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 64th 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 1st 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 25th at the Wild Oak Saddle Club.
President John announced the details of The Rotary Foundation Annual Seminar to be held Saturday, September 24th, at Sally Tomatoes in Rohnert Park from 12:30 – 4:00 pm.
President John also announced the Membership Seminar also held on Saturday, September 24th, 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 23rd, at the new Sonoma Jet Center hangar.
President John discussed the West Africa Project Fair to be held October 18th – 26th 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.