President Matt Ross rang the bell and welcomed everyone to
the best damn Rotary club in all the world.
Pledge: Marisol Cabrera
The President asked Marisol Cabrera to lead the pledge to our flag,. and so She did.
He then personally provided the invocation.
Invocation: The Prez
President Ross lead the recitation of the Four-Way test.
... and Guests!
Andrew Ross
Sergeant At Arms Cady introduced President Elect, Elect, Elect, Elect, Elect Elect, Elect, Elect, Elect, Elect Andrew Ross.
Linda Vogel
Roy Vogel, at the prompting of his lovely wife, introduced said wife, Linda.
Linda Bigler was not fooled by the Prez asking for the Secret Word early in the meeting.
"Joy"
The word was taken from her suggestion that everyone should create a Joy Jar and review the joys submitted daily over the past year on New Year's Eve.
Linda was awarded beer, or beer, for her knowledge, and being ever ready, with cat-like reflexes, in response to "Secret Word?".
Show Me the Money!
Jennie Davini - Bell Ringer
Jenny was ringing the bell to celebrate her time in Washington D. C. visiting her daughter Angela. She is doing physical therapy and traveling around the country. It was not clear if Angela was the recipient of the said physical therapy or the giver thereof. It was also not clear whether she is a traveling physical therapist or is traveling as part of her therapy. Ask Linda for clarification on these points the next time you see her. She did note that it snowed while she was there, it was pretty, and it did not accumulate, the best kind of snow.
Bruce Stimson - Bell Ringer
Bruce was happy to share that yesterday he turned 3/4 of the way to being a century old, which is amazing as he doesn't look a day over 75.
President Matt Ross - Happy Bucks
The Prez was happy because both of his kids are home, at the same time, that his son is present today at the meeting and that his brother-from-another-mother is coming in from Chicago. So he gets his half brother here this weekend.
Linda Bigler - Happy Bucks
The Prez observed Linda's hand raise to share, but when he called on her she acknowledged that she did in fact raise her hand but has since forgotten why she was happy. She aske the Prez to get back to her in a moment or two after her senior moment passes and she remembers why she was happy.
The Prez then asked if anyone had any "I don't Remember Bucks?" It was at this point that Linda exclaimed that she did in fact remember, "I had my third out of town musician host experience. I'm running a little Air B & B now, I guess, because it seems like all I do is laundry. But I had my third experience for helping the Sacramento Philharmonic by providing their out of town musicians with places to stay. She is a cellist with an instrument bigger than she was."
Linda went on to share that she has hosted a pianist from L. A. and a violinist from Bulgaria. It is a well known fact in the Philharmonic community that after a person hosts a minimum of three musicians, they are officially considered to be a Philharmonic groupie... or a B & B manager.
In an attempt to get as much value from her Happy Buck as possible, she went on to share that she was happy that the Christmas party was successful and that the venue manager sent her a thank you note hoping that we would consider returning next year.
Jenny Davini - Sad Bucks
Jenny felt the need to clarify that her earlier Bell Ringer, by inference, meant that she was out of town and could not participate in the Rotary holiday events... and was therefore, appropriately sad, for missing them, while at the same time being happy to be with her daughter. Holidays can be the time for conflicting emotions.
That's "Fine" With Me!
This addition of "That's Fine With Me" is being brought to you by the fines generated by our club members who, through no faut of their own, or, maybe a little fault of their own, were selected to answer trivia questions to pay for real or imagined violations of Rotary codes of conduct... or just at the whim of the Prez.
Today's lucky contestants are:
Greg Cotta, Come on Down!
The illusive Greg Cotta was introduced to the newest members of the club that has never seen a Greg Cotta before. The new members were encouraged to take his picture as it is not known when he will be back again. Greg is the owner of Seasons Coffee Roasters where coffee is what gets you addicted but it is the food that keeps you coming back. Greg has so much money that he can afford to pay to attend Rotary Holiday Parties and then not show up.
Greg was given the option of picking from the following trivia categories: Christmas, music, spelling, movies, books or sports. Greg chose spelling.
His word was Hanukkah in honor of this being the third night of that season. Greg correctly spelled one of the 24 versions of the word. A flag was thrown and instant replay was reviewed and it was determined that Greg had help. Richard Goore, a member of the Jewish faith, was wearing his favorite Hanukkah sweater with the word Hanukkah emblazoned on the back. He was standing near Greg and helped him with the answer. The Prez then went on to spell each and every variation of the word making everyone present wish they had some of Greg's wonderful coffee to help them stay awake. No fine for Greg.
Richard Goore, Come on Down!
In the category: "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished"
For helping Greg with his trivia question, Richard earned the right to pick from the remaining trivia categories and he chose "sports." He was asked to pick the title that is not an official college bowl game: Campbell's Soup Bowl, Duke's Mayo Bowl, or the Pop Tart Bowl? Richard chose the Mayo Bowl... wrong! It was the Campbell's Soup Bowl. For getting the wrong answer... and for helping Greg cheat... he was fined $10.
Linda Bigler, Come on Down!
Shy, diminutive Linda, was asked to join the trivia party after she was found to be the person that left an article of clothing at the Christmas party... how she made it home without said clothing leaves a lot to the imagination. She was given the opportunity to choose from the remaining categories and she chose "Food." Question: What is a rich spice cake, alike a British desert, with fruits and alcohol? Her answer: It is like a weird fruitcake with a long name. Wrong it is Figgie Pudding. For getting the question wrong and leaving the party without an article of clothing, she was fined $10.
Jenny Davini, Come on Down!
Bell Ringer and Sad Buck contributor, Jenny Davini, was selected to play Trivia, even though she had already contributed more than any other Rotarian present. She chose Christmas. Question: According to the National Christmas Tree Association, how many states grow Christmas trees? Her answer: 20... wrong. All 50 states grow them. The Prez waived her fine for good behavior, and money spent previously.
Steve Turner, Come on Down!
Steve "Why Me" Turner was selected by the Prez as retribution for talking him into being president. Steve chose "Movies." Question: How many Home Alone movies have been made? His answer there 's a whole stack of them that don't even have the snotty kid in them... 7, final answer. The correct answer was 6. The Secret Word is "snotty." Steve was fined $1 for missing the correct answer by 1.
Coats were being handed out at Dyer Kelly today right after the meeting.
Carroll Cook, Rolundia Mitchell, Linda Bigler and Joelle Fondale and many more have been helping with this year's Coats For Kids drive. This is the 19th year of the project. It started off with names of students that needed coats and grew to coats for the over 100 students each year. Carroll has been leading the charge every year and partially funding the program. A big round of applause was given to the coat team for a very successful program in the past and especially for this year with the addition of the Aspire school.
!!! NEWS YOU SHOULD USE !!!
Guest Speakers: Please let the Speaker Chair, Rob Olmstead, or the Prez know of any potential speakers you think the club would be interested in hearing speak.
Polio Plus Fund Raiser: Bob Mutchler announced that January 21st is the date for their annual beer pairing dinner at BJ's Brew Pub. This year the price is only $175. All the proceeds from the dinner will go towards the Polio Plus project.
Speech Contest: Please mark your calendars for this years Speech Contest on February 24th. Judges and a timer will be needed.
Richard Goore, Front
Member Minute
Richard Goore,
My Path To Rotary
Richard and his wife, Zoey, have always volunteered for different things. A lot of it having to do with kids. But they wanted to do more. Admittedly, Zoey did more volunteering than Richard as her job required it. About eight years ago they applied for and received a grant from the Kaiser Foundation.
Richard Goore, Back
It was for a reverse Food Truck. Their goal was to collect fresh fruits and vegetables from farmer's markets. They would collect it and distribute it to various organizations around town. They built a food truck with refrigeration. They got it up and running which was not easy as the farmer's markets were controlled by two different individuals who did not share their vision. They delivered the food to the River City Food Bank and to a number of schools. After a couple of years they were able to get two of the many farmer's markets, even though they tried to get more. Richard's real estate career started taking off and he could not spend as much time on the project as he first did. They received some additional funding which allowed them to hire a driver to replace him, They ended up donating the truck and shut down the operation. That led him to want to do more and to Michael Caplan who introduced him to the Rotary Club of Arden Arcade.
Liza, Server Extraordinaire
Year-End Appreciation Gift
Piatti's General Manager, Cody and dedicated lunch server, Liza, were invited to speak to the club as a pretense to present to Liza our annual appreciation for excellent service gift. The hat was passed earlier in the meeting and the club raised $1,775 which was presented to Liza along with praise for providing excellent service during our club meetings.
As seen through of the eye of the Editor & Stenote.AI
Children's Receiving Home
Danielle McGarrity, Development Director
Linda Bigler, past Receiving Home board member for ten years, was pleased to introduce Danielle McGarrity, the Development Director for the Sacramento County Children's Receiving home. Linda has been involved with the Receiving home for the past ten years and has seen many changes to the operations during that time. The biggest change is the service capacity being reduced from 70 to 80 children to 16 by law. Danielle is in charge of fundraising, friend-raising, and alumni relations. She emphasized the challenges incurred when trying to track former residents for post care. She also was instrumental in helping the home celebrate 80 years of service.
Danielle highlighted the Children's Receiving Home's (CRH) history, current programs, challenges, and future plans. The discussion opens with acknowledgments of key contributors and a generous donation. Danielle McGarrity, the development director, provides an in-depth overview of CRH’s evolution over 81 years, emphasizing its trauma-informed care, mental health services, and residential treatment for foster youth. The organization has shifted from housing large numbers of children in group homes to prioritizing family-based placements, in line with federal legislation limiting group home capacity to 16 residents. Funding cuts and legislative changes have impacted admissions and agency sustainability, leading CRH to repurpose facilities and collaborate with other nonprofits to address gaps in youth services. New initiatives include a day treatment program for mental health and housing for transition-age youth, supported by community partners and donors. The transcript also touches on the emotional challenges faced by residents and staff, the importance of alumni engagement, and ongoing fundraising efforts. The meeting concludes with calls for volunteer support and holiday donation drives, underscoring the community’s role in supporting vulnerable children and youth.
Type caption here### Mission and Impact
- Name "Receiving Home" symbolizes acceptance, welcoming, and alleviating burdens
- Focus on children affected by trauma, neglect, and abuse
- Provided care for approximately 80,000 survivors since founding
- Services include nurturing counselors, individualized care, and therapy
## Programs and Services
### Mental Health and Trauma Support
- Pioneered mental health services 20 years ago
- Trauma-informed preschool for young children
- Day treatment program in partnership with Kaiser Permanente
- Services include mental health therapy, calming techniques, and family support
- Address issues like bullying, self-harm, and anger management
### Community-Based Programs
- Supporting Community Connections program for teens aging out of foster care
- Offers housing support, job interview preparation, financial management classes
### Residential Treatment Program
- 24-hour care and supervision for youth in Sacramento and surrounding counties
- Facilities include medical clinic, kitchen, gymnasium, and green spaces
- Activities and field trips scheduled to keep youth engaged
## Changes and Challenges
- Shift from congregate care to family-based placements nationally and in California
- Federal legislation caps group home residents at 16, reducing capacity
- Funding cuts at state and federal levels impacting admissions and agency sustainability
- Some dorms repurposed; several remain vacant despite renovations
## Strategic Initiatives
- Leading a collaborative with 8-9 nonprofits and agencies to assess youth needs and gaps
- Plans to use campus as a hub for youth mental health and housing
- Campus centrally located, near light rail
## Youth Mental Health Crisis
- 42% of high school students report feeling sad or hopeless daily
- Higher rates for youth with trauma histories
- Early mental health investment benefits society
## Upcoming Programs
- New day treatment program for ages 12-20 funded by Sacramento County, expecting 10 referrals
- Housing program for transition-age youth to prevent homelessness
- Collaboration with Guardian Scholars program at Sacramento State for housing college students
- Plans to build out dorms with kitchenettes for housing
## Fundraising and Partnerships
- Ambitious fundraising goals to support new initiatives
- Community champions include Wilton Rancheria Tribe, Anne Fong, Josh and Angie Wood
- Engaging alumni as advisory committee and storytellers
- Encouragement to connect with former residents
## Volunteer and Donation Opportunities
- Holiday donation station at CRH lobby
- Volunteer shifts available from 11 am to 5 pm, two-hour shifts
- Ways to support include donations, volunteering, social media engagement
- Website: [crhkids.org](http://crhkids.org)
- Social media: @crhkideas
## Alumni Impact and Stories
- Alumni provide valuable support and advocacy
- Quotes from alumni reflect the positive impact of CRH:
- Laurie: "First safe place I could remember"
- Oscar: "I never wanted to leave"
- Danielle: "For the first time I could stop surviving and start living"
- Greg: "They gave me peace"
- Teresa: "A light in the darkness, a turning point in my life"
## Referral Process and Capacity Issues
- Federal legislation (2017) limits group home residents to 16
- Resulted in children placed in unsuitable or temporary placements (e.g., social worker offices, hotels)
- Advocacy ongoing with legislators to amend or repeal restrictions
- State efforts made foster/adoption by relatives easier
## Admissions and Onboarding Process
- Children arrive any time, often from school or police intervention
- Immediate care includes meals, dorm placement, care packages
- Follow-up includes meetings with case managers, clinicians, and peer mentors
- Transportation provided to maintain school attendance
## Facility and Program Evolution
- Past capacity was about 85-90 children
- Dorms repurposed for therapy and educational spaces
- Intern program with local universities to address mental health provider shortages
## Housing for Aging-Out Youth
- Previous apartment building no longer exists
- Partnerships with Wind Youth Services and bridge programs for housing
- New collaboration with Hope Cooperative for homeless outreach
- Plans to develop life skills academy including cooking, financial literacy, relationship classes
## Geographic Reach
- Children come from various counties including Riverside, Amador, Yolo
- Transportation and schooling arranged accordingly
## Challenges Tracking Outcomes
- Difficult to track former residents’ long-term outcomes
- Supporting Community Connections program notes when working with alumni
- Trauma and shame often affect willingness to share experiences
## Emotional Impact and Stories
- Alumni experience trauma revisiting their time at CRH
- Emotional stories highlight the complex feelings associated with care
- Example: A 4-year-old child’s interaction deeply moved a board member
The Prez thanked Danielle for an informative presentation. He then presented her with a Certificate showing that $25 donation was made in her name to End Polio now.
President Matt thanked everyone for coming and adjourned the meeting by ringing the bell and closing the meeting at 1:06 P.M.
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
