Meeting Recap for June 9, 2015

Posted by John Wood 
on Jun 11, 2015
 
            Hey hidey-ho, did President Susan put on a show at ye olde Rotary club this week, with award winners and demotion dinners, Eddies and Pauls and Steven Walker’s great falls, this meeting had it all.
            But first, to the pre-gavel confab, Batman, where that dynamic duo, Bruce Hester and Elfrena Foord single-handedly (or would that be dual-handedly?) covered the wine reception, as Bruce poured the wine, while Elfrena tickled the ivories, with Jim Culleton and Pat Derickson on hand to greet the gathering throng.
            The trains run on time under Prez Susan’s regime, and at precisely 12:15 she gaveled the meeting to order and beckoned forth PP Peter Dannenfelser II for the Thought of the Day, before John (this car is a) Lemmon dispatched with the introduction chores.
            Among the head table dignitaries were Past President George (I play piano like Count) Basye, who this month celebrates his 54th year in the club and – if that wasn’t impressive enough – Mead Kibbey, who has been a Rotarian for 62 trips around the sun.  Congratulations, gents!
            Also on the dais was the ever-entertaining, Past Prez John Frisch, who this week introduced us to our newest Ludy Spirit Award winner.  For you newer members, the Ludy Spirit Award is named after Ludy Langer – one of the most colorful and dedicated Rotarians this Club has known in its 100+ years, who died tragically in an auto accident in 2010 –and is given to that Rotarian “whose generosity, care, good humor and dedication bring to mind the legacy of Ludy.”  This year’s winner (joining past winners, Art Breuer and Bob Daly) is one of the hardest working Rotarians you’ll find in the club, the most-deserving John Swentowsky.  Congratulations, John!
            Next up, another Past President (the Emperor) Wes Yee, with another distinguished club award, as we were introduced to our latest Sacramento Rotary Fellow (primer-time, newer members – the Sacramento Rotary Fellow is the highest honor the club bestows).  Our latest SR Fellow hails from New York, but all it took was one vacation out West and he never left the Best Coast – 25-year Rotarian, Bob Rediger.  Welcome to the rarified air of Rotary, Bob!
            After some conversation time we heard from Taro Kita, our Rotary Youth Exchange student, who popped in to say farewell and share a slide show with us.  Taro has spent the last year in America (the best year of his life, he says), and is headed back to his home country of Japan.  While he was here, Taro’s accomplishments included winning the Metro League championship in the High Jump and Triple Jump for his adopted McClatchy High School (represent!).  Safe travels, Taro!
            Eddies and Pauls (Mulligans and Harris’s, that is) were handed out to several fine Rotarians this week, including Jeannie (I’m cool like Keanu) Reaves, Lee Castonguay, Steve Heath, Rick Davis, and Mike (Skipper, where’s) Gilligan.  While this fivesome was honored for givings in the past, President Susan, in her generous way, allowed Ken (Mr. Radio Voice) Cross and Steve Lamon to tithe in the present, courtesy of their showing up in the press recently (Steve, for his Murphy Austin gang again being named a Tier 1 attorney firm, and Ken for the $60,000 matching donation grant his Habitat for Humanity received from an anonymous donor).
            Speaking of Habitat, Rick Davis advises that there are five build days left for Rotary’s Habitat for Humanity house (one of Prez Susan’s two main fundraisers this year), so go to the club website, click on the Sign-up Genius link, and try to keep up with Art Breuer when you’re out there (and don’t worry when you can’t, because no one can [except maybe Kiefie]).
            Also on the announcement front:   Elfrena wants you to block out June 30th and come help her kick Susan to the curb at her demotion dinner;  Chuck Brasfeild wants you to block out next Tuesday (June 16th) and hang with him at Rotary’s Son’s Day (and bring Junior with you); John Swentowsky needs some more volunteers for the morning crew at Loaves & Fishes on June 30th;  Bob Miller needs sponsors for this year’s Golf 4 Kids (call Bob and find out how you can help); and Steven Walker has organized a Rotary Sky Dive on July 11th (NOW how does that Habitat duty sound?).  Not an official Rotary event (geez, don’t know why the insurance had a problem with dozens of Rotarians falling from sky), Steven advises that the cost to scare the bejesus out of yourself is $200 (by the way, President Susan is jumping -- and so are George Bayse and Mead Kibbey -- so what are you waiting for?  Call Steven!).
            After all of that mayhem, next up was Rita (I throw harder than Bob) Gibson to introduce our guest speaker, Dr. Robin Steinhorn of the UC Davis Children’s Hospital.  Located at the UC Davis Medical Center, the UCD Children’s Hospital is ranked among the best in the nation, and employs hundreds of pediatricians, pediatric surgeons, nurses, and related medical personnel who perform miracles daily for the tiniest and most vulnerable of our fellow humans (talk about an economic engine that is producing high paying jobs in Sacramento while doing vital work!).  Dr. Steinhorn shared several of these miracles with us, and showed clearly that the UCD Children’s Hospital is one of Sacramento’s gems.