New Member Onboarded!

I want you all to know how your poor reporter suffers for his craft: having completed the weekly newsletter last night, it suddenly up and disappeared from view, never to return, even though it had been saved several times.  Yeeesh...  This second effort may be a trifle more compact than the original...  

 

 

In any event, the White team gofer pretended to be the greeter and was seen almost greeting a few Rotarians.  The meeting got underway with the Prez asking PP Sean to read... the 4 Way Test and the PP did a fine job of it.  Next was PDG Clarence Parkins leading us in the Pledge, a job at which he clearly excels due to his extensive military history.

 

 

 Mike Passof was scheduled to lead the song, but in his absence, Neil Orchard was cornered and did the dirty deed.  Nicely done, I might add.  Among a few guests was Pat Murphy who would later become an important part of the days program.

 

 

 With that, everyone sat down and began masticating in public to a fine lunch of shredded beef sandwiches and salad and fruit and dessert and water...  Nice job by Chef Dave.

 

 

Since a Rotary meeting isn't legal unless someone reads some announcements, that was next on the agenda, with the Prez asking members to sign up for the District Foundation dinner on October 28 at the Citrus Heights Community Center.  There are a few seats left and it is something you should experience, particularly if you have never gone.

 

With the conclusion of the announcing, it was time for the highlight of the day: we got to induct a new member, Marvelene Weier, a retired realtor who lives in far off Elk Grove and who was sponsored by none other than our own Pat Murphy.

 

 

 President Brett gave us some background on Marvelene and then asked Pat to pin on her very own Rotary pin.  The Prez then followed up by clipping on her beginner's badge and then gave the stage to Marvelene, who remarked on her background and her hopes in joining our august Club.  Well done and well said.

 

Then, as is our custom, a drawing broke out and in Ray Wyatt's absence, it was Clarence's turn to have his ticket drawn.  In a bold attempt to screw his fellow cartel partner out of his fair share, the PDG pulled a white ball, thus foregoing the $120 that had accumulated in the drawing till.  Crap...

 

 

Well, no sooner had Clarence pulled the wrong ball out of the can than it was time for him to go forth and fine his friends and acquaintances, a task he was born to.  Here's the fines:

 

Pinless: President Brett (see me for the story)

Birthday: Bob McBee, serenaded by the Club chorus led by PPP Chapman

Thank you to Pat Murphy: Brud Dufficy

School is back in session: Tracy McLinn

New Car: Sharon Ewing

Chicago Bears spotless regular season record: Chapman

Return of the football pool: Merlin Mauk

Marshall University all-time low felony record attributed to football team: Clarence

Hawaai trip: PP Sean Twilla

Pregnant daughter: Pat Murphy

Messed up the 'best Club in the District' question: guest speaker Bill Wittich

Happy to be here: Marvelene (even though she was fine-free for the day)

 

And that was it.

 

Not one to give up the microphone easliy, Clarence stayed on his feet to introduce our guest speaker for the day, Dr. Bill Wittich from the Laguna Elk Grove Rotary, who came to talk to us today about membership - recruiting and retention.

 

 

 He cited some fairly dire stats about the drop in Rotary membership in North America and noted that the average age of Rotarians in our country is 57.  Calling for us to look to a younger (40's) demographic, he talked about the viability of Clubs who aren't bringing in energetic young folks with enthusiasm and ideas.  Not an easy talk to listen to, but it is important and we needed to hear it and your board of directors would like for each of us to take the responsibility of finding new members seriously.

 

 

 At the conclusion of Bill's talk, he got the book and room cleared like a bunch of conservatives an an Antifa rally.