Our ever-chipper president, Colette Lay, a.k.a Lady Grizzly, gonged a full-house of Rotarians and guest into compliance.  After acknowledging R.I. President Mark Maloney, she introduced Greeter Kathy Gailey who led the Salute and offered a Thought for the Day: “True joy is found in service.” Hermann Welm led us in a patriotic song, which everyone finished at about the same time.  Kathy told us that her tour business has just a few events coming up.  She had cataract surgery recently and was amazed by the effect on her eyesight.  We were not allowed to touch our salad until we had done an old-fashioned recitation of the Four-Way Test, part of the new Lay initiative.  As you might imagine it did not go well.
Colette then introduced the visitors on this special day, which turned out to be a galaxy of former first ladies of Rotary, there to pay tribute to Marie Galbo:
  • Linda Duarte
  • Judy Giles
  • Peggy Crawford
  • Mary Greco
  • Ginny Weber
  • Ann Paterson
  • Sharon Harvey       (celebrating her 56th wedding anniversary)
  • Judy Port
  • Anjila Katiby
 
 
 
Also joining us for the meeting were Patty from the Dougherty Valley Club and Marie’s friend Cheri Braga.
Announcements:
  • Shadow Day sign-ups will begin shortly, Rotarians needed as drivers and mentors.
  • The Scholarship Committee needs two new members; see Patti Hennigan.
  • Fund-raiser at Gianni’s on March 16; let Melanie Emig know if you can help.
  • Interact hike at City of Rocks on 2/19; Gary Sloan needs drivers.
  • Rise Against Hunger coming up; bring water bottles if you attend,
  • District Conference on May 1 – 3 in Redding; join the group.
  • RI conference June 6 – 10 in Hawaii; it’s a make-up.
 
Program: GALBO-PALOOZA
Chris Gallagher played the part of Ralph Edwards in a recreation of “This Is Your Life” for Marie. (Ten points if you can remember him.)  With slides he took us on a tour of Marie’s life.  She was born in Trenton, New Jersey and raised on Long Island in a close-knitted Italian family.  In 1960 she moved to Los Angeles and enrolled in Cal State Northridge.  She and Ed married in 1967, and he transferred to Home Savings in the East Bay in 1976.  After raising her kids Marie returned to work in 1987 and worked as a real estate appraiser and mortgage broker.  She retired from Washington Mutual in 2007 as a Senior Loan Adviser.
Marie has always been active in the community.  She served as Cub Scout leader and as PTA president at Twin Creeks School.  Marie spearheaded the fundraising efforts to generate money for the incorporation of San Ramon.  Later she served  on the HOA Board for Twin Creeks and had a hand in the approval of Bishop Ranch and Canyon Lakes.  She raised two kids and three grandkids with Ed who died in 2012.
Rotary finally allowed women to join in 1989.  Marie was one of the first women to join our club and became our first woman president in 2000 -2001.  Her nickname was Millennial Marie.  During her tenure the famous Weeping Rotarian, Rick King, was R.I. President and his motto was “Mankind is our business.”
Besides her well-known obsession with Santa Claus, Marie collects obscure card games, as many who attended Members Night Out can attest.  She is moving to Woodland where she has already donated a single malt whiskey to their auction.  We will miss seeing her in Marie’s Seat at the front table, a spot now occupied by Chris Gayler.  As Gallagher so eloquently concluded, “Rotary is where ordinary people have a chance to so great things.”
 
 
Other Tributes:
This Correspondent offered an ode for Marie:
Ode on the Occasion of Marie Galbo Moving to Woodland and Leaving our Rotary Club
First woman as our president,
Your tenure raised alarms,
But you excelled in being good,
And won us with your charms.
 
Our club survived, you led us well
With care your chief concern,
And through it all your kindnesses
Were what we most did learn.
 
And when you put your burden down,
You thanked us one and all,
And kept on thanking everyone
From June clear through the fall.
 
Now Woodland is your newest home.
It has a lovely view.
Just know that when you pack your stuff,
You’ve got our hearts with you.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hermann Welm recalled the Fourth of July parties with Marie.
Vera Packard shared an inspirational story of a handicapped man in Brazil receiving a wheel chair and asking Rotarians to “Never stop!”
Guy Greco followed Marie as president a appreciated her help.
Steve Wilcox had Marie as a sponsor and within two weeks of joining was the chairman for Carbo Load; she earned her award as “Hammer.”
Gary Sloan told us he had promised Marie a boyfriend and was announcing that he will be moving to Woodland to fulfill his pledge.
Dennis Harvey: “Compassionate, caring, sharing and always willing to help.”
Cheri Braga (Marie’s former neighbor and buddy): John Sims took Cheri and Marie out for drinks and they became inseparable.
Naim Katiby related a charming story about coming to his first Rotary meeting armed only with a card that invited him.  When people asked why he was there, he flashed the card which turned out to be signed by Marie; he felt right at home.
Horace Crawford said that he and Peggy were so glad they had not missed Marie in their lives.
 
 
 
 
 
Recognitions:
Julie McKinney, in a fining fury, moved through the meeting:
Geoff Disch recently named Man of the Year and registered sex offender.
George Gayler shared that he was glad Chris had not eaten the beans.
Melanie Emig celebrated her one-year anniversary in the club.
Ed Duarte and Linda shared a romantic anniversary dinner in Copperapolis.
Dennis Garrison told Sally they needed to do something special for his birthday, so she scheduled him for a colonoscopy.
Patti Hennigan was told by John not to make plans for their anniversary; she is still waiting.
Gary Sloan took Barbara out for dinner and to see “Parasite” for their anniversary; there must be some deeper import to his choices.
 
 
Next Meeting:
Chris Gallagher leads the annual Valentine’s Day extravaganza; Melanie Emig is Greeter.
 
Raffle:
Kathy Gailey won the Greeter’s Gift from President Lay who was uncomfortable handling the bedpan.  Chris Gayler drew blue.