Meeting Recap for Dec. 19, 2011
It was the prettiest day on the Rotary calendar, as the club celebrated “Daughter’s Day” at this week’s meeting, chock full of beauties of every age and size (including Norm Marshall’s tiny granddaughter, who spent most of the meeting asleep on Papa Norm).
A club tradition that was founded in 1933 as “Father-Daughter Day” (the club had yet to wise up and improve the membership with the fairer sex), this year’s 78th rendition had more going on during the wine reception than most meetings have in total.
The Rotary Rooters were in their usual fine form, providing the music. Santa was in one room, taking toy orders from the little lovelies, while in another there was a petting zoo (courtesy of Mary Healy and her friends), which included an 84-year old tortoise and some ducklings, who were getting more than a little attention from a hawk that was also in attendance (fortunately, leashed to an arm of one of Mary’s staff members). Family photos were being taken, courtesy of fellow Rotarian, Jerry Smith (who kept one eye on the families, and the other on that hawk), and thanks are due to Bob Biko for the refreshments (adult and otherwise).
President Ken had a well-earned day off, manning the mic just long enough to thank the event committee (Chair Roy Alexander, and committee members Keith Diederich, Bob [I love capital] Gaines, Steve Heath, Dean Jacobs, Jay Lowden, John Shelby and Linda Van Rees), before turning matters over to Chair of the Day, Ms. Taylor Lowden (19-year old daughter of Jay), who took it from there.
Eight-year old Juliana Seltzer (granddaughter of Linda Van Rees) provided us with the thought of the day, and then the Pavelchik sisters, Bailey (age 8) and 5-year old Libby (granddaughters of Roy Alexander), led us in the pledge, providing an entertaining tug-of-war with the microphone as they did. Next up (in an encore performance from last year) was 9-year old Audrey Karina Solis (daughter of Eric), who sang “America the Beautiful” (with her little sister saving the day by sprinting from her seat to provide Audrey with the lyrics just in time).
In a fine example of how it’s done, 15-year old Carly Shelby (daughter of John) took the “$300-and-3 minutes” normally reserved for the Sponsor of the Day, and converted it to $300-and-3 seconds, promoting Union Bank. The assembled throng appreciated her brevity, while Papa John figured his sponsorship cost him about $75 a word.
After some conversation time, 12-year old Amaya Barnes (granddaughter of Steve Heath) co-handled the Sergeant-at-Arms duties (recognizing the guests, visiting Rotarians, and the like), while the similarly-aged Sierra Lowden (also daughter of Jay) took the other half of the duties, recognizing the Rotarians in attendance, and then all of the daughters and granddaughters of said members.
Diane Schachterle had her 7-year old granddaughter Lorelei in attendance – which was great to see, as Diane explained that Lorelei was born without any blood in her body. However, courtesy of all those who had donated blood before her, Lorelei received quickly the transfusions she needed and is a beautiful, healthy young lady today. If donating blood this holiday season to beat the Point West club is not enough (and it should be!), do it for the Lorelei’s who are on their way here.
One of the finer traditions at Daughter’s Day is the redistribution of wealth that occurs, as the little darlings in attendance joyfully drain their Rotarian ancestors of it in favor of the club’s coffers. John Swentowsky’ s daughter figured that, since he just cut his last check to Sac State on her behalf, he could afford to donate $75 to the club, while Audrey Solis’ went far easier on her daddy Eric, hitting him up for just $10 (Eric wasn’t so lucky with his younger daughter, who nailed him for $50). John Nunan’s daughter gave him an “honor tithing”, lightening his wallet in honor of John’s snow skiing this past July 4th at the age of 86 (well done, John – just for finding snow on that date!), and several other donations were corralled by the Rotarian offspring.
Next up was the entertainment portion of the meeting, featuring 13-year old Laura Metzinger, who has performed at the Sacramento Music Circus, and will star in “Ruthless”, which opens January 11th on the Sacramento Theater Company’s main stage. Laura sang beautifully some Christmas carols, then turned the mic over to Martin Purtill who is a singer and songwriter, and who brought the younger members of the audience onstage to help him sing some more.
Daughter’s Day doesn’t end until the fat man sings, and Jolly Ole’ St. Nick didn’t disappoint, showing up just in time share some candy canes with the girls on stage, and leading them in a verse or two of Rudolph (well done, John Snyder, for booking Santa).
The club is dark for the rest of 2011. Happy holidays, and see everyone next year! JBW