Written By: Jay Lowden
A celebration of sons was the theme for the final meeting of the 2017-2018 Rotary year. Dick Osen welcomed everyone to this special meeting where all duties for the day are turned over to sons and grandsons of Rotarians.
Dick introduced our president for the day, and his grandson Will Osen. Will is a fresh graduate of Christian Brothers and will be attending Boise State in the fall.
President Will welcomed everyone to one of our club’s longest traditions, Son’s Day. He recognized the Son’s Day Committee for the work they did in putting the meeting together. Keith Wright, son of Laurie Wright (Tri Counties Bank) provided our thought for the day. Keith’s message - basketball isn’t easy - was right in line with his love for the game.
President Will introduced Nathan Solis, son of Eric Solis (Solis Financial Strategies Group of Wells Fargo Advisors) to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. The head table included Sergeant-At-Arms Benjamin Teichert Kaganovich, grandson of Lev Kaganovich (Energy, LEED & Commissioning Consulting) and Past President Fred Teichert and Nancy Teichert (Teichert Foundation); Sergeant-At-Arms Lars Osen, son of Rick Osen (Sutter Builders, Inc.); and greeters Gabriel Nugent and Mason White, grandsons of Ted White (Sacramento Delta Property Management).
After lunch service, it was time to raise a little money and recognize some of the folks in attendance. The Son’s Revenge tradition empowers progeny to fine their parents or grandparents for a wide variety of transgressions. President Will started off by fining his dad Rick for “making me get a job this summer,” and he fined his grandfather Dick for not yet inviting him to play the revamped North Ridge Country Club. A couple of the older sons in the room got into the act with Jeff Stone (John O Bronson Co/HUB Int'l) recognizing his father Paul Stone for Paul’s 92nd birthday, and Ted Grebitus (Grebitus Jewelers) recognizing his dad Ed Grebitus. Not to be outdone by his son, Rick Osen recognized his own dad with contribution to Dick’s next Eddie Mulligan; Keith Wright fined his mom Laurie Wright for the sin of making him get out of bed early; Nathan Solis fined his dad Eric for a Pokemon violation; Todd Andrews recognized his father-in-law Bob Gaines and saluted the fact that Todd has been married to Bob’s daughter for 40 wonderful years; Lev Kaganovich contributed in recognition of his grandson and then fined the boy’s other grandfather, PDG Fred Teichert, for missing the meeting; and finally Dave Brandenburger (Newmark Cornish & Carey) fined his dad Steve Brandenburger for not showing up.
President Will introduced Braxton Warren as our featured presenter. Braxton is a black belt in taekwondo. At 20, he already is the manager of a martial arts studio with 500 students and 20+ staff. He has competed internationally and aims for the 2020 US Olympic team. Current he is ranked #6 nationally in his weight class. Finishing up soon at Sierra College, Braxton will start at UC Davis in the fall. At the meeting, Braxton engaged some guest sons to help demonstrate the basics of taekwondo.
President Will thanked Braxton and reminded everyone that while there is no meeting next week, on July 10 we will start a new Rotary year with the installation of Diane Woodruff as our new Club President. At 1:11pm, he rang the bell and Rotary 2017-2018 was officially in the books.
Thank you John Swentowsky (Swentowsky Photography) for the photos!