President O’Neil rang the bell to start the meeting at 12:02 p.m. He welcomed everyone to the “Best damn Rotary Club in all of Arden Arcade… that is the Arden Arcade Rotary Club of Sacramento.”   Linda Biggler, bedecked in a very festive holiday sweater, was asked to lead the club in the pledge to the flag of the United States… which she did festively.  The Prez then asked P.E. Olmstead to provide the invocation, which he did.

 

Jenny Davini introduced her guest, Kaitlyn.  I am sure that she has a last name but I didn’t catch it.

 

The Prez asked Jed Van Wagner what name his brother was going by today.  “Scott.”

 

The Prez asked P.P. Cahill to introduce our guest speaker.  He was happy to do so introducing his daughter, Christine Cahill-Reams, as the guest speaker from Point West Rotary.  The naming of our friendly competing club was not as well received as it should have been (boos were heard), considering they are brothers-and-sisters-in-arms also attempting to make our world a better place in which to live... even if WE are the Best-Damn-Rotary-Club-In-Arden-Arcade!  We need to show them compassion with class.  The Secret Word is “Compassion.”

 

Bruce Stimson in honor of his 71^st birthday tomorrow.  He noted that he purposely sat next to George Prather to make funeral arrangements. Additionally, he is retiring from full-time employment at the end of this month to take up part-time consulting.

 

Jed Van Wagner, in an attempt to clear up his backlog of announcements and maximize his bang for his buck: he sold his Rocklin house and downsized to a smaller house in Citrus Heights; he turned 64 yesterday and still has two years to go before retiring; his eye doctor is fitting him for glasses that should allow him to drive himself around and not have to rely on his brother, Charlie.  Also, for missing the Christmas Party because his daughter got married and is now honeymooning in Maui.

 

(Rob Ford joined the meeting at this time)

 

P.E. Rob Olmstead for receiving the wrong bottle of whiskey at the Christmas party.  It appears that Tom had been doing a bit of partying prior to wrapping up his white elephant gift and wrapped up a very expensive bottle of whiskey rather than the intended cheap bottle. This violated the rules of the gift exchange and almost got him disqualified from two future gift exchanges.  P.E. Olmstead, being of upstanding character and fine upbringing, took it upon himself to rectify this inadvertent breach of etiquette by returning the bottle of Whiskey to Tom, thereby restoring Tom as a member in good standing for future gift exchanges and getting him out of the doghouse with his lovely bride.

 

Jenny Davini is looking forward to her kids coming home for Christmas.

 

Tim Cahill in honor of his daughter being present at the meeting as guest speaker and in advance payment for things he has said or may say at some time during the day. 

 

Duane Oliveira making up for missing a few meetings and catching up on events in his life: on September 10^th he and his wife celebrated their 32^nd wedding anniversary and the day after Thanksgiving he celebrated his 72^nd birthday.  Add the two events together add up to 104.  He is rounding down and becoming a bell ringer.   

 

(Michael Caplan joined the meeting at this time)

 

Matt Ross offered up Idea Bucks… he claimed to have received the best gift of the gift exchange… Toilet Golf.  He is feeling guilty about keeping this gift to himself and offered to make it available to the club to give to late arrivals.  They would have to keep Toilet Golf until such time as there is another late arrival that can be gifted to… or pay a fine for being late.  It should be noted that there was at least one cynic in the club that asked if Matt did not appreciate or like his gift.  Matt took umbridge at the assertion that he was anything less than altruistic in his offer… however, he was overheard saying that his wife was not going to let him keep that thing in the house.

 

(Rob Ford passed out handmade toffees to every table for dessert.)

 

 

Steve Turner offered $20 on behalf of Linda Biggler and her sweater and bells.  He asked Linda to stand and ring her bells, she gladly complied. And… he continued, he wanted to propose… it should be noted that there was an unfortunate pause in his delivery, allowing many comments suggesting he get down on one knee, and soliciting a confused yet hopeful look on the face of Linda, before he could finish his thought.  He quickly clarified, that he proposes that next week, at the meeting where he and the Prez are buying drinks for everyone, that we all wear our best Ugly Christmas Sweater and the winner gets credit for the $100 Happy Bucks that Steve will provide next week.    Michael Caplan voiced a note of concern regarding the contest as it tended to exclude some members of the club.  Steve amended his comments to state the contest was now officially referred to as the “Ugly Sweater Contest, formally know as the Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest.”

 

Carroll Cook reported that 115 coats have been delivered to Dyer-Kelly Elementary School.  Prez O’Neil asked S-A-A Cady to pass the hat to help fund the project.

 

Prez O’Neil announced that Steve Turner has thrown his hat into the District Governor’s ring.  The club board has endorsed his effort and the Prez is bringing it to the club for final endorsement.   

 

Steve noted that he wanted to help Matt out with the grant process.  He went on to say that it has been a long time since a District Governor has come from our club and he felt that needed to change.  It is a three-year process and a lot of people are apply for the position.  It is a three-year process to become the DG and then another three years sitting on boards and helping the district.  He wants to show his daughter, Audrey, how you serve in the community and internationally.  He is doing it for himself, the club and for Audrey. 

 

Steve knows there is a lot to be done to make this happen and will take any help we can offer.  It was moved and seconded that the club approve and endorse Steve Turner’s candidacy for District Governor.  The vote was unanimous and there was a rousing round of applause.

 

There are discounted rates for those who register early for the conference to be held from April 29 through May 1, 2022 at Lake Tahoe.  The conference is a good time with great people. There is a paddle boat cruise of Lake Tahoe that is a very fun event and everyone is encouraged to attend. 

 

Richard Goore announced that we are indeed having a poker tournament this year.  It will be held March 19^th at Niello BMW this year.  The event starts at 4:00 and goes until there is a winner.  We will need a lot of help and sponsorships.  The Firefighters Burn Institute will be partnering with us and the main beneficiary.

 

Coats for Kids, pass the hat, raised $805 - Anyone needing documentation of their coat donations can contact Jenny and provide her with their coat receipts for tax donation documentation.

 

Prez Patrick invited Lisa Asperger to the front of the room.  He presented her with the November Rotarian of the month award.  She was in charge of the Holiday Party and it couldn’t have happened with her and Al and his fiancé… but she gets the pin… cause she was in charge.

 

Prez O asked, “By a show of hands, who knows the secret word?”  There were many hands that went up. The Prez saw Linda Bigler’s hand go up first, even though Tim Cahill had his hand up very quickly. Linda correctly noted that the word was “Fire.”  She took the spin and was awarded five tickets. 

 

 

Past President Tim Cahill introduced guest speaker, Christine Cahill-Reams.  He confessed that, unlike some introductions, this time he actually does know something about this guest speaker.  Christine is a member of Point West Rotary.  She is the special projects manager for Charles C. Bell Company.   She has lived in this community for most of her life as her family has long roots in this area. She is a knowledgeable and really neat gal.  Welcome Christine.

 

She confirmed the facts that she is with Point West and is Tim’s daughter.  She asked the club not to hold either of those points against her.  Christine is a member of the International Grants Committee.  She chaired that committee over the last two years.  Paul Friedrich is now the chair.  The committee likes to focus on global grant projects.  These are large, international, multi-year projects that commonly involve multiple clubs.   The funds for these projects are matched at both the district and international levels.  Point West has taken the lead on two international projects.

 

The Rotary Club of Ciudad Sandino contacted Point West to partner with them to provide health care to the poorest of the poor in Barrio Nueva Vida, population 12,000. Ciudad Sandino is located NW of the capitol city of Managua, Nicaragua. Barrio Nueva Vida is a refugee community that developed and became permanent after Hurricane Mitch. This community does not have in-ground sanitation or water systems.  150 individuals, primarily adults from this community, have been identified to receive targeted health care as they can’t make it to the local health clinics.  The grant is to bring health care, including psychological care, to these individuals.

 

The Rotary Club of Ciudad Sandino has 13 members and has participated in three major grants.  They will be doing the bulk of the work for the project.  This time Point West is taking on the lead sponsor role.  Christine is here to talk about securing funding for this project.  This project is managed by Rotary Club of Ciudad Sandino but has wide support from the community who will help with the program. This project is a modest $30,000 and is slated to start in March of 2022. 

 

Point West is attempting to get as many clubs as possible to participate in this project.   Point west is dedicating $2,000 towards the project.  It is hoped that other clubs will put in $1,000 to $2,000 towards the project. 

 

There may be an opportunity for local club members to participate personally but that needs to be confirmed. 

 

President Patrick O’Neil pulled George Prather’s free ticket.  He did not pick the Ace of Spades. But he did select the winning envelope containing the Piatti’s card.

 

President Patrick O’Neil rang the bell at 1:02 P.M. closing the meeting.

 

Respectfully (more or less) submitted by,

 

Mike Grace