Posted by Linda Geery - Photos By: John Swentowsky on Aug 17, 2017
President John welcomed everyone to the 5th meeting of his term.  Sergeant-At-Arms Callee Setzer (Setzer Forest Products) thanked the greeters and introduced guests, prospective members and visiting Rotarians.
 
Jim Relles of Relles Florist was the meeting sponsor and he gave a thorough overview of the 70-year history of his family company.
 
President John shared some photos from the Golf 4 Kids Event and introduced Bob Miller (First US Community Credit Union), co-chair of the Event.  Bob gave an overview and recap Golf 4 Kids, which is the longest running fundraiser in Rotary International history.  Bob said that the preliminary numbers indicate $40,000 was raised for the four beneficiaries: Ralph Richardson Center, Fern Bacon Middle School, Bowling Green Elementary and Luther Burbank High School.  The funding request for the four schools was $38,400, so it’s anticipated that their requests will be fully funded!
 
Bob Miller thanked:  Golfers, sponsors and volunteers.  Premier Sponsor – Gilbert Associates, Dinner Sponsor – Ted White (Sacramento Delta Property Management), Deli Delicious provided 130 free lunches, Hole in 1 Sponsor - Safe Credit Union, Fun Hole Sponsor Elfrena Foord (Foord, Van Bruggen, & Pajak) and Susan Sheridan, Raffle Prize Sponsor – Steve Ruland (Ruland's Office Furnishings),  Beverage Cart – Gabriel Gendron (Lyon Real Estate), Jeanne Reaves (Jeanne Reaves Consulting) and Rob Scherer (Dale Carnegie Training), Wine Sponsor – Dave and Kathy Higdon (California Moving Systems), $10,000 Shoot-Out – JD Lauppe, Longest Drive – Laura Heintz (Stanford Youth Solutions) and Kelley Moran, Bloody Mary Hole – Kathy Herrfeldt (Home Care Assistance) , Closest to the Pin – Dick James Associates, Breakfast Sponsor – Fred & Nancy Teichert (Teichert Foundation), Prizes – Jon Snyder (Snyder Commercial Real Estate) and Foursome Sponsor, Forrest Junod, Bruce Hester (Colliers International) and Ted White and our Putting Contest sponsor – Safe Credit Union.
 
Also, a Big Thank You to the committee members, Callee Setzer, Bob Daly (Financial Network Wealth Advisors), Dick Osen, Rick Osen (Sutter Builders, Inc.), Mike Bullington (Pacific Advisors), Christie Holderegger (Volunteers of America), Heidi Hershenhouse (Land IQ, LLC), Diane Mizell, Diane Woodruff, Leigh White (KTXL TV FOX 40) , Jay Lowden (YMCA of Superior California), Walter Dahl (Dahl Law, Attorneys At Law), Dave Higdon, Event Volunteers, and our Rotary Staff, LaToya, Ema and Sulaf.
 
Bob Miller closed out his comments by conveying that the event has gone from “Charity to Passion, What A Day!”
 
Announcements:
 
Jonathan Marz (Diepenbrock Elkin Gleason LLP) reminded us that Sacramento Century, coming up October 7th. John Swentowsky (Swentowsky Photography) shared that our Softball Team made it to the Championship Game, but lost by 1 run.  John also reminded us that Loaves and Fishes is coming up at month-end, check your inbox.  Clayton Lee (C.K.L. Trust) shared about an international opportunity to Nepal and Ethiopia.  Elena Naderi announced our next Happy Hour Network is on August 30th.
 
Let’s Build Something Together:
 
Dick Osen donated on behalf of Rick Osen’s 50th Birthday.  Dennis Smith (Tsakopoulos Management Company, LLC) was recognized for his photo in Comstock’s and PP Dan McVeigh donated in appreciation for being presented with a year-in-photos by John Swentowsky.
 
Elena Naderi introduced our speaker for the day, Congressman Dr. Ami Bera.  Congressman Bera shared that he believed that as a physician he is well prepared for his role in Congress, i.e., he listens well and asks questions.  He conveyed that he felt the 2016 election was a “swing election” and that much of the public and electorate were restless and felt disconnected with leadership.  Further, he indicated that there were two candidates that were speaking directly to the people: Sanders and Trump.  At this time, he indicated that he does not believe either party is speaking directly to the American people.  He spoke about what the future of work in America looks like. 
 
He indicated that there should be a sense urgency to holding elected officials accountable; to reach across the aisle and to do what is right for our country.
 
Congressman Bera indicated that he was optimistic about the future, but that it will take a commitment from leadership.  Although we can’t predict the future, he indicated that we do know what some of the challenges will be and that Americans will need to have leaders that have strong values. 
 
Next week we meet at The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church and our speaker will be international trade expert Andrew Grant.
 
Thank you John Swentowsky (Swentowsky Photography) for the photos!