Meeting Recap - June 14, 2016
Posted by Rick Davis
on Jun 16, 2016
The day shone bright and glorious for our Rotary Sons’ Day event this year. We gathered literally “out by the pool” in the embracing warmth of the Red Lion’s Grove; and we have Rotarians Barbara Thompson and Len Simpson to thank for organizing an excellent program.
Starting on time with Rotarian precision, President-for-the-Day Mr. Jack Ryan, grandson of PP Dave Murphy, led us through the event with a steady, competent hand. PD Ryan comes to us well qualified for the roll: captain of the Speech & Debate and Varsity Volleyball teams at Jesuit High School; recipient of the Ignatian Award, the school’s highest honor; and matriculating at Georgetown University in the fall.
Mr. Alex Wong, son of club manager LaToya Wong, offered our “Thought for the Day”. He drew from the movie Forrest Gump with a worthy lesson not to let fear of the unknown stop one from trying. His message regarding the proverbial mixed box of chocolates? Eat them all! (although watch the waist line)
This writer had trouble seeing the diminutive Mr. Nathan Solis, son of Rotarian Eric Solis (Wells Fargo Advisors), who led us in the pledge; but we could not miss the energy. The younger Solis’s scampering enthusiasm made the pledge a highlight.
In the manner of European royalty, PD Ryan seemed related to virtually everyone else in the program. He acknowledged our other able son/grandson participants, including Willie Osen and Joey Ryan as sergeants-at-arms; and our Greeters: Daniel Ryan, George Srabian, Henry “love them penguins” Srabian, Robbie Brasfeild, Aden “still fond of geckos” Bouska, Anthony Murphy and Cooper Murphy. Proud parents and grandparents included PP Dave Murphy (continuing his august role as patriarch), and Rotarians Chuck Brasfeild (Golden Empire Council, Boy Scouts of America), John Murphy (John O. Bronson Company), Rick Osen (Sutter Builders), Dick Osen, and Len Simpson (2020 Financial Advisers of Sacramento).
Exercising his royal prerogative, PD Ryan then introduced our entertainment. It began with the Grant High School Drum Corps marching in with a foot-tapping beat that even (although perhaps not surprisingly) drew an audience from behind the curtains of nearby Red Lion hotel rooms. The nationally ranked Corps has performed in front of everyone from Jimmy Kimmel to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
We also observed two shows from Amazing Animal World. They featured two reptiles: Albus, a shy albino python, and Henry, a somewhat more curious iguana. After a gentle but quick lick of a finger by a forked tongue, this writer was grateful that Henry was not hungry.
The wish-fulfilling whimsy of Whimsy & Wishes provided the balance of our program. Lindsay Grimes introduced a series of elegant, mesmerizing performances filled with hoop dancing, a floating glass ball and fire dancing. We even had a balloon fairy!
Thank you Barbara Thompson (Sky Ridge Ranch) and Len Simpson: today’s meeting was a lot of fun. (See the pictures!)
Keeping with the informal mood, we adjourned slightly early: 1:25 pm-ish.