Rose’s Ruminations
THE DEMOTION- What a great night! The Social Committee led by our own PP Lisa Lorenz, including Kimberly McFarland, Tammi Souza, Jeff Schinkel, Cyndy Mozzetti, Dirk Lorenz, Wendy Mills (obtainer of the plastic butts), Bruce Prescott, Mary Contois, Manohar Reddy, Sandra Young and Kathy Laidlaw, really “kicked this one up!” Their plan was to move Angus out in grand tartan, bag pipe, scotch tape, plastic butt style. Mission accomplished. Thank you to the Youngs for again letting us invade their home. Daren and Sandy – you both are always so gracious and I know everyone in the club appreciates it and loves evenings at your beautiful home. Then there was the Scotch Tape Band! Great job Jeff Schinkel, Bruce Prescott, Ray Pederson, PE Brian Hughes, PP Steve Landon, and John Dutra for great kazoo piping entertainment and the mooning!! Please keep the club informed on your next gig. As most of you know we have enjoyed a RICH history of roasting over the years with Dick McKay and Mark Crutcher followed by Angus and Randy Hees stepping in for a few roasting years. This year we were in Roasting Transition; Angus’s roasting team was none other than Stephen Allen, Dan Smith, Dirk Lorenz and Jeff Schinkel with BIG shoes to fill or should we say a BIG SEAT to sit on? The roasting hearts are the same with the roasting styles all different and fun; GREAT JOB to our year 1 Roasters. Congratulations to Don Cole as the 2016-2017 Rotarian of the year – soooooo well deserved, and thank you for ALL you do for us Don! Several Rotarians commented that “their cheeks hurt when they got home from laughing so much,” – so did mine! That’s the night it was –your year may not be remembered Angus (JK) but your demotion will live on in Niles Rotary demotion history as the highlight of the 2016-2017 Presidential year. My favorite moment of the evening was when Angus’s son Cosmos very politely, with the excitement only a 13 year old has, interrupted his father to ASK him, “ DAD can we have a kitten, Mom already said yes?” Really, I got a little teary as Cosmos pulled his father away for kitten overview and selection. Angus, being the Family First guy that he is, dutifully followed his very excited son. Kitten due in the home as soon as they can leave the litter! It was a perfect end to a wonderful night.
The year began with decorating the Area 3 float for the 4th of July Parade. We had about 20-25 people present alllllll with their special gifts of decorating, and as Chuck would say “We got’er done!” Early morning on the 4th of July about 60 Rotarians, Interactors and Rotoractors turned out to ride the float and make Area 3 clubs known. They did this by singing the Four Way Test as we marched or rode (in my case) the parade route. I floated back to Fremont Flowers with my fellow Mission San Jose Club President Linda Anderson and PP Larry Anderson. Let me just say things came down much faster than they went up. It was a fun day followed by a “ya all come now ya hear” invitation by PP Chuck Canada and PP Carol Smith at Chuck’s place. We relaxed with wonderful food and fabulous fellowship. As dusk began to hit, off we went to Larry Bowen’s to watch the fireworks. GREAT WAY to begin our NEW ROTARY YEAR!
It is with genuine tears that I write this Thank You to MY ENTIRE club for the amazing welcome and first meeting. Everyone was so warm and encouraging upon arrival – I was very nervous but with so much love and true encouragement the nerves began to leave. THE OPENING – I have no idea what you all were watching while I was in the hall but when the doors opened and the SONG began all I could do was smile – my afterthought was I should have done something witty BUT– too late! I am humbled and so appreciative of our club’s enthusiasm and energy. THEN came the HAPPY CUP – I will NEVER forget the club’s kindness and expressions of appreciation shown towards my Father! He raised me, empowered me, always believed in me, loved me, held me when I cried, picked me up when I was down, and is my biggest cheer leader. He is our families’ ROCK! Now our roles are a little reversed – but he prays for me daily, still encourages me, and thanks me every day for simplest things. He is my heart and I could not have begun my year without him. Your kindness to him means more than you will ever know. Thank you -Thank you from the bottom of my heart. MY first question in July was how does one follow Angus? With KRAZY GEORGE of course, banging his drum, making us cheer and YES!!!! WE GOT TO DO THE WAVE! BIG shout out to Sandi and Dick Pantages, Seals fans, for connecting us with Krazy George. He started our year off with a BIG BANG and A WAVE!!! I’m hoping now that my first meeting is over I can relax a little and just talk with you all as if we were one on one in the hall.
Best day ever for me – I will work hard to be a good steward of your club this next year.
My second club meeting was our very own Richard D. King. I was truly the most nervous of all. I messed up my intro, messed up my Agenda, totally blew off announcements, and forgot to give RICK his speaker gift! With all of that confusion we were able to honor Manuel Franco, Sandy Stabile and Cyndy Mozzetti with their Paul Harris Fellow pins. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to Rotary International. Next up were 3 very moving Interactors from Washington, Robertson and Alsion. They talked about their time at RYLA. They all began their week not expecting much and ended forever changed. What a privilege to have a front row seat to see the students impacted in such a way. I am honored to be a part of a club that can support 3 high schools and give THIS opportunity to the future leaders in our world. Thank you to the RYLA drink team of Steve Landon, Adam Moura, Angus Cochran, and of course the Ambassadors of Fun Mary Lynn Pelican and twin sister Carol Goedde. Mission hydrating-the-youth accomplished!
Following the RYLA kids, Daren Young introduced Rick King like only Daren can – with fun, honor, respect and love. HOW does he do it? We have heard Rick King speak so many times and yet he continues to deliver a message of inspiration, hope, and encouragement always with humor and yes tears. He is loved by the nations but I think it safe to say our Niles Family loves and appreciates him the most. He came to the meeting with a brief case full of about 10 flags, a scarf, a tie, and a big piece of wood that he bestowed on Daren – I’m still not sure what that was, something to do with wine (Cherie cleaned out a drawer at home). While he noted that he had an Eagle pin with him, that little trinket didn’t make it out of his brief case. NO WORRIES. I sent him the gift card left in my purse and he blessed me with my, Cherie designed, Eagle pin. I’m a pin girl so my Eagle pin is now my very favorite! Thank you for everything you do for our club Cherie and Rick King. We are truly the luckiest club in OVER 35,000 worldwide clubs.
My 3rd meeting began by honoring Bill Arvoy, Dolores Viano, and Gary Basrai as Rotary International Major Donors. This means they have all donated at least $10,000 to the Rotary International Foundation. Congratulations and thank you so much for your generosity. Our speaker turned out to be a big surprise of fun. Dan Kamin is a mime and a magician. He worked with Robert Downey Jr to prepare for his role as Charlie Chaplin in a movie about Charlie’s life. I think I speak for the whole club when I say we had no idea when he began where his talk was going – he started by discussing a book called Stressbusters – things were looking pretty grim until almost all of his clothes fell off and he fled the room. He returned with amazing stories about Charlie Chaplain, magic, and jokes. He had us all smiling, laughing, amazed and fascinated by stories from the Charlie Chaplain past. What a surprise, what a great meeting.
4th Meeting done – Only 46 more to go J! We again had a packed house filled with our club and friends. Upon their return from Alaska it was noted by Harry Avila that our own Heather Boudames was the best fisherwoman in Alaska! Girl Power!
Paul Iannaccone is on a roll let me tell you!!! This week he honored 3 more Paul Harris Society members (PHSM) Dolores Viano, Bill Arvoy, and Sam Forbes. Paul Harris Society members commit to donating to Rotary International a $1000 a year. We ended Angus’s year with 9 PHSM and now have 12. Great work Paul. We enjoyed an interesting presentation from the International Service Chair of Castro Valley Rotary, Obse Lubo, who talked about her home of Ethiopia and her passion for the Breath of Life project. This project has been in the works for about 3 years and will bring the ability to produce oxygen for many hospitals which will assist in saving many lives. Thank you Obse for you work with Rotary International.
Friendship Friday continues to be a lovely way to spend Friday evenings with Family and Friends. Thank you to Steven Lloyd, Sandi & Dick Pantages, Terri & Steve Landon, Dana & Rick Jones, Chuck Canada for opening their homes, yards and fire pits. And we have more scheduled for August/September, plus more from people who want to host. If you have not attended please do – they are open to all and a great way to get to know each other in a relaxed setting.
August is looking like it will be a very friendly way to end the summer – We will have one last Music in the Park on the 3rd with the best cover band East Bay Mudd. I am a LONG time Tower of Power girl (yes I know all the words to ALL their songs), followed by Friendship Friday at the Kearns on the 4th and then dinner at Mission Coffee and Footloose at the Smith Center produced by Star Struck on the 5th. We are giving you Sunday to rest!
We will also enjoy 2 community service projects – LEAF on August 19 at 1:30 pm, and Feed the Hungry at the Centerville Free Dining Room on the 31st of August from 3:50-6:00. We have several other Friendship Fridays planned with homes to be announced. It looks like August will be a fun and productive month.
ONE SHORT NOTE – Washington Hospital is undergoing major work in their kitchen. They have had to have the floors torn up in order to replace very old pipes. The staff is working hard to provide us with quality lunches but are at the mercy of the surrounding restaurants. What appeared to be simple fix is ending up not so simple. They continue to discuss ways to serve the club with both regular and vegetarian meals. Please be patient with the staff. If all goes well we should have our kitchen back in a month or so.
Fondly,
President Rose
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