March 4, 2013
Wayne Wilson led the flag salute.
Tom McMurray led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Visiting Rotarians included several people, none of whom I can name. I'm sure
they are all lovely people.
Guests of Rotarians
Debbie Storre, Sile Bauriedel, Dr. Ken Whelton,
and Patrick Cleary. Dr. Ethan Essian of Nigeria, Ekete Udo of Nigeria, and Erete
Unan
Maya Cobb, president of Interact, and Francim Aguilar,
both of Eureka High. They are doing a raffle for a school in Kenya.
Birthdays and Anniversaries are on the book, congratulations to all.
Announcements
Molly Owen and Spencer Gaxiola, outbound exchange students, are planning a
fundraiser to pay for their exchanges. On the 13th of April they are having an
event at the Bayside Grange. Auction items! Music! Steak dinner! $25 at the
door.
Incoming President Ziggy Ziggenfuss went to Rotary President training. Dues are
going up $16, and it was an enjoyable conference with wonderful speakers.
Sally Arnot walked to the front, using up her entire two minutes. Fireside chats
are coming back, so you can have a glass of wine, air your grievances, and have
another glass of wine. Sign up, via the Internet. They begin the week of April
15.
Recognitions
Ken Stodder has grand kids, who are sadly in college so he can't be recognized
for their sports accomplishments. So, President Dean fined him anyway, rainmaker
awarded.
Doug Lanning is switching from paper billing to electronic. And yet, he still
had to pay his fines by writing a check instead of using PayPal. Oh, the irony.
Spengler Raffle Winners
$10 George Orwen and a winner who wishes to remain anonymous. Or I missed it.
Speaker
Past President Bauriedel introduced Sharon Tennison, to discuss her work in
Russia. Sharon spoke on her experiences talking to the Russian people and helping to
train Russian youth on modern business practices, through the Center for Citizen
Initiatives.
Sharon had four children, didn't know any Russian, and decided 30 years ago that
she wanted to do something about tension between America and the USSR. So she
did.
Sharon went to the Soviet Consulate and asked permission to walk the streets of
Russia and see the average Russian and try to begins dialogue. Amazingly she was
approved and so her and a group of friends went to the USSR. After meeting lots
of Russians, one man asked if they had anything for alcoholism in America. On
her next trip, Sharon brought books on AA, and a delegation of AA spokespeople. 
The program has proliferated throughout Russia the past 20 years.
Fast forward and some young Russians asked her for a program on how to start
businesses in 1989. Sharon adapted a program based on the Marshall Plan and
began to train Russians on starting businesses.
Rotary is strong in Russia, spread across 11 time zone! 85% of the entrepreneurs
who came through Sharon's program were sponsored by Rotarians. As a result, many
of the returning interns started Rotary clubs of their own when they got back to
Russia.
The entrepreneur training spawned Russian-based entrepreneurial programs, and
the methodology has been multiplying across the nation.
Sharon hosted a symposium on corruption reduction.
All of her programs have been extremely successful, and she has just released a
book on her experiences working with Russia. She credits Rotary with being
instrumental to the success of her programs.
The guest was thanked, the library book was signed, and the meeting ended on
time.
Respectfully submitted,
John Harper
John Harper
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