Author Gretchen Peralta
Photos Roy Kroener
October 15, 2021
Well Howdy to all of you from this Reporter who is multi-tasking-- doing the Secretary and Treasurer’s job. Isn’t that how it always is – the women do all the work.
We began yet another Friday morning Davis Sunrise meeting with Song and introducing guests. Chuck Snipes, doubling as our resident pharmacist and song Meister, lead us in song and then Joe Egan was the only guest introduced.
Announcements began with Brodie Hamilton thanking everyone who lent a hand in making our drive-through Oktoberfest a success. He was followed by Mack Walker who introduced our upcoming Club’s 25th plus 2 Anniversary celebration Dinner scheduled for Friday, February 12th at El Macero beginning at 6:00pm with cocktails and butler served appetizers followed by a lovely dinner (your choice of beef, fish or vegetarian) and a SHORT program. We will have a DJ extraordinaire from 8-10:00pm for dancing or listening pleasure.
Program Chair, Lori Raneri, has managed to bring to the Club dynamic speakers to emphasize our Club’s theme of international cooperation. One is Alan Bernstein, a leading Canadian scientist and better yet a champion of youth and women in science. Alan chairs several very impressive advisory boards throughout the world which assist in the implementation of vaccines, advise COVID-19 Task Forces, and work with the Gates Foundation. As you might expect, Alan Bernstein’s contributions have been recognized by numerous impressive awards and degrees in President Copp’s home country of Canada. WE are fortunate to have Alan Bernstein as a speaker.
Don Winters is looking for a ride for a few of our Interact members to the upcoming District Conference at Squaw Creek in Tahoe from Friday October 29th through morning of Sunday the 31st. Meanwhile Tim Daleiden will by hosting a booth in the House of Friendship and “selling” our pads project. Anyone willing and able to help? Irena Asmundson announced an International House’s fundraiser for November 6th to assist the program “From Harm to Home: for Afghanistan Refugees” from 4-6:30pm.
Dan Carson and Steve Streeter read Oktoberfest raffle numbers and what do you think….the 50/50 was won by John Morgan and claimed by Chuck Cunningham. Only a portion of the gifts were won by others such as The Fitness Classes for Mack Walker and a Men’s haircut for Tim Daleiden. All the others will be posted for claiming. If unclaimed, all prizes will find their way to a charity.
Who Am I? So who else is enjoying learning about our members?
Our Danish Philosopher, Clay Brandow, has 2 primary interests -- water and family. His father was a Vet and Engineer with whom Clay traveled with around Corte Madera to fix storm drains, and his mom was a payroll clerk from whom he did not get paid. Clay is the oldest of 3 siblings and claims that high school was a blur with a lot of aquariums holding his interest. This mediocre academic prowess got him into UCD in 1970 where he studied “fish” before changing to focus on water issues and became involved in the building of the Domes on UCD campus. All started looking up when he met wife Brooke in 1974 and they shared a wilderness love story and married. They spent a bit of time in Porterville before returning to Davis. Clay met John Munn who introduced him to Rotary. Clay was our Club President in 2012-13 and attended an International Rotary Convention to Bangkok. He retired 6 years ago and continues to enjoy his wife, daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren.
Sydney Virgis was our Sergeant of the Day who, with scant dirt, managed to tag Chuck Snipes for the performance of his Georgia Bull Dogs; Brian Sway for his L.A. Dodgers; Meaghan Likes for being on yet another trip; and all the rest of us for National Boss’s Day.
Mitch Mysliwiec our International Committee Co-Chair took a few minutes to remind us of much of the money collected from our fundraisers have allowed us to make a significant difference around the world. Many of our projects allowed us to build some incredible relationships. Some of these projects include Libraries in 5 schools and a teacher training in So. Africa spear-headed by Brian Sway; support for a medical school in Kenya; provision of an ultrasound machine to Doctors Without Borders to train doctors in Uganda; and providing much needed medicines to our Sister Club’s Hospice Care Program. Meaghan Likes shared our Partners Across the Globe program where we have helped several schools in Africa by developing sanitary pad programs and building water systems. Just a reminder that it took a whole group of Rotarians and spouses, several design changes and final designs to make this come to fruition. We have made possible drilled water sources, water pumps, storage tanks and water kiosks; while at the same time following up with frequent meetings to monitor and ensure the program is working. Both Meaghan Likes and Patsy Inouye traveled to dispense bags of sanitary pads to schools and share sewing patterns for pads so that small business can make pads in the future, helping ensure young girls will not have to miss 3-6 days of school every month due their menstruation cycle. As a Club, we should be pleased that our donations and committee work is benefitting the needy in Africa.
President David, offered a Greek philosophical dilemma from before Socrates. Something about shooting arrows to the back of the room and the sum of speed and distances being zero or whatever.
Draw of the Day didn’t result in the winning of money, but I believe our guest drew the Ace of spades.