Passion's Day!

Posted by Rick Davis on Mar 31, 2017
 
Passion. Compassion. The two are related beyond simple alliteration. The latter drives Rotary’s urge to serve. The former drives the Rotarian.
 
It comes in many forms, this passion. At today’s meeting--Passions Day--eight of our fellow Rotarians displayed their passions--their interests, their hobbies, those extras in life that engage our minds, inform our imaginations, and shape who we are. And we had an opportunity to share in their delight.
 
More of that in a moment.
 
President Dan gaveled us in more or less on time with his genial, eloquent style. He took a few minutes to note the start of spring and that some folks still debate the heliocentric model of our solar system. He then offered an allegory as introduction to Passions Day, musing rhetorically about “trap shooters shooting down skydivers.”
 
Bringing us back to earth was Mik Miklaus (Integrity Mortgage), whose “Thought for the Day” spoke to diversity--not just of race or creed, but of interests and skills and--indeed--passions. We are different as individuals, yet we come together bound as Rotarians by one common fundamental value: Service Above Self.
 
 
Next, we welcomed new member Diana Spencer (Operating Room Nurse, Shriner’s Hospital), sponsored by Luann Richardson (Re/Max Gold), and Robyn DeLong (Coldwell Banker). Diana has a comprehensive background and is a great addition to the club. Welcome Diana!
 
 
 
 
Bob Daly (Financial Network Wealth Advisors) and Bob Miller (First US Community Credit Union) (“Bob squared”) then stood to acknowledge sponsors and supporters of Golf4Kids and to profile our beneficiaries: Ralph Richardson Center, Bowling Green, Fern Bacon and Luther Burbank High School. The very successful event funded all requests for donations! (Great job!) 
 
Thence to the procedural:
 
Calendar and announcements (Make sure to call the office to sign up!)
 
  • 31 March (this Thursday). Loaves and Fishes this Thursday! John Swentowsky says we need (as of this meeting) four more still for the afternoon.
  • 1 April (this Saturday). Rotary District 5180 Assembly, 7:45 am to 1:00 pm. The assembly provides important leadership training and assistance to clubs in the district. 
  • 21 April (Friday). Theater Night for “The Bodyguard.” Contact Roy Alexander (Sacramento Children's Home).
  • 5-7 May. Rotary District 5180 Conference at the Marriott in Santa Clara.
  • 20 May. Rotary Foundation Dinner at the Folsom Community Center.
  • 23 July. New Member Fellowship Afternoon at home of Hal Bartholomew (Bartholomew & Wasznicky LLP) and Beverly Brautigam (Brautigam Financial Services) --and not just for new members! It’s a “swim barbecue!” (Picture that.)
Roast, Boast and Toast (shades of Ping Pong Diplomacy)
 
  • PEE and future Chancellor Diane Woodruff confessed to losing shamelessly in ping-pong to Past Emperor Wes Yee (Yee Dental Care). She donated 3@$100 to Eddie Mulligan (EM) for PP Wes, Tim Mattheis (WMB Architects), and Mike Bullington (Pacific Advisors) ($300 total).
  • Past Emperor Wes Yee stood to reciprocate, offering another $100 to EM….
  • As did Tim Mattheis, confessing also to a ping-pong “smack down” and pledging $100 to Diane’s EM….
  • And Michael Bullington, echoing Tim’s lament and pledging $100 to Polio Plus.
  • Not to be outdone, Todd Andrews (Andrews Construction, Inc.) stood to pledge $100 to his EM, and also try to sell an XXL-sized Sac Century jersey for “$65 or $75.” (Good luck with that, Todd.)
 
And finally: Passions. President Dan introduced Jeff Setzer (Setzer Forest Products Inc.), who set the stage. Jeff said the purpose of Passions Day is to let members show a side or set of interests they might not otherwise. And by sharing same perhaps-- just perhaps--we might feel even more passion for Rotary.
 
The pictures below say it all (with a little help from the captions). 
 
Dr. Barbara Arnold’s (Barbara J. Arnold MD Inc.) love of the Sacramento Delta is very clear in her paintings, many of which have won awards and, as a hobby, earned her notable revenue in the popular art market. For her, painting embraces not only an affection for the landscapes she paints: placing each dab of pigment on a canvass “is like a meditation, freeing the spirit.”
 
 
 
 
 
 
Todd Andrews suggests a possible target for Mike Bullington and his “Trap Shooting for Rotary” display. Mike and fellow shooter Larry Booth (Frank M. Booth) (background, left) offered some excellent details and information about the hobby. Types of shooting include skeet (fast and short, 16 yards across and in front of the shooter), trap (a long and slow target traversing downrange) and “sporting clays,” used in competition and which can come from any direction (shudder).
 
 
 
 
One major highlight included Ernie Farrington’s (C.E.O. Council) passion for the Soap Box Derby and its benefits for kids. Fellow enthusiast and guest Jeff Anderson called the Derby “the greatest thing in the world!” It’s also a true-to-form measure of compassion for a very good Rotarian. (At right: Dick Noonan (California State Railroad Museum) and PP Thom Gilbert (Gilbert Associates, Inc.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mead Kibbey, with support from fellow bibliophile and guest Matt Burtok (eyeing the camera), explains the unique technology of books to Steve Ruland (Ruland's Office Furnishings) and John Swentowsky (Swentowsky Photography). Mead and Matt’s display showed the publishing process and included both 17th century artifact prints and a few of Mead’s publications. 
 
 
 
 
“Here comes the ref!” in the person of (no surprise) Mik Miklaus, never looking better than he does here. As an umpire and referee (a.k.a. “Sports Official”), Mik’s passion is driven by a “desire to do that which builds character.”  More than a hobby, sports officiating is a complex art, requiring specialized training and certification.
 
 
 
 
 
Bill Proffit (Land Park Ski & Sport) and colleague Tom Gwinn (not pictured) delighted in explaining the perennial virtues of skiing as a passion. Tom confessed skiing is “not a need,” but “a dream fulfiller.” Bill added he just likes “playing in the snow.” Visit their location at Land Park Ski & Sport (4207 Freeport Blvd) for more!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Steve Walker (Fast Break Tech, Inc.) shared his courageous and commendable enthusiasm for skydiving. This writer saw lots of people visit the table, asking lots of questions, such as: “You jump out of a perfectly good airplane?!” Steve just smiled and answered, “Why not?” (See Steve to sign up.)
 
 
 
 
 
Edward Wright, Jr. (Martensen Wright PC) shares his passion for wine. He, Hugo Bogren (UC Davis Medical Center) and Past Emperor Wes Yee chuckle as Tim Mattheis struggles to find the screw-top on a cork. (Come on, Tim.) Ed’s view: “Wine brings friends together.” Got that right, Mr. Wright.