Rotary Club of Eureka, California

Meeting of Rotary Club of Eureka

July 12, 2010

Past President Steve Justus called on forty-year member Jim Howard to lead the pledge and Ryan Fray gave the invocation. Past District Governor Dave Dillon and all past presidents stood to welcome incoming president Carlton Nielsen, who for some reason has press coverage from the get-go. Past President Mike Moreland stood and got his pin from Steve Justus. Mike thanked the club for being there as he served last year. Steve Justus urged new President Carlton Nielsen to exemplify the Rotary motto, “Service above self.”

Visiting Rotarians were Liana Simpson of Old Town and Leigh Cunningham from Cupertino. Also, new President Nielsen introduced his parents, and Rotaract attendees also were introduced.

Christine Witt of the Humboldt Area Foundation was a guest of Diane Cipperly. Hank Pierson introduced his wife Cathy.

Exchange student Martin Greve went more places this past year than anyone could count and was given the bon voyage in Danish by our new President. Martin leaves Friday. President Carlton had hosted Martin this past year, and encouraged members to host exchange students. Martin was sent off with a nice round of applause and sincere thanks. Our inbound exchange student Gabriel Umidon will arrive the 12^th of August from Milan, Italy.

Greg Pierson was pinned as president-elect by our new president. Sporting a kind of 1970s hair do, Greg promised to get a hair cut when he becomes president—perhaps even before.

Carley Robbins introduced her Rotaract officers to our club and gave an update on their African fund raising project. She also announced that they had received a presidential citation from Rotary International for the project.

President Nielsen introduced his board:

David Tyson -- Operations

Gary Todoroff—Club Service Communications

Diane Cipperly--Club Service Membership

Russ Harris--Club Service Meetings

Scott Guild—Club Service Youth

Jason Eads—Revenue and Grants

Gregg Williston—Social Service

Gregg Gardiner—World Service.

On the video screen was a story of how we taught our Russian Rotary counterparts to do a fundraiser, and they raised over three thousand dollars with their Rotary Barnaul Cotillion Ball—with which they were very pleased.

Hank Pierson brought Carlton into Rotary in 2001 and Carlton thanked him. Carlton wanted us to know the District Governor is Jim Flamson of Calistoga and Jim will be here August 6^th. Theme for the year is “Connecting our Communities and our Members, Through Service Above Self Since 1923.”

Carlton gave the maintenance and improvement of Cloney Field as an example of service to our community. Another example is homeless kids at Eureka High who fall behind because they lack computer skills and access. We have donated computers to give such kids computer access. Carlton would like to see these kinds of projects multiplied. He would like also to increase membership. More money might be hard to come by in light of the recession, but more members would certainly be possible for the upcoming year.

Club members may be happy to know that recognitions will be tax deductible for the coming year. More small events will be publicized and created as optional. Finally, fundraisers that garner funds from outside the club will be implemented this coming year.

Carlton gave a bit of personal family history. He thanked his parents for getting him here and wife and children for putting up with him. While managing the Staples brought Carlton here, he is now in business for himself running Nylex Network Solutions which specializes in computer programming; he says he likes working for himself a lot better than working for others. After a not too brief--but interesting--description of his ancestors and their feuds from Scotland to Denmark, to the USA, the meeting adjourned--early. So the era of King Carlton is off to a good start!

Respectfully submitted,

Dan Price