With a little bit of confusion, the meeting was started off with Rita Gordon getting the room’s attention and letting us know that today was New Member take-over day, with a very appropriate theme of “TAX DAY”.  Rita proceeded to introduce herself as the “Stand-in President” of the day. 

The projection screen showed the cast for the day, all new members, and included Brent “Carson” Ward, Bev “Betsy” Hoeft, Karen “Our Angel” McClafin, Rita “Des” Gordon, “Uncle” Sean Harris, “Lady” Christine Cahill-Reams, and “Mother” Kristi Kendall. 

 

Bev “Betsy” Hoeft was introduced to lead us in the Pledge.   Rita informed the crowd that we were going to skip our tradition song, and instead recite the 4-way test, something she considers far more relevant to Rotary.  Brent “Carson” Ward lead the room in the reciting of the 4-way test, followed by “Mother” Kristi Kendall, stating that the photo of her looked like the “Virgin Mary”, reciting a very clever IRS poem as the invocation.

 

On to Introductions, with Rita laying down the law on how to introduce our guests properly.  Guests in the house today included Prospective member Terrie Ray, Phil MacDougall and Lucy from Saint John’s, Cathy Simunek, and visiting Rotarian, and Bea’s good friend, Mike Daley from the Rancho Cordova Sunrise Club, classification Education.

 

At the Head Table, Rita introduces Brent “Carson” Ward, who will be introducing the Guest Speaker, who happens to be Richard Abrusci from 211 Sacramento.  On the other end of the table, our own Bev “Betsy” Hoeft and "Mother" Kristi Kendall who are part of the new members program for the day.

 

“Uncle” Sean Harris, fashionably dressed in an Uncle Sam costume, proceeded to entertain us with his Top 10 list for tax day.  Very clever, with the #1 reason you should cheat on your taxes being, “Take it from me, prison is not so bad”!  I don’t know, I don’t think I want to try it. 

 

Tom Engwer gave an announcement that the PWR Foundation is still looking for candidates for the foundation board to take office July 1^st.  Elections will be held on June 2^nd, with the last day to throw your name in the hat of April 17^th.  This is a good opportunity to get involved in the internal workings of the foundation, how it manages the club money, how the money is allocated to the different charities, and how to help position the foundation for future growth.  The Foundation is looking for people that want to get involved in assisting in the strategic direction of the foundation so please give this opportunity some serious thought.

 

Real President Desirée Wilson gave a shout-out to Rita Gibson, and her company DH Construction, for entertaining four students at their company’s Kings Suite at a recent Kings game.  The four students were our speech contest participants from Encina High - and each one was allowed to bring a guest.  Desiree designated Rita as a PWR “Rock Star”.

 

Desirée reminded us that we will be dark next Friday, April 21st, as we will be holding next week’s meeting on Thursday night at the Dante Club at 5:45 p.m.  This will be a little bit of a meeting and more of an evening social.  The 20/30 club and Rotoract Club will both be in attendance, so make sure you don’t miss this one.  And remember, if you show up next Friday morning you will be the only one there besides Rick Bixler.

 

Russ Fuiji and Tom Harvey came up to the podium to announce the Big Check Presentation to St. John’s Program for Real Change.  Russ introduced us to Philip MacDougall who is the Director of Strategic Initiatives for St. John’s.  He proceeded to introduce Lucy, who is a current participant in the program, and has been for the past year.  She explained how she was addicted to pot, methamphetamines, and cigarettes, and they had taken over her life.  Through her participation in the program she has been able to completely change her life through the counseling, therapy, and vocational training that she has received from the program.  She was very thankful to Rotary for our commitment to the program and knows that without this program she wouldn’t have been able to turn her life around.  Philip then came up and gave us a brief description of the St. John’s program how the three things they key in on are High School Diplomas, Computer Training, and Work Force Development.  The program currently has 180 women & children in the program.  Our funds will help fund one bedroom that will be outfitted with our Rotary brand as the sponsor of that room.  Russ and Tom then presented the $5,000 check to Philip.  Just another great recipient of our GRC funds!!!

 

Brent “Carson” Ward introduced our guest speaker of the day, Richard Abrusci with 211 Sacramento.  Richard explained that 211 Sacramento is a free call, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  It is a hotline that tries to assist people in crisis, whatever that might be. They receive over 150,000 calls a year, with 60% of them being from people in crisis.   The main focus of his talk, in keeping with the tax theme, is that 211 Sacramento is the main go-to for scheduling free tax returns for AARP members.  Not only do they assist with the free tax return preparation, but they also have started partnering with local credit unions to get their participants to open checking/savings accounts so that they are saving some of their tax refunds rather than spend those funds.  Sounds like they’ve been very successful in their program and it continues to grow every year.

 

Birthdays: Mark Copeland and our own “Marky” Mark Mraule.

 

“Lady” Christine Cahill-Reams – Gave out coins for tax day:

Karl Forste – His son is in a new play for the next three weekends at the Roseville Theatre Arts Academy out in Roseville.  The play is “The Drowsy Chaperone”, so come out and enjoy a local play.

 

Carl Naake – Work Day – the next Rotary work day is April 29^th.  Please sign up as this is a hands-on event that allows you to make a difference in the community in one day.

 

Maia Schneider – Save the Date – June 30^th – Promotion Party for Desiree to the District Level.  Please mark your calendars, more information to follow.

 

Maria O’Neil – Lunar Lunacy – Shirts from last year are still available if anyone is interested.  Lunar had its first meeting last Thursday and she invited the Club to get involved in this year’s event.  Come out and join a great group of people planning this year’s event.

 

Rita Gordon – Reminded the club that you need to go onto RotaryAds.com and put your free listing on this site.  This is a free service so there is no excuse why anyone shouldn’t be on there.  She also had everyone in the room who had their badges and lapel pins to stand up – free coins for those standing.

 

$10 – Sandy Thompson

$10 & Draw – Dean Wilkie – King of Hearts – No Sir, but we agree, you do have Heart!