El Cerrito Rotary: The Wheel April 30, 2009

El Cerrito Rotary

The Wheel

Editors:  Gary Buffon & John Fergerson Jr.

Week of April 30^th    

(www.rotary5160.org)

www.elcerritorotary.org

Pres Elect Tracy welcomed us to the friendly El Cerrito Rotary Club.  John F led the pledge and Pres Elect Tracy provided a thought for the day.

Introduction of guests and Visiting Rotarians:  John H had John F introduce his guest Frank Lee.  Then Karen introduced her guest Danuish, a financial planner and new chamber member.  Don introduced Ksusha (our now famous exchange student).

Announcements:

ð     Ksusha announced how much she appreciates our club’s support and thanked us.  She also told us she is doing well and is with her fourth host family

ð     Gary B announced the induction of new Interact board members and officers will take place at our May 21^st meeting.  Be sure and be there.  There also is the Interact District board cruise on May 16^th.  Sixteen of our Interact members are going on the cruise.

Happy dollars:  Gary B had a happy dollar for John F taking over the bulletin when Gary is on his two hunting trips during May.  John F is happy for his guest Frank Lee attending.  Keith is $5 happy for being a new members and for people signing his book.  Rod is happy that Keith came to 33 Revolutions and listened to his band play.  Nobuko is happy her grandkids are now 100 days old.  Blaine is happy he receive a condolence card from the club on his recent death in his family.  Carl is happy that Susan Murabana (his colleague in Kenya Rotary) conducted an effective online training with kids in an Oakland School that does an HOU program.  Our guest Frank Lee is happy he was invited to our club.  Kathleen is happy her son is not having homework this week because of annual testing.  Tracy remembered the loss of two people (one with the city and Blaine’s brother) with a moment of silence.

Sgt at Arms:  Not on duty today

Today’s Program:  

The club assembly for today was composed of a financial update by Don in which he let us know that we had made $24600 (half of which we shared with Berkeley Rotary).  President Jack has spent $12000+ on the musical instruments for the High School Music program. 

After the financial update President Elect Tracy introduced the first of our new members for a Who am I introduction:

Paul Keith is a Detective Sgt with the EC Police Dept.  He was born in Visalia, CA and spend his youth in Camarillo CA.  He attended UC Berkeley which is a tradition for his family and Paul is a forth generation UCB graduate from his family.  He has been with the PD since 2000 and enjoys what he does and the community involvement it provides.  Paul is married and has a young son (not quite 1 year old.  Thanks Paul for giving us info about a fellow Rotarian.

Keith Wilson is a property developer who was born in Berkeley to a family in which he was the oldest of six children.  He worked as a carpenter when he was 18 and ultimately became a licensed contractor for 15 years.  He then became a property developer.  He lives in San Francisco and his parents live in El Cerrito.  He has a young son (in first grade) and his wife works for an insurance company.

Pat Toddhunter is retired from her design business that she operated in Orinda.  She has live in El Cerrito in the same home for a long time.  Her Father was the contractor who built the homes that border the Mira Vista Golf Course.  Pat share with us the story of her first who passed away and her current husband.  Pat expressed her joy in being an El Cerrito Rotarian.  (we are happy she is in our Rotary club – Editor).

Everyone was appreciative of Tracy having the new members share some personal information with their fellow Rotarians.  Thank you.

Genie Stone Winner:  Kathleen had her ticket selected and get use of the magic stone for the month.  This includes free lunches for the month.

Today’s Lottery Winner: Gary A had his ticket pulled for a chance at winning the pot and selected a cats-eye marble winning the bottle of wine.  Next Week the jackpot is worth $195. 

Interact Club Corner by Gary Buffon – Rotary Advisor to Interact: 

The Interact Club is completing the final actions on their two recent fund raisers:  the swim-a-thon and the Black and White Ball.  Stay tuned for the final count on the funds they raised.  Sixteen of our Interact members are attending the annual District boat cruise on May 16.

Thought for Week:

Friendship without self-interest is one of the rare and beautiful things of life.

--James F. Byrnes