President Ross rang the bell and welcomed everyone to the
(quickly checking the room for younger attendees)
Best Damn Rotary Club in Arden arcade.
Pledge - Tim Cahill
(Circa 2026)
President Ross asked Tim Cahill to lead the club in the Pledge to our nation's flag.
He then asked Mike Grace to provide the blessing.
Both members did as requested.
Invocation - Mike Grace
(Circa 1970)
The Prez then led the club through the Four-Way test.
Introduction of Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Visiting Rotarian
Brenda Glen
President
Granite Bay Rotary Club
Visiting Rotarian
Holli Tamas
Granite Bay Rotary Club
Visiting Rotarian
Dave Veden
District Governor Elect
Natomas Rotary Club
Guest - Sarah Valentine
Joe Green introduced Sarah, from the Firefighter's Burn Institute (the other FBI). We have partnered with the FBI for the Annual Poker Tournament. She is very happy to be here to pick up a check and enjoy the food and our company... but mostly the check.
Guest - Raina Montgomery
Sgt. at Arms Cady introduced Raina Montgomery for the second time. She is a "neighbor." Her office is across the street about two blocks away. She works with Al in a different office at Edwards Jones. She now understands what she is in for with our club... and came anyway.
Guest Speaker - William Cho
The Prez introduced today's guest speaker, William Cho. There will be more information when he is introduced to speak.
Bells, Boasts, and Bitches
Show Me the Money!
* Bells *
Bell Ringers
* Boasts *
Happy, Sad & Whatever Bucks
* Bitches *
What's Bug'n You Today?
Happy Bucks - Debbie Hudson
Debbie was happy to share that she took her 4.5-year-old granddaughter to see the Peter Rabbit ballet this weekend. She loved and understood it. She assured Big Al that he will love it if he decides to go. Al said he would go as long as they let him wear his pink tutu.She advised Al to get advanced approval from Ballet Security beforehand or arrive with a doctor's note.
Happy Bucks - Tim Cahill
Tim was happy to give $1 in appreciation-bucks for Al Cady wearing his 9-gallon cowboy hat. It would have been 10-gallon hat if it were a Stetson, and Tim would also have upped his donation to $5 for the real thing.
Happy Bucks - Linda Bigler
Linda was happy, albeit a bit tired, after taking the "exchange girls" on a shopping trip, looking for the perfect prom dress at the mall. Linda was bemoaning the fact that she had not worn her pedometer to record the number of miles she logged walking up and down the mall. The perfect dress was found and Linda volunteered to hem it. The dress had a full swoop skirt on it, like a wedding dress train. Linda did not realize, before making the hemming offer, that the dress was lined and needed two hems. The good news is that it ONLY took 2.5 hours to perform the necessary alterations. Linda noted that she never in her life had a prom dress like this one. The girls had a great time, even in the rain.
Happy Bucks - Dave Veden
Dave informed the club that the club needed to adjust their books as the check the club gave him for $500 for the AV work performed at the poker tournament is incorrect. There will be no charge, and the check is being returned without being cashed. The AV team exists to support our District's clubs, and the AV Team does it for free. The team was fed and watered, and that was sufficient. They make their money when they work for OTHER districts for their events. Well, isn't that nice?
Lisa Asperger
Lisa knew the
Secret Word was
"Match"
She already won one shirt,
now she has another
to keep the first one company.
Speaking of "Match"
The Prez thanked Morgan Stanley and Tom Goode for offering to match the club donations to help cover the costs of the meals for the students, parents and principals at the Scholarship Luncheon on April 28th. We raised $500, with the match that made $1,000... but wait... there's more! Morgan Stanley decided to give the total $2,000 to the club. This brings the total amount to $2,500 to help cover the additional meal costs. That's a great investment.
This just in, and out of our normal order...
Bitching Dollars! - Al Cady
Al noted that the Editor has not had much luck in getting the Diane's last name spelled correctly three out of four times. It caused him to think that Debbie didn't know how to spell her own name. Debbie responded "I know how, but Mike doesn't." Mike confirmed that he has, in fact, mangled her name on more than one occasion. He looks forward to receiving her Blue Book page, and having her name in the digital directory, to allow him to check the spelling. He now knows her last name starts with a P and not a T, and she doesn't need extra vowels added to her name, she has just the right amount of them. Her name was erroneously listed as Pawolski in the last newsletter. Her last name is Pawloski, unless otherwise corrected next week.
Now for another edition of...
What's My Fine!
The game that everyone can pay or play!
(Whether they want to or not!)
The First Contestant was Daniel Martin
Daniel earned his pay or play opportunity by arriving to the meeting just a little after the bell had been rung. Daniel chose to play, choosing movies as his trivia category.
Question: Which movie has made the most money at the box office so far this year?
Daniel's answer: The Hail Mary Project.
The Correct Answer was: The Super Mario Brothers Galaxy movie.
The Prez thanked Daniel for his $10 donation.
The Second Contestant was John Gabriel
John earned his pay or play opportunity by having his phone ring during the meeting. The Prez thought that Steve Turner might have called John, but Steve is not present and probably not the culprit. John is a player and he chose History as his trivia category.
Question: Who shot President Lincoln on this date in 1865?
John's answer: John Wilks Booth.
The Correct Answer was: John Wilks Booth
The Prez thanked John for playing and gave him no fine as his parting gift.
The Third Contestant was Mike Grace
Mike earned his pay or play opportunity by failing to spell Diane' Pawloski's name correctly... an error that should have eliminate him from ever doing the newsletter again... but somehow, he remains. Mike was counseled to take Newsletter as the category, and so he did.
Question: What is the punchline of the joke at the end of the newsletter that asks the question: When does a joke become a "Dad" joke?
Mike's answer: When the punchline becomes apparent.
The Correct Answer was: When the punchline becomes apparent.
The Prez thanked Mike for playing and the club gave him a big groan as his parting gift.
+++ News You Should Use +++
Expanded News You Should Use
April 18, 2026
Riverbend Park, Clean-up
We will be cleaning up the same section of Riverbend Park that we worked on last year. New year, different trash and weeds. We will have our Interact and RYE students helping do all the hard work while the Rotarians manage the workers and maybe do some of the light work in an effort to extend their useful lives and stave off back surgeries and hernia. The clean-up begins at 9:00 am and finishes no later than 1:00 pm. Signs directing everyone to the site will be prominently placed along the way.
April 21, 2026
Guest Speaker, Rob Tucker
Rob is a Supervisor for Nevada County. He will be explaining just how his district came to be drawn as it is allowing him the opportunity to run.
April 28, 2026
Scholarship Luncheon at Del Paso Country Club, Sponsored by Morgan Stanley
This is our annual check-in with our scholarship students. Thanks to Tom Goode, Morgan Stanly is donating $2,000. The club has donated $500 so we now have $2,500 to help cover the meal costs for all of our guests. We need a good showing of Rotarians to sit at every table and properly represent the club. For those of you hoping to avoid attending as a way to feel better about how you spent your high school years, suck it up and attend. It is a far better thing you do by attending to help the club present an image of success and professionalism than protecting your self-esteem. When and if the students or their parents ever join Rotary, they can then learn the truth about the club then.
District Conference
This year's District conference is being held May 1st through May 3rd at Lake Tahoe.
Please mark your calendar and plan on attending. This is a great opportunity to find out things you never knew about Rotary and things that can help you perform with competence in the positions you are responsible for.
Fireside Chats
This year the Fireside Chats will be held in the month of April.
Every member is required to attend at least one of the three meetings, every member except the Prez. These meetings help the incoming president Debbie Hudson to plan her year. The first meeting was held on April 15th at Steve Turner's place of living. The next meeting is being held April 23 at Richard Goore's domicile. The third and final meeting is being held on April 30th at Linda Bigler's bungalow. All of the meetings start at 6:00 pm... the drinking may start earlier.
Demotion Date
June 27th will be the date we say a fond farewell to Matt
We will finally be able to tell him what we really think of him... without being marked for future fines. Mark your calendar and postpone your vacation. You won't want to miss this one.
A Taste of Italy
Granite Bay Rotary Club Fundraiser
Brenda Glen, President of the Granite Bay Rotary Club, along with club member Holli Tamar, announced that Granite Bay is holding their annual fundraiser, A Taste of Italy, on May 9th. The food is being made from an authentic old world Italian recipe. The wine was crafted using grapes that were crushed by the naked feet of 16-year-old virgin girls, bottled with love, and stored for just this occasion. The secret word is naked. Our club has committed to purchasing a table, the chairs are extra, so you might want to donate or plan on standing the entire night. There will be a silent auction and a human slot machine. Let the Prez know if you would like to attend this special event.
Beer and Ballet
Daniel Martin is attempting to bring culture to our club. He is asking the club if anyone would like to attend a Beer and Ballet event on Thursday, May 28th, at the Sacramento Ballet. Interested individuals were asked to sign the sheet being passed around. This sounds like a great event and Al Frumkin promised to wear his pink tutu to the event... as long as the event security team approves.
Scholarship Luncheon at Del Paso Country Club
Sponsored by Morgan Stanley
This is our annual check-in with our scholarship students. We need a good showing of Rotarians to sit at every table and represent the club. We have 27 Rotarians signed up which is about half. We need to have a good showing. Please sign up and attend
Additionally, John put up Happy Bucks as an enticement to have the club purchase a table for the Taste of Italy. The club did decide to do as he suggested. Check with the Prez for seats at the table.
Linda Abdelbaki, a New Member?
Try as we might, Linda was not deterred from submitting her application for membership. The club board felt that if we couldn't scare her away, and she was still committed to joining, that we might as well give her the opportunity to join us... plus it will give the club numerous opportunities to subject the Editor to ridicule as he is sure to mangle the spelling of her last name on a regular basis. Also, heaven knows we can use a good psychologist in this club for group therapy. The members were given the opportunity to object or endorse. Endorsements were heard, and there were no discouraging words... so it looks like she will be inducted next week. Welcome Linda.
Sarah Valentine, a real sweetheart representing the Firefighter's Burn Institute, was presented a check for $10,000 for their part as co-sponsors for this year's Poker Tournament. They have been great partners, and we are pleased to present this check to them. A much smaller check, but for the same amount, accompanied the large one, just in case Sarah couldn't get the big one in her car... she can only cash one of them.
Happy Bucks?/Announcement - Bruce Stimson
Bruce shared that as of today, his granddaughter received an application for her short-term exchange stint in Italy, and they sent an application over to the student in Italy. And a young family from Italy just sent one to us to review. This summer she will go on a short-term exchange. This lasts three to six weeks in Italy and then back here for three to six weeks with her exchange student in California.
Member Minute
Presented by - Al Cady
"I was born the day Joseph Stallin died. So, yeah, I'm his reincarnation. Great Grandpa homesteaded down in the Imperial Valley. I was born on the ranch right outside of Brawley. I was seven years old when they sold the ranch and we moved. Dad decided he wanted to be a Mason molecular physicist. We went to UCLA and I was at UCLA for six years while dad got his degree in physics. It was interesting being on the campus as a Cub Scout, being with all the students and everybody walking by every day. It was pretty fun being a Cub Scout there. I attended Bellagio Road Elementary School. Probably one of the nicest schools in California as it was right there
in Bel Aire. I got to watch Burt Lancaster's home burn down in the 1961 Bel Aire fire along with 467 other houses. It wasn't a very nice fire. When I was 13 my dad got a job at Los Alamos. He worked on the Mason accelerator there and played with all the big fancy toys that all the taxpayers here in the United States paid for. They use the Mason Accelerator for weapons and cancer research. It is pretty neat, a half mile long piece of machinery. I graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1970. I went to college in Albuquerque. I raced bicycles. I was in the Mountain Search and Rescue team in New Mexico. I did lots of winter mountaineering, my favorite. I'm afraid of heights and I figured if it was wintertime, and I fell down, the mountain would be softer. I don't know, I never tried that. I did Mount Whitney and Mount Rannier in the wintertime. I did Popocatepetl 17,000 foot high, Iztaccihuatl 18,000 foot high and Citlaltepetl,the three big volcanoes down south of Mexico City. It is pretty nice when you can see the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans from the same place. Well, the Gulf of America as they are calling it now. I worked at insurance companies like Prudential. I sold bibles door to door in Spartanburg, South Carolina. That was a fun job in the summertime. And I've worked for Edward Jones for 30 years now. Thank you
The following was created with the help of Stennote.AI
William Cho, Board Chair
Arden Manor Recreation and Park District
William Cho has worked as a Police Officer for the Twin Rivers School District and has had the pleasure of working with the Sarah Valentine with Firefighter's Burn Institute and Supervisor Rich Desmond. He has participated in two of our poker tournaments. He was appointed to fill a vacant board position one the board of Arden Manor Recreation and Park district a couple of years ago. William will be sharing some of the exciting things that are taking place in his district.
## Summary:
The transcript features a presentation and discussion led by a community leader and former police officer about the Arden Manor Park District's current status, challenges, and future plans. The speaker highlights the importance of community involvement, safety, and maintenance of parks as essential to neighborhood stability and property values. The district faces financial constraints, with revenues and expenses roughly balanced, leaving little for improvements or deferred maintenance. The loss of the park police has negatively impacted safety, prompting exploration of private security and sheriff's office partnerships. The district is undergoing rebranding and professionalization efforts, including developing a new master plan with community input scheduled for summer 2026. The discussion also covers the historical context of the park district, its assets such as parks, playgrounds, a pool, and community center, many of which require upgrades. Funding strategies under consideration include grants, potential property tax assessments, and donations, with messaging aimed at making costs relatable to residents. The dialogue touches on the impact of homelessness on park safety and the broader community, as well as the complexities of park district consolidation and the effects of state legislation diverting property tax revenues away from parks. Rotary Club involvement and support are acknowledged, including a donation to polio eradication in the speaker's name. Overall, the transcript underscores a collective effort to enhance community parks through thoughtful growth, increased safety, and active resident participation.
## Importance of Community and Parks
- Families look for good schools and safe parks when choosing neighborhoods.
- Parks contribute to community stability, economic value, health, and well-being.
- Parks and Rotary clubs share common community roots
A new chapter in the history of Arden Maor Recreation and Park District
## Park District Overview
### History and Demographics
- Arden Manor neighborhood details:
- Sierra Oaks Vista developed in 1932.
- Arden Manor neighborhood established in 1952.
- Population approx. 5,000 with a 60% owner to 40% renter ratio.
- Park district boundaries: Arden, Fair Oaks, Fulton, and Watt.
A new development to help house the Baby-Boomer Generation
### Park Facilities and Assets
- Three parks serving 5,000 people (better than national average of 1 park per 2,300 people).
- A rare and valuable community pool; closest alternatives are far away.
- Community center, five playgrounds, courts, fields, and new pickleball courts at Jonas Larkspur.
- Programs include after-school activities, arts and crafts, summer and school break camps, aquatic activities, and senior exercise classes.
### Financial Overview
- Approximately $1 million revenue and $1 million expenditure annually.
- Most funds cover maintenance, operations, and program growth.
- Infrastructure is dated; many facilities have not been updated since the 1970s.
- Significant maintenance backlog and need for upgrades, including ADA compliance and pool repairs.
## Organizational Vision and Changes
- Emphasis on public service and elevating community engagement.
- Park district is rebranding and professionalizing, shifting from siloed thinking to big-picture collaboration.
- Focus on thoughtful growth and progress with community input.
- Upcoming community meetings planned for summer 2026 to discuss master plan and potential tax or assessment changes.
# Safety Concerns and Solutions
- Loss of park police has increased safety incidents.
- Considering contracting private security or sheriff's office for patrols to improve safety and neighborhood visibility.
- Working on a regional park safety plan.
## Master Plan and Organizational Review
- Last master plan was 49 years ago (1977).
- Organizational review started in 2025 to professionalize and grow the district.
- Vision includes:
- Reorganization and professionalization.
- Sustainable budget growth and policy updates.
- Facility upgrades and expanded services.
- Increased staffing.
- Safety as a core priority.
## Community Engagement and Funding
- Messaging to residents highlights low cost (e.g., cost of a Happy Meal or Starbucks trip) for improved parks.
- Encouragement for community participation in meetings and budget discussions.
- Exploring multiple funding sources:
- Possible property tax increases (subject to voter approval within district boundaries).
- Grants and federal funding.
- Assessments and donations.
## Impact of Homelessness
- Homelessness affects parks through associated issues like drug use and vandalism.
- Safety concerns reduce public use of parks.
- Managed through private security and sheriff's office collaboration.
## Relationship with Rotary Club
- Discussions underway for collaboration, including installation of AED machines.
- Rotary recognized for community service and global health efforts (e.g., polio vaccination donations).
## Park Police History
- Previously had an independent park police department managed by the Fulton Park District.
- Disbanded due to political, management, and fiscal reasons.
- Loss impacts safety across multiple districts.
## Education Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERAF)
- State legislation in the 1990s redirected property tax revenues from park districts to school districts.
- Significant portion (33%-40%) of property taxes redirected, limiting park district funding.
## Park District Assessments and Comparisons
- Arden Manor currently lacks an assessment, unlike neighboring districts (Fulton El Camino, Mission Oaks, Arden Park).
- Prior assessment efforts failed due to poor management and messaging.
- Current efforts focus on improved communication and community relations.
## Discussion on Park District Consolidation
- Multiple small park districts exist due to historical development patterns.
- Consolidation discussed but complicated by political and financial considerations.
- Concerns include loss of existing assessments and local control.
President Ross thanked William for his presentation and presented him with a certificate donating $25 towards Ending Polio Now through the Polio Plus program. The certificate represents vaccinations for 25 individuals against the disease.
The Prez thanked everyone for coming and adjourned the meeting by ringing the shiny new bell and closing the meeting at 1:06 P.M.
Dad Joke of the Day
Dedicated to PDG Steve Turner
Did you hear about the guy who was addicted to the hokey pokey?
He turned himself around.
Respectfully (more or less) submitted by,
Mike Grace
Reporter, Photographer, and Editor.
Hellen Weight
Ombudsman and Content Supervisor
DISCLAIMER - Some of the information provided in some of the articles and possibly included in some of the "quotes" from club members, may have been a fabrication of a demented mind. It is up to you to determine fact from fiction. Individuals objecting to all or any parts herein, are encouraged to go to Hellen Weight to lodge a formal complaint.
Club Information
Service Above Self
Tuesdays at 12:00 PM
Piatti
571 Pavilions Lane
Arden-Arcade, CA 95825
United States of America
