5-19-15 Newsletter

 
 
We met at Rancho Cordova City Hall.
 
Navin Naik was our Greeter.  Beth Walter kept track of the funds and Jerry Foote kept track of the attendance.
 
 
PDG Clarence Parkins led us in the salute to the Flag of our Country. 
 
PDG Sam Anderson led us in the singing of God Bless America.  (Are we getting overloaded with, or at least overworking, PDG’s?)
 
Lunch today was a great Penne Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad, Asparagus Spears, Soft Rolls + Butter, Strawberry Shortcake with Whipped Cream.  Yummmm!
 
One of our Honorary Rotarians, Sallie Parkins graced us with her presence today.
 
Our Assistant Governor Steve Greene, a member of the Rotary Club of Elk Grove was a visiting Rotarian.  Hope that you give us a good report to the District.
 
Announcement included the following:
5-26-15          We are Dark
6-7-15            Rotary Day at the River Cats – See below for more details
6-13-15          President Paul’s Demotion
6-26-15          Senior PGA at Del Paso CC and a chance for Rotary Volunteers
7-7-15            A new regime at RCRC, or Big John’s first meeting
 
PDG Clarence Parkins was The Sarge.  He, graciously, made Pat Orelli fine free for being his bagman and then fined himself for leaving his wife Sallie Parkins standing outside the building waiting for him to let her into the meeting room.  Great way to suck up to your bride PDG Clarence and we appreciate the money.
 
Neal Orchard and John Chapman paid for being out in public sans a rotary pin.  Big John was assessed more dinero for an uncomplimentary comment that he is alleged to have made about the Rotary Club of Rancho Cordova at the recent 5 in 1 Seminar.  He did protest but he did pay.
 
Beth Walter paid for not being able to present some scholarships, her company’s, our Club’s and Supervisor Don Nottoli’s.  Neal Orchard did the job in her stead when she could not attend the event.  Thanks to both of you.  I’m sure all parties were well represented.
 
President Paul Schubert helped fill our coffers for the video presentation of a video to the Rancho Cordova City Council about our drought.  It covered some things that we should and that we shouldn’t do to save water.  Thank you Paul, we need that kind of support for our Community and recognition for Rotary.
 
Pat Murphy paid since PDG Clarence Parkins had her keys.  Hmmmmm!  I guess the less said about that, the better.
 
Incoming President John Chapman “ratted out” PDG Clarence and his bride Sallie for their grandson having recently graduated from Arizona State.  That’s enough but it didn’t stop there.  Seems this grandchild went the extra mile and graduated Summa Cum Laude.  Congratulations Clarence and Sallie.  I’m sure it’s in Sallie’s genes.  The proud Grandparents glowed with pride and paid.
 
Melody Mayer bragged and paid for a successful I-Fest, congratulations Mel, and for an upcoming trip to Las Vegas.
 
Dr. Bob Adam volunteered some “Happy Bucks” based on the fact that he is a Happy Man!!!
 
Pat Murphy paid for a successful B Street event and for forgetting her pin.  Next time, be happy but remember to wear your pin.
 
Since our coffers are now on the plus side, we got busy with announcements.
Pat Braziel reminded us about Rotary Day at the Rivercats on June 7th at 1:30 pm.  The Tacoma Rainiers will be in town.  Check out the numbers:
$22.00 tickets with $6.00 of that going to Polio Plus.
$25.00 tickets with $3.00 of that going to Polio Plus.
$10.00 “Donation Tickets” with $2.00 of that going to TRF.  By the way, the Rivercats will “match” these donations.
 
A couple of thought for your consideration:
This is a great way (fun, fellowship, baseball, hot dogs, beer, peanuts, etc.) to raise money for TRF.  Plan on attending, bring your family and buy some $10.00 “Donation Tickets” that will be used to send some kids to a professional baseball game that they might not otherwise be able to see.  In the words of our Founding Fathers, “Do some Good in the World”. Send your checks (make sure you mention the Rotary Club of Rancho Cordova) to Rotary District 5180, 2200 B Douglas Blvd., Roseville, CA 95661.  Hurry before you miss this opportunity.  Pat Braziel will sign you up.  Contact her at 916-599-0381 or car6853770@aol.com.  June 1, is the deadline for real but she is out of town with PDG Sam beginning May 28th so get on the stick.  By the way, if you can’t make the June 7th game for any reason, the tickets you buy can be used for any Rivercats game, Sunday thru Thursday, for  the remainder of the season.  This a really good deal so hop to it.
 
6-10-15 will be a joint Board Meeting with President Paul’s current Board and President Elect John’s Board.  
 
Neil Orchard announce that on June 6th there will be a “Celebration of Life” honoring Dale Hagan.  The event will be held at City Hall in the American River South Room from noon thru 3:00 pm.
 
Steve Greene, our AG, stepped to the microphone and officially presented a plaque to President Paul recognizing the Rotary Club of Rancho Cordova as the winner of a Rotary International Presidential Citation.  Congratulations to all of us for this truly great honor.  Presidential Citations are not handed out by the truck loads.  They have to be earned by hard working Rotarians who believe in what Rotary does and practice that belief.
 
We received a Thank You Card from the brand new Passport Club for the support (read check) that we gave them upon their chartering.  Question of the day or at least an opportunity for next week’s Sarge, what the heck is a passport club?  It is suggested that you find out before next week’s meeting.
 
PDG Clarence Parkins had his tickets selected for the Golf Ball Drawing.  He drew a white ball and the crowd cheered as the Pot grew.
 
PDG Clarence then had the honor of awarding Club sponsored Sustaining Paul Harris Fellowships to Brett Scheiner and President Paul Schubert.  Congratulations to both of you.
 
Since he had the microphone and had arranged for our speaker, PDG Clarence introduced Rick Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of the Sacramento Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, better known as the SPCA.
 
Rick, a former member of the Rotary Club of Rancho Cordova, explained that the SPCA was founded in 1894 to prevent Child and Animal abuse.  They later focused on animal abuse only and are currently located at 62014 Florin-Perkins Road.  Their mission is to encourage the spaying and neutering of animals thereby encouraging better care of our animal population.
 
With a $7million annual budget, they have neutered some 150,000 animals since 2007 .  They have about 100 paid staff and use another 25,000 volunteers annually. They gather that $7,000,000 each year through donations and fund raising events.  They impact over 100,000 people in our area every year.  They are totally self sustaining.
 
If you adopt one of their animals, VCA provides up to $500.00 in care for that animal for the first year.  Good job VCA.  Sounds like a Rotarian kind of organization.
 
They are currently contracting with the Cities of Rancho Cordova and Folsom to provide services.  In the case of Rancho Cordova, that amounts to some 1,200 animals annually.
 
Some of their projects include:
 
Assisting seniors who, because of limited funding or mental capacity, in keeping their pets with them.
 
Pet Adoption
 
A ‘Summer Camp’ for Kids
 
Spay and Neuter Clinics
 
Pet Loss (Affordable Euthanization)
 
Dog Training
 
Vaccination Clinics
 
Paws, Pals and Putts Golf Tournament (just completed but back next year)
 
Several Fund Raising Events (did I say self supporting?)
 
Dog Shows
 
Their 6-6-15 “Doggie Dash” fund raiser will be held at William Land Park and will include a Beer Garden (a new feature), several vendor booths, entertainment and about 3,000 dogs (and, I hope, a lot of pooper scoopers).  Sounds like a good thing to me.  Check it out.
 
Rick then talked their proposed new facility.  Not too shabby!!!
 
He then spent some time talking about a new, soon to be released, dog facial recognition app.  As opposed to using implanted chips, this new app shows potential results in the 97% accurate for cats and 99% accurate for dogs.  Ain’t technology great!!!
 
Great Job Rick and we promise not to tell anyone about whatever it is that you may have implied/suggested/considered/thought about in terms of some about canine facial recognition.
 
After responding to several questions, Rick autographed a book that will be donated to our Public Library.
 
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.