The Rotary Club of Eureka Burl September 29, 2014

It was Confucius Day, or so we were told. Lunch was egg rolls, fried rice, lo mein, pot stickers, and Chinese chicken salad. There were fortune cookies on the table. The fortunes said things like “is good idea to give to Rotary” and “You will come into some money. Give it to Polio Plus.” Former Marine Bill Tuttle led the pledge of allegiance. Bill McAuley gave the invocation. Wayne Wilson is having an operation in San Francisco next week.

We add a new member

We went immediately to introducing new members. Susan Tissot joined the Club. She is the fund-raiser for Humboldt Botanical Gardens. Tom Schallert introduced her and Will Kay gave the past president’s admonition. From there we went to the Annual Membership Meeting.

Jay Reed

Jay Reed noted the problems we had with dues collection last year, and this year we will mail the invoices rather than e-mail them. Last year we had a deficit of $4,000. 80 members participated in last year’s event at the Ingomar. We had $8,000 in revenue.

Greg Seiler

Greg Seiler talked about the results of the recent member survey. Members felt we needed more education. 90 % of them were involved in community service projects, dispelling the notion that we were a checkbook club. They wanted to see more fellowship, and more craft talks.

Gregg Gardiner went over our membership goals for the year. We have 8-10% attrition every year. This year we started out with 124 members, and we are now at 134. His goal is to reach 150 members. If we achieve that goal we can restore funding to Backpacks for Kids and reduce dues to $400. Our big projects this year are remodeling the Boys and Girls Club, Cleaning up the Serenity Inn and assembling a playground there, and putting 3 redwood benches in Rotary Grove. Our club has $700,000 in the Sign Smith fund, an additional 60,000 in the Rotary Endowment Fund, and we have recently added the Harvey Harper Scholarship fund and the Scott Guild Memorial Fund. We are rolling in money.

Lucky winer

No one drew the joker and won the pot of $90. It was noted that last week’s winner of $310 gave the money to the Boys and Girls Club.

Dr. Kim Bauriedel introduced our speaker, Doctor Donald Baird health officer from the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services. He spoke of the growing problem of parents refusing to get their children vaccinated.

Dr. Baird

The resistance is based on fears that the shots cause autism. A study done twenty years ago and since discredited is still widely believed. Young people have not been exposed to childhood diseases like measles, mumps, whooping cough, diptheria and polio. Once the population falls below a certain threshold of immunity there is a chance that those diseases could resurface in epidemic form. It’s a good idea to get your vaccinations renewed every five years. Flu vaccine is 50% effective. Hepatis B shots are a good idea. Watch the NPR special on Vaccines for more information and wash your hands.

confused

Gregg ended our session by quoting Confucius, who was born in 1541 BC. “Confucius say, never trust quotes you read on internet”
Typed with rubber gloves and a surgical mask by Hank Ingham

The Rotary Club of Eureka Burl September 22, 2014

Menu: Fried Chicken, mashed potatoes, salad bar, and flan for dessert.

A man holding a basket full of paper slips greeted attending Rotarians and told them to draw a number. The tables had corresponding numbers. You were supposed to sit at the table whose number you had drawn. That way, each member would make new friends. I give it a week. Ex-Jar Heads John Burger, Pat Folkins, and Gregg Gardiner stood together as the speakers played “Halls of Montezuma” which is either a song about Eucalyptus flavored cough drops from South America, or the Marine Corps theme song. We did the pledge and then John Gierek gave the invocation. He asked us to pray for Wayne Wilson, who is in SF being treated for a brain aneurysm and for John Petrusha, a former Rotarian who passed away last week.

President Gregg announced that the first two Change the World Canisters had been turned in and counted. Jay Bahner’s had $350 and Gregg’s had a measly $157. Mindy Bussman reminded us that Backpacks for Kids would be starting up again October 2nd. Bag packers are needed. Rick Littlefield was fined for having abandoned the wine he won in last week’s raffle. Pat Folkins saved it for him. Now it’s a $25 bottle of wine. Mike Martin just returned from England where he spent 28 days digging for treasure. He found a 3800-year old bronze ax head and a gold coin minted by Henry VII worth $2,000. Dale Warmuth had been in New Zealand where, he claimed he “had just been helping that sheep over the fence”. Baaaad joke. $100. The sergeant at arms Steve Lafferty announced that we can now pay our recognitions with a credit card. Wendy Purnell finally got her blue badge. She joined the club in 2008. She said she’d waited so long because blue clashed with her outfits. Our esteemed leader called our attention to the Fellowship hour this Friday from 5 to 6 pm at the Ingomar Club Pool. It’s a chance to meet new friends if the numbered tables didn’t work for you. Bring a parka. Then it was time for a drawing. The aforementioned Wendy Purnell won a bottle of Rotary wine. Then calamity of all calamities, and interloper from another club drew the joker and won $310. It was Dennis Reinholtzen, now poster boy for Rotary Make Ups.

Our speaker was Paula Patton, Times-Standard publisher and member of our Rotary club. The Times-Standard is the only newspaper covering Northern California. It has a rich history dating back to 1854, it had local family ownership up until 1967 after that it passed through two or three more acquisitions until 1996 when it was purchased by Dean Singleton of Media News. In 2013 it became part of the Digital First Media when its owner the Media News group merged with 21st Century Media. It’s currently for sale “for the right price”. Paula told us what’s going on at the Time-Standard today and how they’re dealing with the new digital world. She presented a peppy video and then gave us some statistics. 20% of her revenue comes from subscribers, 25% from inserts, 25% on line and 30% from local display advertisers. Their website had 950,000 page views last month. The paper has 72 employees not counting paper boys, who are independent contractors. The paper uses 815 tons of newsprint a year. They have a new layout that is assembled at a hub in Chico. There have been some changes. Paid subscribers have ceased to be a focus. They no longer deliver a paper to Crescent City. Craig’s list caused the demise of classified ads. They took the news content out of the Tri-City Weekly. Other than that, things are just fine.
In a last-minute surge of new membership, Gregg had Jay Reed introduce new member Anthony Stubbs who works for Jay’s accounting firm Alfs and Evans.
Gamely submitted by Hank Ingham

Rotary Club of Eureka Burl September 15, 2014

Lunch Menu: Salad bar, pork chops, meatloaf, gravy mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, applesauce, rolls, and dessert. Called to order by President Gregg Gardiner at 12:26pm
President Gardiner informed us that today is the 200th anniversary of the writing of the Star Spangled Banner. He talked about the significance & history of our national anthem and then we all sang the song together, led by Gregg’s guest, Christine. We actually sounded pretty good thanks to Christine who kept us pretty much on key. Carlton Nielsen led the Invocation. VISITING ROTARIANS: Jim M. and Praj White both from Arcata Sunrise. GUESTS OF ROTARIANS: Bruce Rupp introduced Hawley Butterfield, Ted Loring introduced Eli Savage our soon to be outbound exchange student, Don Leonard introduced his eldest son, Scott Leonard. Jeff Leonard brought Kim Bergel. FOUNDATION MINUTE: Dr. Bauriedel talked about what $100 can buy you. A new pair of shoes, a nice dinner out for 2 people or a new stove for a family that can last for many years. Rotarians that contribute $100 a year to the Rotary Foundation are considered sustaining members once they have contributed that amount annually for 10 years they become a Paul Harris Fellow. Of course everybody is urged to contribute more than that if they can. He asked us to remember that as little as $100 a year can change lives, it can make a difference. If you want to know more about the Foundation there is a seminar coming up on October 4th at the Fortuna Monday Club. A Registration form will be coming soon. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Dr. Bauriedel announced that a former Rotary Club of Eureka member, Mac Gardner recently passed away. He was a 20-year member of our club and very involved. He was the former Council Executive for the Redwood Area Council Boy Scouts of America. Funeral Services will be held at the Eureka Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Dolbeer St at 11am on Wednesday September 17th 2014. President Gardiner announced the names of the four new members of the Board of Directors… Steven Lafferty, Dale Warmuth, Nathan Nilsen and Mindy Bussman. Congratulations to all. SPENGLER-HOWARD RAFFLE: Rick Littlefield won a bottle of Riverbend Cellars wine. Stacy Lane drew from the deck of cards for the joker and a pot of $280.00 however, no joker. The pot will now go to $300 next week. GUEST SPEAKER INTRODUCTION BY: Matthew Owen. Matthew told us that over 50% of arrests in Humboldt County are alcohol related, it was illegal to drink alcohol 81 years ago. Tobacco kills more than 5 million people a year and takes 10 years off a person’s life. Prescription painkillers are responsible for 15,000 deaths due to overdoses a year. These are all legal, regulated, controlled and taxed businesses. Humboldt County has a 4 Billion dollar industry that is untaxed, unregulated and uncontrolled. Our panel is here to talk and answer your questions about the Marijuana industry. GUEST SPEAKERS: Sheriff Mike Downey- he’s been working in marijuana eradication for over 30 years and has come to the realization that this is a free country. People should be allowed to make decisions about things like marijuana use as long as they are not a burden on the state, county, etc. He is not pro or against the legalization of marijuana but knows that what we are doing now isn’t working. There isn’t the manpower to enforce the laws. We either need to legalize or fully fund enforcement. Kevin Jodrey, Director of Wonderland Nursery in Garberville a medical marijuana facility feels that marijuana has made many medical advances and needs to be available to help people medically but it needs regulation. Natalynne Delapp, Executive Director of Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) in Arcata – Unregulated marijuana grows are currently impacting our Federal and Private lands, our wildlife and water. Something needs to change. Maggie Fleming- Incoming Humboldt County District Attorney – As a prosecuting attorney for 25 years she is definitely seeing a big impact to our environment from unregulated marijuana grows. Our regulations and enforcement has to deal with land and water use issues. Richard Marks- Organizer for California Cannabis, Elected Harbor Commissioner, and member of the Northcoast Rail Authority Director. His job at California Cannabis is to help draft an ordinance for legitimate cannabis growers in Humboldt County that will create a powerful unified voice and create sustainable and fair cultivation regulations. Luke Bruner- Treasurer and Director at Wonderland Nursery believes that Humboldt County has an opportunity to provide leadership for the rest of California. Questions and Answers included discussion on many topics including… (Sheriff Downey) difficulties and costs with enforcing laws now include the rough Humboldt County terrain and the need to employ helicopters which are extremely expensive to run. (Dan Price) There are many dangers of marijuana use it degrades IQ especially of youth, can cause Bipolar disease and Schizophrenia by those who use it chronically. He agrees that what we are doing is not working. (Kitty Poterack)- as a Pediatrician she applauds this panel. We need to move marijuana into the light of day so serious conversations can happen about the problems with use. (Bob Morse) How will legalization improve our ability to enforce marijuana grows that are downgrading the environment? (Sheriff Downey) It may help deter those coming here for profit only. Make it not as profitable for them. (Luke Bruner) Legalization will make marijuana growers a part of the business community meaning that they will join Rotary, need attorneys, accountants, etc. (Maggie Fleming) Oakland instituted an 18% sales tax on marijuana sales. (Sheriff Downey) One big problem is that Federal Law trumps State and County law. It is unlikely that the Federal Government will ever legalize marijuana use, as there are too many states in the middle of the US that will never vote that in. Right now they are not enforcing the law in those States that have legalized marijuana but they do have the legal ability to do that.

MEETING ADJOURNED: 1:30pm
Respectfully submitted, Alicia Cox

Rotary Club of Eureka Burl September 8, 2014

Lunch was breaded veal cutlets, mashed potatoes, noodles, and gravy. The dessert was Apple cobbler. The music was a recording by the Marine Corps Marching band. John Burger led the pledge. Dan Heinen gave the invocation asked us to keep Wayne Wilson and Al Crnch in our prayers. He announced the passing of Lorraine Steele, widow of former Rotary President Kelton Steele. She was 101.

Lisa Poirot, our exchange
Student from Belgium

Jeff Leonard introduced our exchange student from Belgium, Lisa Poirot. She’s working on her English and would like to be included in something you’re doing. Former member Craig Perrone re-joined our Club. We had saved his badge. Brad Curtis, anchor at News Channel 3, was introduced as a guest by J. Warren Hockaday. J had a birthday and to celebrate it, he raked leaves. Don’t they have an app for that?

Dr. Welton

Dr. Ted Welton also had a birthday. He was 93. He celebrated by going to his granddaughter’s wedding. Brian Papstein was also on the birthday list. He objected to the recognition so President Gregg made everyone who wasn’t wearing his rotary pin put five bucks on the table. Nice going, Brian. Dr. Kim Bauriedel celebrated his “birthday” by attending a wedding and a funeral. He pointed out that a person has only one birthday. All the rest are anniversaries of that one day. Happy Anniversary, Kim.

Jill MacDonald had a birthday
e-i-e-i-o

Jill MacDonald went to a family party for her b-day.

Steve McHaney

Steve McHaney admitted to missing a month of meetings while he was in Guam. He did bring back a rotary banner from Tumon Bay. Gregg congratulated

Jay Bahner

Jay Bahner for being the first Rotarian to return his Rotary International coin bank full of money. Second place is still open. Dr. Kim Bauriedel then presented the Rotary Minute.


What can Rotary do with one donation of $100? It can buy school supplies for 15 children in Costa Rica. Donate today. Gregg pulled the Spengler-Howard raffle tickets and no one won the cash so the pot is up to $280.

Arnold King

The subject of our presenter was the Tibet Rotaract Project – Arnold King is a local history teacher and is currently the membership chair for Lost Coast Rotaract. In 2010 he worked and taught for a vocational training institute for relocated nomads in the Tibetan city of Yushu, in China's Qinghai Province. During his time there the region experienced a devastating earthquake that destroyed over 70% of the buildings and killed over 3,000 people. It required the city to be almost completely rebuilt. It wasn’t easy. The area is at an altitude of over 10,500 feet and relief crews had to acclimate themselves before reaching the city. He came back to Humboldt and, with the help of H.S.U.'s Geography Department, Lost Coast Rotaract and the Rotary Club of Eureka, was able to raise thousands of dollars to help the vocational training center continue its operations in providing gainful opportunities and capacity building for at risk populations in this remote, high altitude trading hub. They have sewing classes, motorcycle repair, welding and other training. They don’t need any donations right now. They are waiting for the school to be rebuilt so that they can continue classes.

Brian Papstein: Warning: object may be bigger than it appears.

Submitted by Hank Ingham