Weekly News & Views by: Jonathan Clay
Photographs by: Jim Belenis
Hello fellow Rotarians, time for this slacker reporter to recap last week’s meeting. Your trusty reporter is beginning to realize that staying on schedule, taking notes, and writing quipping comments isn’t this reporter’s strength. Oh well… here we go again.
Things got started at a respectable 7:08am with stirring renditions of Smile and America the Beautiful. Given it was Student of the Month, it’s always entertaining to watch the expressions on the faces of parents as they watch us Rotarians lurch through opening musical numbers – if you haven’t paid attention before, this reporter suggests that you people watch at the next Student of the Month during the singing.
Our ever industrious Rotarian/Council Member Lucas Frerichs kicked off the Student of the Month activities with a short video clip about Rotary… given the production quality of the video, this reporter assumes that this was not a local effort. On a side note, this reporter would like to take an Editorial Moment and just comment on how much he enjoys Student of the Month. It is such a great thing to recognize these young adults and their families. Heck, our Rotary Club might even want to think about broadening out what we do and also include honoring a teacher/school support staff from each campus along with the students. Education is what makes Davis so special, whether at the k-12 level or at the University and we should honor and thank the people that help educate our children.
OK, back to the meeting now. We had 8 students being honored from three schools – Brock, Nicolas, Brooke, Tatiana, Joan, Leticia, Elsa and Benjamin. Great job students!
Once the crowds cleared and our fellow rotarians scurry to the back to see how much bacon is left (speaking of bacon, what is the deal with our club’s fascination with bacon? This reporter loves pork back fat just as much as anyone one else, but our bacon leaves a lot to be desired and not sure its worth celebrating…). President Morse started things off with visiting Rotarians and Guests. This every industrious reporter noticed that Jim Belenis is back at work with the camera again, which is great to see. Then we get to announcements – Rose Cholewinski announced that the Holiday Party will be at Swim America on December 8 at 6pm. This reporter can’t wait to see who falls into the pool – will there be lifeguards on duty?
Gretchen Peralta and Dick Berry were taking signups for Bell Ringing for a good cause – school clothes and food gift cards. Speaking of Dick Berry, there will be the alternate club meeting at Black Bear Dinner on Black Friday (day after Thanks Giving for those of you that can’t stand to be away from Rotary for more than a week) at 7am sharp. This reporter wonders if the Alternate Meeting runs on Rotary time too?
Vanessa Errecarte would like gifts back for the stockings by the next meeting (12/1). If you didn’t get a gift slip, please email Gretchen Peralta.
And finally, your reporter must have dozed off because he had some cryptic note about a Bathroom Party involving Susanne Rockwell… no clue. The reporter really needs to drink more coffee before coming to the meeting.
And then there were the Sergeants… Rick Stromberg was the money collector of the week. Having been a former Sergeant, this reporter is 
beginning to wonder about the vetting process. Can we as a Club start finning the Sergeants? The consensus at this Reporter’s table was that things got a bit painful very quickly, but hey, we raising money right?
beginning to wonder about the vetting process. Can we as a Club start finning the Sergeants? The consensus at this Reporter’s table was that things got a bit painful very quickly, but hey, we raising money right?So Rick decided to skip Happy Bucks and get right into the meeting of making money. Apparently Dan XXX is running for City Council (looks like a crowded field this year) which means he will be a cash cow for the Sergeants. In the process of being fined, Dan also celebrated getting a social security check (not sure if this is a requirement for running for office in Davis) as well as being married for 29 years… which might also change if he gets elected.
Rick attempted to fine Jay Brookman for the successful Veterans Day event the previous weekend, but Jay got tipped off and escaped with the Students of the Month. Rick then stumbled on to trying to fine Carbarhal and Co. (Manny, Stephanie and Larry) for the company’s Toys for Tots collection program. Not sure what the fine was for but Manny made it clear that this was just a staff program… must be how their Accounting Firm is so successful – collect items from the community to give as a year end bonus. How sweet! Then there was something about the Turkey Trott that upcoming weekend and hoping you survive… always touchy subject with this club and its average age. Then there was Jack Latow being fined for the stellar student athletes that UCLA produces – 
being a former teacher, Rick wanted $5 and a letter to Trump from Jack. This reporter is fairly certain that if Jack sent a letter to Trump, Jack would end up on some banned entry list, and might not ever be seen again if he left the county. Let’s just have Jack skip the letter to Trump. From there, Rick stumbled on to fining Bob Poppenga for it being parent/teacher meeting week for the elementary schools. Something about calls from parents? Moving on…. There was an attempt to fine Lucas Frerichs about the late night council meeting (which council meetings aren’t late nights?) but Lucas was prepared to invoked his yearly stipend to the Sergeants and end the discussion, but Rick Stromberg offered to pay the fines for Bob and Lucas… which goes against the code of conduct for the Sergeants. Chuck Snipes fumbled some money for Georgia being #1 for a whopping 2 weeks (guess they got caught by the dog catcher and sent to the pound). As the wheels completely came off the sergeant wagon, Gretchen Peralta stepped in to hand a lifeline to her fellow Sergeant and moved on to Happy Bucks.
being a former teacher, Rick wanted $5 and a letter to Trump from Jack. This reporter is fairly certain that if Jack sent a letter to Trump, Jack would end up on some banned entry list, and might not ever be seen again if he left the county. Let’s just have Jack skip the letter to Trump. From there, Rick stumbled on to fining Bob Poppenga for it being parent/teacher meeting week for the elementary schools. Something about calls from parents? Moving on…. There was an attempt to fine Lucas Frerichs about the late night council meeting (which council meetings aren’t late nights?) but Lucas was prepared to invoked his yearly stipend to the Sergeants and end the discussion, but Rick Stromberg offered to pay the fines for Bob and Lucas… which goes against the code of conduct for the Sergeants. Chuck Snipes fumbled some money for Georgia being #1 for a whopping 2 weeks (guess they got caught by the dog catcher and sent to the pound). As the wheels completely came off the sergeant wagon, Gretchen Peralta stepped in to hand a lifeline to her fellow Sergeant and moved on to Happy Bucks.Duncan Hay was happy that he survived for 25 days in India and is back. Rose Cholewinski offered to be anyone’s personal shopper for the stocking gifts for a $10 donation to the Rotary Foundation. Bob Poppenga gave happy bucks for Rotary supporting the Writing Buddies 
event at Montgomery Elementary School (and since this reporter is on the Site Council for Montgomery Elementary, he knows how much this program is needed and is appreciated by that school community). Jack Latow was happy to see Mr Wright, both the Davis High School’s water polo coach and art history teacher, at the meeting. And of course Clay Brandow was happy to be living the highlife on his state funded retirement tour and was heading to Fresno (hopefully to see family). Lori Raineri fined herself for forgetting to mention some groups at the Veterans Day presentation (and this reporter can’t read his own handwriting and is also forgetting what the fines were for). Suzanne Rockwell was happy to have met with the great Davis Roterac Club. Andrew Newman was happy about the Coup (or military control transition of power which is the new terminology) in Zimbabwe. And with that, the program was over and the gambling begun. The pot is huge, and will continue to grow since Ray Salomon held the wining ticket but pulled the wrong card and got a free breakfast.
event at Montgomery Elementary School (and since this reporter is on the Site Council for Montgomery Elementary, he knows how much this program is needed and is appreciated by that school community). Jack Latow was happy to see Mr Wright, both the Davis High School’s water polo coach and art history teacher, at the meeting. And of course Clay Brandow was happy to be living the highlife on his state funded retirement tour and was heading to Fresno (hopefully to see family). Lori Raineri fined herself for forgetting to mention some groups at the Veterans Day presentation (and this reporter can’t read his own handwriting and is also forgetting what the fines were for). Suzanne Rockwell was happy to have met with the great Davis Roterac Club. Andrew Newman was happy about the Coup (or military control transition of power which is the new terminology) in Zimbabwe. And with that, the program was over and the gambling begun. The pot is huge, and will continue to grow since Ray Salomon held the wining ticket but pulled the wrong card and got a free breakfast.