Your Weekly Get Up & Go Has Been Updated

“Twas the last of November, in Oddfellows Hall…”, and Dave Morse was already into his seasonal repertoire, with Christmas tunes jingling and jangling from his keyboard.  And, there were little international flags on all the tables, which we would learn more about soon.  The call from President Rose Cholewinski came quickly for Visiting Rotarians.  First up was Lynn Jepsen of the Woodland Sunrise club, followed by our District Governor, Jon Dwyer; our speaker of the day, here with his wife Bonnie.  Next came other visitors, including Assistant District Governor Duayne Ewing and Chris Martin introduced local scout leader Mark Wong.

 

Before introducing Maddy, our outgoing Rotary exchange student, her parents Eric and Liza, and sister Zoe, Rose stepped in to promise an action-packed meeting, and asked how many of us were wearing our Rotary pins (a “fine” idea, but Rose wasn’t leaving this one for the sergeants); the introduction led to our special flag event, ”Maddy’s Up”!!  But where in the world is she going?  Rose instructed everyone to stand with a mini-flag, but some of us didn’t stand long.  Country-by country, we sadly took our seats: first the US, then Italy, Canada, Sweden, Mexico, Great Britain, Finland, Belgium, Denmark, Australia, Korea, the Netherlands, Japan, Germany…last and still “upstanding” was FRANCE, lucky Maddy’s destination.  (This Francophile reporter shouted “where” in hopes of more precision, but only learned after the meeting that we don’t know yet.)  Thanks Rose, for staging this suspenseful event; who could forget the outcome now?

 

Much sadder than the flag-sitters was Vanessa Errecarte’s announcement that she saw Bud Harmon recently and learned that Bud’s wife Bonnie is not doing well; she likely will not come out of Vacaville Kaiser Hospital.  Bud is there with her every day, but friends can join him for support at his house most days for a 4:45 PM umbrella drink. Quick update: Bonnie has been released from Vacaville Kaiser and they are both home.  If you'd like to sign up for a time to go visit them and spread some holiday cheer you can sign up here.

 

Next, Larry Greene and John Dwyer came forward to present Paul Harris awards to Tim Daleiden, Vanessa, and Mack Walker.  Just as our two Foundation leaders were back in their seats, District Governor Jon Dwyer came forward with a surprise “Plus 10” presentation for John Youmans in honor of his 10 Paul Harris awards.  Jon noted that a Plus 10 donor has saved 4 people somewhere in the world; this conversion ($2500/life) provides quite a compelling incentive to keep on giving!!!

 

In a following announcement, Gretchen Peralta and Vanessa delivered a tag-team, “self-elf” history of how our holiday giving campaign started 8 years ago with Gretchen as Momma Elf and Vanessa as “Baby Elf.”  Vanessa took responsibility for where we are now, noting she “got knocked up,” adding a generation with Ella as the new Baby Elf.  (I’m not sure how husband Jay would react to her announcement that the “Father Elf” position is still open.  Looking around the room, I’d say “Grandpa Elf” might be a better moniker anyway.)  So we all drew folded slips out of the little bag, and learned that the delivery deadline is Friday 12/7, unless you “drop dead”, in which case the gifts are due on 12/14.  They don’t have to be rapt (hah-hah) but be sure to tape the name slip to the gift. There are extra names for anyone wanting to double up!

 

On a morning rife with announcements, Chuck Snipes stood to look far ahead, noting that we should all save the evening of the Ides of March (that’s the 15^th, even though the middle day of a 31-day month is the 16^th) for the Sunrise Rotary Trivia night.  Nearer term, Tim Daleiden reminded that our Holiday Party is not on the Ides of December:  too late by the time you read this though; it was Saturday night December 1 at the Bicycling Hall of Fame.  In a final “sort-of” announcement, Larry Olsen presented a $1500 Rotary check to Mark Wong to reward the scout troop for renting us some space (??); Mark noted that the funds will be applied to the scouts’ “high adventure program”: a 90 mile backpacking in New Mexico.  Did we hear Larry volunteer to lead the adventure?

 

Clay Brandow was Sergeant-of-the-Day and, watching the clock, decided to apply “quick fines” before Happy Bucks.  His first target was Justina Vega, on the spot for her employer Recology’s recent Enterprise article. Clay’s super-important question was, “Does everything stay on the proper side when the rig empties the split trash bins?”  Justina’s cryptic answer was “YES”; at which point Clay moved on to United pilot Cliff Sheppard in connection with a recent “indecent exposure” arrest of a United pilot in Denver.  (I just read that the hotel room window allowed views in, but not out!)  Clay asked Cliff if he would expose himself; luckily this also cryptic answer was “NO.” 

 

Happy Bucks ensued, as follows: 

 

With Rose pointing to the clock, Clay reluctantly retired and Rose re-introduced our speaker, District Governor Jon Dwyer, who opened by noting that he is a member of the Benicia club, though he lives in San Ramon.  Reminding us that Benicia was once our capital (#3 after San Jose and Vallejo, just before Sacramento) for a year, he chuckled that for Benicians, it was too long.  Anyway, we are #57 on his tour of all 71 clubs in the district.  Jon spoke extensively about the Camp Fire; he asked for a show of hands: how many of us had been through Paradise?  Almost half of us never saw Paradise before it virtually disappeared in the fire. In contrast to the Santa Rosa and Redding fires, where businesses were mostly OK and jobs remained, the Camp Fire wiped out everything.  Of 81 Rotarians in Paradise; only 3 didn’t lose their houses.  In the non-residential category, only the Taco Bell and some schools survived.  

 

Jon commented that he doesn’t get emotional about much besides Notre Dame (his alma mater) football, but…this fire has really affected him.  Mostly, they need money; too much stuff has been coming in, with nowhere to store it and sort it and distribute it.  Be generous!

 

After noting that the District Conference competes with our May Ribs and Rotary event, Jon discussed membership, and the importance of member retention.  He suggested that, after leaving a meeting, we write down names for the first three faces that come to mind; would we have known these people without Rotary?  Also, write names of some former members- do we see them as much as before?  Why not give them a call?  The typical pattern is, many new members join, but the problem is keeping them.  We need to focus on building strong ties to incoming members. 

 

Jon also gave us an update on the Rotary Foundation.  He appreciates our support, and noted our Foundation grant this year for Kenya.  Any amount helps; he urged donations as small as $25.  Jon also told of his wife’s mission to El Salvador, with a Rotoplast team performing cleft palate surgery.  A couple arrived from a high mountain village with a 7-8 month-old baby. The woman grew vegetables, got a bicycle, and rode from village to village, selling her crops. She had obtained her bike with an $18 micro-credit loan from Rotary. While delivering in another village, she learned about the Rotoplast visit; the resulting surgery will completely change the life of their child.

 

Jon’s wife Bonnie is a master gardener, so Jon finished with a “thanks for all you do” and inspirational thoughts about a “Rotary Garden”, with four crop rows which I memorized (hoe, hoe, hoe) as follows:

 

 

After declaring next week’s speaker to be former Avid Reader owner Stan Forbes, Chair of the California Citizens Redistricting Commission, Rose turned to Dave Heard for the Draw-of-the-Day.  Maddy drew for the $975 pot; #608 earned Gary Johns a free breakfast, and the pot thickens!

 

At the end, someone said, “Go out and be the inspiration!”  And why not?