Your weekly GU&G has been updated!

Posted by Meaghan Likes 
on Mar 21, 2015
 
 
News and views by:
John Munn
 
     Our Student of the Month meeting began pleasantly with members, guests, students, and parents greeted by familiar tunes on the piano played by Dave Morse (the Elder).  President Chuck Cunningham has returned to make sure the Student of the Month meeting is conducted with proper acumen, and he immediately asserted his authority by asking students to take their seats on the stage.  Once this was accomplished, the meeting was started with a ring of the bell at 7:05 am followed by singing of “Smile” and “America the Beautiful.
 
     Nancy Storm was in charge of the program that today includes students from Davis High School, Da Vinci Academy, and King High.  Nancy 
began with a description of Rotary that gets better and longer each time she gives 
it.  In one particularly memorable statement, she described  Rotary as an “outstretched arm warmed by a caring heart.” Teachers of the 9 students on the stage were not introduced by site administrators.  Da Vinci IT Support Specialist Vickie Carr began by describing her student as a professional who knows how to follow through.  King High teacher Wesley Ruff followed by describing his student as positive, collaborative, and striving forward.  Teachers from Davis High School described their seven students as having high aptitudes, being helpful, on-time, hard-working, eager, deserving, and awesome.  Nancy then took over to let us know that one of the students on stage today is a Rotary Youth Exchange student being sponsored through the Vacaville Rotary Club.  Nancy then instructed teachers to line up against the wall and students to pass by this gauntlet (for congratulations) to have pictures taken by substitute Rotary photographer Dick McCapes for The Davis Enterprise.  During the program, a post card from Brian Sway and Susanne Rockwell was circulated among the tables so that we could all be made jealous about their trip to the Philippines and Hong Kong.
 
     After a break for students and their parents to leave or stay, President Chuck resumed control of the meeting with a request for introduction of visiting Rotarians and guests.  Guests included Will Potello’s daughter, prospective new member Bonnie Walther, and Andrew Newman’s wife Jan.  President Chuck explained, without asking if anyone was interested, that his recent absence from Rotary meetings (that subjected us to the out-of-practice leadership of Larry Olsen and Gretchen Peralta) was caused by a trip to Africa, but he deferred further comment to a future presentation.  There was also something about a make-up meeting in England that seemed a long ways to go from Africa to find a Rotary meeting.  And we know from former members and visitors that there are Rotary Clubs in Africa.
 
     Announcements were then started with President Chuck’s heads up about an upcoming Rotary Beer Booth meeting and two District Assemblies.  Nancy Storm let us know that the four-way speech contest was starting at the Regional level on April 1st (yes, that is April Fools’ Day, which could lead to some interesting speeches).  Six students are involved from Davis, Woodland, and Winters.  Dick Bourne reminded all present about the Jay Gerber Young Community Leader Award gathering on April 10 at 6:00 pm.  Don Winters continued the youth theme by describing the availability of opportunities (for students) to attend Camp Royal and Camp Venture.  Susanne Rockwell revealed that the Hong Kong Metropolitan Club sent (with her) a present for President Chuck and a flag for the Club.  Continuing with pronouncements, President Chuck asked Dick Berry (and by implication, Chuck Snipes) how he felt about Michigan State’s NCAA Tournament game with Georgia.  But this was actually a lead in to Dick telling us to remember the new numbers on our Rotary badges.  Dave Morse (the younger) reported that a re-write of the Youth Services manual is underway, with help from Nancy Storm.  Chuck Snipes reported that there was a good turnout for Trivia Night, plus a $2,800 return to the community, and first place went to the ACME Theater Company on a tie-breaker.  Vanessa Errecarte told us that a whole lot of food had been packed for the Food Bank, and the turnout was so good that they ran out of work before the second shift.  Finally, Mack Walker announced that next week’s program will be about a motorcycle trip across Russia.
 
     Next up was Sergeant Susanne Rockwell, who started with a call for happy bucks.  Dick Berry was pleased about Michigan State playing Georgia in the NCAA Basketball Tournament.   Brian Sway was happy about his great trip with Susanne to the Philippines and to Hong Kong.  Andrew Newman was excited that his daughter is competing in the Regional Cheerleaders competition.  Mike Lairmore had a great reason to be happy about the top ranked UCD Veterinarian School, and Bob Poppenga was happy about a pay raise.  Mack Walker was thrilled to be taking care of his granddaughter next week and by the news that another grandchild is on the way.  Nancy Storm was pleased to introduce her “darling” husband Todd and informed us that the FTC (Federal Trade Commission?) had rejected the merger of food services companies US Food Services and Sysco, so she will not be working for Sysco as previously expected.  Clay Brandow was glad that his family had attended Story Time at I-House and that his daughter Chloe is about to find out where she will be practicing (literally) as a resident doctor.  Meaghan Likes was very happy about her husband being honored at his law firm.  And Mark Pratt was proud that his daughter had gone 3 for 3, but the reporter missed what this was about.  After all this happiness, Sergeant Susanne ordered all members who have been out of town to stand up, and she then fined them $5 for insufficient club loyalty.  Winfred Roberson was recognized in the amount of $10 for his recent article in The Davis Enterprise.  Then Mark Pratt was asked how things were going for the San Francisco 49ers, and fined $10 when his reply was “not well.”  People who went to Stanford were fined $5 for no particular reason.  Bruce Wolk and John Youmans were fined $5 over something about a memo.  Susanne concluded by recognizing Vanessa Errecarte for $5 because of participation in a Shamrock run. 
 
     Next was the draw of the day, with more than $1,400 in the pot.  Dick Bourne was the winner of a free breakfast, and there will now be only 13 cards in the deck for next week’s draw.  President Chuck then closed the meeting with a ring of the bell at 7:58 am.