Meeting Recap 02/25/2010

by lou on 26/02/10 at 2:01 am

  • Â

    BULLETIN FOR MEETING OF 2/25/10

    The 11:30 club is a House of Friendship and Sharing. The development of our Rotary Family is abundantly clear as we join in force for this most pleasant task. Those in attendance were: Roger Anderson, Charles Small, Ted Marsella, Dave Reuland, Jerry Dale, Scott Shewan, Paul Chin and his guest Cindy, The Right Honorable Lou Smaldino, Tom Graves, Janet Powell (the soon-to-be), Stan Whaley, Kevin Oflazian, Charlie Wadhams and Katie Siemens. You see folks this is the ever pleasant place where everyone knows your name. Three things cross my mind: 1) if you have seen this before that means you read the bulletin. 2) If you can read this thank a teacher. 3) If you cannot read this blame the teachers union. AND AS YOU READ THIS KNOW THAT THE FELLOWSHIP OF ROTARY IS ALIVE AND WELL AT THE 11:30 CLUB. Y’ALL COME NOW! YA HEAR.

     

    Nick Smaldino is going to be taking a few select Rotarians on a wine tasting tour of four wineries in the Paso Robles Area. See Nick to get on board the bus.

     

    PASO ROBLES WINE TASTING TRIP announced by Moi an admitted poor stand in for Nick.

     

    WHEN: APRIL 24, 2010

     

    THE PLACE: NEW YORK LIFE PARKING LOT

     

    THE TIME: 7:30am THE BUS LEAVES SHORTLY

     

    DIRECT TO: CASTLE WINERY FOR:

    A REGAL EXPERIENCE AND LUNCH

     

    THEN ON TO: JUSTIN WINERY FOR: AN OLD FASHIONED GROWING TECHNIQUE AND A SIP OR TWO

     

    THEN ON TO: WHAT EVER THE MIND OF SIR NICK CAN

    CONCEIVE AND BELIEVE HE CAN ACHIEVE

     

    WILL THERE BE FUN ON THE BUS?

    SEE ABOVE FOR NICK’S MIND - - - YES!!!!

     

    At the head table were Rosendo Pena, Dr. Pad, and Patti O’Neill and of course our esteemed Program. And, of course, President Louis Smaldino.

     

    The Invocation was eloquently given by Scott Shewan, the pledge of allegiance was led by Genevie Puenta. And Ron Dustin introduced the visiting Rotarians and guests.

     

    Travelers were: Ted Marsella, Hawaii for his and Jan’s 17TH anniversary. He brought PresLou some coffee and a lay- was this a side excursion Ted experienced? Peter Scheer traveled to Las Vegas and brought our esteemed Pres some “Winning Gunmmies that were made in China. Peter also brought something to ensure Pres Lou a quiet nights sleep - the sign from the door knob that says “Do Not Disturb.” To Peter Bradley I ask, “is this theft?” Hey I don’t make these things up I just report what I hear, or maybe it’s what I want to hear.

     

    Cliff Speight announced March, 6th is the Regional ARC Bowling tournament at Cedar Lanes at 10:00am Please see Cliff Sp8 to sign up.

     

    Erik Mayu presented a check for $1,000.00 to Susan Krikorian and Nancy Casnian from the Friends of the Gillis Branch Library. A branch library opened in 1940 in The Tower District. This library is available for youth to come in and use the computer to finish their homework and or just study.

     

    Dick Powell announced River Park Rotary has moved to the Daily Grill on Monday’s. And that on March 10th their club will be holding a fund raiser - see Dick for details.

     

    Our Rotarian of the day is Brother John Frost. John entered Rotary on September 19, 1985 when Bill Duke was president and Dick Ellsworth brought him in (thank you Dick). As a graduate in the field of Architecture from the University of Arizona in Tucson John was offered the plum job of sweeping garages and worked his way up the ladder until he got to unload boxcars in Tucson. John’s favorite thing in Rotary is Serving. As a club we are grateful for John’s service in the field when we have our fund raisers.

     

    Mark Smith didn’t win the raffle. You see our fearless leader, the Right Honerable President Louis lost all of his (our) marbles. The story was suspicious at best but it is the truth This was with very little fanfare - Ho Hum.

     

    The ever lovely Patti O’Neill introduced our speaker for the day, Dr. David Cehrs talking about unsustainable water demands in California. David and his wife farm 140 acres near Sanger and David teaches at Reedley College. David has his PHD in Hydrology and he began his career in 1973 at the water management lab of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. Currently he is on the Board of the Kings River Conservation District. If you drink water you must be a water expert! The KRCD is made up of 11 incorporated cities. The water table is dropping every year and has dropped 150′ in some areas. The demand is always greater than the supply creating a chronic overdraft. 56% of all water in the area goes to landscaping. As residents of the area we use 275 gallons of water per person per day. As an comparative example the Netherlands use only 35 gallons of water per person per day. For us to solve this problem we will create only losers. Where will the food come from if we control the water issue? Probably imports but it will be expensive. China, Saudi Arabia and South Korea are buying land around the globe to support their food needs and what are we doing? Our legislature is more concerned with their precious votes than what is “RIGHT” for the people. To make clear this problem: Agriculture is using 80% of the water and the people are using 20%. We have a problem and it is not going to get better by itself. The biggest obstacle is our political arena. But, then the environmentalists contribute their share too.

     

    Well that is another marvelous day in the can and so I must bid you, “till vi möter igen mina vänner. Swedish for “until we meet again my friends”. Sorry Skip, I couldn’t help myself.

     

    And finally my heartfelt thanks go out to Peter Bradley for giving me this opportunity.

     

    Dedicated to your service I remain Terry Jon

Leave a Reply