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COMING EVENTS

December 26 - Dark for Christmas
January 2 - Dark for New Year's
January 9 - David Goodman, Executive Director, Redwood Empire Food Bank
January 16 - Club meets at USCG Training Center (Two Rock)
January 23 - Mike Ferris, Bioterrorism
January 30 - John Walker, SVHS - Changes in Education with Technology

With an air of ease and confidence, our 2014-15 President Elect, MICHAEL CARUANA opened his first meeting (preview) as acting President. RICK MOSSI was away to pick up his son, a newly minted US Marine, for his holiday break.

The agenda quickly proceeded with a call from Michael to LEE REPOSA for a rousing chorus of our club song immediately followed by our other club favorite, God Bless America.

NANCY COOLEY then delivered the Thought for the Day — the adult version — g-rated — and keeping with the spirit of the season “Live each day with a generous heart . . .”

Nancy gave Michael an animated Santa cap.

JAY PALM introduced visiting Rotarians including Jason Diaz from St Helena Rotary who has recently relocated to Petaluma area and is checkin’ us out!

MICHAEL then introduced his guests visiting, from South Africa, his son and daughter-in-law!

PAUL LOUNIBOS thanked the Rotarians who volunteered as “Bell Ringers” last Friday at Petaluma Market, ringing to the tone of $350 for Salvation Army, and asked for further support for the following Friday stating “There is minimal pay but many long-term benefits!”

BRIAN BREEN reports the kick-off of this year’s Super Raffle letting us know that the Team Captains were in place and ready to get them tickets sold! The Leadership Team includes himself with LEE REPOSA and RICK GORMAN — all significant financial forces in their own right.

LEE REPOSA then announced that the winning team would receive a personal and family oriented party to be determined, so families could be included in the celebratory event.

SHARI RANNEY announced that tickets for this year’s Crab Feed will be sold for $55 each and become available after our Christmas/New Year break. This major fundraising event will be held on February 21st this year at the Vets Memorial Hall. Remember the dinner tickets help us break even and it is the Super Raffle that brings in the funds! She recommends “Raffle Tickets make great stocking stuffers.”

GEOFF ELLIS, heading up our Dictionary Project announced now is the time for distribution sign-up in our local community. If you haven’t done this before it is the “heart” of what local Rotary is about and should not be missed. Sign-up for a day or more of distribution knowing that nationwide this year 41,000 dictionaries will be distributed to school age kids! A very successful program. He can be reached at geoff@lacehouselinen.com.

Keith Schoenthal of Boy Scouts Miwok District was in attendance with local Troop leaders and made an appeal for volunteer help for district level finance and Troop activities.

MICHAEL then launched into his first fine maneuver with TAWNY TESCONI asking “What was the news from the recent Emerald Cup event at the fairgrounds.” The first of its kind, celebrating this year’s marijuana harvest, she let us know that just walking around the event was an uplifting experience, although she can’t remember much of what happened (short term that is). Maybe it’s a Rotary fundraiser someday? She said the dog agility event was concurrently very fun and ’Oh yes— the races will be held this coming year as scheduled although 2015 is not yet decided. A small fine was then levied.

ED FULLERTON let us know that TED ATKINS was in a nursing home, Westbrook, and it would be a good time to drop by to wish him well while he is able. (Here is some updated information provided by ED FULLERTON: Ted Adkins is in a private nursing home in Westridge. Recently he had a stroke and is confined to bed but is able to communicate and would love to see his Rotary friends. Stop by to visit or send a card to let him know he's in your thoughts. Ted’s cell: (707) 481-3895. Parkview House Inc., 301 Parkview Court, Petaluma, CA 94952; office phone: 707-981-8805.)

AL KAPLAN then gave us a short synopsis of his view of Ted’s life and his passion as a young baseball player, drafted into the Army, assigned to the Army Team and further heartwarming details about his dear friend.

WALLY BRAGDON then introduced . . .

. . . Jennifer Madison of our local Troop 8 Boy Scouts that we support who introduced the leadership team and . . .

. . . a young Assistant Scout Master who delivered his testimony as to the meaning, value and great support he had received from Troop 8 in the earning of his Eagle Scout status. Now a student at UC Davis, he gives back to the Boy Scouts as a scoutmaster because he understands the importance for our local boys.

MICHAEL didn’t hesitate to call on BRIAN BREEN fining him for his well-kept secret of bodybuilding (in the shadow of DAVID SOLO) during his younger years. Brian said he was sure no one wanted him to disrobe at this point in his life (except his wife of course) but appreciated the opportunity to pay a small fine.

Larry Jonas wins the raffle.

And then DANNY FISH introduced our speaker of the day, . . .

. . . his boss and friend, our Petaluma Police Chief, Pat Williams. With impressive leadership credentials and life long experience, Pat was quite direct about the challenges that he and the department faces with tight budgets and their determination to meet the growing needs within Petaluma for his 62 officers. The state realignment of 2011 has resulted in less time served by offenders and thus increased rates of crime (up 23%) in our local community. He has instituted 15 local neighborhood policing areas with dedicated officers so they can get to know the community and create good relationships within the area, leading to better crime prevention. He has started a community volunteer program, 100 Volunteers in 100 Weeks, and asked local citizens to help. The department is providing significant and extensive training in support of this effort to the volunteer citizens, along with thorough background screening. He believes that a strong neighborhood watch program will also be a meaningful deterrent to letting crime take root in our local community.

MICHAEL then ended his first, and our last meeting for 2013 year with a chiming of the bell.

This week’s Rota-Teller editor: Jim McNulty

COMING EVENTS

December 19 - Pat Williams, Petaluma Chief of Police
December 26 - Dark for Christmas
January 2 - Dark for New Year's
January 9 - David Goodman, Executive Director, Redwood Empire Food Bank
January 16 - Club meets at USCG Training Center (Two Rock)
January 23 - Mike Ferris, Bioterrorism
January 30 - John Walker, SVHS - Changes in Education with Technology

PRESIDENT RICK MOSSI sounded the bell . . .

. . . and JIM BECKER lead us in boisterous song.

PAST PRESIDENT JOANNE FERRIS gave us some poignant thoughts from Time Magazine’s Person of the Year — Pope Francis.

There were several visiting Rotarians, as well as a few guests, and they all enjoyed the fabulous lunch.

JUDI ALLEWELT gave the Club a re-cap of the Christmas Gift delivery program and noted that KMART had given us an added discount for the gift purchases.

PRESIDENT RICK MOSSI presented her with a bouquet of flowers in appreciation for her efforts.

Paul Lounibos looks for bell ringers.

Paul Lounibos and Whit Hall kick off Friday’s Salvation Army Bell Ringing at Petaluma Market.

Ed Fullerton took this selfie and reminds you there are slots open next Friday, December 20. Call Paul Lounibos at 763-0233 to volunteer.

Lee Bean encourages giving to our local foundation.

He also gave our flowers to the many people who organized and worked on the Holiday Party, chaired by KATHY O’CONNOR and assisted by TARA SMITH, SHERRY BURWEN, FRED FROST and MARLENE FREETLY.

BARNEY FAUSS has been ill recently and PRESIDENT RICK MOSSI asked the Club to send Barney a note or give him a call to offer some support. We wish him a full and speedy recovery.

As is tradition during the Holiday Party, the announcement for the nominee for President Nominee was made . . .

. . . and the honor fell to long-time member GARY BRODIE. He received a warm round of applause and when asked what his feelings were when the members made the proposal, he replied: “When Rotary asks you to do something, you can’t say NO!” Thank you, Gary, for your dedication.

PRESIDENT ELECT MICHAEL CARUANA also announced his incoming Board and they all received congratulations from the audience. They are as follows:
   President - Michael Caruana
   Secretary - Gail Cardaropoli
   Treasurer - Marlene Freetly
   Past President - Tawny Tesconi
   President Elect - Gary Brodie
   Director - Sherry Burwen
   Director - Chris Elzi
   Director - Greg O’Brien
   Director - Chris Ranney
   Director - Lee Reposa
   Director - Jane Saldaña-Talley
   Director - Tara Smith
   Director - Tony Western
   Immediate Past President - Rick Mossi

Sherry Burwen won the raffle.

DAVID SOLO introduced our speaker, . . .

. . . Dr. Frank Chong, President of the Santa Rosa Junior College. He gave a very entertaining report on the state of the SRJC, as well as an overview of his perspective on the climate of higher education in Sonoma County and the nation. We are very fortunate to have a person of his caliber overseeing this valued institution. His experiences in government (and Washington DC) and administration are helping to bring back the needed educational services that were cut back years ago. Through his leadership and vision, the SRJC will be positioned to continue to offer a quality education to people aged 18-80 for many years to come. Thank you, Dr. Chong, for your time, effort and appreciation for the Rotary connection to education.

In closing, PRESIDENT RICK MOSSI offered this closing thought:

“I learned that courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” — Nelson Mandela

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

This week’s Rota-Teller editor: Ricardo Marzo

COMING EVENTS

December 12 - Annual Meeting; Frank Chong, SRCC President
December 12 - Distribute Children's gifts
December 19 - Pat Williams, Petaluma Chief of Police
December 26 - Dark for Christmas
January 2 - Dark for New Year's

It was bitter cold outside, but inside the Rooster Run Event Center things were really jumping. It was the annual Holiday Party and the crowd socialized, dined, danced, partied, and even participated in a proper business meeting convened by PRESIDENT RICK MOSSI.

Partway through the evening he called on PDG ED FULLERTON to lead us in song, that traditional carol, My Country tis of Thee.

Up next was JOHN DADO for his Thought for the Day and a beautiful invocation.

We recessed (i.e., partied) for a while and then PRESIDENT RICK introduced KATHY O’CONNOR, thanked her for the great party she’d organized, Ever-gracious KATHY then thanked the Rotarians who had helped in all the arrangements.

Next, PRESIDENT RICK observed that President-Elect MICHAEL CARUANA was unavoidably absent* and unable to personally present his leadership slate for the 2013-14 Rotary year. PRESIDENT RICK announced them: Immediate Past President, RICK MOSSI; Past President, TAWNY TESCONI; Secretary, GAIL CARDAROPOLI; Treasurer, MARLENE FREETLY; Directors: GARY BRODIE, SHERRY BURWEN, CHRIS ELZI, GREG O’BRIEN, CHRIS RANNEY, LEE REPOSA, JANE SALDAÑA-TALLEY, TARA SMITH, and TONY WESTERN.

*(Dear club members, I’m sorry that I could not be here at the holiday party. My son who lives in South Africa is bringing his new bride to meet my family in Michigan and I could not miss that occasion to be with him and the rest of the family. Michael)

Then came the announcement we all were waiting for. Past President LOU STEINBERG chaired the committee of the five most recent past Presidents charged with nominating our President for the Club year 2015-16. Officially, this individual will be called the President-Nominee until President-Elect Michael Caruana becomes President on July 1. On that date the President-Nominee becomes the new President-Elect. Got it? Filling in for LOU STEINBERG, also unavoidably absent, was Past President TOM BRANDAL who announced the Presidential nomination.

A smiling GARY BRODIE rose to loud applause and said that he was looking forward to paying back the Club for all that he had received over the years since he joined. We’ll be voting at our next meeting to confirm the nominations announced tonight.

The partying continued with energetic dancing to the music of DJ Charlie Baker. Things got so wild that the ladies combined for a unique form of caroling.

You can click above to the watch the video of this exciting event and, when you are done, click here to go to Ed’s Photo Album for lots of pictures of the evening’s festivities.

See you at Thursday’s Annual Election Meeting!

This week’s Rota-Teller editor: Al Cattalini