Category: 2016 Jul-Dec

Kurt Mitchler helped open the meeting with a reminder that we gain inspiration from perseverance and offered us several examples including Abe Lincoln who had many defeats before becoming president and Thomas Edison who said, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave in.”

Kurt then told us to consider not to consider an individual, but a team who has kept hope alive since 1908 and had just won their 100th game. Kurt raised the projector screen to reveal a Chicago Cubs banner to cheers in the room — especially from long-time Cubs fan, Jim Scally who reminded us that the Cubs had won the World series in back-to-back years (1907 & 1908).

Our songstress for the day, Susan Cole, continued the flow of creativity as she cued the music and had us all singing with extra spirit a custom lyric rendition to the song, “My Girl” —

“I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day.

When it’s cold outside, I’ve got the month of May.

I guess you’d say

What can make me feel this way?

  My Club (my Club, my Club)

       Talkin’ ‘bout my Club (my Club)

Youth Exchange Adventure —

Ken Moulton shared taking our daughter, Ella, to one of the longest Cal Bears’ game that ended on a winning note! Ella enjoyed the excitement of the game and the walking tour of the campus that Ken provided.

Club Members —

Sandie Krutz gave a Sunshine Report about Dick Bishop’s recovery from surgery and how Dick would appreciate a little Rotarian warmth shinning his way.

Club Business —

President John outlined how Club revenue (dues, fines, and Give-Back-Bucks) covers operating expenses for the Club. John reminded us that unstructured giving is about personal choice.  John’s purpose behind the  breakdown of  all the numbers was to help connect how personal giving goals and linked to the contribution goals for the entire Club.

John had us open-up the activity boxes on each table and write on an index card our five personal Club-related Goals:

1)  What is your annual goal for the Windsor Community Foundation ? $_____________

2)  What is your annual goal for the Rotary International Foundation ?  $_____________

3)  What is your annual goal for Polio Plus ?  $______

4)  How many members do you want in your club ?  #_

5)  Taking the step towards becoming “Golden” (automatic monthly giving)

Keeping in the baseball theme, President John announced his All-Stars for the first quarter of his year — thanking Marc Elin for supporting him with early-morning set-up for each meeting; Maureen Merrill for keeping programs shining brightly and her movement into providing targeted Member Services; and, of course, the dynamic duo of Sandie and Wally Krutz who continue to be connected to all the gears of Windsor Rotary.

President John had plenty of people to thank for helping create the very successful September 20th evening Club Meeting which featured a Forum for the Candidates running for Windsor Town Council. The splendid evening had everyone wanting to do another evening event!

Football Helmet Raffle felt like the Superbowl with the pot at $617. Dennis Harris (no surprise) had the lucky ticket, but the luck did not extend to Ella who Dennis selected to try and grab the Raiders helmet. The pot grows!

Tom Hassur shared a report from the Lobster Feed review meeting. Our goals is to get more strategic in the set-up of the event to maximize the amount we can earn for community projects. Tom will report back highlights from the next Lobster Feed planning meeting.

Joe Deacon introduced our featured program — Matt Stevens who serves as the Community and Media Relations Manager for the SMART Train.  Matt highlighted his 15 year connection to the project and how service (scheduled to start at the end of the year) will benefit Sonoma and Marin Counties in a variety of ways!

John got us started by unveiling his beautiful invisible Powerpoint he had prepared for the meeting! Although we could not see it, he assured us that it was a work of art worthy of the club!

The pledge was delivered by Dick Bishop who was welcomed back after an absence.

Inspiration of the day was provided by Groucho Marx and Mark Twain through Ed Turner. Ed also held a moment of silence in commemoration of the 9/11 attacks.

Keeping in the nationalistic spirit, the song of the day was America The Beautiful delivered by Leslie Lewis.

In whats happening, there were some good updates and information shared with the club;

• The 20-30 club will be hosting its annual Octoberfest soon
• Rotary Means business is having an event on 9/15-Diane was able to give us some more information on that meeting and tell us about some of the great benefits of attending
• 9/21-9/24 The Apathy Effect exhibit will be running
• 9/23 Bill Conklin and a few others are helping to host the Pacific Coast Air Museum gala fundraiser
• 10/15 The Rotary Foundation Dinner will be held at The Flamingo Hotel. Maureen filled us in on what the event looks like and it’s a more formal, black tie optional, affair.

Diane also shared with us that she had some good fortune recently and won a barbecue. Always thinking of the club and fundraising, she is donating is as an auction item for the next Lobster feed in 2017!

Wally caught us up on the Helping Hands project he is helping pull together. So far he has help from Doug & Tim but they are looking for more.

John took a few moments to then recognize that it is the clubs 29^th birthday! He gave special recognition to the current charter members-Ed, Sue, Maureen, Larry, Bill, Diane, Leslie, E. Marie, John & Phil. Next year will be a party!!

Finally, we had a wonderful and informative presentation by Letitia Hanke-Ryzhkov. She spoke about many different issues, being a woman in a male dominated business (roofing), being a black woman in todays world and about how she has overcome these various social issues to achieve success and happiness. There was an unusually high amount of questions generated as a result of her great speaking.

With that, John adjourned the meeting until next week when the meeting will be an evening dinner instead of a morning breakfast!

Flag salute:  Laura Buhrer

Inspiration by Renee Hyde…Travel.

Song:  Allen Christenson.  A couple of verses of “When I’m Sixty-Four” by The Beatles in honor of Maureen Merrill’s 64^th birthday.

Guests:

Jack Hyde introduced his wife, Janet, and our daughter/exchange student, Ella.

Joe Deacon introduced himself and his wife, Pat.

Announcements:

Joe Deacon was welcomed back officially as an active member of our club!  Go Joe.

Ella’s Welcome Reception will be at the Windsor Town Green (right outside the Rotary Bar) on Thursday, September 1^st from 5:30 – 8:00 pm.  The sign-up sheet is circulating as we speak.

President John reminded members of the Valley of the Moon SCARC dinner to be held this Thursday, August 25^th at the Wild Oak Saddle Club.

President John announced the details of The Rotary Foundation Annual Seminar to be held Saturday, September 24^th, at Sally Tomatoes in Rohnert Park from 12:30 – 4:00 pm.

President John also announced the Membership Seminar also held on Saturday, September 24^th, at Sally Tomatoes in Rohnert Park from 8:00 to 11:30 am.

Bill Conklin announced the Pacific Coast Air Museum Gala Fundraiser to be held Friday, September 23^rd, at the new Sonoma Jet Center hangar.

President John discussed the West Africa Project Fair to be held October 18^th – 26^th in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.  This is an opportunity to participate in a polio eradication exercise.

Action Opportunities:

President John said the fire is still happening and anyone who would like to contribute towards the Clayton Fire can make donations at the Rotarian website: www.larca5130.org.

Members Tom Hassur, John LeCave, Bill Bolster, Jack Hyde, Sandie and Wally Krutz participated in installing smoke detectors, in coordination with The Red Cross, at mobile home parks this past Saturday.  Wally said there will be opportunities in the future for anyone else interested in helping.  Tom Hassur stressed how important this task is in helping seniors and seniors with adult children w/disabilities who are struggling.  A simple task with a big impact!

Renee shared her experience about this past weekend’s Exchange Students Raft Trip. Inbound orientation is the main purpose of the trip…kids from all over the world instantly bond.  Ella said this was the first time she met everyone and it was nice to see so many people from different countries.  She said there was no problem communicating with so many people from different parts of the world.

Ken and Pam Moulton visited the southwestern part of France.  Ken had a flag exchange – President John’s first one!  They also attended a non-Rotarian wedding in England and there were actually sheep running through the crowd.  They traveled with the wedding party to Spain and then back to France.

Ken discussed how District money comes back to us.  When we pay money into the foundation, that money goes back to Evanston and sits in a bucket for 3 years using the interest to run the organization.  Then after 3 years 50% of that money comes back to the district.  We don’t just turn the money in and it goes away…it provides money for District Grants.  District Grants are used for good causes such as:

Homeless bathroom remodel at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Healdsburg.  This bathroom is where the homeless shower and, if necessary, can also spend the night.  Every month they dispense ~ 180 showers for the homeless that walk in off the street.  This is the first time we have done a multi-club grant (2 Healdsburg clubs and a Cloverdale club).  This year each club can apply for up to $2,500.  Putting our money with the other clubs we can donate $6,000.  Key is that after we donate that money to these district grants, the district matches the amount.

Through your efforts and our efforts hopefully we can have this shower completed.

Jack announced there is only two more weeks left for the Rotary Bar at the Windsor Town Green.  Last week we made a little over $1,000.  This week is Swing music and he needs a few more people to help out.  Please call him if you can help.

What’s in the pot Ed?  $396 and Dennis won.  He wasn’t there so Ella did the “Helmet Grab” hoping for the Raiders helmet.  She picked the Colts helmet…so better luck next time.

Program:  Craft talk – Doug Williams

Doug comes from 5 generations of families in Sonoma County…5 on both his mom and dad’s side.  He grew up on the East side of Santa Rosa, graduated from Montgomery High School.  He went to SRJC and received his AA degree in Fire Science.  He then went to Cal Poly and earned his degree in Industrial Engineering.  He retired this year but overall he spent 44 years in fire service.  He was appointed by the state to the Smoke Alarm Task Force, was on the Fire Code Council where he helped write the fire code.  He served Windsor before it was incorporated.

In 1992 he married his wife Jody and they have one son named Johnathan.  Johnathan just graduated with an English degree and is looking for a job.

Faith is important to him although he is not a terribly religious person, but he is firm with his faith.  He believes we should look at the purpose of life and that is helping each other.

He is leaving for an extended vacation…to visit his wife’s family in Michigan, driving Route 66.  His father-in-law will be 94 in October, is a WWII veteran and he just recently went sky diving.

Flag salute: Anna Smith

Inspiration by Ken Moulton… Gratitude!

Songstress was Bev Graham who placed the three amigos (Pres John, PE Steve Klick, PEN Warin Parker) on an imaginary podium so we could sing the national anthem.

Scribe duties fell to Tom Boylan

Visiting Rotarians:

Pres. John introduced District Governor Wulff Reinhold

Renee Hyde introduced Assist Governor Nita Parker

Ken Moulton introduced Pam Moulton

Warin Parker introduced Joy Wemms, our English member

Guests Of Rotarians:

John Hackenburg introduced his wife Jean

Ed Turner introduced his wife Louise Turner

Warin Parker introduced Doug Williams as a guest for the last time

Announcements:

Pres John suggested we sign up for SCARC on August 29th with Valley of the Moon.

We discussed the Clayton Fire in Lake County and the need to help. There have been numerous communications from DG Wulff regarding how to help and whom to speak with to learn more of what is needed. Take a peek at the District website news section to see up to the minute info.

Because of the Clayton Fire, Wally Krutz suggested the hands on project for this weekend, which is supposed to install smoke alarms in the trailer park homes Saturday at 7:15 am. There is a training to show how to install this Friday at 5:pm in the Red Cross meeting room off Airport Blvd. If you can’t make that meeting, you can still show up at the trailer park and receive a brief training. Wally will keep us posted.

We brought in a new member today, Doug Williams was inducted by DG Wulff, because the two of them have been friends through their profession for many years.

DG Wulff then went on to recognize John and Jean Hackenburg for their reaching the Major Donor level of giving, and joining the bequest society. They too have a history with our DG as they all started at the same Rohnert Park-Cotati Rotary Club.

Pres John then discussed the importance of International Projects that are implemented by Rotary International through the Rotary Foundation.

DG Wulff introduced a basket of Goodies from Rotary Club of Arcadia. The winner of the drawing is Anna Smith.

Program:

AG Nita Parker introduced DG Wulff, whose background has been filled with numerous awards for his role as a Rotary Club and District leader. The accolades in the private sector include his role as a Fire District Board Member, and a retired police Sergeant. He and his wife Paula have two sons, one is an archeologist and the other is the president of Southern Sonoma Rotaract.

DG Wulff opened his speech letting us know that he considers all Rotarians family and rather than take credit for the leader role, he is here to educate, motivate and inspire all of us. He works for us.

The District has 6 counties and 46 Clubs. His role with Rotary International is as an officer charged with being a liaison for individual clubs.

Rotary needs to grow and this is a major task for clubs. DG Wulff can provide support to allow us to engage members and potential new members. We are a service club, so it makes great sense to invite potential new and younger members to our service projects.

He introduced the change to the rule that we must have meetings. The new rules allow for the club and its Board to create the meeting schedule that works best for the club. Attendance is no longer required to be 100%, however every Rotarian is expected to provide support at the 100% level.

We can express and show our value to our community through improved communication that tells Rotary’s story. Brag about what we do and attract new members. Our new Rotary pin is very clear with the word Rotary preceding the Rotary Cog. He asked that we start wearing the new pin.

Our Rotary Foundation started in 1917 with a $26.50 donation. Today the Foundation has more than $3 billion. The goal for this year is to raise more than $300 million. Ideally those dollars will be in part, other people’s money. Don’t hesitate to ask for a donation to the RI Foundation, where their dollars are beneficial to the world.

DG Wulff would like to see our club work on a peace project, which he has challenged all clubs within the district to create. As a former policeman, he is certain there can be an affect from our actions to promote peace. A peace garden with a plaque will attract understanding.

Share stories of Rotary. He shared a story of how he met an elderly woman while working on the Hands on Project to change light bulbs, which led to repairing drapes and illuminating her home. The woman was moved by his interaction and that she has light for the first time in 5 years. These feel good stories are what we need to spread to grow Rotary in our community.

Flag Salute: Wally Krutz

Inspiration: Steve Jorgenson

Song: Sandy Krutz

Guests:

Our “daughter” Ella Dahlstrom

Visiting Rotarians:

Penny Millar – Santa Rosa Sunrise

PDG Mike Merrill

Speakers:

Salvador Rico – Ukia South

Mike Pastryk – Rohnert Park/Cotati

Birthdays:

Bill & Joan Bolster

Allen Cristenson

Daniel Myers

Art Diaz

Maureen Merrill (again)

Brian Ling

Laura Buhrer

Bill & Earlene Rash

Anniversaries:

Sue and John Nelson

Bill & Earlene Rash

Leslie & Glen Griswold

Ed & Louise Turner

John & Wendy How

Brian & Debbi Ling

John & Donna Lecave

Announcements:

Rene announced that the club has donated $2450 to the Foundation. She recommended members consider “auto-pay” to make regular donations.

Dennis Marks submitted his resignation because he is retiring to Reno.

Rag’s bone marrow celebration Wed. 8/31 at their home

Ella’a welcome reception at the “Green” Thursday night

Cali Calmecac Scholar Garden dedication Friday 9/2 @ 10 am

Pacific Coast Air Museum Gala Fund Raiser 9/23

Membership & Foundation seminars 9/24.  Prez John will be attending “membership” and Rene will attend “foundation” and they would love some company

Clayton Fire Update: Help is still needed even after fire is under control

Program:

Salvador Rico and Mike Pastryk talked about “Hands on Cleanup Projects” near Guadalajara, Mx.  Oct. 1-3 and Oct. 1-9 (see attached flyer).

They spoke of the efforts to reduce/eliminate pollution of the Rio Ameca river outside Tlaquepaque, Mx. which flows through Puerto Vallarta and into the Pacific which ultimately can affect our own beaches and the fish we eat.

Their primary goal is to prevent cancer in children caused by the pollution. They have received a Global Grant from RI to aid in their efforts.

Leah “rolled the dice” for the pot (prez John forgot the football helmets and the 2 giant dice were all that was available in the cabinet . But, alas, she did not succeed in rolling a “7”; so the pot continues to grow.

Steve Jorgensen:  Flag Salute

Inspiration from Maureen M:  ‘Choose to be optimistic, it feels better.’

Song from Allan Christensen:  Grand Ole Flag

Visiting Rotarians: Dave Shrugman from Sebastopol, Nina Park from Healdsburg and Mike McGuire from Healdsburg

Visitors: Lovely Donna LeCave, Doug Williams, Rotary son Vincent, Outbounds Mina & Morgan, Carlene Revitch, Heather Cullin, and Louise Turner

Happy Birthday to Past Prezident Tom Hassur

Happy Anniversaries to:  Maureen & Mike, Sandie & Wally, Steve & Mapi, E-Marie & Floyd, Anna & Stan

Next week’s speakers are Rotary son Vincent and President Caveman

Jack’s Bar raised $2,500 during the two previous Thursday nights

The pot continues to grow as guest Doug Williams did not guess the number correct number

Susan Nelson chatted with Senator Mike McGuire who shared that we have more wineries, more craft breweries and grow more oysters than other state.

Our Senate District includes all of Marin, Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt, Trinity and Del Norte counties. In Sonoma County, it takes in Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Windsor, Healdsburg, Geyserville and Cloverdale.

Senator Mike also shared that we are in the seventh year of growth out the recession and we currently have $10 billion in recession reserves.

http://www.senatormikemcguire.com/

Our morning was started by Sandy who led us in both the pledge and the inspiration quote for the day.

Sandy’s pleasant opening was duly disrupted with Jim chaotic rendition of the Lion sleeps tonight! After the quiet and mellow chorus, the group was in great shape for the rest of the mornings program!

We had a visiting rotarian, Doug Johnson from Santa Rosa (who was also our speaker) and also we had our 3 outbounds with us, Emma, Morgan and Mina who also had the opportunity to run their wine raffle.

Marc recapped his debunking with the group and thanked everyone for all their efforts. Special recognition was given to Maureen who once again provided her wonderful home as a venue for us.

There were 3 anniversaries, Bill Rash celebrating 18 years, Karen Rickets, 4 years and John Hackenberg 1 year in the club. John shared his “rotary moment” with the club and it was a moving story of an AIDs clinic in Mexico, when he got to see firsthand the positive changes in the world we can make and how that helped him see the “why” behind why he participates in Rotary.

Moving along, John shared the Club Calendar with everyone. Iver the next few weeks we have some fun events coming up;

• 7/28 @5.30PM SCARC dinner
• 8/1 Rotary board meeting
• 8/4 Our new inbound, Ella, will be arriving
• 8/15 Governors Social 6PM
• 9/16 The Institute Of Leadership

There are also some opportunities to help out over the next week or so;

• 7/28 Jacks bar has a few open spots.
• Olivers has a community card which will contribute 3% of pourchases made with it to Rotary
• 7/29 & 7/30 WH Booster help needed
• 7/30 Nita Parker Ironman help-Human arrows needed!

In other news, Walt shared that Dick Bishop is doing well and enjoys hearing from other members of Rotary, so feel free to reach out and catch up if you have some time. Finally, Maureen introduced our speaker, Doug Johnson from Santa Rosa Rotary. Doug was here to speak about a program he is heavily involved with, New Gen Peacebuilders. He got the idea to bring it here on a trip to Brazil at a Peace Symposium he attended there. He is hoping it becomes a more central theme in Rotary as the fight to eradicate polio gets closer and closer to the finish line.

It is an organization which emphasizes the role and impact young people aged between 14-24 can play in achieving a peaceful world. He treated us to a great video which explained the focus & goals of the organization.

Flag Salute:

Jack Hyde led us in the pledge

Inspiration:

Tom Hassur gave us some inspirational word from Richard Bach and Helen Keller

Song:

Vincent Larcin wowed us with his piano playing… it was classical

Scribe:

Tom Boylan provided the words that captured today’s meeting

Guests of Rotarians:

• First Lady Donna LeCave
• Doug Williams retired Fire Cheif
• Megan Hassur
• Morgan sponsored by Cloverdale Rotary and of to Germany
• Nina will be heading for France in a months have
• Erica our rebounder and Rotaract of the Year
• Riley, Vincent’s Host brother
• Vincent Larcen is on his last legs today
• Jack introduced the lovely Janet Hyde

A Farewell:

Vincent led off the meeting with a sharing of his travels on the Exchange student safari. LA to Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, and Yosemite. We saw a variety of grueling hiking trails that Vincent suggested “almost killed me.” He walked his way through the safari and shared his home country flag, along with his grocery list.

He is leaving home and heading to home, because that is the impact the exchange program has on students. According to Vincent, “This is the best year of my life.”

Pres John went on to express his appreciation for the exchange program and the opportunity it gives to meet new people and allow our local kids an chance to explore people and the world.

Raffle:

A raffle is underway and this week Vincent took control with a deck of cards… He says it is magical and might get the pot to disappear. $228 is at stake and the winning contestant is… Dave Koch. Next week we will have more money in the pot because Vincent gave a lesson in magic.

Pres John recognized PP Marc Elinfor a wonderful year and the head start he is giving to John showing him how to maneuver the set up and the computer glitches.  Accolades were sent out and a past president pin was presented.

Debunking is on for next week… Saturday at 5:30… Pm

Program:

Pres. John gave us a preview of his past and future. He re introduced Donna and his family and then went on to tell us he was born in Santa Rosa in 1961. He spent quite a bit of time exploring all the grammar schools in Santa Rosa and eventually wound up graduating from Santa Rosa High. He met Donna at high school, but delayed pursuing her until after graduating from Sacramento State in 1984. He then went after Donna and got married in 1986. He spent the early years of marriage in the East Bay as an accountant, but moved back to Windsor in 1989 to start a family.

Look forward to spending more time this year with craft talks, because Pres John believes Rotary wants to start promoting our professional lives as well as our humanitarian side.

He left accounting in 1991 and went into mortgage banking. He is Fountaingrove Mortgage, an independent contractor working with Pinnacle Mortgage. John controls his own company and enjoys sending out the good news of dropping mortgage rates.

A Rotary moment is letting us know that in October 2006 Chris Landwehr invited him to Rotary. John was looking for something to give back to community and Rotary offered that. He suggested that he opted to accept the role of president because it was his way of giving back to Rotary, and it would force him to know more about Rotary.

Pres John asked that we do a little exercise… By leaning our heads to adjust to the sideways video he was showing us. PP Marc came to his rescue and held the projector on its side. The video looked a lot like a Richard Simmons promo, but the voice was similar to our new president… The message was all about flexing. Flex your mind and flex your muscles. Know that you have the support of 63 fellow members all flexing in unison. The challenge is to be flexible!

We then were introduced to the new RI president John F.Germ. The theme this year is Rotary Serving Humanity.

We were assigned a task: Take a 3 x 5 card and write down a Rotary word. We can define that word. Pres John plans to bring these words to life throughout the year.

Retention is the focus this year. 2-5 is a theme and he wants us all to get involved. His current team, besides us, are the Amigos’, which includes Pres John, PE Steve Klick, PEN Warren Parker, and past pres Marc. Together they are looking to provide consistency for the club.

Incoming board members include PE Steve Klick, PEN Warin Parker, Ed Turner, Leah Hansen, Wally Krutz, Bill Bolster, Sandy Krutz, Joan Mora and Daniel Myers.

This year we introduce a Cabinet consisting of past and future leaders. Everyone is invited to become a member of the Cabinet.

Action Team is the new title for those who actually do the work. There will be numerous groups and the goal is to have 100% participation: Fundraising, Community, Foundation, Membership and Programs. You are invited to become a member of an Action Team.

Go out and do something Rotarian today!