Who is our LEADER?  We were promised Past President Rich Graber and got HARDESTY?  You did a fine job.  Thanks for filling in. The pledge was led by Past President Bob Tilly followed by the National Anthem led by Lee Holmes who did his normal outstanding job.  We followed along. Christine Cahill-Reams provided the invocation.  She stated the next day was the anniversary of her and her husband’s first date.  It was very nice, and sounds like husband, Scott, needs to be a Rotarian as he embraces our motto, Service Above Self. Introductions were made and the head table included Tom Engwer, Paul Adams, Tom Knox and Guest Speaker John Lescroart.

Past President Drew Houghton claims PricewaterhouseCoopers did the accounting and the results are questionable, so they will be announced next week after a recount.

 

Save the date of April 29th for our Rotarians at Work Day.  PWR is again teaming up with Rebuilding Together to help spruce up a local home in need of repair. We are going to be painting, climbing, and having all sorts of fun. President-Elect-Elect Carl Naake is the chair.

 

March 25. Get your ticket money in, and sell those tickets you have if possible.  Invite a neighbor, a good friend, a client.  Tom Engwer reminded us of some of the great auction items we have.  There are several vacations, Disney tickets, and our wheelbarrow of wine!  There will be some good stuff in it this time, too. 

 

Paul Adams spoke to the wineries.  We have 31 confirmed so far including Bogle and several others.  Come and meet the vintners!  Buy something new!  We need bodies to fill the hall, preferably ones with lots of discretionary income.

 

John Meissner made a plea for members to sign up for the clean up as we are in need of assistance.

 

April 1.  Bea Maurer states this is a great time to learn more about all of the areas of Rotary for both new and more experienced Rotary members.   Please plan to attend.

 

Gordon Gerwig celebrated his daughter, Greta’s, appearance on the cover of Vanity Fair.  He showed some extraordinary talent of her fencing skills in a very nice Oscar type dress.  It was most entertaining!

 

Postponed until April 8 per Dan Hall.  He will keep us informed.

 

April 6th at the Sierra Oaks facility on Fair Oaks Blvd.  We have many slots and even though some were filled during the meeting, I bet there are still some available.  It is easy, you will see friends, and get snacks, too!  What could go wrong?  THIS IS A TREMENDOUS BENEFIT TO OUR AREA! Contact Dan Hall.

 

John Lescroart was introduced by Past President Tom Knox.  He is a well known author with many books that have been on the NY Times bestseller list.  He is also quite a character.  He specializes in crime thriller books, the latest being “Fatal”, released in January.  He is also a singer/songwriter.  He stared his career at a national convention of NATSO in Las Vegas.  He was surrounded by Beauty Queens, and the National Association of Truck Stop Operators.  He knew it was not a good group for his presentation when Miss Nevada asked him what a novel was.  From there it was only up.  He didn’t quit his day job and had a band, Johnny Capo and the Real Good Band.  When he reached 30 and had not made it big on the rock scene, he realized he needed another gig.  He found a book he had written in College he had stashed in a drawer and thought he would send it to his high school teacher.  His teacher said it was trash, and he should not pursue writing.  He was most discouraged.  A few days later this man’s wife called stating it was the best she had read and apologized for her husband.  Apparently his lifelong dream of publishing a book never came to fruition… John found an old high school friend who was able to take it to Pinnacle Publishing and that was it.  They put a sexy woman on the cover and his career was off.  He owns an award as the Best California Author.  He learned again, not to quit his day job.

 

He started working for Burlington Northern Rail writing about Revenue Adequacy.  Yippee.  Not what he had in mind.  He brought up a Holmes book and while it was not literary, he sent it to publishers and received 2 offers to print it.  Now he was off.  This took 2 weeks.  60 years later this book is still in print.  He was asked to write a sequel.  Not knowing he needed approval from the family to write about Sherlock Holmes until now, the Estate said no.  He came up with a new character and just produced his 19^th Best Seller. 

 

$10 – Walter Helm

$10 and a chance at the jackpot - Maia Schneider - No Joker