Meeting Recap for December 3, 2012

Monday was Foundation Day at Rotary Club of Sacramento, an annual event at which RCS celebrates its good works in the community and thanks the Rotarians who have helped make them possible through generosity and hands-on service.

Fittingly, the program began with John Swentowsky presenting a check for $2,200 to Sister Libby Fernandez, executive director of Loaves & Fishes Sacramento, on behalf of the Bud Lewis Memorial Fund at Rotary Club of Sacramento Foundation.

Club president Peter Dannenfelser II presented quite a few Eddie Mulligan and Paul Harris Fellow awards to Rotarians who recently reached those milestones (the numbers in parentheses indicate how many awards each has now received in each category):

New/additional Eddie Mulligan Awards: John Buck (2), Lee Castonguay (1), P.P. Dan Cole (2), Richard Davis (3), Liz McClatchy (2), Brooks Cutter (2), Jack Franz (3), P.P. John Frisch (7), Jack Higdon (6), Jim McColm (5), Dan McVeigh (3), Kelly Moran (10), P.P. Tim Pinkney (14), Katrina Salazar (1), Rob Scherer (1), Jeff Setzer (1), Hal Shipley (1) and Ted White (5). And NO, that is not a typo on P.P. Tim.  He has 14 Eddie Mulligans.

New/additional Paul Harris Awards: P.P. Walter Dahl (4), Amin Elmallah (1), Jack Higdon (4), Ed Lillya (5), Dan     McVeigh (2), Diane Schachterle (1), Ted White (5) and  Herbert Yee - nonmember (1).

Chair of the Day Kelly Moran, 2012-13 president of the RCS Foundation, announced that the Foundation remains financially strong, with $2.67 million in assets as of the close of the most recent fiscal year.

Kelly introduced current and past Foundation presidents, including two of the Founding Trustees, PP George Basye and Mead Kibbey, along with board members and current Eddie Mulligan and Paul Harris Fellows. By the time he was done, most of the people in the room were standing.

Kelly also invited Rotarians to stand up and complete the requested annual minimum gifts ($100) to RCS Foundation and the Rotary International Foundation. Many Rotarians did that, most of them in memory of the late Bob Biko. A 34-year Rotarian, Biko died suddenly less than a week ago. Quite a few gifts were also made in the memory of John Stockman, a 22-year Club member, who died on Thanksgiving.

Foundation Vice President Katrina Salazar, who recounted the more than $134,000 in gifts and scholarships awarded by RCS Foundation during 2011-12. They ranged in size from $485 to $32,200. A complete list is available in the Foundation’s just-off-the-press annual report, which was handed out at the end of the meeting.

Foundation trustee Dave McKie talked briefly to the club about the Legacy Circle—a program to recognize Rotarians who have notified the Club that they have included a planned gift to the Club in their estate planning.

President Peter reminded us that the dollars we give stop being money and turn into helping people through the good (and low-overhead) work of fellow Rotarians.

---