Rotary Club of Eureka, California

Meeting of the Rotary Club of Eureka
February 6, 2012

We were just about to launch into the invocation when someone’s cell phone rang.  Ordinarily it’s hard to detect the phone’s owner, but since she was sitting at the head table 4 feet from the president, Kathy Cloney-Gardiner was busted. $10 for the Rotary coffers. Now back to the action. 

Student Guests
Our exchange student Tonje went to Trinidad this weekend and is planning a trip to LA with Tom and Tess Schallert.  He threatened to take her to Hollywood Boulevard. 

Announcements
Carol Rische introduced three worthy recipients of funding from Rotary’s Small Grants committee.  Ken Meece and Mary Kay of the Parkinson’s Support group, and someone from the local MS support group, thanked Rotary for $3,000, which enabled them to purchase a Theracycle.  It’s a motorized stationary bicycle that aids those with motion disorders. 

Ken Daer introduced a new member, Mindy Bussman, who is the daughter of Charlie Bussman.  She promised to attend meetings more often than Charlie and Ken. PP Burt Campton then promised her that she could sit at any table she wished, and that if someone gave her guff, they’d have to deal with “Battling Burt.” He has a black belt – and brown shoes. 

Burt then put on his Sign Smith Hat (figuratively) and introduced Six Sea Scouts.  We’re giving them $8,000 to buy sails and auxiliary motors for two sailboats.  The old salts included John Bradley, Steve McHaney, Steve Strong and Suzy Smeltzer.  The Sea Scouts are like the Boy Scouts, only wetter. 

Brian Papstein stood up to announce that he was the chair of the prize committee for the upcoming Mardi-Go-Braugh Rotary Raffle on March 10^th.  Anything you could contribute would be welcome.   

Greg Seiler mentioned that he’d be handing out the tickets for the event, and that they would also mail them to those who couldn’t make it to the meetings. 

Ted Loring Jr. then announced that Rotary had purchased a night’s seating for the play Much Ado About Nothing on March 31.  There is a special deal on a four-ticket package. 

Recognitions
Gregg Gardiner was recognized for his efforts on behalf of Toys For Tots, which raised $2,660 enabling 4,418 Tots to get toys for Christmas.  Recognition continued as Gregg was last year’s Chamber Of Commerce President and Carlton Nielsen is this year’s. A total of eight members of our club are on the board composing 44% of the Chamber. 

Then it was time for the drawing.  Mary Johnson and Tom McMurray won. 

Program

Kathy Cloney-Gardiner introduced our program speaker, Interim Superintendent of Eureka City Schools Leanne Manning.  She was appointed in July of 2011 when Greg Haulk left.  “Cooperation, loyalty, Service, and Fair Play are the basic qualities of Citizenship” -Catherine Zane 1931.  “The key to exemplitude is the prodigious use of euphemism and the lack of lassitude in proliferation of leadership and Unity” -Fred Engels 1939.  “Do you want fries with that?”  EHS graduate 2011.  

Our challenge is to maintain A positive attitude and civic responsibility in times of declining enrollment.  “Where have all our children gone, gone for flowers every one.  When will they ever learn, when will they ever learn.” -Peter Paul and Mary.  I am reminded of the story of the three traveling Rotarians who stopped at a farmhouse to seek lodging for the night.  The farmer eyed them suspiciously.  “Well OK” he said, “but you’ll have to sleep with my son- he’s a Past District Governor…”  “I’d rather be pecked to death by crows” said the first Rotarian.  “I’d rather be trampled by cows” said the second Rotarian.  The third Rotarian thought about it for a while and then said…“OK, I’ll do it.  I’d rather be bored to death.”

Suspiciously submitted by an anonymous donor who is taller than Greg Pierson.

(that could be anybody)