President Hudson did not ring the bell, as it was missing, but she did welcome everyone to the Rotary Club of Arden Arcade!
Pledge
Tom Goode
President Hudson asked Tom Goode to lead the club in the pledge to our nation's flag.
She then asked Al Cady to provide the invocation.
Both members did as requested.
Invocation
Al Cady
President Hudson led the club in the 4-Way without the aid of the answers.
& Visiting Rotarians!
For the first time in a long time, there were no guests or visiting Rotarians.
Bells, Boasts, and Bitches
"Bellismissing"
SHOW ME THE MONEY!
Goldie: That bit(h just graduated from obedience school, top of her class.
Snow: That's not surprising,
she was the teacher's pet.
Joe Green offered a set of his famous BBQ sauces
for anyone that rings the bell today!
Bell Ringer - PP Matt Ross
Matt is ringing the bell in honor of hearing from his daughter all the way from Europe. She is in country number six on her way to nine or ten countries. She wasn't calling for an emergency ticket back home so things must be going well. Matt asked the Prez to ring, whatever was available for her to ring, as the bell was nowhere to be found... and Les Gudger had not been in attendance recently to be able to reasonably blame him for its absence... Hmm, do we have a new bell-burglar?
Happy Bucks - Linda Bigler
Linda performed a preemptive Happy Buck announcement before Al Cady could nail her on it. "I was a damsel in distress." She had planned on using a certain truck to transport a table and chairs, but her plans fell through. So, she called Al. "He had to hook up the Rotary trailer, come get her and go out near Sunrise Mall, load up the trailer, take the stuff back to her house, unload the stuff, load up the stuff and haul it away. The secret word is stuff. She knew she needed to be the one to tell the story. She thanked to Al by rewarding him "with a tri tip dinner and some entertainment." When pressed as to the type of entertainment, she would only say that it did not include an elf suit.
Happy Bucks - PP Tim Cahill
Tim was being Happy for all the help he received from Lisa Asperger, the Prez, Marisol Cabrera and RayAnn Bradford last Saturday during our time to spruce up the Rotary House.
Happy Bucks - Guest Speaker, Craig Perra
Not only did Craig show up to share his Mindful Habit Mastery information, but he donated Happy Bucks for the honor of doing so. "Rotary club runs in my family. I'm following in my dad's footsteps. It's been a really important part of my persona and professional development. It's a privilege to be here today with all of you folks. So, thank you."
Happy Bucks - Joe Green
Joe shared that "after 17 grueling days at the state fair, can't complain, but it's brutal if you have done it before. We actually took a beach weekend. It was so good... but, also freezing cold. It was a good getaway."
Happy Bucks - PP Tom Goode
Tom shared that he has to leave early today as it is his oldest daughter, Maclenzie's, supply drop-off for T.K. She is very excited. We go meet the teacher and then she has her first soccer practice later this afternoon... and so it begins...
Happy Bucks - The Prez, Debbie Hudson
The Prez shared that her grandson just turned 14 today. Her granddaughter starts TK tomorrow and the grandson starts 8th grade... and... she leaves for Idaho tomorrow. She is very happy.
Happy/Sad Bucks - PDG Steve Turner
PDG Turner acknowledged Al Cady for doing such a nice Rotarian thing by helping Linda Bigler out when she was in distress and in need of furniture transportation. He was also offering up sad bucks due to the absence of the club bell. Steve pressed the issue asking Al what happened to it? Al indicated that he was unaware that the bell was missing until he got here today. Stay tuned for the next installment of "What happened to the Bell."
Happy Bucks - Ryan Driffell
The late Ryan Driffell, that is Ryan arrived late, was asked upon his timely arrival during Happy Bucks, if he would care to provide a donation for his arriving late. He agreed and donated because he was happy to be here today... better late than never.
Bruce Stimson...
Lisa Asperger let Bruce have the honor of answering this week's Secret Word. Bruce knew that the word was "liniment."
Liniment
was the secret word.
It was in reference to Tim Cahill and his helpers needing liniment oil to help with their sore muscles after working hard on the Rotary house yard clean-up.
The picture above shows just what Bruce won for knowing the Secret Word this week.
We are not meeting at Piatti's on Tuesday, August 18th.
We have our first Off-site lunch at St. John's Program for Real Change
They are located at 8401 Jackson Rd. The meeting starts at 11:45.
(There is no sign in the front so look for the gray building with the red door.
You may park in front of this building as well as in front of the 8395 building,
if there is space. Please do not park in front of ABI as it is a private company
and they will not take kindly to it. Carpooling is highly encouraged.)
There will be a tour followed by a lunch and discussion about how our club can help.
--- Grant Update ---
Teacher
Sign
Sign language for "Hi"
Jean Irwin Hatfield share the following in an email dated August 14, 2026.
I wanted you to know we have started the Agricultural Project for the Deaf in Kenya that is your Rotary Grant (GG2579678) project for 2026.
Not sure you have a newsletter or make gen announcements about your project wing of Arden-Arcade but to summarize:
We are adapting Agricultural Curriculum to be appropriate to the Deaf Learner. Hands- on experience in farming is the best way for children to learn, but especially the Deaf who rely on the eye. The students at the Kamatungu Secondary School for the Deaf in Marimanti , Kenya will be equipped with a greenhouse, lab materials, 3 goats and 12 chickens as well as gardening tools to best instruct the students. They are from farming families. It is intended they will bring best practices back to their communities.
On August 28th and 29th we will conduct a workshop for teachers at the primary and secondary level, alumni students and community members conducted by the Rotarians from Embu Rotary and a professor of Agriculture at Embu University, Dr. Yegon. Jean Hatfield, a Rotary Scholar in Deaf Education will assist with the adaptation of curriculum.
Currently the students, who reside at the school, have a diet that only occasionally has protein. The addition of eggs and goat milk will greatly add to their nutrition. In addition, the students will sell any excess agricultural products they raise at the local market as economic development which is part of the grant.
We will send you an update mid-project as well as when we have completed it.
Thank you for your contribution to this grant in terms of finance and Grant support.
Jean Irwin Hatfield
Transforming Self-Sabotage into a Superpower
Craig Perra, J.D. Executive Coach & Trainer
Mindful Habit Mastery
The Prez introduced Craig Perra, former attorney and corporate executive and the creator of the Mindful Habit System. Craig has experience coaching over 1,000 clients across 30+ countries. His clients have earned over $100 million and created 700 thriving marriages. Craig has been featured on Steve Harvey Show, Katie Couric, AE Lifetime, and BBC.
## Summary:
Craig Parrot, a former attorney and corporate executive, shares his personal journey from addiction, burnout, and repeated job loss to developing the Mindful Habit System. This system helps high performers lead all parts of themselves by understanding and embracing their internal 'parts' or habits, which are not inherently bad but are need-seeking behaviors formed through genetics and environment. Craig explains how these parts, including the critical inner voice, serve as protectors trying to shield us from pain and discomfort, though sometimes in maladaptive ways. Using examples like anger and procrastination, he illustrates how these behaviors meet essential human needs such as safety, control, and significance. He emphasizes that fighting these habits only increases internal friction and that the key is to recognize the 'center' or self within us—a calm, curious, compassionate core that can observe and regulate our parts. Through this awareness and framework, individuals can retrain their conditioned responses, reduce internal conflict, and redirect energy toward personal and professional growth. Craig's approach has helped thousands globally, contributing to significant financial gains and improved relationships, demonstrating that self-leadership and embracing all parts of oneself can turn self-sabotage into a superpower.
### Career and Personal Struggles
- 15 years ago, Craig was at the peak of his career with a major job:
- Biggest responsibility, team, budget, and salary.
- Family relocated 3,000 miles.
- Despite external success, internally he struggled with job performance.
- Experienced stress, burnout, and poor coping strategies.
- Fired twice within 18 months from a billion-dollar company due to poor performance.
### Mental Health Crisis
- Faced intense internal critical voice since childhood, telling him he was never good enough.
- After second firing, experienced a severe emotional low point:
- Physically shaking, sweating, heart racing.
- Avoided telling his wife immediately.
- Broke down in a deserted playground parking lot.
- Hospitalized for three days in a psychiatric facility.
- Made a promise to never return to that low point.
- Despite decades of therapy, medications, and diagnoses, he realized he needed a different approach.
### Turning Point and Hope
- Three months after hospitalization:
- Family was together and supportive.
- Experienced deep, genuine laughter and hope.
- Encountered the critical voice again but chose curiosity over fighting it.
- Asked the critical voice "Who said that?" and discovered it was his "protector," trained to prevent embarrassment and pain.
## Core Premise: No Such Thing as a Bad Habit
### Understanding Habits
- Habits are not inherently bad; bad outcomes can result, but labeling habits as bad worsens the problem.
- All behavior is need-seeking behavior.
- Needs include:
- Certainty
- Safety
- Significance
- Relief
- Avoiding pain
- Control
- Needs are met either proactively (consciously) or reactively (conditioned, automatic).
- Fighting habits increases internal friction and makes things worse.
### Examples of Bad Habits and Their Needs
- Common bad habits named by audience:
- Scrolling on phones
- Smoking
- Drinking
- Nail biting
- Example: Anger
- Can feel destructive but serves needs like feeling significant, setting boundaries, expressing urgency.
- Case study: "Dr. Tim," an elite surgeon, used anger to feel big, gain respect, and set boundaries.
- Other examples:
- Drinking helps escape pain.
- Smoking provides rebellion, nervous system regulation, social connection, or protection from intimacy.
### Internal Family Systems Model
- Habits and behaviors are parts or "protectors" within us.
- Protectors aim to prevent pain and discomfort.
- Examples of parts:
- Liar: protects from conflict and trouble.
- Critic: protects from failure and rejection by identifying flaws.
- Procrastinator: protects from fear of difficult tasks.
- Parts that numb, cope, and escape protect from nervous system dysregulation.
### Origin of Patterns
- Parts are trained through genetics and environment.
- Childhood experiences shape affirmations, safety, rewards, and tension relief.
- Patterns are often repeated from past generations.
- Willpower is finite and ineffective against deeply conditioned patterns.
## The Human Hierarchy and the Center
### Angel and Devil Metaphor
- Represents internal conflict:
- Angel: idealized perfect self (unattainable).
- Devil: self-criticism and negative self-view.
- The center is the observer or witness between these conflicts.
### The Center (Self)
- Recognized across cultures and disciplines:
- Holy Spirit or soul (religion).
- Atman (Hinduism).
- The Self (Carl Jung and Internal Family Systems).
- The Witness (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy).
- Attributes of the center:
- Calm
- Regulating
- Curious
- Courageous (acting despite fear)
- Clear
- Compassionate (non-judgmental, kind)
### Self Leadership
- Concept by Peter Drucker and Stephen Covey:
- Individuals must be their own CEO.
- The center acts as CEO of internal parts.
- Internal parts include anger, lying, numbing, and criticism.
- Changing relationship with parts reduces duration and intensity of negative internal dialogue.
## Practical Application
### Managing the Critical Voice
- The critic is quality control and drive, not just negativity.
- Critic pushes for improvement and excellence.
- Embracing the critic as an ally transforms internal friction into productive energy.
### Framework for Change
- Recognize that all behavior meets needs.
- Understand parts as protectors trained to help.
- Retrain conditioned responses through curiosity and observation.
- Use self-leadership to manage internal parts effectively.
## Audience Interaction and Q&A
### Questions Addressed
- How Craig transitioned from personal struggles to helping others:
- Therapist recognized his gifts and encouraged mission.
- Started coaching despite initial skepticism.
- Training background:
- Craig is level two trained in Internal Family Systems model.
- Training is now reserved for therapists but he was grandfathered in.
## Conclusion
- Internal friction worsens outcomes.
- Understanding and embracing internal parts leads to empowerment.
- Free 45-minute deep dive sessions available for interested individuals.
President Hudson thanked Craig for his presentation and time with us today.
The Prez thanked everyone for coming and adjourned the meeting at 1:05 PM.
Dad Joke of the Day
Dedicated to PDG Steve Turner
I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high.
She looked surprised!
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
