Meeting Recap for Tuesday, July 8, 2014
President Susan Sheridan
Between the red carpet walk, the Rotary Rooters, the bike parade, the music videos, the slide shows, the skits, the jokes, the game shows, the room full of Past Presidents, the fanfare, the plastic hand clappers, the New Year’s Eve horns, and Mead Kibbey’s ever stylish, Brooks Brothers seersucker suit, why it was a veritable Rotarypalooza, as we launched the new presidency of Susan (I’m staying at the) Sheridan.
It all started with the red carpet walk that led the Rotarians into the Grand Ballroom of the Double Tree, which they reached after chatting with our glammed-up celebrity interviewers, Leslie Botos and Walter (if you’ve lost it all, give me a call) Dahl, all the while being simulcasted into the main room by Kevin Smith-Fagan and Alan Markis, with Rotary’s own paparazzi (in the form of Top Gun Tim Pinkney) catching everyone on the still frames.
Once in the room, the gathered throng was treated to the sounds of the Rotary Rooters, who stuck around during the meeting to dutifully provide the fanfare when beckoned by our Master of Ceremonies of the day, Past President Rob (I think he’s had some Dale Carnegie training) Scherer.
After the invocation by Jim Craig and some brief conversation time, PP Rob called the meeting back to order, and turned the mic over to another of the Rotary Royalty, Big John Frisch, who was his usual, witty self as he took us through a slide show of Susan’s life (with, perhaps, the teeniest, tiniest bit of fabrication of the facts).
After John it was time for a little Susan Sheridan Jeopardy, with the ever eloquent Brian Van Camp playing Alex Trebec better than Trebec plays himself, with our contestants Becki (people mistake me for Julia) Roberts, the aforementioned Mr. Craig, and, in jeopardy’s version of the Washington Generals, Susan’s husband, Dr. Larry Sheridan (who missed a surprising number of questions about his wife of 41 years).
After Becki wiped the floor with those two, we moved next to Judge William Shubb who, after combing the federal court records, determined that Susan was fit to serve as President as, among other factors, she was confirmed by Homeland Security not to be on the no-fly list, had no known criminal record, and was, by all indications, an American citizen. Her former law partner, Sheila Carroll, testified further to Susan’s ability to hold office, and the crowd was swayed.
Before calling Susan forth, however, there was the showing of the “Happy Dance” music video – four minutes of Rotarians caught on film, shaking their money makers, with some of our own busting some surprisingly good moves (and some not).
Next up was the Chair of the Day, and the Past President responsible for all of this Rotary madness, the lovely Diane Mizell, who officially introduced Susan to her new minions, and welcomed her to the podium for the first time as our leader.
After some brief remarks about her upcoming term, Susan spent the remainder of her time talking about her major fundraiser of the year – a dual effort involving a new Rotary event -- the Sacramento Century bike ride -- that will take place on October 25th, with the proceeds from that project going to build a Habitat for Humanity house in the spring of 2015. Driving (or, more accurately, riding) the point home was the parade of Rotarians who did a lap around the Grand Ballroom on their two-wheelers, blowing their NYE horns while the crowd took to the plastic hand clappers that were strewn all about.
In good presidential fashion, President Susan started filling the coffers with “community service” funds. Those members kind enough to contribute to the cause included; Elfrena Foord - $250 to PH, PP John Frisch - $250 to PH, Becki Roberts - $200 to EM, Jennifer Barber - $100 to EM, PP Thom Gilbert - $250 to EM, Jan Scully - $250 to EM and Judy Kjelstrom - $250 to EM.
With no time left on the ol’ meeting clock, Susan brought her first one to an end, and her term was off to a fantastic start.
Next week we’re at the Hilton Arden West Hotel on Harvard Blvd., and then the rest of the meetings will be back at the Red Lion Hotel Woodlake. JBW