ANNUAL MEETING, SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS.
AND A PEEK AT OUR AWARD-WINNING AIRPORT
Rotary Meeting of Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Reported by Danielle McGarrity
Tuesday’s meeting was a jam-packed combination of our regular weekly meetings and our Annual Meeting, with a series of special celebrations another excellent guest speaker adding to the excitement.
BOARD ELECTION RESULTS ANNOUNCED
President LINDA GEERY opened the Annual Meeting at 12:10 p.m. and announced the results of the Board election for the 2023-24 Rotary Year. She offered congratulations to PAUL KEEFER (Sergeant-at-Arms), JEFF STONE (Treasurer) and JIM CULLETON, DAN FENOCCHIO, MAGGIE HOPKINS, JUSTINO SANTANA and NANCY SMITH-FAGAN (Directors), whose nominations were ratified by a poll of members. Next July 1, they will be joining President-Elect TODD KOOLAKIAN and continuing directors JAMIE FURLONG, GABRIEL GENDRON, SARAH HODGE, RUTH TESAR and TED WHITE.
PRESIDENT-ELECT NOMINEE APPROVED
Past-President KEVIN SMITH-FAGAN then built the suspense before announcing our 2024-25 President-Elect-Nominee. PP KEVIN said that the nominee is a fifth-generation Californian who has been living and breathing technology from an early age. A graduate of Boston Tech (now MIT), he joined the Rotary in 2018. PP KEVIN added that our nominee has demonstrated impressive leadership and willingness to give of his time and talent through the Rotary Young Professionals, the Committee on Protecting the Environment, Golf 4 Kids, and is our Club’s resident IT maestro. By then, pretty much everyone in the room knew that our P-E-N would be BOBBY REED! PP KEVIN then called for a voice vote of the members in attendance to approve the recommendation of the Nominating Committee, as required by our bylaws. Approval was unanimous, and was followed by a standing ovation. BOBBY responded by saying that he is inspired by our many incredibly dedicated Club members who have motivated him to give back and benefit the community, and he looks forward to working with President-Elect TODD KOOLAKIAN to increase the Club’s future impact. BOBBY’S wife ERIN joined us to commemorate the moment.ROTARY FELLOW HONORED
Past-President SUSAN SHERIDAN revealed our 2022 Sacramento Rotary Fellow, a person who has dedicated one-third of a century to Rotary service, has a successful career of more than 45 years, and is known among friends as “the nicest person [we] can stand.” DENNIS SMITH, who has served as a Rotary Club of Sacramento Foundation Trustee and Co-Chair of the Rotary Club’s Literacy Program Committee and a member of the Sacramento Century Committee, was selected for the honor by a special committee of club leaders and received a standing ovation from club members. His other community service includes having been founding director and executive committee member of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership and doing volunteer work with the Make-A- Wish Foundation and Christian Brothers High School. Two tables full of DENNIS’ family and friends, including wife LAURA MASON-SMITH, joined in the surprise celebration. The group also included FAITH BASSIOUNY, ALLISON BURKE, MIKE JUSTIS, SHARON JUSTIS, DONNA SCULLY, MIKE SCULLY, CANDY SMITH, COLIN SMITH, GINA SMITH, KEVIN VALINE and SUSAN VALINE.THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Having already been scheduled to be the meeting’s invocator, even before being selected for the Rotary Fellow award, DENNIS SMITH returned to the microphone a few minutes later to share a Thought for the Day. He drew inspiration from Joshua Becker’s book, “Things that Matter,” and offered this very appropriate quote: “Deep in each of our hearts is a longing for meaning, and a quest for purpose. May we all live purposeful lives that enable us to say that our actions are beneficial to others, and that we leave behind an identifiable legacy of our service.”
GUESTS WELCOMED
Sergeant-at-Arms KATHE NATHAN introduced our guests. In addition to the friend and family of DENNIS SMITH, they included LARRY SHERIDAN (guest of PP SUSAN SHERIDAN), STAN STEWART (guest of BRUCE HESTER), MARY EURETIG (guest of DAVE MC KIE), ERIN REED (guest of BOBBY REED), and prospective Rotarians DENNIS GODBY, JOE HANSEN and YEV KANDYBENKO.
MEETING SPONSOR TIME DONATED
Meeting Sponsor BRUCE HESTER donated his time to Capital Public Radio. Rotarian SHIRLEE TULLY, who is CapRadio’s Chief Brand & Development Officer, reported that, since launching in 1979, the organization grown from one station to 13! She provided a slide presentation showing the new headquarters at 730 I Street, which is set to open in 2023. It will have 29,000 square feet of workspace, and provide a more central location for reporters covering the Capitol as well as the security required for a media organization in these times. There will also be a new live performance space opening at 8th and J. The venue, featuring the Sutter Health Stage, will be a gathering space focused on amplifying community engagement, creativity and diversity in the region.INDUCTING OUR NEWEST MEMBER
VIRGINIA VARELA introduced LATIF YUSUFI, who was sworn and welcomes to the club as our newest member by PRESIDENT LINDA. His nomination for membership was co-sponsored by VIRGINIA and PP KEVIN SMITH-FAGAN. LATIF, who is Sacramento Branch Manager for Golden Pacific Bank, has more than 30 years’ experience in banking and is known to go the extra mile for his customers. He has lived in many countries and speaks multiple languages.ROTARIANS SPOTLIGHTED
ELFRENA FOORD continued our weekly practice of spotlighting several club members to help everyone get better acquainted. This week, three members were highlighted. JOHN MCINTYRE has been raising charitable funds for Mercy Foundation, where he is Chief Philanthropy Officer, for 12 years. A graduate of UC San Diego with a masters from National University, he is a fan of single-malt scotch and says Rotary Club of Sacramento is the source of his most enduring friendships. He plays in three different bands and is a proud member of the Rotary Rockers. DAVE MCKIE lived on his grandparents’ farm for four months at the age of eight and learned about the importance of a strong work ethic. He is a graduate of both the U.S. Naval Academy and the Harvard Business School and was a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy. He helped build the shopping centers in Gold River and Birdcage. An avid cyclist, he has completed 50 100-mile bike rides and five 200-mile rides! ANN RYAN-SOLOMON grew up in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, and is the oldest of seven children. It was so cold there that she and her sisters could make ice sculptures with their wet hair after their (indoor) swimming lessons. She is a graduate of Stephens College and holds a master’s degree from the University of Missouri. When she isn’t working as Regional Director for Western North America for the University of Auckland (New Zealand), she pours wine at the Berryessa Gap winery on Sundays and encourages everyone to come by and visit.
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
- STEVE HUFFMAN reminded members of the Brown Bag Day on February 7. He is still seeking additional Brown Bag location hosts.
- BOBBY REED announced a date change for Golf 4 Kids. The 2023 tournament will take place on May 12. He is actively seeking volunteers to help with the event.
- JOHN SWENTOWSKY said a few more volunteers are needed for the Dec. 29 service day at Loaves & Fishes. Interested members should contact John.
- PP JIM LEET thanked everyone who participated in the Virtual Red Kettle fundraiser for Salvation Army. He also encouraged everyone to RSVP to attend next week’s Daughter’s Day meeting by Thursday, 12/15.
GUEST SPEAKER
Chair of the Day BOB ROSENBERG introduced CINDY NICHOL, Director of the four-airport Sacramento County Airport System. He said she has appreciated the importance of air travel since growing up in Ethiopia. She holds a Masters of Public Policy focused in Transportation Economics from Harvard University. Prior to coining to Sacramento, she built her expertise at San Francisco International Airport and the Port of Portland. In November, Sacramento International Airport (SMF) was voted the top midsize airport in the nation in the Wall Street Journal's 2022 Airport survey of travelers at more than 50 airports.CINDY reminded members that the airport system includes SMF, Executive Airport, Mather Airport and Franklin Field.
SMF serves 4-million people each day. 51% of flights are operated by Southwest, Delta, American and United each operate 10% of the remaining flights. In May American Airlines will begin providing nonstop travel to Austin, TX, and Air Canada will begin serving Toronto in June. One of her main goals is to add nonstop service to Florida in coming years.
This year SMF aims to add 6-8 gates in either Terminal A or B, install additional luggage carousels, and redesign the pedestrian walkway between Terminal B and Concourse B. Future plans include a possible Concourse C with 20 new gates.
SMF will be consolidating the ground transportation center and creating a new rental car center. And they are preserving the right-of-way for light-rail, in hopes that it will eventually make its way to the airport.
In 2023, all concession agreements expire. She said everyone is invited to vote on the type of dining options they’d like to see. To vote, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HKPJ7SP
Breaking news: CINDY announced that Watt EV will soon be installing 118 acres of electric vehicle charging stations for electric semis, medium-duty trucks, and passenger vehicles just off of I-5, south of SMF.
At Mather Field, the Instrument Landing System has been upgraded to enable landing in any weather conditions, avoiding the need to divert cargo flights to places like Reno when we have heavy fog or rain.
During the post-talk Q&A period, she was asked whether we might ever see a hotel at the airport itself. She replied that, given six hotels under development at nearby Metro Air Park, it is unlikely. SMF will be offering transportation between the terminals and Metro Air Park, however.
THANK YOUS
President LINDA offered hearty thanks to Greeters MEGAN LAURIE and CLAYTON LEE, wine reception hosts DR. BILL and JACQUILINE CUSHARD, photographer JOHN SWENTOWSKY and Pule reporter DANIELLE MC GARRITY. PP WALTER DAHL added the Smile for the Day and the meeting was adjourned at 1:28 p.m.
NEXT WEEK’S MEETING
The Daughter’s Day tradition continues on December 20th with fun and holiday festivities for Rotarians and their daughters, granddaughters and nieces. (Also for Rotarians who are themselves daughters, granddaughters or nieces.) Reservations are required and the deadline to register is December 15th. The registration link is: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe0XuerkHTiykn2D-_X-qXZLnBvHMYMMeUgHmzbyVUCiYBBOg/viewform?usp=sf_link
DON’T SHOW UP ON DECEMBER 27TH OR JANUARY 3RD!
We are taking Christmas and New Year’s weeks off, and the Rotary offices will be closed.
MEETING JANUARY 10TH
Our gust speaker will be California Highway Patrol Commissioner AMANDA RAY. Be sure to keep an eye out for the email with registration information.THANKS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
PHOTO GALLERY FOR DECEMBER 13TH (Courtesy of John Swentowski)
