At 7:15 sharp the meeting starts with the announcement by “Someone’s Sweetheart” Gary Hardesty, our esteemed President, “Be My Valentine” Ms. Desirée Wilson. 

 

New member Brent Ward led us in the pledge.  Lee Holmes led us in a rendition of “God Bless America” which was sung at its usual high decibel. 

 

Robert Ellis was next with a very inspiring prayer, which I will share here:  “This morning we woke to a day full of promise, but many in our community and the world wake to a night of doubt and hopelessness.  As ROTARIANS may we be adherents to The Object of Rotary, which is to encourage and foster the ideal of service, and do it in the things we think, say or do, "is it the TRUTH, is it FAIR to all concerned, will it build GOODWILL & BETTER FRIENDSHIPS and will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned."  Let you and I channel our commitment to service at home and abroad, let us do it through Rotary’s five avenues of service, Club and Vocational Service, Community, and International service, and most importantly Youth Service, recognizing the importance of empowering youth.  And because we are so blessed, and able, let us do it with gratitude and the gratitude that comes with the blessing of this meal and the time that we are about to share.  AMEN!”  Thank you for those great words spoken like a true Rotarian, Robert!

 

Introductions were next; those in attendance included former member and returning to rejoin PWR - Jeff Milde, guest and Steve “Cool” is all I got.  Encina High Community Outreach Coordinator Barry Roth was in attendance as well.  At the Head Table this week, Tom Knox, our Speech Contest Chair, and Samantha Hoshida and yours truly representing this year’s Festa di Vino. 

 

Desirée announced that the club will be donating 102 dictionaries to the Mustard Seed School on February 17^th at 10:30 am and proceeded to show us a copy of the book.  Anyone who can and wants to attend, please contact her. See story below.

 

We were finally able to present the "big check" to WEAVE from the proceeds of last year's Brewfest!  Don't worry...they got their "little check" (the one they could actually cash) a while ago!  Maia Schneider and Brad McDowell present the check to Megan Laurie, Director of Development for WEAVE.

Judee Daniels gave a quick announcement stating that the Lunatic Committee will be having a Lunar Launch meeting on Feb. 23^rd at 5:30 at Matteo’s (at 5 Points Center - Arden & Fair Oaks Blvd) so anyone interested in being involved with the event this year, please show up.  The club has the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce involved this year along with The Metro Edge (young professionals part of the Chamber of Commerce), so they are really looking to expanding the event this year.  Judee also thanked everyone for the hospitality while George and she were in Sacramento, and they will be leaving this weekend.

 

Samantha Hoshida announced that the majority of the tickets for the event are in the hands of the membership.  If you haven’t picked yours up yet, don’t fret, the tickets will be mailed to your house this week.  Please remember that 4 tickets are in the envelope with the expectation that you will sell at least 2 tickets to the event.  The club could use the ticket support though, so don’t hesitate to sell all four.  Tom Engwer announced that the Auction portion of the event is going well, and the Festa committee has decided to do the Wheelbarrow of Wine raffle again this year.  Please bring a bottle of your favorite wine to the upcoming meetings so that we can fill the wheelbarrow up!!! Rita Gordon gave a shout out to Al Frumkin, a potential new member, who dialed for dollars this last week to try to raise sponsorship money for this year’s Festa di Vino event.  She also asked that all of the membership try to do the same, reach out to a business person(s) you know and see if they will get involved with our event this year.  Thanks Al for getting involved!

 

Drew Houghton – He announced that signups have started for this year’s bowling bash.  The event will be held on Feb. 25^th at 5:00 p.m. at the Mardi Gras Lanes.  This is a family event so bring your spouse, significant other, kids, animals, etc. to this year’s event.  Glen Cheron has once again stepped up to assist in making this a great event!  By the way Drew, quit calling it a sport, it’s not!

 

Dan Hall – On April 6^th the club will take over the Blood Source Sierra Oaks facility for our annual blood drive.  Remember this is an event that you don’t have to write a check, you just have to bleed.  Please sign up for the event at the next meeting. 

 

Dan Hall – The cleanup is scheduled for March 4^th  at Mile Post 7, and will be completed jointly with the Interact Club from Encina.  Of course that is if all the rain stops in the next couple of weeks.  That area is currently under water so stay tuned in case of a date change.  Dan did plead for George and Judee Daniels to take the rain back to Washington with them, and also told the membership to bring their water wings just in case.  We shall see.

 

President Desirée announced that Rick Bixler and she would be completing the Polar Plunge for the Special Olympics on Saturday at Sac State Aquatic Center at Lake Natoma.  Rumor has it that Rick will be wearing his Speedo…..not a pretty picture.  This just shows you the dedication of our leadership to this club.

 

Tom Knox – After stating the Rotarian rules for the speech contest Tom Knox called up each of the four students from Encina to give their speech.  All four presentations were well done.  Some great snippets from the speeches; “Serving humanity is the most worthwhile thing you can do!”; “Share things and be cool”; “Family is the most important thing”.  After all four speeches were completed, and the point tallies were completed, the following places were announced: 1^st place – Mya Worko, 2^nd place – Fernanda Cadena Palacios, 3^rd place – Antoine Gashema, and 4^th place – Amaria Norris.  Good job by all.

 

While the speech points were being totaled, which took some time due to some technical errors, the following two announcements were made:

 

Desirée showed a picture of Brad McDowell in a business suit, with high-heels, in Inside Publications, which was titled, “A Conversation with Brad McDowell”.  Desirée fined Brad $5, which Brad hotly contested since he was fined for the same picture in Graber’s term.  Desirée state he’s getting fined anyways since he hadn't changed the picture to one with him wearing a pin...and Brad generously coughed up $20...thank you Brad!

 

Paul Endelman Just got back from Morocco with no swag for Desirée, but that’s not the real announcement.  He is involved with the Art Street Exhibit, which is a temporary street gallery that has been built on Broadway and 1^st St. in Sacramento.  The gallery is open from 3 – 9 p.m., so go check it out as it is quite a cool exhibit.

 

 

 

Kristi Kendall – February 11^th;

Don Jamison – Valentine’s Day

 

Thanks to the Greeters of the day, Sean Harris and John Price, Ticket taker Jeff Farrar, and Money Taker Don Levin.

 

$10 to Rich Price

$10 and the draw, Mike Garcia – NO SIR!

 

and here's a picture of a puppy, cuz she's so darn cute (that's Josie, Mary Lyn's new companion!):