Your Weekly Get Up & Go Has Been Updated

Big crowd at Odd Fellows, basement; breakfast included scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, French toast and fruit. President Rose Cholewinski rang the bell, and we sang “Smile” and “America the Beautiful.”

 

Your reporter didn’t catch the introductions of guest Rotarians and guests.  It was a very busy morning, lots of announcements, happy bucks and detailed stories.  Also an in pro per, our speaker had time for only one question.   President Rose circulated post cards noting that our club does a lot of traveling. 

 

Gretchen Peralta and Dick Berry are looking for Salvation Army bell ringers, plenty of opportunity November 30 through December 18.  See e-mail sent to members, which includes links for signups.

 

Dick Berry reminded members that we’ll have a traditional informal meeting after Thanksgiving November 24, Black Bear Dinner – this year’s meeting will count as a make up!

 

Our club received thank you letters from two groups:

Lori Raineri enthusiastically read a thank you letter from the “Make it Happen, for Yolo county” for our club’s contribution of $3,000 which was used to purchase mattresses. Vanessa Errecarte read a thank you from Yolo County CASA for the club’s contribution of $2000, which was used to purchase gasoline cards.

 

President elect Tim Daleiden reminded members that he is hosting the annual holiday party, December 1, 6:00 pm, Davis Bicycle Hall of fame.

 

Let’s help to create a sustaining method for our contributions to our community, Larry Olsen reminded us that, the club’s annual gathering where “you don’t have to do anything, just write a check” to contribute to the Davis Sunrise Foundation, November 15,  5:30 to 7:00, at home of John Youman’s and Rose Cholewinski, 1209 Fordham Drive, adult and non adult beverages will be served.   By the way… you don’t have to be at this event to contribute, as Lori did today with her $300 contribution.

 

Davis Rotaract club is having a professional panel discussion on November 27, Sunrise Club members are invited to share their experiences.  Detail will follow soon.

 

Patsy Inouye’s in pro per began with visual aids on how to pronounce her last name

“In,” “no,” “way.” However Patsy “loves to say yes.”  This Librarian is very active in our club including photographer, Oktoberfest chair, and Communication chair.  She enjoys sewing, gardening, and skiing.  She has served on the Village Homeowners Board for 10 years.   Husband Tim, son Mike and Patsy own and operate Planet Car Wash in West Davis.

 

Sgt. of the day Dennis Lindsay called for Happy Bucks.

 

Michael McCormick is very happy for the opportunity for his family to host a guest from Zimbabwe.  Happy birthday to Dick Berry our most senior and also one our most active members, at 87!  Brodie Hamilton went to Bend Oregon to see his granddaughter perform in a ballet. Jay Brookman is happy for many things, including the opportunity to speak to the club last week about Veteran issues, our local schools and the forthcoming Veteran Days events.  Keith Watenpaugh is happy for his son’s AYSO soccer team’s progress even though the call themselves “llamas,” which turns out to be a fierce fighter in a popular computer game.  Vanessa Errecarte’s active volunteer and social calendar went topsy turvy when son Jack had a cut that needed a butterfly bandage.   Lori Raineri gave $5 something about David Foos and Susanna Foos tribute to David.  Lori acknowledged the 8 folks that sent Brian Sway away at the airport last week.  Lori is celebrating her company’s 30^th year, when she first started she told herself that if this doesn’t work, she could always be a Kelly Girl.  Larry Greene celebrated the arrival of his 5^th grandchild, a boy.   Clay Brandow ran into two former members:  Dick McCapes doing well and Vic Bucher who was rushing back to Nevada for tax reasons.

 

Sgt. Dennis asked all the Veterans to stand.   Sgt. Dennis noted that Democrats, Republicans, Seniors, and teachers were all happy about the election, Members Lucas Frerichs and Bob Poppenga were asked how many election parties they attended.   Club Landlords were fined for the defeat of proposition 10. Rose Cholewisnki was fined for not giving happy bucks for going to Disneyland.   With time running short  Sgt. Dennis did not have a chance to quiz  members about 1968 trivia

 

Speaker Chair Bill Kopper introduced our guest speaker, Joseph Palermo, professor of History at Sacramento State, “The Legacy of Robert Kennedy 50 Years After His Death.” Dr. Palermo graduated from UC Sana Cruz, Master’s from San Jose State and a Master’s and Doctorate in American History from Cornell University.  His books include Robert F. Kennedy and the Death of American Idealism, and In His Own Right: the Political Odyssey of Senator Robert F. Kennedy.

 

Dr. Palermo talked us through some painful times in the 60’s, which many of our club members remember, but it is history to our younger members. 

 

Robert Fitzgerald Kennedy (RFK) was attorney general to brother and president John Kennedy.  Dr. Palermo talked of key events related to gun violence: the assassinations of John Kennedy (1963), Martin Luther king (1968) and Robert Kennedy (1968).

 

Dr. Palermo’s view is that RFK had no political plans.   Rather RFK was there to serve his brother, becoming the attorney general at age 36.  After his brother’s death, he was encouraged to run for US Senate in New York, which he easily won.   At the Democratic convention in 1964, RFK received a 22-minute ovation.  Thus began a short but remarkable political journey. 

 

Dr. Palermo believes that RFK often did the right thing morally even if it wasn’t the right thing politically, such as his opposition to the Vietnam War.  In 1966, RFK traveled to South Africa to speak to blacks, but was unwelcomed by whites.  In February of 1968 RFK delivered a speech against the Vietnam War.  As pointed out by Dr. Palermo, this was a key signal to then President Johnson that RFK would run against President Johnson.  RFK delivered this speech standing with Chicago mayor John Daly, who was opposed to the Vietnam War and also was a major supporter of John Kennedy. 

 

Dr. Palermo didn’t have time to complete his RFK overview. President Lyndon Johnson did not run for reelection in 1968.    RFK campaigned heavily in California. Senator Eugene McCarthy from Minnesota (another Senator opposed to the Vietnam War) and RFK competed for the 1968 Democratic nomination.    RFK supporters included Caesar Chavez.   RFK won the California primary; he was assassinated after delivering a victory speech at the Los Angeles Ambassador Hotel, June 6, 1968.

 

Questions:

Don Morrill asked if RFK would have won the 1968 presidential election?   Dr. Palermo believes RFK would have defeated Nixon.  The support from John Daly would have been a key tipping point in the election.  Yes, that’s the same John Daly who had Chicago police strong-arm demonstrators at the 1968 democratic convention.

 

Draw of the day: Clay Brandow won a free breakfast.