Meeting Notes for August 18, 2016

By: Tom Port

 

Opening Bell: Kathy welcomed one and all to San Ramon Rotary. RI President is John

F. Germ and his theme, prominently displayed on the podium, is: “Rotary Serving Humanity”.

 

Greeter: Jerry Marrs, who is also leading our On-Line Auction advised us we should not

feel hesitant about asking for donations. Why? Because we are actually doing the potential donor a favor! They get to feel better about themselves. Makes sense to me.

 

Jerry is an attorney and has just accepted employment by a firm in the valley. His field is business transactions, mediation and related matters.  He practiced law in Colorado for 18 years before moving here. Jerry and his kids like to play baseball.

 

Announcements:

        Immunization Trip to Nigeria: Kathy Gailey says one is coming up in November.

 

        On-Line Auction for Education. Jerry says form are on-line. Jerry is recruiting

club members to o to other clubs and distribute fliers. Also, this year we will be able offer signs for donors to place in their window indicating they are sponsors.

 

 

District Governor: Fred Collingnon, this year’s DG, had a lot to share.

 

         Governor's Award:

Colette Lay and Patti Hennigan won the Governors Award.

 

         Rotary Foundation Pledges: Fred says our Rotary Foundation one of the most

effective foundations in the world. Fred awarded pins to our 17 “Double Sustainers”, those who pledged $250. “Super Sustainers”, are those who pledged $500.00, and “Paul Harris Society Members” are pledged to donate $1000.00 annually. Fred says no club has had so many step up as our club.

 

District Conference: This is the Centennial Year for the 71 clubs of District 5160. Berkeley, the first club in District 5160, was formed in 1916. The theme for the year is “Celebrate the Summer of Love”. Speakers at the Conference, which will be held in Berkeley, will include not only the inevitable Cliff Docterman and Rick King, but Brad Howard, Rita Marino, Misty Chang and others. To demonstrate his enthusiasm, Fred removed this, in my opinion, rather bland, Governor’s Jacket, and replaced it with a tie dye shirt more appropriate for a Berkeley event and “The Summer of Love”.

 

Fred Collingnon went on to remind us of the many accomplishments of our club and District 5160: Assistance in forming the San Ramon Senior Center, Sunny Glen Smoke Detectors. Also, our booming Interact Program which has grown from 350 to 5000 student members.  We are actively supporting scholarship programs as well as Camp Royal and Camp Venture.  There has also been our steadfast financial support for local education as well as our Dictionary Distribution. Our District’s international projects include dentistry aid to Viet Nam, “Kenya Smiles”, water projects in Southern Africa, wheel chairs in Monterrey Mexico, dental clinics in Ethiopia, and on and on.

 

Polio Plus is acknowledged as a major factor in the world-wide fight to end polio. Though there has recently been an uptick in new polio cases in Nigeria and in Pakistan most observers believe the final nail in the coffin of polio will be put in place in 2017/2018.

 

In sum, Fed wants to us appreciate the wonder of Rotary. how it enables us to accomplish things together we could not do alone. How is enables us to cross over boundary lines that often restrict governmental and other agencies. Fred wants each of us to experience that “’aha’ moment” when we realize “we are not just a club member but we are Rotarians”.

 

Raffle:

 

Guest Karen McNamara won a shot at the Progressive Prize but only ended up with $10. Edgardo Carrillo won the Greeter Gift.