Rotary Club of the Valley of the Moon
Number one Mid size Club in District 5130
6572 Oakmont Drive, Suite A, Santa Rosa, CA 95409
Volume IX
Issue No. 1 Gordon Freedman, President July 10, 2009
(www.valleyofthemoonrotary.org)
PRESIDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our theme this year is: “Rotary is in your
Hands” President Gordon hung this year's flag
on the podium.
President Gordon thanked everyone for
attending (Past) President John’s Debunking
Party. Videos are available if you are interested.
The Four-Way Test of things we think, say or
do:
Is it the Truth?
Is it Fair to all concerned?
Will it build Goodwill and better Friendships?
Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
OPENING
Just as Gordon was about to open his first
meeting as President he realized the bell had
mysteriously disappeared. After a valiant search
the bell magically turned up on the podium and
President Gordon opened the meeting right on
time. BUT he did earn his first Turkey Feather
immediately when he asked Past President Al
Blake to lead us in the pledge. Al is a founding
member but has never been President.
Bill Swasey (who is a Past
President)
gave
the
Thought For The Day
which was an adaptation
of the Just For Today
Prayer. The adaptations
were very meaningful and
directly applied to our
members.
Director Pins were presented to Pat
Randall/secretary, and Gay Weir/Community
Service.
President Gordon brought “The
Future of Rotary is in Your Hands” pins for each
member.
President Gordon thanked the Club for sending
him to Birmingham. The status on the Bill and
Melinda Gates Matching Grant is now at
$90,700,000. There will be a Worldwide Polio
Day on October 24.
The Rotary Club of Elko is holding a raffle at
$1.00 each for Lionel O gage train set. Perfect
for your grandchildren’s Christmas gift. See me
for details.
NEW MEMBER INDUCTION
Our Membership Chairman, Todd VanDenburg
welcomed Paula Schnelle to our club as our
newest
member.
President
Gordon
presented her
with her pin
and
Todd
read the list
of
requirements for Paula to earn her Blue Badge.
VISITING ROTARIANS AND GUESTS
Acting
Sgt-at-Arms
Dennis
Schroeder
introduced our visiting
Rotarians
Donna
Holloway from Santa
Rosa
East,
Valerie
Pistole and Sam Murphy
from Sonoma Valley.
President
Gordon
introduced his wife Irene
Lucia (left) and his guest
Albert Sklar
guest.
MORE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
President Gordon announced there will be a
Polio Immunization trip to Cotonou, Benin
(West Africa) November 4-11 to administer
polio vaccine to the children. See Gordon for
details.
He also announced our Vacation Raffle has been
noted on Twitter, Face book, Craig's List, Linked
In, and the District 5130 Web site along with the
Oakmont News and Kenwood Press. If anyone
has an “IN” with the Press Democrat let him
know. Mini Contests are being planned to pick
the date you think the raffle will be sold out, the
person who sells the most tickets etc. Prizes
might include a luncheon date with “Mrs.
Doubtfire” (aka Gordon) from the debunking skit
and even more exciting things (although it's hard
to imagine anything more exciting than lunch
with “Mrs. Doubtfire”. More news on that later.
The Valley of the Moon nominating committee
is looking at candidates for President Elect-Elect
for the 2011-2012 period.
The SCARC dinner will be at Dutton Ranch on
July 30. $40 for tri-tip, Dutton Wine, and
Kozlowski pies. Reservations are limited to the
first 100 people. This is one of the most fun
parties of the year. RSVP to me directly.
President Gordon and Gay Weir have been
talking to SonomaCounyVetConnect about being
involved in their program. They are working
with not only Korea and Vietnam Vets, but now
Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan returning
veterans. They are not looking for money as
much as honorably discharged veterans who can
offer peer counseling regarding all of life’s
issues: money, family, religion, career, etc. If
you have time and interest, please see Gordon or
Dan Grow about volunteering.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Caroline Keller thanked everyone who helped
with the Grant application to the Foster
Corporation for
the
Sierra
Youth Center.
She had a large
project
sheet
with pictures of
the
Garden
Project and she
said
the
electricity would be put in soon and at least a
third of the garden was planted.
International Service Director, Ron Nicholson
stated the International situation is a disaster so
he had nothing to report.
John
Heilbronner
reported Raffle tickets
were distributed to the
Committee Leads this
morning.
Everyone
should start selling on
Wednesday (7/15) Sold
tickets and money should
be turned into the team
leads who in turn will
give the ticket stubs and money to Valerie every
Friday.
Jack Monahan passed out “raffle business
cards”, so if you are telling someone about the
raffle you can give them a card if you don't have
a flyer with you.
Pat Gooler passed around the signup sheet for
Bunco on July 22 at 6:00 PM. at the East Rec.
$22 per person.
President Gordon recognized members who
joined Valley of the Moon Rotary in July. Al
Blake, Brian Adams, Jack Monahan,
Francine Dorshkind and Merle Lawrence.
Unfortunately for Gordon he earned his 2nd
Turkey Feather of the day when he recognized
Valerie Hulsey who actually joined in March.
BIRTHDAYS, ANNIVERSARIES
& HAPPY DOLLARS
John and Carol Heilbronner just celebrated
their 60th wedding anniversary and Al and Nina
Blake will celebrate 57
or 58 years on the 12th.
Al and Nina just returned
from a cruise – they
visited 9 countries in 14
days.
Bill
Shaver
announced there
was $246 in the
pot today. Pat
Randall drew
Paul Rasore’s
ticket but too
bad Paul did not
draw the joker.
Rich
Irwin
presented
Dave
Noorthoek with
his Paul Harris
award. John H
was his sponsor so
he “pinned” Dave.
VOM Rotary has
37 active members who have earned their Paul
Harris award.
Ken Young is very proud
of his 17 year old
granddaughter.
She
learned to speak Mandarin and was selected to
go to China. When she returns she will attend
the University of Santa Barbara. His other
granddaughter is attending Davis.
President Gordon announced Mac McHenry
was the mystery handshaker.
Dan Grow's grandson graduated with honors
from Oregon State University.
President Gordon and
Irene shared wonderful
pictures from the 100th
Anniversary
Rotary
International Convention
in Birmingham. There
were
150
countries/territories
represented and each day
of the convention was
exciting and worthwhile.
Gay Weir just returned from visiting with her
grandson in Oklahoma. Gay reports he hasn't
won any honors yet but he is only 6 so that's
understandable.
Fran Dorshkind gave happy dollars as an
apology for missing her Raffle team meeting
earlier this week.
Bill Swasey's grandson is now the California
state champion trap shooter and will represent
California at the National Competition later this
year.
President Gordon thanked Ken Young for
taking the videos at the Debunking party.
Frank Sites shared a brief bio of President
Gordon. He has been a Rotarian for 22 years
and is a Past President of the Marin Sunrise
Club.
President Gordon urged everyone to try to
attend a RI convention and if you are unable to
do that try to attend a District Conference at
some time. It has been suggested we try to get a
group together for the 2010 Convention that will
be held in Montreal.
CLOSING
President Gordon adjourned the meeting but
unfortunately he forgot to ring the bell so
Shaman Les – please take note that brings the
Turkey Feather count to 3.
Suitcases, playing cards and small shampoos,
soaps etc (from your hotel stays) are always
needed for the Children's Home.
EDITOR (Valerie's) NOTE
Guess what?? - the June 19th edition of the
bulletin was NOT my last issue as Editor. We
are again looking for a member who would like
to take over for awhile. It's really easy and
actually fun so please let me know if you are
interested.
Membership
Share Rotary with your friends. We should
invite business friends and neighbors to a
meeting. Who do we do business with, what
neighbors do we know, what former Rotarians
could be asked to join us? Clip and save the
invitation below to give to a friend, neighbor,
or business associate.
Guests and potential Rotarians are invited
twice at the Club’s expense.
MANY PEOPLE SAID THEY WOULD
HAVE JOINED ROTARY HAD SOMEONE
ASKED THEM!
Cut and put in your wallet
You are invited as a guest
of_____________________________to attend
a breakfast meeting of Valley of the Moon
Rotary. The Club meets Friday mornings at
7:15 a.m. at the Quail Restaurant 7035
Oakmont Drive in Oakmont.
REMINDERS
We are still collecting non-perishable food items
for the food bank at each meeting.
FUTURE CALENDAR EVENTS
2009-2010
7/17/09 Pilot Your Own Health Care - Jean
Duffy (host - Caroline Keller)
7/17/09 Club Board meeting at Sonoma Bank
7/22/09 Bunco/East Recreation Center
7/24/09 Easter Seals in the 21st Century - Dawn
Carlson (host - Frank Sites)
7/30/09 SCARC Dinner – Dutton Ranch
7/31/09 “Rotary Vision Planning” Helaine Campbell
- Maureen Merril (host – Gordon Freedman)
8/7/09 RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Assembly –
Meghan Call (host – Keri Anderson)
8/13/09 4:00 PM District Governor Board Meeting at
Wild Oak Saddle Club followed at 5:00 PM with a
reception for VOM Rotarians and their spouses
honoring the DG.
8/14/09 District Governor @ VOM-Rotary - Kirk
Brown (host – Gordon Freedman)
8/21/09 “211” Phone Service – Sonoma County –
Bill Myatt (host – Gay Weir)
8/27/09 VOM hosts SCARC Dinner at Bennett Valley
Golf Course
8/28/09 Dark (SCARC dinner previous night)
9/04/09 DARK (Labor Day Weekend)
9/11/09 OPEN date (speaker needed)
9/18/09 OPEN date (speaker needed)
9/25/09 Buck Institute: research on Aging – Jim (host
– Brian Adams)
Oct-Dec – all dates are OPEN – speakers needed!!
ERRORS AND OMISSIONS
Please submit any corrections or omissions to
Valerie Hulsey for insertion in the next bulletin.
Editor:
Publisher:
Photographer
Valerie Hulsey
Jack Monahan
Jack Monahan
President Gordon conducted a very interesting
slide show on his trip to the RI convention in
Birmingham, England
WEB NOTES
To aid club members in selling raffle tickets, we
have posted our club’s “Community and
Vocational” projects on our web site. Go to
www.valleyofthemoonrotary.org/raffle.html.
President: Gordon Freedman; President Elect: Valerie
Hulsey; Secretary: Pat Randall; Treasurer: Arnie
Lamb; Jerry Dion; Sgt-At-Arms
Rich Irwin introduces our latest Paul Harris
Fellow, Dave Noorthoek as sponsor John
Heilbronner looks on proudly
Our newest VOM Rotary member
Paula Schnelle. Welcome Paula!