Meeting Recap for March 3, 2015

Posted by Kevin Smith-Fagan 
on Mar 05, 2015
 
President Susan Sheridan called the meeting to order and promptly thanked Steve Johanson for sponsoring the wine reception, and Mike Bullington for the reception’s dulcid piano accompaniment; she also saluted greeters Callee Setzer and Steve Ruland.
 
Allison Cagley offered a thought for the day from St. Teresa of Avila, and Dick Osen led the group in singing America the Beautiful.
 
During head table introductions, President Susan saluted Jack Bowker for 50 years in the club, and also recognized Bill Stone for 40 years of membership.
Heidi Hershenhouse welcomed back rejoining member Elena Naderi, sponsored by Heidi and Wes Yee.
 
Several club members were recognized for their Eddie Mulligan and/or Paul Harris commitments, including Jim Phillips, Dave Murphy, Larry Cassidy, Michele Amaral, Jon Snyder, with Kelley Moran presenting a ceremonial Paul Harris to his special guest and mom, Kim Moran.
 
 
 
 
 
President Susan and President-elect Dave Cohen introduced a table of guests from Team Red White and Blue, a service organization comprised of military veterans which has been selected as co-recipient (along with Habitat for Humanity) of our club’s 2015 Sacramento Century bike event.
 
District Governor Fred Teichert sponsored the meeting and encouraged Rotarians to join him at the district conference April 24-26 in Rohnert Park.
 
Clayton Lee presented an overview of Rotary International’s World Community Service initiatives, and our club’s service projects around the world. Next month Heidi Hershenhouse is leading a club service trip to Guatemala with an education focus, and club members headed in June to the international conference São Paulo, Brazil, will visit impoverished neighborhoods in that city.
 
Club announcements included Bruce Hester updating the club on our membership drive and awarding a gift certificate to Past President Skip Lawrence for his recruiting success; Skip tied Todd Andrews, Chris Ann Bachtel and Eric Solis for the lead, and he won the prize in a drawing. (Being selfless Rotarians, none of the also-rans questioned why Bruce didn’t just get three more certificates.)
 
President Susan announced the cancellation of the planned snowshoe walk in Yosemite, due to a lack of snow, and she also announced a March 14 “build day” for the club’s Habitat for Humanity house project. Tanya Kravchuk announced that May 9 is the date for our club’s service project for “Rotarians at Work” day, beautifying Riverbend Park.
 
Rotarians were in a celebrating mood this week; Eddie Mulligan Contributions from PP Thom Gilbert, Jeff Curcio, Bob Daly, Mike Bullington, Judy Kjelstrom and Elfrena Foord.  Todd Andrews gave to his Paul Harris.
 
Kevin Smith-Fagan introduced guest speaker Kitty O’Neal, longtime radio host on KFBK NewsRadio and veteran of covering the red carpet at the Academy Awards. Kitty entertained the club with insider stories about the machinations of the Oscars, and her interviews and encounters with the likes of Clint Eastwood and Joan Rivers.