Meeting Recap for June 18, 2012

“An illusion,” magician Baffling Bill told Rotarians and guests, “is when you make it look like you’re doing something when you’re really not.”

More than one attendee at Monday’s Rotary Club of Sacramento luncheon thought Baffling Bill was demonstrating true psychic powers by describing some of their employees.
 
But Bill Devon (his real name) was talking about how he’d baffled the Woodlake Hotel audience with his rendition of the classic Linking Rings trick, not illusory productivity.

Baffling Bill was the “headliner” for Sons’ Day, the annual program during which sons and grandsons take over meeting management.

Christopher Johnson, Jr., was President for the day, substituting for about-to-be-past President Ken Noack, Jr. Chris is a 13-year-old at Bradshaw Christian School and will be in ninth grade in the fall.

Younger brother Josiah Johnson led the Pledge of Allegiance after Andrew Booth provided the Thought for the Day. Chris and Josiah are sons of Christopher Johnson and Andrew is the son of Larry Booth.

Matt Shelby, son of John Shelby, was sponsor of the day and Jeff Cole, grandson of past-president Bob Cole and son of past-president Dan Cole, handled the awards presentations.

The award for the youngest Rotary son in attendance went to two-year-old Luke Crumley, son of Doug Crumley. But after that, the Coles were king.

Dan Cole claimed the prize for oldest son of a Rotarian in attendance. Dan’s grandson, Jeremiah Cole, got the award for traveling the farthest to attend (800 miles).

And the Cole Family walked away with the award for the family with the most generations in attendance.

Questioned after the meeting about whether the family was purposely propagating in order to win the award every year, past-president Dan refused to confirm or deny the rumors.

Andrew Booth lightened the wallets of several Rotarians during the “community service” recognition. Then President Ken briefly took over to present Dick Osen with his first Eddie Mulligan, Jack Higdon with his third Paul Harris and Larry Booth with his sixth Paul Harris.

From there it was on to Baffling Bill’s magic show which included chameleon silks, cut-and-restored ropes and torn-and-restored newspapers among other tricks.

Bill was ably assisted by his wife, Francine Hutcheon, as well as Rotary sons and grandsons Josiah Johnson, 8; Will Osen, 12; and Nick Crumley, 14. The latter successfully risked decapitation while Will assisted with the linked rings and Josiah helped produce doves from thin air (one magically appeared from under his left arm).

Next week’s meeting will change venues to the Hilton, after which President Ken will magically disappear (temporarily), the club will take a week off for 4th of July, and Pete Dannenfelser II will be installed as club president on July 9.
 
(Photos courtesy of Swentowsky Photography.)