Meeting Recap for Tuesday, August 5, 2014
We had all kinds of Rotarians in the house this week – returning Rotarians, champion Rotarians, arm charm Rotarians, seersucker suit-wearing Rotarians, guest speaker Rotarians – just another day at Rotary.
The meeting started as they usually do, with the wine flowing courtesy of Stephanie Foster and Ray Stone Senior Living, while Mike Bullington tickled the ivories and Jay Lowden wiped the floor with his fellow Rotarians in the putting contest (to get in the spirit of next week’s Golf 4 Kids fundraiser, of course).
After President Susan got all of this mayhem under control, Bob Daly provided a golf-themed thought for the day, Dick “Golden Pipes” Osen led us in song, and pinch-hitting Sarge-at-Arms, Rick Davis, handled the introduction chores (a skill he honed during Past President Peter’s reign).
Next up was the introduction of our returning Rotarian, Tom (I’ll have that with a side of) Bacon, whose kids have shipped off to college, reopening some room in his schedule for Rotary (good to have you back, Tom!). Jon Snyder and Chris Ann Bachtel enjoyed a “Rotary lay-up” in sponsoring Tom back in the club (hey, take the easy shots when you’ve got ‘em, right Jon and Chris?).
After some Rotary fellowship (a welcomed 15 minutes worth!), we moved onto the announcements, with Bob (I think I’ll have a) Miller leading off with Golf 4 Kids -- arguably the most important fundraiser in the club (to be held at the Northridge CC, next Monday, August 11th), given how much the developmentally and orthopedically challenged kids of our community depend upon us and this event for their funding.
It’s never too late to help, and here’s how: 1) Golf! We have 80 golfers signed up with a week to go, but we need at least another 20 (and can handle far more than that), so dust off those clubs and call Bob to sign up (and, while you’re at it, grab 3 friends and make it a foursome); 2) Volunteer! Katrina Salazar needs at least 9 more volunteers at the course next Monday, so if you’re not a golfer, this one’s for you; and 3) Give! Call Katrina and give raffle prizes, or cash, or both! 4) Join us for dinner only $45 per person - 5:00-7:00 PM. Make sure you buy your raffle tickets.
This is an all-hands-on-deck fundraiser, fellow Rotarians, so choose your favorite way to contribute to the cause and get busy this week!
While you have your calendars out, don’t forget Beverly and Hals annual Rotary Swim/BBQ Fireside at their Elk Grove Manse on August 24th (bring the whole fam damily), and ten days before that (next Thursday, August 14th, high noon), dust off that seersucker suit (who am I kidding – go to Goodwill and find one) and join the Rotary Supreme Court (also known as Judges Bill Shubb and Kim Mueller) at Vic’s Ice Cream (3199 Riverside Blvd) for their revival of the once traditional “seersucker and ice cream” social.
Dynasty. There’s only one word for it. Dynasty. Of what do I speak? Why, the Rotary softball team, of course. Coach John Swentowsky advised that our Mudville 9 limped into the playoffs at the lowest seed (due to the 4-game losing streak that ended their regular season), then proceeded in one evening to shellac the #1 seed, and then take the championship in the night cap with a final score of 30 to 23 (proving, once again, that defense wins championships). For those keeping score at home, that makes four straight championships for our Rotary team, and 9 titles in the past 12 seasons. Dynasty.
You want some more Rotary champions? How about Linda Geery and Big John Frisch, both of whom raised more money in the recent Heart & Stroke Walk fundraiser than anyone else in Sacramento (John escaped Pres Susan’s collection basket due to absence this week – Linda wasn’t so lucky). You know who else wasn’t lucky? Bruce (the Professor) Hester, who caught Susan’s avaricious attention by simply being the arm charm of his honey, Elfrena (I make Bruce drive the) Foord, when she picked up her latest award of awesomeness – this one from Shirlee Tully’s Sacramento Community Regional Foundation.
After filling the Rotary coffers to her pleasing, President Susan called forth the lovely (Past President) Diane Mizell, who introduced our speaker, fellow Rotarian and Sutter Health head honcho, Carrie Owen Plietz, who caught us upon all of the goings on at her little medical establishment (that has 50,000 employees, 5,000 doctors, 25 hospitals, and brings 35,000 babies into the world annually!). Caring, bright, and highly effective (hello – Rotarian?), Carrie gave us the low down on all of the great things we’ll see when Sutter General opens in May of 2015, and shared some of Sutter’s recent successes, such as being voted among the 100 best hospitals in America, one of the Top 15 health systems nationwide, and one of the best places to work. And did you know that the Sutter’s neo-natal intensive care unit services for 28 of California’s 58 counties, and their Emergency Rooms handle 90,000 patients a year? If you call Carrie, expect to leave a message – she’s a tad busy.
No meeting next Tuesday, in lieu of G4K on Monday (by the way, did I mention that Golf 4 Kids needs your help this week?) JBW