Rotary Club of Eureka, California

Meeting of the Rotary Club of Eureka

November 18, 2012

Kathy Cloney Gardiner led us in the flag salute.  Lisa Slack gave the invocation. 

Ziggy got a brief report on Sam, whose last name shall not be spoken.  Greg Williston said Sam is a good conversationalist and encouraged club members to invite him over for dinner.  He is studying US history, so that would be a good topic. 

Steve Lafferty then gave his craft talk.  He bought Stewart Communications from Bob Stewart and incorporated it last year.  The firm sells and installs professional phone systems.  His wife is pregnant with their first child who they will not name “Jack”.  I’m sure he’ll be a wiry little guy. 

Greg Gardiner introduced new member Arnie Klein who immediately threw his hat into the ring as a candidate for District Attorney.  Carlton Nielsen gave the Past President’s talk, reminding Arnie that there are no assigned seats in Rotary even though some people sit together in the same place all the time.  It’s all an illusion. 

Mike Cunningham reminded everyone that the Rotary Christmas party is coming up December 14 at the Ingomar.  It’s $75 a person.  Bring your own person.  

Dave Dillon was singled out for the 4 weeks he spent at his condo in Hawaii.  $100 went into the lanai. 

Chuck Ellsworth reported that he had been in Texas pouring footings for his new home on Goose Island.  The island is equidistant from the middle of nowhere and Corpus Christi.  Chuck got a $150 t-shirt. 

Christian Hill was having too much fun at the recent Redwood Memorial Hospital fundraiser so Ziggy raised $50 from him. 

Finally, Ziggy corralled Wayne Wilson and fined him for no longer raising Arabian horses.  Wayne admitted that there are a lot of things he no longer does.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, a slip of paper with eight candidates for the board was given to each member with instructions to vote for four.  The new board members were Jason Eads, Christian Hill, Greg Seiler, and Carol Rische. 

Nancy Dean and Greg Williston won the Spengler Science Fair raffle.

Our speaker for the day was Sasha Marini whose topic was Teen Court.  The court promotes “restorative justice” and acts as an alternative to the Juvenile Justice System. It offers youth who are first time offenders of misdemeanor infractions the opportunity to be judged by their peers and given sentences that promote self-improvement.  Positive peer pressure is very effective.  Teen Court is sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club of the Redwoods.  When the offender completes his or her “sentence”, their record will be expunged.  Teen court’s participants have a recidivism rate of under 10%.  The proceedings are guided by volunteer lawyers who serve as mentors.  Ms. Marini added that they were looking for attorneys to volunteer.  Arcata Police Department’s diversion program refers most of the offenders.  Even though Teen Court is based in Eureka, the Eureka Police Department doesn’t participate.  The court adjudicates 4 cases a month.  There are 1,100 Teen Courts nation wide.  There are 75 in California.  Teen Courts must not be confused with Trailer Courts which do not dispense justice but do provide water and sewer hookups. 

Penned by Hank Ingham