5-12-15 Newsletter

We met today at Rancho Cordova City Hall.

 

Beth Walter collected the coin and Jerry Foote kept track of who showed up for the meeting and thereby, who did not (you missed a good one!!!).

 

PDG Sam Anderson was the Greeter today.

 

Dev Khangura led us in the Salute to the Flag of our Country and Navin Naik led us in the singing of God Bless America.  Good job both of you

two.

 

The Thought for the Day was from Jawaharil Nehru, “What we are matters more than what other people think of us.”

 

Lunch was provided by Dave, Jan and Dave’s daughter Dana.  They offered up Applewood smoked ham, a medley of vegetables (corn, asparagus, sweet peppers and roasted red potatoes), spinach salad with egg, bacon, red onion, sweet tomatoes, cranberries and a house made dressing.  We had freshly baked oatmeal cookies, bananas and lemonade to finish the meal.

 

After all that, we had neither guests nor visitors.  We are the best kept secret in District 5180 and most of it is our own doing.

 

Announcements:

5-16-15  3 in 1 Seminar

5-26-15  We are DARK!!

6-7-15    Rotary Day at the Rivercats.  Don’t forget that they are now a Giants franchise

6-13-15  Demotion of President Paul.  Make sure that you are there to join in the fun.

 

Dev Khangura allowed PDG Clarence Parkins to draw the white golf ball.  The crowd cheered as the Pot grew.

 

PDG Clarence, a sore loser in the golf ball drawing, took it out on the group as The Sarge today.

 

Before he started drawing blood, he mentioned that an enactment, submitted by The Rotary Club of Rancho Cordova through District 5180, had received enough endorsements to be forwarded to the upcoming Council on Legislation.  This enactment, if approved, would create a new membership classification entitled “Associate Member”.  Associate Members of Rotary would range in age from 20 to 34.  During their time as Associate Members, their clubs would be encouraged to reduce the dues by 50% of the normal amount charged to Active Members.  At age 35, they would automatically be converted to active membership with all of the rights and privileges thereof.  The intent of this new membership classification is to encourage younger members to join our ranks and to recognize that their financial status might would and should improve over time.  In case you haven’t heard, PDG Clarence is the author of this enactment.  Good job PDG Clarence!!!!

 

PDG Clarence then turned his attention to recognized members of our Club for both their good and not so good deeds in the recent past.

To begin with, Sean Twilla was late.  Nothing was mentioned about his Rotary President Boss who delegates all of his responsibilities to poor Sean and keeps him working overtime.  Sean, being the good soldier that he is, paid without too much grumbling.

 

Curt Haven was recognized for having a birthday and for going to St. Thomas for a wedding.

Dev Khangura paid for his 33^rd anniversary.   Congratulations Dev and Jinder.

 

President Paul and “overworked” Sean Twilla paid for the Grapevine article about the great job they and their company are doing to preserve water in Rancho Cordova.

 

Ross Johnson paid for announcing that Mark Hoffman will be speaking this Thursday evening about the “Lincoln Highway” as Folsom Blvd. used to be called.

 

President Paul paid for bragging about the air conditioning while sweating, for taking credit for a great banner which was, in fact, done by his wife Donna and for a pitiful announcement about the upcoming I-Fest.

 

Navin Naik volunteered, before he was recognized, for his cell phone ringing during the meeting.

 

Beth Walter volunteered for a new construction project her company is starting in Fairfield.  She also mentioned that she is having a “challenge” with some of her contractors.  If that is the case, I would not want to be that contractor.  Sic ‘em Beth!!!

 

John Chapman volunteered that Ross MacCarty is having heart surgery this Friday at Sutter Memorial Hospital.  While he may not need it, a pray on his behalf would be greatly appreciated.

 

When the smoked cleared, PDG Clarence introduced our Guest Speaker, Matt Ocko, Program Manager for the American River Parkway Foundation.  Matt holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Michigan State University (Go Spartan’s) with a concentration in Conservation Biology.

The American River Parkway is the largest Urban Parkway in the United States. Its Mission Statement is “To support the preservation and enjoyment of the American River Parkway by fostering environmental education, stewardship and  volunteer opportunities”.

 

It is 23 miles long and has 8 million visitors each year compared to 4 million visitors each year at Yosemite. 

 

The Foundation currently has the following programs in place to implement its Mission Statement:

 

Equestrian/Running Trails

Invasive Plant Patrol

Kids Don’t Float

Native Plant Garden

Oak Restoration Project

Park Pass Sales

Pups in the Park

Understory Restoration Project

Volunteer Mile Stewards

 

As a Rotarian, you may recognize and have participated in one of the “Clean-Ups” programs mentioned above.  Thanks, in large measure, to District Rotarians and its Partners, a major amount of clean up has been accomplished for those 8,000,000 annual visitors.  Good Work Rotary and our Partners.After some questions that Matt handled very deftly, he was asked to autograph a book to be donated to a local library.Thank you Matt, for an enlightening and enjoyable presentation.There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

 

IMPORTANT STUFFThe following members of the Rotary Club of Rancho Cordova have become Sustaining Paul Harris Fellows in The Rotary Foundation this year and are hereby recognized for their contribution.