39 days until the Sacramento Century Challenge! The club’s signature public fundraiser is set for October 7.
Event chair Past President Susan Sheridan and Todd Andrews (Andrews Construction, Inc.) presented an overview of the event and announced the worthy beneficiaries, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Sacramento and Volunteers of America.
Volunteer coordinator Barbara Thompson (Sky Ridge Ranch) underscored the extensive need for volunteers and called upon every club member to sign up for volunteer duty at www.sacramentocentury.com.
Party animal Tim Mattheis (WMB Architects) highlighted the attractions at the 11am-6pm “after party” on Capitol Mall – wines from Clarksburg, Yolo Brewing Company, and live music from rockers Playback and Unsupervised.
Tanya Kravchuk (Children’s Receiving Home of Sacramento) encouraged Rotarians to spread the word through social media and their personal networks: 400+ Sac Century riders have signed up so far, but many more are needed.
President John Lemmon (Knox, Lemmon & Anapolsky) announced the club board had approved a dues hike. After a decade without any fee increases, the club’s dues revenue has not kept pace with rising expenses and must be adjusted. To make it easier on club members, the increase will be phased in over four years. President John stressed the dues increase was not a result of any recent site or catering changes: it is just high time. The revised amounts will be reflected on the forthcoming invoices.
Generous club members lined up to share good news and support Rotary. Virginia Varela (Golden Pacific Bank) got called out by President John for a run of deserved praise in the local press, and responded with a $250 gift. In donating $100, Nancy Teichert encouraged club members to support the community Walk for Literacy on October 21. Dick Noonan (California Railroad Museum) donated $100 in honor of his daughter’s elevation to grand matron of the Order of the Eastern Star in Arizona. Jack Anderson (Dick James and Associates) celebrated his son’s marriage with a $100 contribution. Past President Susan Sheridan toasted her daughter’s recent marriage with $100 to “each of the boys” (Eddie Mulligan and Paul Harris). With her $100 donation, Tanya Kravchuk set the record straight on some bogus bad publicity that had erroneously tarnished the Children’s Receiving Home: it was, Tanya reported, a case of mistaken identity, and CRH continues to serve foster children ably.
Day chair Rita Gibson (Rita Gibson Insurance and Investment Services) introduced guest speaker Dr. Rachel Teagle, the founding director of the new Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art on the campus of UC Davis. More than 68,000 guests have visited the free museum since it opened last November, beyond expectations. Next January, the museum will mount an exhibition of legendary Sacramento painter Wayne Thiebaud work 1958-68. Dr. Teagle anticipates the exhibit will shine a spotlight on Thiebaud’s “avant garde intervention in the history of art,” a pioneering genius which has gone largely unrecognized. As she explained it, his work is much deeper than a simple presentation of rows of pie slices. The public opening is January 14, 2018.
Meeting sponsor John Wood (McGee & Thielen Insurance Brokers) outlined the history of McGee & Thielen Insurance Brokers, serving Sacramentans since 1920 with personal and business insurance products.
Along the way, President John Lemmon thanked:
. Wine sponsor Len Simpson (2020 Financial Advisors)
. Wine reception pianist Jack Anderson
. Greeters Dan Guth (City National Bank), Margo Fowkes (OnTarget Consulting) and Mike Bullington (Pacific Advisors).
Steve Huffman delivered the Thought for the Day.
Next week’s guest speaker will be Special Agent Sean Ragan, who oversees the FBI’s Sacramento operations.