PACIFIC WILDLIFE CONTINUES THEIR WONDERFUL SERVICE

President Elect Don Hudson, filling in admirably might I add, rang the bell promptly at 12:00; he asked Jude L to say the invocation.  Jude read some inspirational quotes from Paul Harris; Syd Symington led us in the invocation and then led us in singing the Morro Bay Rotary song; the club then wished Jude Long a very Happy Birthday by serenading her with the birthday song.

Dr. Art Fenderson asked for Guest and Guest Rotarians which included Elsie Casida’s friends from Indian Wells who were checking out our club , Dr. Ken Stilts introduced his wife Sandra and Sarah K introduced her husband Adam, who we now know actually exists. Visiting Rotarians were Carla Wixom from Eco Rotary, Bill James from Woodland Sunrise Club and John W introduced our special guest and program speaker, former club member Kelly Vandervual from Pacific Wildlife Care.

Dan Andrus was inducted into the club by Membership Chairman Don D and Pete Z his sponsor. Dan is the Principal of Morro Bay High School. He told us it was a natural for him to join Rotary as Rotary has such a positive presence at the High school with scholarships, RYLA and the Interact Club.

PE Don attempted some humor by telling us a story about some thieves breaking into his shed. He called the Police who told him there was no one available to help. He called back and told them that he had shot the intruders in his shed. The Police responded immediately with emergency crews and ambulance and arrested the thieves. When asked why he told them he had shot them, but hadn’t, he responded that they had also told him no one was available but they showed up ASAP when they thought someone had been shot. This got minimal laughs and it was probably a good thing our Police Chief wasn’t in attendance.

PE Don called on Mike P to tell us about one of his “Rotary Moments”. Mike reminded us of the Rotary meeting held for Bob Ransom at the hospital to keep his attendance record intact. Mike also said the community service events such as the Roundabout Clean-Ups also gave him warm Rotary Moments.

John W helped draw for the exemption which was won by Doug Riddell.  Doug offered to auction it, but got no takers so held on to it. Our weekly fines were helped along by Dan C, Judy S, Jennifer R, and Eric L ($50) and Dale R.

Carol F reminded the volunteers to show up for the Avocado Festival and told us there was still a spot to help pour beer.  Sarah K told us how successful the Fish Fry had been and gave kudos to the many Rotarians who helped. She told us that it looked like we had made almost $5,000 including about $900 from the raffle.  Doug Riddell encouraged members to mail boxes to our troops overseas. The boxes are all ready to mail and can be picked up at Bayshore Realty and Rabobank and cost $14.85 to mail them off.

John W introduced Kelly Vandenhuval again as our program for the day. Kelly is representing Pacific Wildlife Care which she has been a member of since it started many years ago with only 6 volunteers. They now have over 200 people who help rescue and care for injured or abandoned wildlife. She told us that they are sanctioned by the California Fish and Game Department.  They do not take bears, deer or mountain lions since they are large predators. Fish and game handles them directly.

Kelly brought a visitor. A Red Tailed Hawk named Denali. He’s a 2 ½ year old hawk they’ve had since he was young. She explained that the majority of the animals they get are rehabilitated and released. She did tell us that many, almost 25%, are not releasable due to one problem or another. Denali has cataracts on his eyes, a fairly rare condition, that makes him unsuitable to release. He has become a pet that Kelly keeps in a Fish and Game approved shelter on her ranch. She uses him to teach and share at various clubs and schools for education.  He is around chickens and so has learned to mimic the chicken’s clucking.  One of the problems they find are that people use lead ammunition to shot rodents and may also wound a bird with it. When predators eat the dead or wounded rodents they can die from lead poison.  

Kelly announced a couple of events they are having to support PWC including “Soupabration” at Cambria’s Camp Ocean Pines on Sunday, October 20^th from 2-5 pm they will have Soup Tasting and Gourmet foods with Celebrity Judges, Wine Tasting and a Silent Auction.  For information or tickets call 805-927-3357 or go to www.soupabration.com. After which she fielded a flock of questions from the Club. John W and Don H presented Kelly with a check from our club to support PWC.  Thank you Kelly for your wonderful story.

One of Elsie Casida’s guests won the 50/50 drawing and donated the money back to the club.  PE Don rang the bell to close the meeting right on time.