El Cerrito Rotary: The Wheel August 20, 2009

El Cerrito Rotary

The Wheel

Editors:  Gary Buffon & John Ferguson Jr.

Week of August 20

(www.rotary5160.org)

www.elcerritorotary.org

President Tracy welcomed us to the friendly El Cerrito Rotary Club.  Ilhami led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Mike G. gave us the thought for the day.

Introduction of guests and Visiting Rotarians:  Secretary John introduced three guests today.  Karen Pinkos, assistant city manager of El Cerrito joined us for the first time, Mac Lingo joined us from the Berkeley Club, as did Lori Ferguson, John F.’s new bride.

Announcements:

• Jack needs help at GGF on August 23, September20, October 25 and November 8.  Please contact Jack if you can help.
• Jane invited everyone to the West County Business Expo, admission free in Pinole from 4-8, August 20.
• Pat encouraged everyone to go to Pasta Pomodoro for dinner, where a portion of the night’s sales would go to support the Interact Club and their heroic efforts.  Go Interact!!
• President Tracy passed around a list for September 17’s meeting which will be held at EC City Hall.  Please sign up if you haven’t, we need a head count for catering.  She also asked if anyone is available to help with the Swim Center concession stand for a couple hours Saturday or Sunday.  Mark Scott pitched in last week.  Please let Tracy know if you are available.

Happy dollars: Lots of folks were happy today! Mark F. was happy to have made up a meeting at Lafayette and raved about their speaker.  Lance is both happy and a little sad that his son Joseph is starting the first grade.  He was also happy to participate in Mike G.’s national night out party.  Mac Lingo is excited about the dictionary project.  Charlie was happy his car passed smog.  Frank is happy to become a Rotarian, and he plans to celebrate with an overdue vacation. Rod is happy to be getting a hang of his new computer.  Joe was pleased to see Jim collecting money without being the Sgt. at Arms.  Marty is looking forward to having his friends visiting.  Don can’t wait to go the Australian Grand Prix courtesy of his daughter. Jack is happy to see Marvin. Kathleen is happy to have an uninterrupted week with her son planned after a busy summer. Tracy is happy about two new members.  And John F. is happy about having his wife as a visitor, Nancy as his banker, and Marty as his mechanic. 

Sgt at Arms Nancy:  Not on duty today.

Birthdays and Anniversaries: Leeza shared with us today that Gary, Michael C., Larry S., Michael D., Carl, Neal, Tracy, and Jane are all celebrating birthdays or anniversaries. She brought along a fun game for a little celebratory competition.  Cheers to you all!

Today’s Program:  Today was a club fellowship day.  And what could be better on a fellowship day than to add two new Rotarians!  Today we welcomed Sonja Givens-Thomas and Frank Lee as new active members in the Rotary Club of El Cerrito.  John F. and Jack gave them each their Rotary pins to wear with pride as they put service above self.  Well done Sonja and Frank!!

(From left to right:  John, Frank Lee, President Tracy, Sonja Givens-Thomas and Jack.)

Next we had a presentation from Blaine about the Blood Drive we are sponsoring on September 26 from 10-4 at the El Cerrito Plaza.  Look for the Red Cross bus and your fellow Rotarians in the parking lot in front of Lucky’s.  Please come contribute, and help save lives.  Contact Blaine with any questions.

Kathleen then gave us the news on community service.  She first presented our involvement in the Swim Center water park.  Thanks to Kathleen and Tracy’s hard work, we have the opportunity to participate in providing the city with a wonderful resource, as well as getting the name of Rotary out with pride!  She then passed the microphone to Mac Lingo who shared with us the opportunity to buy dictionaries for $1 apiece.  The plan is to give a dictionary to every 3^rd grader in the city of El Cerrito, as well as Kensington.  Well done everyone for a great meeting!

Today’s Lottery Winner: Charlie won the raffle and drew a cats-eye marble so he went home with a bottle of wine. Next week the pot is $70.

Thought for Week: 

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

-Ann Frank