Rotary Meeting: January 11, 2022
INTRODUCTION
The first hint that we were in for a treat was that DAVID BRANDENBURGER (Managing Director, Newmark Knight Frank) was pouring several types of beer at the wine reception.
PPRESIDENT BOB MILLER (Vice President Business Services, First US Community Credit Union) thanked DAVID for serving both wine and beer at the door and thanked greeters JUDY KJELSTROM (Director Emerita of the UC Davis Biotech Program), DICK NOONAN (General Manager Railroad Operations, California State Railroad Museum), and DICK OSEN. JOHN SWENTOWSKY (Owner, Swentowsky Photography) documented the meeting not with all his fancy camera gear but with his cell phone.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The Thought of the Day was provided by NANCY TIECHERT, an email she got on New Year’s Day from a dear friend entitled The Train.
- “At birth we boarded the train and met our parents, and we believe they will always travel by our side. As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant i.e. our siblings, friends, children, strangers and even the love of your life. However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone. Others will step down over time and leave a permanent vacuum. Some, however, will go so unnoticed that we don't realize they vacated their seats. This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells. Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers requiring that we give the best of ourselves.
The mystery to everyone is: We do not know at which station we ourselves will step down. So, we must live in the best way, love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are. It is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.
I wish you a joyful journey for the coming years on your train of life. Reap success, give lots of love and be happy. More importantly, thank God for the journey!
Lastly, I want to thank you for being one of the passengers on my train!”
GUESTS/MEETING SPONSOR
PRESIDENT BOB called on PAUL KEEFER (Executive Director, Pacific Charter Institute) to serve as Sergeant-At-Arms and introduce guests including this reporter’s son-in-law Oleg Kaganovich (son of LEV KAGANOVICH).
Meeting sponsor ALLISON CAGLEY (Executive Director, Friends of Sacramento Arts) was excited to announce that her organization will be putting on A Brubeck Jazz Music Celebration on Feb. 7 at the Crest Theater.
A live performance by the Brubeck Brothers Quartet will honor the 100th birthday of their father and famous jazz composer and performer Dave Brubeck. To buy tickets, CLICK HERE or call 916-802-2770. Proof of vaccination will be required for admittance. The concert will benefit nearly 1,000 local high school jazz musicians and the expansion of arts programs at Sacramento schools.
MEMBER INDUCTION/CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
New members inducted into the club were introduced and pinned by PP JOHN FRISCH (Senior Managing Director, Real Estate) who sponsored them along with CHRIS ANN BACHTEL. Both new members work for The Salvation Army.
It has never been truer… two really is better than one! Our first new member, SAMANTHA JAROSZ will be handling public relations for the Army. Ordained minister LARRY CARMICHAEL will work as social services director for the Army. In club announcements, JOHN SWENTOWSKY thanked members for serving 300 meals to the homeless at Loaves and Fishes. BOBBY REED (CEO, Capitol Tech Solutions) invited members to a clean up on the American River in two weeks and the May 6 Golf 4 Kids.
LET’S GO FOR A RUN
- In Let’s go a Run, our member JOHN SWENTOWSKY donated $100 because in the College Football Playoff National Champion game, Georgia beat Alabama. His son graduated from Georgia.
- ALLISON CAGLEY donated $100 for 43 years of marriage that was celebrated at her favorite Ella Restaurant. SARAH HODGE (Director of Development, California State University Sacramento) announced her new job with the Association of California Water Agencies.
- Ed Wright donated $250 to his Paul Harris in memory for his late brother-in-law Jann Mikkelsen, who was a Rotarian from Denmark. PRESIDENT BOB donated $100 in honor of his birthday!
GUEST SPEAKER: CHARLIE BAMFORTH
PRESIDENT BOB then called on KEVIN WILLIAMS (Chief Sponsorship Manager, KVIE), to introduce our speaker author and beer expert CHARLIE BAMFORTH (Distinguished Professor Emeritus at UC Davis). Hence, the beer at the wine reception. KEVIN stated that the U.S. beer industry sell about 204 million barrels of beer in a year; or, the equivalent of $11 billion worth of six-packs. There are now about 1,100 craft brewers in California alone.
CHARLIE reminisced over how the beer market has grown since he first spoke to our club 20 years ago. Anheuser-Busch is still the number one brewery in the U.S. The Brewers Association reports that more than 9,000 breweries operate in the U.S. Small independent craft breweries contribute more than $62 billion to the U.S. economy.
CHARLIE is proudly associated with the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company founded in 1980 in Chico. He said it now has a beautiful brewery operating in North Carolina.
Fun fact: In past generations, beer was used as a medicine and even a douche. One of his students at UC Davis asked, “What’s a douche?” and CHARLIE put up two fingers about an inch apart and explained, “It’s this far away from being an enema.”
Known as the “Pope of Foam” at Davis, he said beers can more easily be matched to serve with cheese, than wine. “I know I’m biased but I’m right,” he said. There’s even a breakfast beer. “There’s a beer for every time of the day.”
CLICK HERE to watch CHARLIE’s full presentation.
NEXT MEETING
Friendly reminder that we are DARK next week, in observance of MLK Day. We look forward to seeing everyone back on January 25th!
**Note to members: Executive Director LaToya Wong is on family leave so please don’t contact her about club business, but keep her in your thoughts and prayers.