El Cerrito Rotary: The Wheel December 3, 2009

El Cerrito Rotary

The Wheel

Editors:  Gary Buffon & John Ferguson Jr.

Week of December 3, 2009     

(www.rotary5160.org)

www.elcerritorotary.org

President Tracy welcomed everyone to the Friendly El Cerrito Rotary Club.  Thom led the flag salute and Pres Tracy provided the thought for the day.

Secretary John:  Introduced today’s guests: Capt Terry Pace of the ECFD, Jim Sheppard an attorney here in El Cerrito and Luke Trowmbly and Julie Liang Interact Board members.

4-Way Test Presentation:  - John F recited our value statements today.

Announcements:

Þ    Jane reminded everyone about the Rotary Holiday luncheon on Dec 10^th.  Be sure and bring a spouse or guest for this special day!  Nobuko reminded there will be an ornament exchange game so bring a wrapped ornament and have fun participating in this part of the party.  Jane said if anyone has an interesting White Elephant item you can wrap and bring it in lieu of an ornament.

Þ    Luke and Julie announced the Movie Nite being put on tomorrow night by the Interact Club at the El Cerrito High Theatre. 

Þ    Nobuko will be having a candy sale of the yummy chocolate candies she gets at our Dec 17^th meeting. 

Þ    Fire Chief Lance reminded us of the pasta feed at Fire Station 65 at 217 Arlington on Saturday the 5^th from 5-8 pm.  Bring a $10 unwrapped toy or make a dollar donation to the program and enjoy a great pasta plate prepared by the firefighters.  I recommend anyone attending consider donating $25 per person so we can make sure those less fortunate have an opportunity to enjoy Christmas.

Happy dollars:  Kathleen had $5 for a story which ended in her saying she is proud to be a Rotarian.  Charlie had $10 for three things:  The BIG game that Cal won, winning a major law suit with the IRS and for a Redneck Christmas card he suspected came from Gary B showing a lighted image of a deer hanging in the back yard.  (good fun).  Nobuko is happy for her grandchildren and her other blessings and is sad over the loss of her dog.  Gary B is happy that he and Carl have the first laptop computer for the Kenya Interact club Hand On Universe program.  Carl will now prepare the computer so it can be taken to Kenya in January.  Thom is happy wife Deanie is on the mend from her back surgery.  Pat is happy about a successful trip to snow country and especially for getting back unscathed.  Carl is happy he was awarded a prize in France for his Hands On Universe activities.  Tracy is happy about a nice card from Glenn Davis’ family for the flowers we sent to Helen’s memorial.  Then Tracy told us a very cute joke she heard at the hair dresser’s.  Good Stuff!!

Rotary Foundation Chair Lee: 

Lee told us about the Foundation Giving 2 for 1 November special ending tomorrow.  Roughly half of our club’s Rotarians took advantage of this program.  Good Job Lee!!!

Sgt at Arms Nancy:   Not on duty today.

Today’s Program: 

Tracy introduced Capt Terry Pace of the El Cerrito Fire Dept to give us an update on the annual firefighters toy program which serves over 2000 people during this season with both toys and food for this special season.  Terry reminded us of the need for cash for the program so they can buy toys for the hard to serve group of toddlers and younger girls.   We were given a run down on the activities and work that remains to be done.  Our Interact club volunteers to help with the toy picking and packing which helps greatly.  Essentially, the project in the final push to collect toys and get dollar resources.   We were invited to go to the Kensington fire station at 217 Arlington to attend the pasta feed where you can either bring an unwrapped new toy with a value of $10 or more or make a cash contribution and you will be able to enjoy spirit of the season and a great pasta meal.   At the end of her presentation Terry was presented with a $250 check by President Tracy as our club’s donation to the program.

Editor’s Note:   I hope to see many of my fellow Rotarians on Saturday evening at the pasta feed so we can increase the contributions to this very worthy cause. 

Capt Terry Pace – EC Fire Dept

Snowman Drawing.  Today there were pretty decorative snowmen on the tables and raffle tickets were pulled to win the snowmen.  Winners were Gary A, Jim Sheppard (our guest), Nobuko, and Michael C.

Today’s Lottery Winner:   Gary A had his ticket selected and a cats-eye marble.  Next week the pot is $140.

Thought for Week:

Every charitable act is a stepping stone towards heaven.

--Henry Ward Beecher