Third Annual Vocational Appreciation Day!
Posted by Michael Phares
To celebrate this year's Vocational Appreciation Day on Wednesday, February 24th, our normal breakfast meeting time was altered so that we could show our appreciation to the Grover Beach Fire and Police Departments during a lunch in the Fire Department dining room.
After some social mixing between Rotarians, Firefighters and Police Officers, Madame President Lisa encouraged our guests and us to begin enjoying the excellent array of sandwiches donated by Stacked Sandwiches (You Rock, Brad Evans!).
Once everyone had grabbed their food and their places, Lisa began our program with a welcome to our esteemed guests.
Mary Mylan led us in the flag salute and Sandra Sansoni once again graced us with her unique brand of humor. This time however, Madame President Lisa decided to add to the belly aches with a joke of her own... after a few attempts at getting the joke straight, we were all left with smiles.
Sandy Nichols was asked to report on her recent P.E.T.S. (President Elect Training Seminar) and she responded with an excited and enthusiastic report highlighting the theme for next year... Building Communities - Bridging Continents.
Sandy then channeled her enthusiasm into an introduction of our Interact guest and recipient of the youth exchange sponsorship to France by our club. Chelsea Killian is a Junior at Atascadero HS where she is Jr Class President, a member of the swim and water polo teams, and a proud member of the school's Interact club. Chelsea expressed her thanks to our club for our sponsorship of her trip and quite graciously accepted a GB Rotary pin from President-Elect Sandy.
Breven Baima, our Phinemaster, was asked to challenge our noodles once again and instead added a twist to involve our esteemed guests of honor. He pitted the Fire Dept against the Police Dept in a test of wit, wisdom, and wonder. The 1st question was asked to the Police Dept and they incorrectly guessed that chess originated in Russia earning Tony Testa a $10 phine. Correct answer = India. The Fire Dept incorrectly guessed the most common day job for the Norwegian hockey team players (Shicker) which in fact is another name for a carpenter. This earned Bob Perrault a $10 phine. Breven earned himself a $10 phine when the Police Dept correctly answered Roger Daltry as the oldest living member of The Who. The PD failed however on a bonus question as to what the members of The Who's first band name was... The Detours. Bill Nichols earned a $10 phine for the Fire Dept not knowing that when the NY Yankees visited the Cleveland Indians this past season and could not book rooms at the Ritz Carlton it was because a Saudi Arabian Princess had booked 90 rooms. Last, the Police Dept was given one more question to celebrate their whopping 1-0 victory over their Fire Dept brethren which they correctly answered... John Daly was asked by FHM Magazine why he did not go to the gym to work out, to which he answered because they don't allow smoking! While it was not stated, technically that meant Breven incurred another $10 Phine!!! Great job by the men in blue and great thanks to both the men in blue and the men in black for being such great sports.
Grover Beach Mayor John Shoals, GB Rotary's very own political celebrity, presented certificates of appreciation from our chapter to both departments. Fire Chief Mike Hubert accepted on behalf of the Fire Dept and Police Chief Jim Copsey accepted on behalf of the Police Dept. Both men humbly and graciously accepted giving the real credit back to their fire fighters and police men showing themselves as true men of leadership.
Madame Lisa closed us with a poem to our honored guests that both lifted the spirits and appealed to the feelings of gratitude of all in attendance for all our Firefighters and Police Officers do to protect our town.
Once everyone had grabbed their food and their places, Lisa began our program with a welcome to our esteemed guests.
Mary Mylan led us in the flag salute and Sandra Sansoni once again graced us with her unique brand of humor. This time however, Madame President Lisa decided to add to the belly aches with a joke of her own... after a few attempts at getting the joke straight, we were all left with smiles.
Sandy Nichols was asked to report on her recent P.E.T.S. (President Elect Training Seminar) and she responded with an excited and enthusiastic report highlighting the theme for next year... Building Communities - Bridging Continents.
Sandy then channeled her enthusiasm into an introduction of our Interact guest and recipient of the youth exchange sponsorship to France by our club. Chelsea Killian is a Junior at Atascadero HS where she is Jr Class President, a member of the swim and water polo teams, and a proud member of the school's Interact club. Chelsea expressed her thanks to our club for our sponsorship of her trip and quite graciously accepted a GB Rotary pin from President-Elect Sandy.
Breven Baima, our Phinemaster, was asked to challenge our noodles once again and instead added a twist to involve our esteemed guests of honor. He pitted the Fire Dept against the Police Dept in a test of wit, wisdom, and wonder. The 1st question was asked to the Police Dept and they incorrectly guessed that chess originated in Russia earning Tony Testa a $10 phine. Correct answer = India. The Fire Dept incorrectly guessed the most common day job for the Norwegian hockey team players (Shicker) which in fact is another name for a carpenter. This earned Bob Perrault a $10 phine. Breven earned himself a $10 phine when the Police Dept correctly answered Roger Daltry as the oldest living member of The Who. The PD failed however on a bonus question as to what the members of The Who's first band name was... The Detours. Bill Nichols earned a $10 phine for the Fire Dept not knowing that when the NY Yankees visited the Cleveland Indians this past season and could not book rooms at the Ritz Carlton it was because a Saudi Arabian Princess had booked 90 rooms. Last, the Police Dept was given one more question to celebrate their whopping 1-0 victory over their Fire Dept brethren which they correctly answered... John Daly was asked by FHM Magazine why he did not go to the gym to work out, to which he answered because they don't allow smoking! While it was not stated, technically that meant Breven incurred another $10 Phine!!! Great job by the men in blue and great thanks to both the men in blue and the men in black for being such great sports.
Grover Beach Mayor John Shoals, GB Rotary's very own political celebrity, presented certificates of appreciation from our chapter to both departments. Fire Chief Mike Hubert accepted on behalf of the Fire Dept and Police Chief Jim Copsey accepted on behalf of the Police Dept. Both men humbly and graciously accepted giving the real credit back to their fire fighters and police men showing themselves as true men of leadership.
Madame Lisa closed us with a poem to our honored guests that both lifted the spirits and appealed to the feelings of gratitude of all in attendance for all our Firefighters and Police Officers do to protect our town.