Meeting Recap for October 21, 2014

President Susan Sheridan opened the meeting by thanking wine reception sponsor Diane Mizell and thanking Randy Friedman for sharing his piano talents. Barbara Thompson delivered the Thought for the Day, and Dick Osen honored the onset of the World Series with a rousing rendition of Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Several Rotarians talked up this Saturday’s Sacramento Century fundraiser. Meeting sponsor Jay Lowden outlined the YMCA of Superior California’s vital services to more than 10,000 children as well as its multi-faceted work inspiring people of all ages to a healthier life.

Our Frolicking Fun Frauleins from Frankfurt (Elfrena Foord & Diane Woodruff) thanked all the volunteers that have signed up to help with the Sacramento Century.  There is still a need for more hands if anyone can pitch in.  Please contact Elfrena or Diane if you are available.

Kelley Moran and Gabriel Gendron offered up to $1,000 as a challenge to spur donations for Sacramento Century, their grand was met by an avalanche of generosity from the following club members:

The Sacramento Century Committee would like to thank each and every person that has and is supporting the event with time, talent or treasure.  It is appreciated more than words can express.

Chair of the Day Rob Scherer introduced the day’s guest speaker, Sacramento Bee restaurant critic Allen Pierleoni. A 28-year Bee veteran, Allen gamely fielded questions from all directions. Favorite lunch spot? Among his favorites are Waterboy, Sutter Street Steakhouse, Ruffhaus and Fabian’s (although alone at the top of his list is Tadich Grill in San Francisco). Which places to review? Allen specializes in “mom and pop” places and has often found that places with fewer menu items provide better quality; he is particularly interested in house specialties.  Allen strives to be honest in his reviews without being unkind, but he didn’t spare Yelp: it’s “an extortion machine.”