A scratchy version of “It’s a grand old flag” played over the loudspeakers followed by a bugle call. President Gregg Gardiner called on WWII veteran Ted Welton to lead the pledge and Bill McAuley gave the invocation. In mid-invocation another bugle call sounded. This year is over produced. The meal consisted of chile rellenos, Mexican casserole, chicken enchiladas, Ambrosia salad, and dessert. The president sat alone at the head table, looking forlorn. His birthday is in July, yet no one with a July birthday sat with him. Even the program speakers sat elsewhere. Apparently this is the year of Rodney Dangerfield.
“I don’t get no respect”, he mourned. He fined all the July birthdays $10.
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| Kim Bauriedel complains |
Kim Bauriedel objected pointing out that it’s up to the prez to announce the rules of decorum before the year begins. Gregg then announced that today was Milk Chocolate Day just to change the subject. Corky Cornwell volunteered to sit at the head table because he was retiring. Gregg then recognized him for wearing nothing but a fig leaf in a recent NC Journal photo. That doesn’t sound very retiring to me. Things were getting weird. Keith Crossley came up to do a new feature “The Foundation Minute” Rotarian Archie Klump of the Cleveland club started the Foundation in 1917 by contributing 26.50. In today’s money it would be $500.
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| Jesse Klair receives an award. |
The prez then called up Jesse Klair for rebuilding his McDonald’s store on 4th street in Eureka. It took 76 days and cost 2.6 million dollars. All the fixtures are LED lights. The old building was 43 years old, leaked, and had plumbing problems. Gregg presented him with two awards, a Toys For Tots Commander’s Award for feeding all the volunteers, and a Rotarian of the Month Award. Anyone who wants to tour the new facility can come this Thursday 7/31 between 4 and 7 pm. Then we got back on that “no respect” thing. First Gregg fined everyone who missed his first meeting $20. Then he asked each table to discuss the meaning of “respect”. Everyone pretended to do that. Finally he donned a purple Roman Toga and laurel crown and proclaimed himself Caesar.
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| Et Tu, Brute? |
He made everyone shout “Hail Caesar Gregg”. Someone yelled “Where’s Brutus when we need him?” You may think I’m making this up, but even I couldn’t have come up with anything that strange.
Mercifully he ran out of president’s time, forgot to do the drawing, and introduced our speaker twice.
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| Greg Seiler discourses |
It was fellow club member Greg Seiler whose subject was the Humboldt Business Challenge, a new program to encourage entrepreneur development in our community. Humboldt Business Challenge provides a catalyst for discovering talented and aspiring entrepreneurs, vetting their ideas, and connecting them with the people and resources needed for them to flourish in Humboldt County. It replaces Economic Fuel a similar program started by Rob and Cheri Arkley 8 years ago. Of the 64 teams recognized in a local business competition over the last 8 years, 36 businesses continue to operate today. Thirty-three of those businesses remain headquartered in Humboldt County. Without the creation of the Humboldt Business Challenge, there would be no other catalyst to carry on this successful tradition. This contest will be open to all would-be entrepreneurs, regardless of age or schooling.
Target date for the start is September 3rd. It will culminate in a trade show in 2015. For more information contact Greg Seiler. Talking points: Is our fearless leader a few stories short of a complete issue? More next week.
Submitted by Hank Ingham
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