Our meeting of November 12, 2020 was dedicated to Veteran’s Day and presented by Sunrise’s own veterans, including moderator Ezbon Jen, M.J. Girard, Peter Treleaven, Del Raby, and Steve Olsen. This presentation was made in lieu of our usual Veteran’s Day celebration at the Veteran’s Memorial building in Santa Rosa. Our vets each gave us an overview of why they joined the service and details of that service.

M.J. joined the service in 1969 in Ukiah and served for 3 years. He joined out of a sense of patriotism and to fight for freedom. M.J. believes in our country and our citizens and was willing to fight to protect our rights! Peter Treleaven joined the Marine Corps in 1968 at the age of 18. A portion of John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address guided Peter’s decision to join the service.

Peter served as an officer in combat in Vietnam and Thailand. He recalls being ordered to defend a ridgeline and knowing that he would probably die on that hill. Thank goodness for Major John Ripley, who blew up a bridge and stopped the N. Vietnamese offensive!

Del joined out of a respect for country, flag, and the Pledge of Allegiance. He believes that everyone should know and follow the traditions of our country. Del tried to enlist during WWII but they refused to allow him because he was too close to the draft. He was drafted and was assigned to Fort Hood, TX, quickly becoming a squad leader. Del had a buddy who wanted to join the parachute group. When he was asked to do so, “he jumped at the chance.” (pun probably intended!) Del never found out what happened to his buddy. Del’s squad was sent to Okinawa, but he did not see combat. Del is proud of his service, proud to be an American, and happy to be with us.

Steve Olsen joined the U.S. Navy and served primarily on the U.S.S. Little Rock in the Mediterranean Sea. The Little Rock was the flagship for the 6^th Fleet.  Steve never expected to serve in the military but he felt that he had to answer the call because we have responsibilities that go along with our rights and freedoms. He was proud to be on the 6^th Fleet’s flagship because he felt that showing the flag in the Mediterranean countries was an important part of the job. His service remains an important part of his life. He still receives the ship’s magazine and keeps track of his former shipmates. Steve was proud to have served our country, was glad it happened, and would not have had it any other way.

Ezbon was born in Hong Kong to American parents. He was on his way to Oregon to study Marine Biology when he got his induction letter. His girlfriend told him that her father owned land in Canada and he could live there instead of serving. Ezbon told her that doing so would be betraying himself and his country. He trained as a medic at Fort Sam Houston and ended up in Vietnam in the Mekong Delta. Ezbon’s goal in Vietnam was to help others, including villagers. He made a practice of going to villages and treating people. He gave a shout out to the great American nurses, who treated soldiers as if they were their sisters or moms. Ezbon’s experience in Vietnam was positive. It taught him service and brotherhood and instilled him with a new goal; to help train compassionate and competent health care professionals (Ezbon’s life’s work)! His service motivated him to obtain 2 master’s degrees and a doctorate before the age of 30! He was fortunate enough to not lose a single brother when he was in Vietnam! His fellow service members were his brothers. It was a very ethnically diverse group, but everyone got along and protected one another; race was not an issue. Vietnam taught him service above self, which made him a natural Rotarian. He firmly believes that if you work to help others your own life will be stronger.

Special thanks also to Veterans George Kemmerer and former member Hugh Helms for adding their own comments about service.

You guys did a great job and, of course, thank you for your service and your dedication to our country. Well done!. What a great meeting   

Latasha Thomas became Sunrise Rotary's newest member!  Sponsored by Penny Millar, Latasha is described by Membership lead Stacy Drucker-Andress; "a born Rotarian," Community spirited and family centered, Latasha is eager to join her interests and energy with Sunrise.  A CPA by profession and mother at heart, Latasha looks forward to  bringing her son Preston on activities and projects.  Currently working at Dillwood, Burkel and Millar, Latasha previously held management positions at the Boys and Girls Club of Sonoma County.  WELCOME LATASHA!

For other formats, sizes and lists, including past members, click here. 

President Elect Jennifer Adams convened a Zoom meeting this weekend to come up with service projects that meet community needs while being COVID-safe for Rotarians.  Several great ideas came up, are being explored and the best will be rolled out in the next few weeks.  Most centered around helping the vulnerable of Sonoma County to cope as we head into winter.  Here is a preview:

-       A winter clothing collection drive to be distributed to those experiencing homelessness through the assistance program at the Universalist Unitarian church at the Glaser Center in Santa Rose and possibly the West County Community Center in Guerneville

-       Evening or weekend hour food packing at the Redwood Empire Food Bank to accommodate those working daytime hours

-       A canned and dry food collection to donate to a local foodbank that directly gives away food to low-income residents

-       Delivering meals through Ceres or a Sonoma Valley senior’s meal delivery program

Stay tuned for details on one, two or all of these as their feasibility is determined.  If you have another service project you participate in or would like to explore, and where five, ten or more Rotarians would amplify what one person can do alone, Jennifer is coordinating people looking into different projects. 

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Each year the Washington Post asks readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting or changing only one letter and supply a new definition.  Here are some recent winners:

Intaxication       Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with

Reintarnation     Coming back to life as a hillbilly

Giraffiti             Vandalism painted very, very high

Sarchasm         The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn’t get it.

Inoculatte        To take coffee intravenously when you’re running late

Hipatitis            Terminal coolness

Osteopornosis   A degenerate disease

Karmageddon    It’s like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right?  And then, like, the Earth explodes  and it’s like, a serious bummer, man.

Glibido             All talk and no action