Meeting Recap for Monday, Feb. 10, 2014

Monday’s Rotary Club of Sacramento luncheon at the Red Lion, the theme of which was Valentine’s Day, was short and sweet.

In fact, it was barely 1:20 when President Thom Gilbert dismissed the meeting after the presentation on how to be a little more romantic took much less time than anticipated.

Whether Rotarians are more romantic by nature, or just fast learners, is subject to conjecture—but the presentation by Erin Stone from Relationship Skills Center flew by quicker than Cupid’s arrows.

Stone, new Executive Director at RSC, was introduced to RCOS by Chair of the Day and Past President Peter Dannenfelser II (a board member of both RSC and RCOS Foundation).

In office since October, Stone offered Rotarians five tips for enhancing relationships and putting a little romance back in their lives:

·         Express daily appreciation

·         Ask, “How was your day?”

·         Give and accept apologies

·         Date your mate

·         Enjoy a lingering kiss (defined as a kiss lasting at least 10 seconds)

Then Stone had Rotarians practice writing personal messages to their valentine using blank cards on each table. It was amazing how quickly everyone completed the task.

And as a finishing touch, she offered free lawn signs featuring the five tips. “Put one on your lawn, or put one on your neighbor’s lawn,” she urged as she wrapped up her talk barely past 1 p.m.

Stone began her presentation by talking a bit about the mission of Relationship Skills Center, a seven-year-old nonprofit that was first called The Marriage Project:

“Building better communities by strengthening relationships”

She thanked RCOS for its strong support, including proceeds from last year’s Bids for Kids event that will help RSC provide summer seminars for 7^th and 8^th graders in five or six different locations.

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Salvation Army was Monday’s meeting sponsor and Division Commander Bill Dickinson used his three minutes to thank Rotarians for their support and talk about some of the programs that are provided locally.

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Bob Rosenberg reminded Rotarians of the upcoming Centennial Speakers series being conducted in conjunction with the club’s 100^th anniversary. First speaker in the series will be noted regional developer Larry Kelly on Feb. 24. President Thom announced that there would be no regular business conducted on the 24^th to allow extra time for Kelly’s talk and audience interaction with him.

P.E. Susan Sheridan announced that table sales are already under way for the Centennial Gala on May 17 at the McClellan Convention Center. About a dozen tables have already been reserved.

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President Thom announced that the next President’s Breakfast will be Feb. 20 at 7:30 a.m. at the Red Lion. Randy Friedman followed with an announcement that the next New Members Reception will be at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at Lucca.

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The invocation was provided by Dr. Gurpreet Singh, an Elk Grove veterinarian and head of the local Gurudwara Sahib-Sikh Society. Jim Craig provided the final thought.

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Susan Drack sponsored the pre-meeting wine reception while new members Kathleen Weiss and Allison Cagley acted as greeters.

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