November 18, 2014

Next meeting: Nov 25: Noon at Soda Center

Program: Mt. Diablo Beacon; John Gallagher
Greeter and Invocation: John Erickson
~~ COMING UP ~~

*Dec 2 Coach Lou Campanelli Basketball etc.

**Dec 9 Rotary Christmas party at Miramonte Gardens
* Dec 16 to be announced
* Regular Tuesday noon meeting
** Second Tuesday Evening Meeting at 6:00p

~~BUSINESS MEETING~~
The meeting was rung to order by Queen
Debbie Roessler, and the Thought for the Day
from Pope Francis was read by Francis May
(not to be confused with the former), followed by
the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Pope has composed a 10 point list for a
happier life, as follows: 1. Live and Let Live, 2.
Be giving of yourself to others, 3. Proceed calmly
in life, 4. Have a healthy sense of leisure, 5.
Sundays should be holidays, 6. Find innovative
ways to create dignified jobs for young people, 7.
Respect and take care of nature, 8. Stop being
negative, 9. Respect others beliefs, 10. Work for
peace.
Guests were: Carol Irwin, Claire Barney, friend
of Barbara Bruner and stocking-maker, guest of
the Club Steve Hanna, and Employee of the
Month Maria Baragon & her husband Carlos
Heredia.
The family has announced that a memorial
service for Roger Poynts will be held on
Saturday, November 22 at 4:30 pm at the Orinda
Masonic Lodge, 4 Altarinda Way.

~~DO THIS RIGHT NOW!~~

If you havent yet done so, call or e-mail
President Debbie (925-372-5470 or 925-4087027 Roessler3rd@aol.com ) to make your
reservations for the Christmas Party on the
evening of Dec 9, so she can get a count for the
caterer. Also, get your check to Treasurer Lad
for $45 per person. Catering is by La Finestra
restaurant again. Do this now! You dont want to
risk a lump of coal in your stocking, do you?
~~EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH~~
Kevin Reneau announced that the Employee of
the Month is Maria Baragon who has worked at
Rodgers Cleaners in Rheem for 18 years, and
knows and takes care of all their customers.
Frank May, a customer of Rodgers Cleaners,
told of her value to the business in lieu of the
owner who could not attend. Maria was given gift
cards from local merchants and a certificate of
the honor. She was accompanied by her
husband Carlos Heredia. (see photo below):

~~ANNOUNCEMENTS~~
President Debbie read a letter of thanks for our
Rotacare donation. Barbara Bruner read a
letter of thanks from Rheem School children for
the weekly educational magazines we provide
them. . . .John Erickson passed around some
photos from the District Conference:
the
Richmond club members dressed up as Wizard
of Oz characters; several otherwise sensible
Rotarians with nerf flames on their heads; and
the exchange students sponsored by various
Clubs in the District. . . . .President Debbie and
Frank May reported that the 17 attendees at
Rotary Day at Golden Gate Fields had a great
time and some of them made some money on
the ponies (but not enough for Happy Bucks, it
seems).

Carol Irwin gave a High Five for the 11th birthday

of their granddaughter who was born three
months prematurely. . . . Gary Irwin gave a High
Five for success in a recent round of golf, but
didnt elaborate.
~~PROGRAM~~
Our speaker was Janet Young, the Executive
Director of the Juvenile Hall Auxiliary, which is
a small non-profit entity dedicated to giving the
kids a second chance. Previously, she wrote
laws, policy, and budget analysis for the City &
County of San Francisco and both the California
State Assembly and Senate. She earned a BA
and BS from UC San Diego and a JD from
Hastings Law. She enjoys biking when it is warm,
skiing when its cold, and reading in any type of
weather.

~~TRAVELS WITH CLIFFORD~~

President Debbie asked Cliff Dochterman to
report on his recent trip to the Zone Institute
meeting in Victoria, B.C., Canada, so that we
could learn about Rotary International at the
stratospheric levels. The Rotary world is divided
into 34 zones; each zone alternates yearly with
an adjacent one to elect the 17 Directors of
Rotary International. The electoral function has
grown on the social side, and this meeting
attracted about 500 people, few of which got to
vote, I suspect.

~~RECOGNITIONS AND HAPPY BUCKS~~

Happy Bucks from: Herb Wehmeyer, sporting a
new cornea in his eye and looking forward to
better vision. . . . Roger Gregory for being able
to take care of his aunt for a week in Scranton,
PA. . . . Doug Damaschino to remind everyone
to respond to Anns potluck request at the
stocking stuffing party. . . .Fremont Rotarian and
frequent visitor Alka Mulakaluri gave a Hang
Ten, relayed by Barbara Bruner, for the Campo
Girls volleyball team her daughter is on. . . .
Linda May gave a High Five for their
granddaughters fifth birthday after having heart
surgery when she was just two weeks old. . . .

The Juvenile Hall has capacity for 400, but

currently houses about 150 girls, and houses
about 70 boys in another facility. They have
access to a gym, library, and school.

During Janets tenure, the Auxiliary has expanded

their scholarship program, fully implemented a
paid retail internship program, and created a new
College Success tutoring program. She is
convinced that the kids minds need to be
changed, and directed toward socially positive
things.
To do so, the Auxiliary sponsors a
Career Day, where workers in diverse professions
such Pixar, Game developers, construction
workers, and hair stylists discuss their work with
the kids. They also have art opportunities and
poetry contests, and artists and writers are
brought in to inspire the kids.
Janet thanked Rotary for the Christmas stocking
program that we have conducted for many years,
because it shows that someone cares about
themtheyre not forgotten, and a second
chance for them is possible. She presented the
Club with a Certificate of Appreciation, which
Barbara Bruner accepted on behalf of the Club
and the originators of the project, Jim and Linda
Campbell.

MORAGA ROTARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2014-15

President Debbie Roessler
President-elect .. .Roger Gregory
Past President...Nora Avelar-Martin
Secretary.................Kevin Reneau
Treasurer............Lad Lynch
Community Service Chair.....Barbara Bruner
New Generations Chair...Rich Render
International Service Chair...Tony Schoemehl
Rotary Foundation... . Nora Avelar-Martin
Public Relations .. Gary Irwin
Membership....Frank May
Director at Large...John Erickson
Director at Large..Marv Ellenberg
Director at Large..............Cliff Dochterman
Director at LargeLinda May
President, Rotary InternationalGary Huang
District Governor..Pam Gray
Assistant District Governor.Mark Roberts
Newsletter Editor for November H. W. Longfellow

CALENDAR OF FUTURE EVENTS

Raffle: $10 won by Tony Schoemehl, but he
missed the big-bucks magic marble.

Dec. 9 -- Rotary Club Christmas Party at

Miramonte Gardens
Dec. 14 Stocking Stuffing Pot Luck Trinity
Hall
Dec. 16 Nite at the Races meeting at Cliffs
Dec. 23 & 30 No regular Club meeting
March 14, 2015 A Nite at the Races