OK, so they didn’t get it done in 80 days, but our luncheon speakers did fly around the world in 90 days – and raised $2 million to fight polio. More on that later.
President Bobby Reed gaveled the meeting to order and invited his father-in-law, Phil Goldman, to deliver our Thought for the Day. Phil recounted his childhood battle against polio, underscoring the importance of Rotary’s passionate commitment to eradicating the disease worldwide.
Meeting sponsor PP Jim Leet handed it over to Clayton Lee, who introduced Jeff Devoll of the Point West Rotary Club. Jeff talked up an April 24-28 service trip, the Rotary Baja Trip, he’s coordinating through the uReach Global program. Club members are invited to sign up for this affordable ($595), extremely worthwhile experience. Trip details are available at ureach.global/rotary.
Two new members were inducted into the club! Tim Comstock, a residential realtor with Coldwell Banker, was sponsored into the club by PP Diane Mizell and Robyn DeLong. Jay King, head of the California Black Chamber of Commerce, was sponsored by Bajrang Moran and Gabriel Gendron. These new members raise our arts IQ dramatically – Tim was once an LA indie film producer, and Jay won a Grammy in 1987 with his R&B band Club Nouveau.
Put Me In, Coach! Generous Rotarians celebrated happy occasions in their lives. Among them were Sarah Hodge celebrating on the eve of her last cancer treatment, and Bill Wygant in tribute to his daughter Megan’s birthday.
Club Announcements
- A river parkway cleanup morning is set for February 15, and club members are encouraged to sign up
- the Jean Runyon Award nomination deadline has been extended to February 21. Click here to submit a nomination.
- River Cats outing – Kathy Herrfeldt is gauging interest in club outings to River Cats games and/or an Athletics games this summer!
Guest speakers John Ockenfels and Peter Teahen, both Rotarians from Iowa, talked about their adventures flying around the world in a Cessna to raise funds and awareness for Rotary’s fight to end polio. Their “flight to end polio” spanned May through July 2023, with 37 landings in 19 countries. Connecting with Rotary clubs along the way, they far surpassed their $10,000 goal toward Rotary International’s “End Polio Now” effort. To date, their goodwill trip and subsequent speaking engagements have raised over $2 million! Of course their appeal resonated with our club, which responded in the moment with over $5,000 in donations for End Polio Now.
Elfrena Foord saluted the day’s Rock Star – Sarah Hodge!
President Bobby thanked greeters Jim Henderson, Kathy Herrfeldt and Bruce Hester. PP Kevin Smith-Fagan served as Pulse reporter, and photography was handled by John Swentowsky. The wine reception was sponsored by Surender Singal.
Next week’s meeting will feature celebrated Sacramento chef Patrick Mulvaney, owner of Mulvaney’s B&L, discussing his work to advance mental wellness among restaurant workers and his commitment to farm-to-fork cuisine. RSVP now to attend.
Photos courtesy of John Swentowsky
