Weekly News & Views by: Jim Belenis
It was 39 degrees when I left the house to get to Rotary. It is always a chilly morning on the 7th of December at my house. I try not to remind my wife that her relatives did a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor in 1942 on this date. But, me being me, that is impossible. (How on earth does she put up with you?!)
President Rose Cholewinski brought the meeting to order at 7:09. The real and present David Morse was softly touching the keys while Chuck Snipes baritone got the group going on our two songs.
We had a special guest from Rome, Lavinia Pellegrini. She is the president of the Rotary Club Roma Centenario. She was here in 2002 as an exchange student. Her club recently participated in a K42 Italia running event. They actually did the 10k part. They also had an event with 150 participants on the rooftop of the Hotel Glam for Discomfort and Children. That is an ongoing project for them. Also, we most definitely do not have a venue like the Hotel Glam in Davis for Sunrise Rotary events…
The two elves (Gretchen Peralta and Vanessa Errecarte) who were backup dancers for Bill Nighty in Love Actually said the gifts need to be in their hands by the December 14th meeting. Please have them in a bag with the slip of paper you were given so they know who gets what. This an annual giving event for our club that helps spread cheer to those in need during the holiday season. Go to the wrapping event if you can. Good Rotary fellowship helped along with wholesome elf juice libations.
Andrew Newman announced that the Yolo County Professional Mixer is on January 17th. Proceeds go to the Davis Sunrise Foundation. Dave Brent announced a new Helping Hands project coming up on December 15th, where sunrise rotarians will be helping clean up a local family's yard and home. (The group met last Saturday and were 
able to fill 3 pickup trucks with debris and junk from their yard, fix their bathroom sink, fix their gate, clean off & winterize their roof, repair their fence, replace two sections of their fence & wash their windows all in just three & a half hours! Not pictured but there to help were Susan Moenga, Lori & Daisy Raineri and Andrew Newman.)
able to fill 3 pickup trucks with debris and junk from their yard, fix their bathroom sink, fix their gate, clean off & winterize their roof, repair their fence, replace two sections of their fence & wash their windows all in just three & a half hours! Not pictured but there to help were Susan Moenga, Lori & Daisy Raineri and Andrew Newman.)Happy Bucks were received from Mack Walker, Tom Read, Gary Johns, Jeff Adamski, Brodie Hamilton, John Waterman, Rose, and Lori Raineri.
Sgt. John Morgan recognized or fined Peralta, any and all snow skiers, Cal alums (were any of you born the last time Cal played in the Rose Bowl?), Keith Watenpaugh, and Johnny Youmans.
The speaker of the day was Stan Forbes. He is on the California Citizens Redistricting Commission. Stan is listed as a non-partisan affiliate member. The Commission has been criticized by politicians because “many safe seats in the legislature could suddenly become competitive.” That was from Evan Halper and Richard Simon (2011-06-11). "District maps draw a new political landscape". Los Angeles Times.
Read all about it here:
There will be an informal gathering of members at Black Bear on December 28th as our club will go dark. Hats off to the UC Davis Football team for being relevant again. And lastly, thank you Alice (the reporter’s significantly better half) for putting up with a hard-headed Greek for the past 38 years who just can’t let it go. (truly a saint!)