Meeting Recap June 28 2010
Posted by John Wood
Last Meeting...
It was only too paradoxically fitting that this week's "Demolition" (to coin the phrase that the anonymous young lad at the recent "Sons' Day" event used to announce President Beverly's upcoming Demotion dinner), honoring one of the most organized Rotary Presidents of recent memory, was executed by two masters of the impromptu -- chair of the night Mike Dourgarian, and John (get me a mic and I'll take it from here) Frisch.
Perhaps the first-ever committee-of-one for the Demotion Dinner, the aforementioned Michael D exerted a yeoman's effort in planning, organizing and directing the entire event himself, highlighted by his occasional stage whispers to his designated speakers to ensure that the free flowing meeting remained on course.
If improv is your method, John Frisch is your man. Taking the mic with nary a moment's notice, John entertainingly riffed his way throughout the evening, including such on-the-spot decisions as making a human flag out of John Balluff (donned in his red shirt), Pete Dannenfelser (adorned in white), and the blue-bloused Leesa Fons for our pledge, when no sign of Old Glory could be found.
John also provided us with club news and analysis, advising that the newest and largest organ in Sacramento was just installed at Don Baird's Fremont Presbyterian Church, besting the second largest organ, which is housed inside President Elect Scot Sorensen's St. John's Lutheran Church - and then proceeding to analyze the event, wondering if Scot had organ envy, and thereafter referring to Scot as the man with the second largest organ in Sacramento (has the gist been gotten, or must I drag this paragraph further into the gutter?).
The organ matters fully covered, Big John moved on to the disturbing issue of alleged discrimination in the club, noting that while we have now had the good fortune of two wonderful women Presidents in Beverly and the lovely Diane Mizell, these fine ladies are both tall, leaving the scent of incrimination that our hallowed institution discriminates against shorter women. Not to be tolerated, the gathered Rotarians were united in intent that someday - hopefully, sooner rather than later - we will have as President a more diminutive version of the fairer sex.
Giving John a break to collect his thoughts (actually, create new ones, as his next set was moment's away), Mike took to the podium to summarize some of the accomplishments of Beverly's term, such as the $220,000 that the club donated to various charities during the year; the $70,000 that was raised for the Club Foundation just during the "recognition" period of the weekly lunches; the $55,000 that Bob (appearing here) Daly and his Golf 4 Kids committee raised last Fall (which, by the way, was a record-shattering result for the G4K fundraiser); the 600 toys that were donated during this year's toy drive; and the $12,000 raised by this year's meeting sponsors of the day -- one of the few terms in which we had a meeting sponsor for every meeting of the year, courtesy of Oleta Lambert's fine work as committee chair (who can say no to the ever-charming Oleta? No one, of course). Also, a special thanks to John Swentkowsky, who tirelessly captured Beverly's term on film, producing over 700 pictures during the year.
After Mike came Scot Sorensen to perform the official act of exchanging pins with Beverly - he getting her "President" pin, signifying the boatload of work that he has ahead of him over the next 12 months, and she receiving the "Past President" pin, signifying that she can go back to earning a living. Big John then returned to the mic to share some final, heartfelt thoughts regarding Beverly (their friendship having been forged over three months of carpooling together years ago), she was presented with a quite nice vase to commemorate her term, and the crisply-moving meeting was adjourned. Great job, Mike and John, and congratulations, Beverly, on a most successful Presidency. - JBW
Perhaps the first-ever committee-of-one for the Demotion Dinner, the aforementioned Michael D exerted a yeoman's effort in planning, organizing and directing the entire event himself, highlighted by his occasional stage whispers to his designated speakers to ensure that the free flowing meeting remained on course.
If improv is your method, John Frisch is your man. Taking the mic with nary a moment's notice, John entertainingly riffed his way throughout the evening, including such on-the-spot decisions as making a human flag out of John Balluff (donned in his red shirt), Pete Dannenfelser (adorned in white), and the blue-bloused Leesa Fons for our pledge, when no sign of Old Glory could be found.
John also provided us with club news and analysis, advising that the newest and largest organ in Sacramento was just installed at Don Baird's Fremont Presbyterian Church, besting the second largest organ, which is housed inside President Elect Scot Sorensen's St. John's Lutheran Church - and then proceeding to analyze the event, wondering if Scot had organ envy, and thereafter referring to Scot as the man with the second largest organ in Sacramento (has the gist been gotten, or must I drag this paragraph further into the gutter?).
The organ matters fully covered, Big John moved on to the disturbing issue of alleged discrimination in the club, noting that while we have now had the good fortune of two wonderful women Presidents in Beverly and the lovely Diane Mizell, these fine ladies are both tall, leaving the scent of incrimination that our hallowed institution discriminates against shorter women. Not to be tolerated, the gathered Rotarians were united in intent that someday - hopefully, sooner rather than later - we will have as President a more diminutive version of the fairer sex.
Giving John a break to collect his thoughts (actually, create new ones, as his next set was moment's away), Mike took to the podium to summarize some of the accomplishments of Beverly's term, such as the $220,000 that the club donated to various charities during the year; the $70,000 that was raised for the Club Foundation just during the "recognition" period of the weekly lunches; the $55,000 that Bob (appearing here) Daly and his Golf 4 Kids committee raised last Fall (which, by the way, was a record-shattering result for the G4K fundraiser); the 600 toys that were donated during this year's toy drive; and the $12,000 raised by this year's meeting sponsors of the day -- one of the few terms in which we had a meeting sponsor for every meeting of the year, courtesy of Oleta Lambert's fine work as committee chair (who can say no to the ever-charming Oleta? No one, of course). Also, a special thanks to John Swentkowsky, who tirelessly captured Beverly's term on film, producing over 700 pictures during the year.
After Mike came Scot Sorensen to perform the official act of exchanging pins with Beverly - he getting her "President" pin, signifying the boatload of work that he has ahead of him over the next 12 months, and she receiving the "Past President" pin, signifying that she can go back to earning a living. Big John then returned to the mic to share some final, heartfelt thoughts regarding Beverly (their friendship having been forged over three months of carpooling together years ago), she was presented with a quite nice vase to commemorate her term, and the crisply-moving meeting was adjourned. Great job, Mike and John, and congratulations, Beverly, on a most successful Presidency. - JBW