President Matt Ross rang the bell and welcomed everyone to
the best damn Rotary club in all the world.
Pledge: Bob Mutchler
The President asked Bob Mutchler to lead the pledge to our flag, and he was pleased to do so.
He then asked Al Frumkin to provide the thought of the day... which he did.
Thought: Al Frumkin
President Ross lead the recitation of the Four-Way test.
... and Guests!
Guest - Mark Torres-Gil
Rolundia Mitchell introduced her guest, Mark. Mark and his family are Rolundia's adopted family for over 30 years. "They are just wonderful people all the way around.!" Mark's little brother had polio and is a Rotarian. His daughter went through Rotary Youth Exchange. Mark is not perfect though. He once threw a super bowl party and sent out the menu on which it stated, in black and white, that there were going to be chicken wings... there were no chicken wings... There was at least one individual that attended this party that gave him a one-star rating and she hasn't gotten over her disappointment yet... and that super bowl was five year's ago... Elephant's and Rolundia...
Al Frumkin asked if he could provide additional information, and who in their right mind would say no to Al? Al warned all of the attorneys in the room to behave themselves as he had a wonderful evening with Mark at a play and then talking for 2 hours. Turns out that Mark has spent 20 years as the Assistant General Counsel with the State Bar. The Secret Word is Bar. Only in California, we have a state flower, and state mineral and now I find out we have a State Bar... and evidently, it is not the Sutter Club... who knew?
Guest - Diane Tawloski
Chris Lewis was pleased to introduce his aunt, Diane. Diane was looking forward to hearing about Buring Man.
Guest - Linda Abdelbaki
Heather Wulfert was very happy to introduce Linda to the club. Linda is a licensed therapist, and she is here for a second time. The first time was just to see if what she had heard about Rotarians was true. She is back because she now knows that she CAN make a career out of serving Rotarians while trying to improve the world.
Guest - Michael Irwin
Lydia Wytrzes was pleased to claim Michael as her guest and guest speaker. More about him later.
Guest - Ruth Dwight
Linda Bigler was also very pleased to once again introduce Ruth to the club. Everyone knows Ruth as being a faithful volunteer for the golf and poker tournaments. When alcohol is present, Ruth is the dedicated Linda Bigler keeper.
Show Me the Money!
Bell Ringer & Happy Bucks - Jenny Davini
Jenny was ringing the Happy Buck Bell with Bell Bucks also going to the Happy Buck Account. Why, sayeth ye, is she so happy? The day prior to Charter Night she was not able to raise her hand above her shoulder. Jenny was fearing the worse, thinking it might be rotator cuff related. She is Bell Ringing happy now, for once again being able to elevate her hand above her head. She attended the Charter Night festivities and has been healed by the Magic of Rotary... last year's catch phrase... this year's miracle.
The very Happy Bucks were being donated to the club in honor of her son's job turmoil. Why would a mother be happy about a son having employment concerns you ask? Because, it culminated in his decision to leave L.A and take a job in San Francisco, a net difference of 4 hours travel time.
Bell Ringer - Richard Goore
Richard was very pleased to share that he was spending time with our Club Prez on a flight to Denver, Colorado. The Prez got off in Denver and drove to meet his daughter. Richard flew on to Indianapolis to see his son. It was the last official track meet of his son's collegiate track career. He placed 6th out of 30 vaulters in this the Big Ten championship. It was one of the highest levels of competition for the sport in the last 20 years. His son was one of the 12 vaulters that exceeded 18'. Two went on to vault over 19'. Richard's son believes in the old adage, run fast and carry a big stick... so does his dad.
Sad Bell Ringer's - Tom Goode
Joined by
Steve Turner, Matt Ross, Linda Bigler and Roy Vogel
in Ringing the Sad Bell
Tom Goode shared the sad news that Steve Parshall passed away after a short bought with illness. Steve was a long-time member and the only two-time president of the club. Tom shared "Steve is the reason I am a Rotarian. About thirteen years ago Steve found out that I was looking around to join a club, and he grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and told me I was going to join this club."
Stephan Parshall
Two Term President
Thank you for your service to Rotary
Bruce Stimson - Happy Bucks
Bruce was happy to share that he had such a great time with all the students from Aspire that came for the speech contest and our two Rotary Exchange students that came to watch.
Bill Hambrick - Happy Bucks
Bill too was inspired by Aspire that he joined Bruce in Happy Buck land because he also had a great time with all the students from Aspire that came for the speech contest, and for all the hard work Bruce put in that week to make things happen...
Tim Cahill - Happy Bucks
Tim was sharing Happy Bucks in order to let everyone know that he got up at 3:00 AM to take a look at the Blood Moon. It was worth the effort. Also, he shared that he serendipitously had the opportunity to impersonate Al Cady as the greeter in front of the restaurant. It was something he had always wanted to do and now he can check it off his bucket list.
That's Fine With Me!
So Fine - Al Frumkin
The Prez asked Rolundia if she or Al invited Mark Torres-Gil to the meeting, as it appeared that Al was attempting to take credit for him. Rolundia set the record straight, in no uncertain terms, he was her's. Al was then given the opportunity to pay $5 now or $10 later if he couldn't correctly answer his trivia question. Al chose music as his category. The Prez played a song. As soon as the first word of the song hit our auditory nerves the entire room groaned and said Johny Cash. The Prez should have been fined for handing Al the easiest trivia question known to a man of his age, and it just burns, burns, burns. Not only did Al know who was singing it, he knew who wrote it and why it was written and that it was on the Capital Record Label.
Fine Joe Green
Joe, a frequent guest on the Fine With Me program, chose America as his category. He was asked to name the four people featured on Mount Rushmore... He couldn't, and paid $10.
Correct Answer: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt.
Finest Ryan Driffill
Ryan suggested that Joe be fined $5 for each president he got wrong. The Prez thought it only fair to give Ryan an opportunity to shine and show Joe how it is done. The Prez picked the category, Money for him.
Question: What bill features the image of Hamilton?
Ryan's answer: $50... wrong, it was the $10 and that is what he owed the club, one Hamilton.
Linda Bigler
Linda Bigler
Blackjack
Was the Secret Word...
Linda chose the honey brought by Dan Martin
!!! NEWS YOU SHOULD USE !!!
15th Annual Poker Tournament
This is an all-hands-on-deck event for our annual Poker Tournament, March 21st. We need more sponsors and butts in the seats. We have never maxed out the players. We have sold more tickets than seats and even then, due to no-shows, we did not fill every seat. We have 100 registered players but we want 200. The website is up and running so you can log in and register and see all the sponsors that we already have. Even if you have never played, you stand a good chance of winning as a first-time player won the tournament a few years back. It is a great time... you can even win prizes if you make it to the final table. We have Blackjack for those interested in playing for drink tickets. The food is good, the players are great, and the cause is wonderful.
District Conference
This year's District conference is being held May 1 through May 3. Please plan on attending and mark your calendar. More information to follow.
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. These meetings help the incoming president to plan their year. The meetings will be held: April 15th at Steve Turner's humble abode, April 23 at Richard Goore's domicile, and April 30th at Linda Bigler's bungalow.
Aspire's Annual College Fair
Christine Jensen shared that Aspire will be holding their annual College Carrer Fair on April 24th. They are looking for individuals willing to share aspects of their profession with impressionable minds looking for future careers. For more information contact Marisol or Rachel.
Demotion Date
June 27th will be the date we say a fond farewell to Matt and finally be able to tell him what we really think of him. Mark your calendar and postpone your vacation. You won't want to miss this one.
The Prez honored Mike Grace with the Rotarian of the Month Pin for publishing the bulletin.
Forwards or Backwards
It is an honor,
especially in spite of all the errors the bulletin contains.
Member Minute
Featuring
Daniel Martin
The room was all a buzz when Daniel shared that he is a beekeeper. They had all feared he was going to talk about ballet or race cars, but not today. Today it's the bee's knees. He showed a video of how carefully one needs to be when placing bees into their new home... He showed that the Queen Bee was present and then he unceremoniously dumped twenty thousand bees into the box. The bees have already imprinted themselves on the queen, so they stick around. It helps if the beehive walls already have a little honey to get them started, so you don't have to feed them. Daniel, of course, was fully suited up in beekeeper attire in the video, just in case he happened to piss off the wrong bee. Linda will report on the quality of the honey next meeting.
Burning Man
Through the Eyes and Lense
of Mike Irwin
Mike attended his first Burning Man in 2007 and acquired the playa name "Delco Shocks." In 2009, he volunteered as a Black Rock Ranger through the Burning Man organization.
- Disclaimer: Content not vetted by Rotary International; opinions are Mike's own.
What is Burning Man? Burning Man is difficult to describe; many people have heard about it but can't fully explain.
## Summary:
This transcript captures a detailed presentation by Michael Irwin, a seasoned Burning Man attendee and Black Rock Ranger volunteer, who shares his extensive experience and insights about the annual Burning Man festival held in Nevada's Black Rock Desert. Starting from the festival's humble beginnings in 1986 on Baker Beach with a small group and an eight-foot effigy, the event has grown into a sprawling temporary city of about 80,000 people. The talk covers the unique environment of the festival, including the prehistoric lake bed location, the fine talcum-like dust, and the challenges posed by weather such as rain and snow. Michael describes the infrastructure of Black Rock City, highlighting its self-sufficiency with law enforcement, medical facilities, emergency services, and even an FAA-designated airport that becomes the busiest for a brief period each year. The presentation delves into the vibrant art culture at Burning Man, showcasing large-scale art installations, themed art cars, and diverse performance arts, all created and gifted by participants in a no-money gifting economy. Michael also discusses the festival's principles, such as participation, community mediation by Black Rock Rangers, and the strict Leave No Trace policy requiring attendees to remove all their belongings. Changes over the years include the rise of electric bicycles and the impact of technology like drones used for light shows. The talk addresses safety concerns, including building inspections and eviction for bad behavior. The emotional and spiritual aspects are touched upon with the temple's purpose as a place for meditation and remembrance, culminating in the burning of the man and temple as symbolic acts. Audience questions highlight the festival's inclusive age range, the gifting economy, and logistical aspects. The session concludes with a reminder of the harsh desert conditions and an encouragement to engage with personal stories from attendees to truly understand the festival's multifaceted experience.
## History
- Burning Man started in 1986 by two hippies on Baker Beach.
- Originally a small event with about 20-30 friends burning an eight-foot effigy.
- Has grown to a city of about 80,000 participants.
## Demographics
- Average age is between 30 and 40 years.
- Participants range widely in age, including people in their 80s and 90s.
## Challenges and Changes
- Introduction of electric bicycles has changed dynamics; some ride dangerously fast without lights, called "dark wads."
- Increased use of cell phones during key moments like the burning of the Man detracts from the immediacy of experience.
- Harsh environment with extreme temperatures and weather.
## Location and Geography
- Located on the Black Rock Desert, a prehistoric lake bed called Lake Lahontan.
- Lake Lahontan is a shallow lake (~4 inches deep) covering about 100 square miles for about 3 months a year.
- Black Rock City (the event) is about 3 miles in diameter and occupies just under 5 square miles within the 200 square mile desert.
- Key locations:
- Center Camp
- The Man (central effigy)
- The Temple (further out)
- Inner Playa and Outer Playa
## Environment and Conditions
- Playa dust is very fine, like talcum powder, and sticks to everything, including vehicles for years.
- Dust storms are common and can reduce visibility, making setting up camp difficult.
- Rain turns the dust into concrete-like mud, making mobility difficult.
- Temperatures can reach 100°F and can also drop to snow conditions.
## Access and Entry
- After leaving the highway, attendees may wait in line for up to 8 hours to enter.
- Entry requires a ticket and vehicle pass.
- Airport (FAA designated 88NG) is busiest for 13 days a year, with about 70 planes parked.
- Shuttles run from San Francisco and Reno.
- Air activities include skydiving and occasional military flybys.
- No short visits allowed; you cannot leave the airport area without a ticket.
## Black Rock City Infrastructure
- Temporary city for one week with full services:
- Law enforcement
- Medical facilities (field hospital with lab and pharmacy)
- Emergency fire crews and first aid
- Airport
- The city is surveyed and laid out annually using a "golden spike" in July.
- Electricity is provided by generators brought in by participants.
## Art and Installations
- Large-scale art projects are a hallmark of Burning Man:
- Temples:
- Built annually with unique designs.
- Funded by GoFundMe campaigns and built by volunteers.
- Used for meditation and remembrance; people burn remembrances of lost loved ones and pets.
- Burned to the ground at the end of the event.
- Other art pieces include helium balloons painted like the moon, sculptures, and performance art.
- Art cars:
- Mobile art installations such as "Air Pusher," "Monaco," "Christina," and steampunk-themed vehicles.
- Some art cars are large, heavy, and powered by various means.
- Examples of art from international sources include sculptures made from war-damaged traffic signs from Ukraine.
- Technology advancements include drone light shows with hundreds of drones.
## Culture and Activities
- Participation is a key tenet; everyone is encouraged to contribute.
- Black Rock Rangers act as community mediators resolving conflicts like noise complaints.
- Thunderdome:
- A popular activity where two participants fight with foam bats while suspended by bungee cords.
- Music:
- Black Rock City Philharmonic and Playa Choir perform.
- All genres and spiritual expressions are represented.
- Performers are not paid; the event operates on a gift economy.
- Gifting economy:
- No buying or selling inside the event.
- Participants gift food, drinks, and services (e.g., hot dogs, pancakes, grilled cheese, midnight poutine).
- Camps and individuals offer gifts freely.
- Parties and impromptu events are common.
## Logistics and Rules
- Tickets have increased in price from about $175 in 2007 to nearly $2,000 for two tickets recently.
- Additional fees include vehicle passes and outdoor fees imposed by Nevada.
- Leave No Trace policy:
- Everything brought in must be taken out by participants.
- Cleanup crews spend about four weeks post-event to restore the desert.
- Building safety:
- Structures must pass inspections.
- Unsafe structures must be corrected or removed.
- Example of an unsafe 80-foot spire with cars stacked was removed after injuries.
- Evictions occur for bad behavior such as theft.
## Closing Remarks
- Burning Man is a harsh but unique environment.
- Encouragement to hear stories from attendees to understand the experience.
- The event is about community, art, participation, and leaving no trace.
There were many, many more pictures of this interesting yearly event. Too many to present in this bulletin... but here are a few more... for your viewing pleasure
The Prez presented the End Polio Now Certificate to Michael in appreciation for his interesting presentation.
President Mattthanked everyone for coming and adjourned the meeting by ringing the bell and closing the meeting at 1:09 P.M.
Respectfully (more or less) submitted by,
Mike Grace
Reporter, Photographer, Editor and Rotarian of the Month of March.
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
