Submitted by Suzanne Bales 

President (black eye) Garry Gast opened with Rob Sundberg leading the pledge followed by Pastor Stan offering an invocation. For those of you who haven’t been to the last few meetings President Gary is at the end stages of a nasty black eye incurred in Rotary duty. One of the banners attacked him! 

Visiting Rotarians

Bill Kelly introduced David Rabb, Oakland #3 (should we be Novato #2?), Don Violin from San Rafael, Don Urban from Novato #1 and Burt Hoffmann, Novato #1. 

Guests

Catherine Munson introduced daughter in law Jodie Rabb, yes relative of visiting Rotarian Oakland #3.  Greg Chidlaw brought Dennis Peppin as his guest 

Announcements

Directions were provided to Friday Oct 1st social at the Elshouts, 40 St. Andrews Court. 

Save the date - Novato’s three Rotarys are having a joint Christmas party Friday, December 3^rd at the Marin Golf and Country Club. This joint gathering will also be a celebration of 100 years of Rotary - more details to follow.  A reminder too that spouses are always invited to any social function. 

October 9^th - Bob Carpenter says the wine tour is sold out.  The bus will be leaving at 9:30 sharp so be there or be square! 

October 14th meeting will be at the Buck Center, thanks to Susan Jacobson.  It is important to sign up before so the guard at the gate will have names and the box lunches can be ordered. 

Santiago Sosa announced he will be taking a six month leave from the club.  He is taking courses from the US Green Building Council and finds it is taking more of his time than expected.  We will miss him - come back soon! 

President Black Eye Gary announced that Sunrise Rotary, in honor of Jim Fritz’s wife Marty’s memorial fund will be donating a bench to the Scottsdale Pond project.  He also mentioned the Russians, mostly architects are in Marin from October 21st thru the beginning of November. 

Joe Nation will be speaking at Novato Sunrise Tuesday the 5th. 

Reminder: the Foundation dinner at Hiller Aviation Museum is coming up.  We need to gather items for a raffle basket so bring in gourmet food items, wines - let the imagination run with it! 

Greg Childlaw announced the Whistlestop 50th Anniversary Luncheon October 21st.  Even though there will be a club meeting at the same time, this can count as a make up - 12 noon San Rafael Elks Lodge - contact Greg if attending. 

Reminder from Monte Carlo Chidlaw that the entire process has been stepped up 3 months so for those thinking there is lots of time left to get in donations - there isn’t.  The plan is to print the auction book in December so get those big-ticket donations in ASAP! 

Shark Time

Chiding Chidlaw picked on poor Bob Finer for his taste in dressing.  Seems the green strip shirt, green tie and sailor shoes were just to hard on Chidlaw’s eyes.  Made him want to send Bob to Miami.  Bob is planning to give Kirk Highland a run for the money in terms of style of dress. 

Peter Pelham just back from the old country, England, offered to pay $10 for every day he saw blue sky on his trip.  He thinks the club owes him money for that offer.  He participated in pub-crawls and got to see his favorite team play. 

Tony Elshout was recognized for his full knee replacement.  He was asked if he snuck (sneaked?) some vodka into the hospital but he responded they have such good stuff with the various meds that he didn’t need to. 

Stan Dennison was fined for being a media darling – with his name in the paper. 

Santiago Sosa was dinged a departure tax for daring to leave for awhile. 

Chuck Swensen also was pub-crawling on this trip to New York.  Yale was defeated by Cornell (go Ducks) and Ithica was visited. 

The Weinroth table was called out for excessive chattiness.  Fran O’Brien was forced to give up some money because of the chattiness. 

Speaker

Dave Pitchford introduced town council members Jeanne MacLeamy and Bernie Meyers. Jeanne gave a presentation on building a new city hall. Right now there are 11 different government buildings spread out between a former barn, bungalows, church buildings and trailers. One unit is leased space on Grant. 

She is advocating a single building located between the church and community center. She feels that would price less and require less square footage than some other proposals. 

Our own Bill Kelly is offering a plan using the Pini Mill site while Mission Lodge has also been proposed. 

Upcoming Meetings:

October 14            Regular meeting however will be at the Buck Center for lunch and tour

October 21            Gene Thomas, Lifespan Portraits

October 28            Harry Moore, College of Marin – Bond initiative

November 4            No Meeting due to District event on November 6

November 25            No meeting – Have a Happy Thanksgiving

December 16            Lunch at the Novato Youth Center 

All Rotarians are encouraged to think about speakers for meetings. If you have a suggestion, please contact Dave Pitchford at 382-8150. 

Mark your Calendars Now! 

Events:

The Wine Tour is October 9

Our holiday dinner and party will be with the other Novato Clubs – date to be determined 

Upcoming Firesides:

January 6 at Indian Valley Golf Course 

Upcoming Socials:

November 19 – location tbd

January 28 – location tbd

March 25 – location tbd

May 27 – location tbd

Upcoming Community Service Projects:

October 23 – Ignacio Blvd. Median Strip Work Party

November 11 – Novato Human Needs Center Food Drive

December 9 – Salvation Army Kettle (at our meeting)

December 16 – Toy Drive and Lunch at Novato Youth Center

December 19 – Holiday Food Boxing at Marin Food Bank

Upcoming Board Meetings:

(every 2^nd Wednesday of the Month, 4:00 pm at Circle Bank in Novato

October 13

November 10

December 8 

District 5150 Newsletter and Information

For more information all you need to do is log on to the District Web Site at:

http://www.rotary5150.org/newsletter.htm 

International

Our very own Michael J. Fish (District Governor 1999-2000) and his wife Lisa just returned from attending the Rotary International Zone Institute (Zones 23-24) in which was held this year in Waikiki.  Michael has served on the Executive Committee for the Institute and has also served as an instructor for Governor Nominees. 

Past and current officers and directors of Rotary International attend the Institute. 

During the Institute, Michael was updated on many facets of Rotary including, but not limited to, Polio eradication, Rotary’s 5 year fiscal projection, The Rotary Foundation, the Rotary International Convention in Chicago.  He also had the opportunity to meet and enjoy as speakers, our Rotary International President Elect Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar, Past Rotary International Presidents Bhichai Rattakul, Cliff Dochterman and Richard King, Rotary International Director Ron Beaubien, Rotary Foundation Trustees, Allan Mathis (the grandson of Herb Taylor, the creator of the 4-way test) and numerous others. 

With over 500 in attendance, for the most part, it was also a time to reunite with many dear Rotary friends.

 
Need to make up a missed meeting?  Now you know where and when:
 
Day of the Week             Name of Club                  Time of Mtg.    Location of Meeting