June 24, 2014 Club Meeting

reporter: Gloria Garing

Meeting called to order by President Ron Sandidge at 12:30

Pledge:  Remi Duque

Thought:  Brian Lockwood 'When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.' - Benjamin Franklin 

Guests:  Bonnie Peters [Jacob’s Heart]

Visiting Rotarians: Constantine Gehriger [Santa Cruz Sunrise], Dr. Art Dover [Capitola-Aptos]

Correspondence and announcements:

·      Trail construction at Watsonville Wetlands Watch on Saturday, June 28 from 9:00 AM – 12 noon

·      Kirk gave an impassioned pitch for all members to attend this weekend’s Presidential Demotion dinner party at Fairgrounds in Agricultural History Project Center and Museum Saturday, June 28 from 6:00 PM

·      Bonnie Peters working on 16^th annual Kidrageous on September 21 in Watsonville to celebrate Childhood Cancer Awareness Month through food, games, entertainment, and music. Free admission ~ fun for the whole family! Bonnie needs volunteers to help put this event together.

·      Firework sales are July 1 – 4 – see Heather Geddes to sign up for a couple of shifts.  Special need for workers on July 4. This is an important fundraiser for our club. 

·      Watsonville Band invites community to an old fashioned picnic and concert at the home of Sam & Terry Wright, 565 Edenvale Lane in Watsonville on Saturday, July 19, 4:30 PM

·      Be sure you buy a $100 raffle ticket for a chance to win One Hotel Holiday, a trip for two to Tuscany October 28 – November 5. Prize includes round trip airfare, 7 breakfasts, 3 dinners, excursions to regional sites.  Only 300 tickets are being sold. Available through Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture.

·      Doug is working with other Area 7 Rotary clubs to attend a selected play, part of new summer theatre festival Santa Cruz Shakespeare.  Performances run July 1 – August 10.

·      Thank you notes from David Bianchi, Survivors Healing Center, and Lynn Knudsen, Stagebridge Santa Cruz for our donations to their work.

·      Watsonville Strawberry Festival is August 2-3

·       History repeats itself: Register-Pajaronian reported 25 years ago the 7th annual Burrito Bash was held at the Fairgrounds. Entrants included Manuel Gonzáles (Adrian’s dad,) and George Cortez of the Rancho Grande Restaurant.  Our club is planning a revival of this event.

Detective: Jeannie Kegebein $5 fines to Kirk for having terrific carnival barker skill, Trina for being a year older, and those in attendance who have not yet signed up to help with fire works sales.

Raffle: in for Dave Kegebein is Steve Bennett had cash prizes for Doug, Davina, and Ron Ince

Program feature:

Speaking with us today about Social Security Income is Frank Horath. Frank has both an BS and MS from the University of California Santa Cruz. He did groundwater environmental studies and was a research scientist doing hydrogeologic research.

Frank began his career in the financial services industry as an account executive with Merrill Lynch in 1994. He then worked as a Financial Advisor for Dean Witter/Morgan Stanley between 1997 and 2008. Frank made the move to independence affiliating with his current independent broker-dealer in early 2008. In 2005, Frank, his son and two members of a California winemaking family were stranded for a week in an early season snowstorm in the Sierra Nevada. The news media picked up on the story, which was featured in Time Magazine and on CNN and continues to play on the Weather Channel Documentary “Storm Stories.”

Frank, his wife, Mary, and their three children live on the Central Coast of California. He loves backpacking, mountaineering, surfing, free-diving, and his daily Bikram hot room yoga practice.

-       When and how to take Social Security income, a very important decision

-       One-third of those in attendance are already receiving their Social Security benefits; others will in five to seven years

-       Low interest rates by other investments means it’s a good idea, if you can afford to wait, to let Social Security investment continue to earn the current 8% interest annually until one turns 70 years old

-       Most people today are living eight to nine years longer than their parents

-       Social Security Administration deals with claims, not counseling, advice

-       Critical issues are better addressed by other qualified investment advisors

-       Various ways to maximize investment earnings

-       Software available to learn more and to calculate earnings

-       When one turns 60 - 62 years of age, it’s a good time to investigate options, see a financial advisor, do not expect pro bono service

"It has been a sincere pleasure and honor serving as your club president for 2013-14. Truly!" Ron Sandidge

July 1, 2014 – NO MEETING – SELL LOTS OF FIREWORKS!

Freedom Rotary Community Service: Saturday, June 28, 9:00 - 12 noon

We will be putting our Designated District Funds to work in partnership with the Watsonville Wetlands Watch, constructing a trail in the Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas (ESHAs) which surround Pajaro Valley High School. This is a chance to work together and help bring back wildlife habitat in the Watsonville wetlands.

Join us at 9 a.m. at the Fitz WERC (directions below). We’ll work until noon with some time for bird watching or a walk or hike to an interesting wetland location. We recommend that you wear sturdy shoes, layered clothes, a hat, and bring a water bottle. We supply the gloves (or bring your own), tools, and a snack.

The Fitz Wetlands Educational Resource Center is located at the top of Pajaro Valley High School Campus (500 Harkins Slough Rd.) in Watsonville.