Editor - Mark Bartson
Photos - Patsy Inouye
Student of the month!
Ringing the bell (I guess it’s the “bell”), President Copp started us off and immediately turned things over to our Student of the Month coordinator, Nancy Storm!
Nancy gave a very warm welcome to Davis High and DaVinci High only, since the other schools in town were not available this month.
She introduced our “dignitaries”, Tom McHale (DHS Principal), Rick Stromberg, legend and Member of the DHS Hall of Fame, Kelly Wilkerson and Roy Kroener. Roy and his wife Cynthia have put together a family scholarship for students of the Davis High Schools. The scholarship is intended for graduates of any Davis high school who has a GPA over 3.0 and intends to attend at least a 2 year college and demonstrates financial need.
Nancy then introduced Rotary with some facts and a video which is usually temperamental, but actually worked this time! Huzzah!!
Davis High School begins!
Tom McHale introduced Holly Istas, Social Studies teacher who has nominated Bralio, who is a Senior in her government class. Unfortunately he was not able to make the ZOOM call this morning, but he is a very enthusiastic and participatory student and Holly appreciates his leadership and positivity every day.
Next, was Kevin Williams who has been a long time teacher at DHS who created and teaches a class in Race and Social Justice. Wants to give a shout out to Don Winters for being a “rabble rouser” and teaching Kevin to be one too. Kevin nominated Abel Herrera who has beautiful hair and has a unique musical style. Every morning he comes in and chooses a song to be the “theme” of the day. He fights through some learning differences which usually classify him for “modified” grading, but Mr. Williams never has to “modify” his grading because Abel has worked through the assignment so well. Kevin feels that Abel personifies Rotary values with his ethical behavior and positivity. He is always stretching himself academically also.
Up next Bin Wang, Chinese teacher introduces Jacqueline Choi as her choice for SOTM. Ms. Wang notes that Jacqueline works very, very hard in her classes and is always friendly and positive in his class and all over campus. She looks out for her fellow classmates and excels in her studies, especially in this class.
Oliver Mahoney was unable to attend today but Mr. McHale read a lovely note of praise for his work in class and general attitude on and off campus.
Kyle Monhollen is the last DHS teacher to nominate a student this morning. He nominated Sawyer Spann who unfortunately was unable to stay on the call long enough to hear Mr. Monhollen’s praise. He is a person that many other students look to for support when things are challenging. He is a model & example of all the best of DHS and the Davis community at large.
DaVinci principal Scott Bell introduced teacher Lauren Smith. She introduced Ari Ramirez who is “the type of student that every teacher wants in their class.” She is kind, calm and respectful and is frequently helping her peers. She has even been able to reach out and help students who do not usually accept help from others. Ms. Smith thanks Ari for being such an amazing student, peer and friend. Ari explains, with a grin from ear to ear, that she truly loves being at DaVinci and loves her fellow students on campus.
Nancy wrapped up SOTM by inviting anyone who wants to stay on after the ceremony to do so.
Visiting Rotarians or guests: Brodie introduced Steve Schaefer.
David Copp wants to teach us a rule for watching hockey like Canadians. The OffSide rule. Apparently this is important if you are a hockey player, or a Canadian, but it was unintelligible to this reporter and I had to untangle myself from my kitten who was hampering my reporting efforts.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Lori Rainieri reminded us about the New Member party at her house at 5:45 on March 4. Everyone is welcome and especially the new members. Please respond to your eVite!
Lucas Frerichs wanted to clarify the “icing” rule but wisely decided to save it for a future meeting.
Frances McChesney announced that she has been buying masks from a company which is willing to recycle all masks so Frances is happy to take them and send back to the company. PLEASE don’t bring them to her in a plastic bag. She would prefer a paper bag which could be recycled.
David Copp wants to remind everyone that we will have a hybrid meeting on March 4.
Mitch Mysliwiec announced international committee will be meeting this week. Watch for your invite! They need your help!
Don Winters announced that a Youth Services meeting happens on Thursday, the 24th and will send a link.
Gretchen Peralta noted that the Rotary District is WELL aware of Frances’ environmental awareness efforts.
Mark Bartson - Who Am I?
His family name was changed at Ellis Island from Barzen to Bartson. He was born, and weighed 8 pounds. He has grown up in the Bay Area, grown up in Santa Rosa and living in Sacramento and now Davis. His wife Kay is a retired nurse and originally from South Korea. They enjoy cooking together and he has enjoyed traveling to that region. His first wife Dalia passed away in 2007 and they raised several children together. He graduated from San Diego State and spearheaded safe drinking water systems and delivery issues. He picked up his granddaughter in Santa Rosa and had some homework that his daughter had done when she was in first grade. The assignment was “what will you do when you are 100”. His daughter wrote that when she is 100 she would “feel like being a ghost.”
John Morgan is Sargeant today!
Happy Bucks:
Nancy Storm has some Happy Bucks for the Yolo Crisis Nursery Crab Feed tomorrow. It is a drive through and looks to be a success already. She is also giving happy bucks for doing a horrible job on a video which I believe was benefiting the Crisis Nursery but I lost the thread of the announcement. Something about Brodie’s car….
Brodie gets fined $10 by Sargeant John.
David Copp - Giving happy bucks for watching a great hockey game. The women’s hockey game in the Olympics. Apparently there is some kind of rivalry….
Gretchen Peralta - Giving happy bucks for all the people who have and still are dropping off blankets and helping to keep the homeless population warmer during the cold nights.
Meaghan Likes gave memorial happy bucks in memory of Susanne Rockwell on this, the 4th anniversary of her passing.
Mack Walker is giving $100 happy bucks for being able to move back into his house after being out of it for a year. BUT, he wants a $5 credit back for having been slandered by Matt Crider for saying that he was not in a presentation of some sort…. Matt denies that the appeal has been filed properly. Do we need to separate you two? I’ll turn this meeting around. I mean it!!
Steve Streeter has happy bucks for a great start on the Grad Night progress. He was also invited to the Davis Chamber Gala taking place tonight!
Clay Brandow is happy because he got to go skiing this week and saw his brother’s new granddaughter. He also has happy bucks for Mack being able to move back into his house after being gone for 53 weeks!
Cliff Sheppard is happy because he has a trip to Singapore and is hoping to meet up with Andrew Yang while he’s there. Unfortunately for him, but fortunately for Rotary, Andrew will be returning to CA on the 27th. Bummer, dude.
Meaghan Likes is being fined for her husband Jeff and his field supervisor attending a window washing convention and once again winning Fastest window washer AND best quality window washing! She is giving $100 for that achievement!
John Morgan asks whether the holiday on Monday has an apostrophe or not. President’s or Presidents? TRICK QUESTION: The actual name of the holiday is Washington’s Birthday! (PSYCH)
Speaking of “various things”, engineers have something exciting about next week. Apparently it is National Engineers Week! Mack Walker is kind of “meh” about the honor, but notes that Engineers were on the top of “most trustworthy” professions and notes that lawyers were on the bottom. Matt Crider counters that Used Car Salesmen are actually below Lawyers so he objects to the designation. Again….gonna have to send you boys to bed without your supper!
President David wants to end Valentine’s Day week with Plato’s myth of the origin of love. Apparently humankind started out as one body and was separated into two. And so “love” is the search for your other half. Sweet!
That’s it for this reporter. Looking forward to the days when we can see faces in public and hug without reservation.
Good night, and Good luck.