw, and the Black
Sea, Yalta, Sevastopol, and Kiev and was impressed by the beauty of the
region. (Susan remembers icy snow caps and golden domes)
And the winner is…
Fred Zmarzly drew a blue marble, missing out on
the big prize. Chuck Olsen won a bottle of wine.
Program: "Chops: Charles DeMeo Teen Center" with Kay Marquet and Diana Curtin
Bill Dodson introduced our two guest speakers from Chops. Kay Marquet is the Executive Director of Chops. She gained experience with a learning club in Worchester, Mass. from 1979-1992. She was the Director of the Sonoma County Foundation from 1992 2009 when the foundation grew from a $46 million agency to $135mil. Diane Curtin, Chops’ Program Director has much experience working with the Girl Scouts organization in membership and marketing. She has a Masters in Non-Profit and BS in Recreation Administration.
"Chops" is the youth center created with $16 million in funds from the Charles DeMeo estate dedicated to that purpose in 1995. "Chops" is his, Charles’, nickname. We were treated to a slide presentation about the youth center and the many programs it supports for youth.
About 40% of attendees are HS aged and 60% are from middle school. The 21,000 sq. ft. facility, once the home of Lena’s restaurant, includes art studio, climbing wall, gymnasium, café and night club with the original bar from Lena’s, a recording studio, a tech lounge, and administrative offices.
1300 members pay $1.00 per year for use of the facility and have visited 8,600 times in the last year. Attendance is up by nearly double in the last year. The most popular event is the monthly middle school dance.
Many sports are offered, including martial arts, rock-climbing, air hockey, dodge ball, dog care and agility, basketball, and they have their own bowling league. Children are bussed to the lanes in Rohnert Park with an arrangement with Yellow Cab Company.
The programs at Chops consider 40 "developmental assets" that are included in program planning for our youth. The external assets are things like parent involvement and support, establishing adult relationships, a caring neighborhood and caring school. Internal assets for youth include boundaries and expectations, constructive use of time, commitment, values, social competency, and positive esteem.
The promotion of these assets includes expectation that youth will live up to certain standards of conduct while at the center. Also there is a dress code for youth attending, restricting certain colors and logos. All adults and staff, including volunteers are required to pass the DOJ finger-printing and background check. The staff works with the police department especially notifying them of evening dances and activities.
Popular activities include: art studio and ceramics, culinary classes, performing arts, Chops’ Yearbook Club, and the technology lounge.
Opportunities to help out Chop’s include volunteering in a special interest area and of course general support is much appreciated.
Chops is available for catered events with a rental fee. You are welcome to visit and tour the facility.
| Bulletin Reporter: Anne Abrams  |
Bulletin Editor: Jim Valinoti (editing this Bulletin live and direct from Puntarenas, Costa Rica)  |