YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD

If you have not experienced a District Conference, get it on your bucket list of things to do in your life...really! 

This past weekend 369 members representing 40 of the 41 Clubs in your District 5180 convened at Reno’s Grand Sierra  (you remember the MGM Grand) for three days of fellowship, fun and fabulous hospitality suites…oh yes and a word from RI President representative Don Schiller, a presentation by our Peruvian GSE students, polio eradication and the latest District project (soon perhaps to be adopted as an international project), pistachio farming to curb world famine, the brain child of fellow Placer County Rotarian David Fiddyment, an internationally recognized pistachio tree farmer with no fewer than 100,000 trees under cultivation on his ranches in the Central Valley. Numerous other worldwide projects were highlighted, and of course, an awards ceremony recognizing the various District clubs for their exceptional accomplishments this Rotary year.

Yes, we walked away with the Blood award…but then again so did Point West. Your Club achieved the most pints donated, Point West achieved the highest percentage of club members donating and so both Clubs won, a perfect culmination of a fierce but friendly year long competition and best of all, BloodSource wins. Your club was also recognized by the judges for best large club exhibit and which also took “Best of Show” as the People’s Choice exhibit. Those together with several other awards tallied to 14, the gold, silver and bronze medals yours truly accepted on behalf of all of your remarkable good work this Rotary year. You should be very proud!

All of the medals including your clubs display exhibit will be showcased at the meeting of June 4 during the pre-meeting wine and beer reception so come early and enjoy on Monday the 4th!

Your hospitality suite featured an 8’X8’ banner of the Rotary wheel prominently displayed as the headboard over the bed in the master bedroom. Those visiting our suite for a late evening libation, not familiar with Rotary asked if we all were a bunch of “sailors”! Perhaps the wheel does bear resemblance to that of a clipper ship wheel and I‘m ok with that… and you? How about that for an international brand Rotary? Sailors…spreading world peace through projects across the planet.  That together with our Four Way Test banner hanging in the entrance to the master bedroom brought the house down with many a chuckle and remark from your District comrades although the insinuating humor did not secure your club the prestigious recognition of “Best Hospitality Suite”. That coveted award went to none other than the Roseville club and was well deserved.  

Your bowling team consisting of yours truly, PE Peter D, President Dan Palmer of the new Loomis Sunset Club and Past President Michele Mutoza of the Roseville Club had a ball bowling… and we will just leave it at that. We didn’t bring home the gold but we sure had fun!

All in all, the conference provided a wonderful opportunity for seven of us (and two spouses) to grasp just a fraction of what we are doing worldwide and perhaps equally as redeeming , the enjoyment of getting to know our fellow club members in the District.

Next year, and it is not too early to get it on the calendar (May 10-12, 2013) the conference will be held at the Hyatt on the beautiful north shore of Lake Tahoe. PE Peter Dannenfelser looks to up the ante with a representative showing of seventy (70) of us at the conference, a very doable goal for your club which represents 25% of the membership in the District… and don’t forget the following year your very own District Governor, Fred Teichert promises a really big shew!

Speaking of really big shews …this past week’s Armed Forces Day did not disappoint with the room adorned in lovely red, white and blue banners, international flag table center pieces and all the trimmings by your Inner Wheel ladies including Kiefie Breuer, Franque Nelson, Sylvia Enoch and Laurel McFarland. Steve Ruland rousted up two enormous American flags which flanked the room as well creating a very appropriate ambiance in recognition of our standing and veteran military and those who gave their lives for our freedom.

The color guard from Boy Scout Troop 380 (Rosemont) posted and retired the colors, Bill Stone carried the Thought for the Day recognizing all of our presiding military members and guests to a standing group “Thank you for our freedom” followed by a resounding singing of the National Anthem by your Four Way Test Quartet led by Dick Osen with John McIntyre, Kevin Smith–Fagan and Steve Green. If that delivery didn’t send chills up your spine… Well done gentlemen!  Maynard Nelson mused the audience with a remarkable and touching poem from the eyes and feelings of Frank Reed of the 445th Bomber Group.

Judy Daru was inducted into the Club as our 29th newest member this year, pinned by her daughter Valerie, a past Interact member. Welcome to the Club Judy! (Please see Judy’s bio below in this The Pulse). 

Basile DuPont from Belgium, one of your two club sponsored RYE students this year presented a slide show and commentary of his year in America to an attentive audience. Well done Basile and thanks to the John Shelby family for hosting him and to PEN Thom Gilbert for running a terrific RYE program this year.

KFBK’s Kitty O’Neal was the program for the day presenting a remarkable retrospective power point and commentary through historical photographs of her family’s military lives and experiences finishing to a sustained standing ovation. (Read all about it in this week’s meeting recap below). 

Many thanks to Jeff Raimundo for sponsoring the meeting and to PP Walter Dahl for delivering Jeff’s message.
Enjoy your three day Memorial weekend as we will be dark on the 28th returning on the 4th of June and do take a moment to remember our troops and the freedom for which they have and continue to fight to preserve.

Ken Noack, Jr.