By: July McKinney

Our District Governor, Tina Akins, sure knows how to draw a crowd!  Our President, Lady Grizzly, a.k.a. Colette Lay, started our meeting off by reminding us that Mark Daniel Maloney from Decatur, Alabama is this year’s Rotary International President.  The theme is “Rotary Connects the World”.  Don Jones was our greeter, whose insightful Thought of the Day was “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” 

After the flag salute, and a less than coordinated group recitation of The Four Way Test, Don started his greeter profile by playing “did you know” facts about Fred Navarez.  If you knew Fred was a Fireman in L.A. and was in the Coast Guard stationed in Hawaii, well, you didn’t win a prize but can claim bragging rights. And it was interesting for those that did not know.  Don then transitioned into his own profile by sharing he has been in Property and Casualty insurance in San Ramon since 1972, has two children that work with him in the business, and prior to insurance he sold “wieners and bacon”!  Most impressive of all, he’s been married for 49 years – to the same woman! (He emphasized that last part).

 

GUESTS   There were several welcomed guests this week, listed in alphabetical order:

Tina Akins – our prestigious district governor and inspiring speaker of the day.  Also a member of the Concord club.

Tony Akins – “first husband”, and longtime Rotarian with the Concord Club.

Elizabeth Kline Carrillo – aka Mrs. Edgardo Carrillo. 

Patty Hoyt – Assistant District Governor and member of the Dougherty Valley Club

Michelle Pham – representing not only the Cal High Interact Club, as Interact board members are committing to attending one “real” luncheon meeting, but also representing the future of Rotary!

Jim Birch – Ana Dominguez introduced her partner as her guest.  He appreciated being able to enjoy a warm meal, since his power was turned off. 

 

AUCTION, AUCTION, AUCTION – if you’re in the same age range as this scribe, when you see three words in a row, you automatically say it in the cadence of “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia” #BradyBunch.  We are in the final push for auction items, and everyone’s help is appreciated and needed to make it a success.

Run for Education – by the time this goes to press it is certain to have been a huge success.

 

Our club had the privilege of having District Governor Tina Akins as our guest speaker.  Her theme of the year is “1+1=3 – It All Adds Up”.  Every small thing, every little effort, all matters because in the end it all adds up to something great.

Tina talked about her experience at the International Conference in Hamburg, and the “House of Friendship”, where she was literally overwhelmed by the opportunity and need to serve.  She couldn’t possibly help all these great causes, even though she wanted to.  “I was born Catholic, so I’m good at guilt,” she said.  Realizing she can’t do it all, she knows that her job – and our jobs as Rotarians – is to identify a problem, then decide what slice of that problem you can help solve by applying our own personal set of skills.  It all adds up. 

She volunteered for a trip to India to distribute polio vaccinations, after being a part of Rotary for only a short time.  It was overwhelming, chaotic, and hot and sticky.  And also great fun.  She realized that even though they weren’t changing the whole world that day, they were changing it a little at a time.  Every one of those kids who received the vaccination has their own story, and it won’t be polio.  It all adds up. 

END POLIO NOW – she talked with pride and enthusiasm how she was able to make $50,000 into $300,000 for the End Polio Now fund.  With a lot of research and ability to move extra money from the General Fund into the EPN fund, and with matching grants from Rotary International and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, that $50,000 turned into $300,000. 

CONFERENCES – DG Akins was excited to promote two conferences next year, and encourages attendance for those who can make it.

District Conference May 1 -3, 2020 “Passport to Adventure” will take place at the new Sundial Bridge Sheraton Hotel in beautiful Redding, California. It’s a celebration of fun, fellowship, and learning about Rotary.  She’s promised “goose bump giving” speakers and a Saturday night hangout party – complete with fire pits, marshmallows, music, and because it’s Rotary, a bar! She encourages you to grab your friends and enjoy the scenic ride up Highway 5.  She’s made sure all the elements are all there for a fun and inspiring event, it just needs YOU.

International Conference June 6-10, 2020 in Honolulu, Hawaii – DON’T WAIT until the December 15^th deadline to register.  Another great conference filled with fun, fellowship, and learning about Rotary!  She also encourages you to book your hotel and flight early.

RECOGNITIONS - DG Akins had several recognitions during the course of the meeting.  She started by handing the reins to Ray Giles for his “Foundation Minute, or 97 Seconds” feature. Ray emphasized the expectation that every member of Rotary donate to the Foundation.  Recognizing donors is also important, and wearing the pin is a small way to tell the community what we do.  Julie Fiedler was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow for her continuing support of The Rotary Foundation.  District Governor Tina presented Julie with her certificate and pin.

Next, President Colette Lay was inducted as the newest member of the Paul Harris Society.  Way to go, Colette!

To be our next club member honored with these distinctions, click on this link and follow the simple instructions.  To be a Paul Harris Society member, expected donation is $1000/year, or just a mere $85/mo. 

The awards kept coming!  Hermann Welm was honored by being the first member in our club to receive a Red Star Service Award for 500+ volunteer hours served.  It was not disclosed how many squirrels were saved during those 500 hours, but it was probably a LOT. 

The District Governor “It All Adds Up” Award was presented to Karen McNamara, back in the U.S. for less than 24 hours and not looking at all jet lagged.  A second award was given to Julie McKinney, who was certainly surprised and couldn’t wait to brag about it to her teenagers. 

DG Akins wrapped up her presentation with the following thought:  It’s a privilege to be in Rotary, serve others, and get to do it all with your friends. 

 

RAFFLE RESULTS:

DG Akins pulled both tickets this week.  Hermann Welm won the greeters gift, and Karen McNamara pulled a blue marble with a $10 consolation prize.  The marble drawing is now up to $140.   

 

Thank you so much to everyone that brought books in for the book drive! It was a very successful September for Basic Education and Literacy month, and all the books will be donated to the San Ramon Library store for them to resell to help fund the library. 

 

Thank you so much to everyone that donated! 

McKenna