CLICK HERE TO SEE DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE LATEST CLUB MEETING
We had a two-minute warning from President Maureen Merrill and then she rang the bell.
According to Ken Moulton, the only inspiration we need is “Go Bears.”
Bill Bolster suggested that life is 10 percent of what happens to you and what you do about it is 90%.
There was a technical break as we waited for the musical interlude, which was provided by no one. We called the song off when the tech wasn’t cooperating. If we could have sung it would have been appropriate to sing Billy Preston’s, “Nothing from nothing leaves nothing.”
Photos by Sue Nelson, words by Tom Boylan.
Visiting Rotarians were vacant
Guest of Rotarians:
Diane Brabitz introduced our first exchange student and her daughter Melissa, who when asked her age let us know she is old enough to have an 11-year-old son.
Bill Bolster introduced our 2021 exchange student Kate Smith and her mom Beth. Kate shared that she is prepared to go anywhere Rotary sends her, although Italy would be great.
Announcements:
Jose Diaz is still the powerhouse of the month.
If you want to suggest a speaker, pass along your suggestion to JB Leep and he can make it happen.
Billy’s Sizzling Barn Bash was a success with more than 22 people wandering through Bill Bolster and wife Joan’s amazingly well preserved home, circa 1800s. You should have seen the barn.
Pegi Ball announced that the Bell Manor lunch is Tuesday, December 12th at noon. Heather Cullen will be entertaining with her golden voice.
Bev Graham sent around a sign-up sheet asking for commitments. There is a fee of $10 per person requested. Reminder: there is a white elephant gift exchange, please bring something worthy at a cost of approximately $25. December 7th at John & Sue Nelson’s home.
Foundation Energy was provided by Foundation Chair John LeCave, who declared that every month is Foundation Month, either RI or our Community Foundation. He noted that we are #31 out of more than 500 clubs worldwide for donations to the foundation, and #24 in per capita spending. He reassured us that the dollars we donate are well spent.
Sandi Krutz gave us a report on her travels to Brazil. She took the bus… when she arrived. Her connections she made during her year as President became a Global Grant which went toward the restoration and more of a San Paulo hospital. Although the government provided a physical facility for a surgical unit, Rotary provided everything that went into the unit. Somewhere in San Paulo, there is a plaque recognizing the donations and the efforts of Rotary to make a change in the world.
We took a tour of the hospital watching her many slides. She reinforced the $3000 that Windsor gave went into the kitty helped raise the total to $93,000. Because of the RI Foundation, we wound up actually being credited for more than $7000. Rotary Foundation works.
Maureen recognized Sandi for her doing this project on her own. Sandi was also excited to share that Google Translates is a good resource for people who don’t know a lot of Portuguese.
Leslie Lewis stepped in to be the fine master and took very little time to get Diane Brabitz to make a donation for making Leslie feel really old. Diane opted to make a splash with a $1000 donation to the exchange student program… her daughter reminded Diane the total would actually be $1020… due to the old comment.
Ken Moulton was willing to spend a few dollars at the Big Game… where the Bear’s won (first time in 9 years.) He did bring back a memento that he caught when at the game. He offered the losing team’s jersey that he brought all the way from Stanford Stadium to hand off to JB Leep.
JB Leep took front and center to acknowledge Alison Huber who gave away 64 air filters after the latest fire. JB had an opportunity to pass many of them out to his neighbors. A generous donation went to the Windsor Rotary Community Foundation.
Alison Huber was called out to share her adventures to Tijuana. Her claim to fame on her trip was summed up, “We lived.” Three days and $30 to the Windsor Rotary Community Foundation.
Bill Bolster was called up to share his appreciation for the gifts he received, including a bottle of Barn Burner wine and a bag of marshmallows (I thought that was appropriate for a Barn Burner party.) He let us know that 50 years ago he met Joan and then broke into a Fifth Dimension song, “Bill.” The wedding anniversary and the song cost a few dollars in his donation to current year projects and the Windsor Endowment Fund.
John How opted to come back from Hawaii and pay a donation to Polio Plus.
Program:
Craig Curreri took the microphone to give us the answers to the real estate questions that are sure to come during the get together over the Thanksgiving dinner table. He shared a slide that reflected his personal home tending up over the years. Home sales pricing for the past year has been flat. There are as many homes coming into the market and the sold inventory matched the listings.
According to Craig, the market is not going to add enough homes due to the cost of construction. Currently, there are only 25% of residents in Sonoma County can afford a home. Looked at another way, 75% of residents in Sonoma County can’t afford to buy a home.
The fire of 2017 and the recent 2019 fire represents a loss of 2.5% of our housing stock. Over 5450 homes lost to the fires. Currently, he reports that the rebuild is only 20% completed and 36% in construction with 9% in the permit process. There is a big question about what is going to happen with the rest of the numbers.
The emotional impact is growing due to the second round of fires. Combine high insurance rates with PTSD issues and the questions are many for why stay? Renee Hyde shared that the cost of insurance is staggering and many will not be able to afford the increases, but the I little option. Deductible costs are literally going through the roof.
Craig suggests that the climate for staying is actually healthy. What we need is to promote new building, but we have to recognize that certain areas are going to have a difficult time, including Fountaingrove. The cost of rebuilding higher-end homes is higher than the value of pre fire. In his opinion, there is not a strong enough economy to provide buyers for homes that are increasing so dramatically.
In conclusion, Craig is optimistic that Sonoma County will hold its appeal and the sky is not falling. Rebuild efforts will continue, prices will hold steady, inventory will remain low, we will all age and need to make adjustments in our lifestyle… like, sell your home.
Maureen sent us off with a suggestion to bring a few guests in the next few weeks. Miss Sonoma County, Windsor Fire Chiefs, and a Lion tamer are in store for December meetings.