January 24, 2011
Meeting of the Rotary Club of Eureka
Jim Davis led the pledge of allegiance and Bill McAuley the invocation.
Visiting Rotarians: Bob Burchit (Soutwest Club, and wife Jane), Paul Knoblich from Calistoga, our District Governor Jim Flamson also from Calistoga, and Kathy Philp wife of Gary Philp.
Guests of Rotarians
Kim Bauriedel's wife Sile was present, and Gregg Gardiner's guest was Jesse Klair owner of McDonald's.
Student Guests
Carroth Topham and Jacob Powell were guests of Gregg Haulk. They design websites and repair computers with the Information Technology Pathway program, telling us a bit about their program from the podium.
Announcements
Past President Mike Moreland was warmly welcomed by our club for his first return after a long and serious illness. He thanked the club for their prayers and cards.
DG Jim Flamson said he was happy to see we are still serving chicken for lunch, revealing to him and wife that there are at least 45 ways to serve chicken within our district. Our district conference is the first weekend in May in Reno and Rotary has hired an Amtrak train. Rotary International conference is in New Orleans (no chicken at these conferences?).
Bob Morse said that the dictionaries are scheduled to be distributed by the end of January.
Jay Bahner announced our club's upcoming annual Raffle, which is in need of good items to be auctioned. The date is March 12th at Baywood Country Club and the theme is Hawaiian. Tickets will be available next Monday. Please call Jay at J's RV Center if you can donate an item:
# 443 2277.
Mike Cunningham said Friday night our club is going to My Fair Lady at the North Coast Repertory Theater on January 29 at 7:00pm. Contact Mike at 441 1111 or mike@cmmtax.com.
Neil Carnam announced a Pool Party to take place February 10th at the Eureka Inn. This is a 28th Annual Chocolate Gala to celebrate the Vector Aquatic Center returning the warm water therapy pool tour community. For more information call 442 6463 or see their web page at www.vectorpt.org.
John Bradley said the Backpack for Kids program needs volunteers to fill packs from February through the month of March every Thursday at the back door of Humboldt Moving and Storage. It begins at 4:45pm. Sign the card if you can help.
Recognitions
Dennis Hunter and Dean Christensen were recognized for Coast Central Credit Union's support to our community through a generous grant.
Mike Downey is now the actual Sheriff (which drew a vigorous cowboy faœYahoo! from former Sheriff Gary's wife Kathy. Gary was not fined but grinned from ear to ear). Mike was fined $5.
DG Jim Flamson rose and received a Rotary Coaster with our Club's current theme.
Bruce Emad was asked to stand and be recognized for remaining on the Planning Commission. He was fined $55, proving that no good deed goes unpunished.
Program
Ron Pierre introduced our program. Ron has been volunteering as the state of California Ombudsman for military veterans. He was involved in the first Gulf War and feels keenly our responsibility to help veterans who have returned from war. He asked if we could support local troops visibly and bodily when they return from their deployments. Next, Bob Burchit introduced Mark Klodzinski who has walked 4500 miles on behalf of Veterans. Mark came here (hiking of course) from San Francisco to share his story.
Kevin Haynes was first to the podium; he hails from Buffalo, N.Y. describing himself as a veterans advocate first and foremost. Kevin and Mark work for Warrior's Wish Foundation as volunteers, advocating for the needs of veterans. He told some moving stories about veterans with specific needs before they passed away here at home. Warrior's Wish has served 183 veterans who were terminal. Many of them have simple needs before they die.
Mark Klodzinski read A Walk Across America, by Peter Jenkins, and was so inspired by the book that he decided to walk across America himself. The stimulus came from his two brothers who were recently deployed. Mark left March 15, and hiked until a few weeks ago; the last week or so he was able to finish the journey with his brother. As he meets people he hands out pledge cards encouraging them to see their web site and make a donation to Veterans. He recently took 15 days hiking from San Francisco to Eureka and was very impressed with the beauty and grandeur of Northern California. He said the walking distance from SF to Eureka was about 305 miles.
Mark plans to write a book, and says he had a lot of help from somebody upstairs during his trek: e.g., he only had ten days of rain the entire trip. He found help along the way, and hopes to inspire others to similar efforts. All you have to do is take that first step, said Mark.
Next stop? Houston where he plans to walk around the beltway for veterans—and reconnect with the love of his life. He is here a couple more days and will not hike, but fly, back to Houston. Greatest obstacle? The first day getting started when doubts assailed him: but encouragement came soon a nice lady showered him with food after he had hiked an hour or so. He seemed nonchalant at overcoming natural obstacles like boars, bears and alligators.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dan Price
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