COG Minutes for November 4th, 2014
Posted by Bruce Johnson
on Nov 17, 2014
PROGRAM - November Program Chair Mark Poniatowski introduced Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern, who presented a program few in attendance will forget in the near future. He speaks from a vast amount of experience as he has never lived anyplace but in Alameda County, and has been serving in the Sheriff’s Department since 1980 (thirty-four years). He started off with a job description that has to be challenging, even on a good day, as in addition to being the County Sheriff, he is also the Coroner, Director of Emergency Services and is an Officer of the Court. His statement early on that there are no non-violent prisoners to be released as they have already released all of them. Santa Rita is one of the most outstanding jails in the United States with a circumference of...moreNOTE: At the direction of Dr. Heidi, the weekly Castro Valley Rotary COG is being distributed directly by our Scribe using e-mail, by President Heidi using Club Runner and posted on www.castrovalleyrotary.org by Ken O-Donnell . . . hopefully this will ensure that everyone receives the COG every week in some form . . . I would have you notifyBruceJohnson@rcs.edu if you are not getting it, but that would be silly, right? Blessings!
PRESIDENT DR. HEIDI’S CLUB THEME FOR THE YEAR: "LIGHT UP ROTARY WITH A SMILE"
(Per our President, we will be Brush up on your Rotary knowledge, Fill a need in Community and International Service, Drill Down deep in your heart for Peace in the World and many more that your Scribe failed to record!)
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL’S THEME FOR THE YEAR: "LIGHT UP ROTARY" (Think Chinese Lantern as Incoming International President Gary Huang is Chinese from Taiwan)
* * * * *
President Dr. Heidi brought down the gavel at Don Jose’s in Castro Valley, and Candi Clark was asked to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - In honor of Sheriff Ahern, Bruce knew better so another joke involving our dear President, Dr. Heidi: What are the six most frightening words in Castro Valley?” A: "Dr. Heidi will see you now." (Note: Bruce was roundly booed by all present so Jim Negri came to Bruce’s rescue with “There are some things one can only achieve by a deliberate leap in the opposite direction.” Bruce thanks you, Jim.)
SINGING WITH CETA - “God Bless America” was enthusiastically sung led by our resident Mitch Miller.
VISITORS - Phil Carlton (Bruce Johnson’s guest) is on the Redwood Christian Schools Board and works for PG&E, and Tommy Gee is back from Hawaii!
SAL TEDESCO MEMORIAL HELLO SONG - Jim Negri came to the rescue again (see Thought for the Day) helping Ben Gurule sell our Hello Song. In honor of Tommy Gee of Hawaii, Jim then sang a solo of his former club’s Hello Song: “Alo-ha!”
DOUBLE SUSTAINER PINS PRESENTED TODAY - None today.
PAUL HARRIS AWARD - none
PRESENTATIONS OF GRANTS - One of the things we enjoy most at our Club is giving away money to
deserving programs within our community! Today’s organization(s) recognized: None today
GETTING TO KNOW OUR FELLOW CV ROTARIANS - (It is vocational service month) - none
LIVE UPDATE FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION - Jeff Moore shared that there will be a NEW Fire Station coming to Cherryland and the county is reviewing its sign ordinance
IMPORTANT PAST AND FUTURE EVENTS AS CV ROTARY CLUB SERVES OUR COMMUNITY - Stay posted!
BLUE BADGERS - None today
RED BADGERS (NEW MEMBERS) - None today
REGULAR REMINDERS
UPDATE YOUR CLUB INFORMATION - SEE SECRETARY JIM NEGRI - Please email him any changes in
your personal or contact information to "Jim Negri" <jnegri@cv.k12.ca.us>, as soon as they occur . . . thanks
CLUB ATTENDANCE - Be sure to let our Club Secretary Jim Negri whenever you attend any meetings
associated with our Club so that they can be properly recorded . . . let’s keep him informed!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BUY A TOOTH FROM THE REAL TOOTH FAIRY - DR. HEIDI! $5 each and you may win a special prize! Funds go to Rotary Foundation.
NOVEMBER 6 - Chili Cook-off Organizational Meeting - All Invited - 5:00 P.M. at Direct Sales . . . Randy Vanderbilt, Chair
PRESIDENT DR. HEIDI’S CLUB THEME FOR THE YEAR: "LIGHT UP ROTARY WITH A SMILE"
(Per our President, we will be Brush up on your Rotary knowledge, Fill a need in Community and International Service, Drill Down deep in your heart for Peace in the World and many more that your Scribe failed to record!)
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL’S THEME FOR THE YEAR: "LIGHT UP ROTARY" (Think Chinese Lantern as Incoming International President Gary Huang is Chinese from Taiwan)
* * * * *
President Dr. Heidi brought down the gavel at Don Jose’s in Castro Valley, and Candi Clark was asked to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - In honor of Sheriff Ahern, Bruce knew better so another joke involving our dear President, Dr. Heidi: What are the six most frightening words in Castro Valley?” A: "Dr. Heidi will see you now." (Note: Bruce was roundly booed by all present so Jim Negri came to Bruce’s rescue with “There are some things one can only achieve by a deliberate leap in the opposite direction.” Bruce thanks you, Jim.)
SINGING WITH CETA - “God Bless America” was enthusiastically sung led by our resident Mitch Miller.
VISITORS - Phil Carlton (Bruce Johnson’s guest) is on the Redwood Christian Schools Board and works for PG&E, and Tommy Gee is back from Hawaii!
SAL TEDESCO MEMORIAL HELLO SONG - Jim Negri came to the rescue again (see Thought for the Day) helping Ben Gurule sell our Hello Song. In honor of Tommy Gee of Hawaii, Jim then sang a solo of his former club’s Hello Song: “Alo-ha!”
DOUBLE SUSTAINER PINS PRESENTED TODAY - None today.
PAUL HARRIS AWARD - none
PRESENTATIONS OF GRANTS - One of the things we enjoy most at our Club is giving away money to
deserving programs within our community! Today’s organization(s) recognized: None today
GETTING TO KNOW OUR FELLOW CV ROTARIANS - (It is vocational service month) - none
LIVE UPDATE FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION - Jeff Moore shared that there will be a NEW Fire Station coming to Cherryland and the county is reviewing its sign ordinance
IMPORTANT PAST AND FUTURE EVENTS AS CV ROTARY CLUB SERVES OUR COMMUNITY - Stay posted!
BLUE BADGERS - None today
RED BADGERS (NEW MEMBERS) - None today
REGULAR REMINDERS
UPDATE YOUR CLUB INFORMATION - SEE SECRETARY JIM NEGRI - Please email him any changes in
your personal or contact information to "Jim Negri" <jnegri@cv.k12.ca.us>, as soon as they occur . . . thanks
CLUB ATTENDANCE - Be sure to let our Club Secretary Jim Negri whenever you attend any meetings
associated with our Club so that they can be properly recorded . . . let’s keep him informed!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BUY A TOOTH FROM THE REAL TOOTH FAIRY - DR. HEIDI! $5 each and you may win a special prize! Funds go to Rotary Foundation.
NOVEMBER 13 - First Annual Lobster Feed sponsored by Alameda Rotary - http://portal.clubrunner.ca/
NOVEMBER 14 - Dynamic Dinner benefitting CV Education Foundation - 6 P.M. - tickets available now at http://www.cvef.org/dynamic-
NOVEMBER 16 - SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ACTOR - LUC DOCHTERMAN (SON OF CETA) . . . LUC is starring soon in “1000 Clowns” at the Chanticleer Theater . . .we will celebrate him at the closing program, November 16, 2:00 P.M. Signups will be taken so we can get discount tickets!
NOVEMBER 17 - Seniors Thanksgiving at Kenneth C. Aitken Center. SIGN UP DISTRIBUTED. EMAIL DR HEIDI IF YOU CAN HELP OUT!
DECEMBER 6 - Club Christmas Party by Kern Lewis - 6:00 P.M. Price to follow. AT DR. HEIDI'S HOUSE!!!!
DECEMBER 9 - Children’s Christmas Party - CVUSD Adult School - Mark Poniatowski, Chair
MARCH 21 - Texas Hold’em Tournament - Masonic Hall - $200 buy-in - Al West, Chair
APRIL 11 - Pancake Putt Putt - John Courtney, Chair
MAY 8 - Chili Cook-off - Randy Vanderbilt, Chair
REMINDERS
Contact Bonnie Best for CV Rotary Website training!
Double Sustainer Reminder by Dwight Perry - please bring your commitment and checks to the next meeting.
Please make Secretary Jim Negri smile by paying your dues statement when you receive it . . .
WHAT’S HAPPENING WITHIN CASTRO VALLEY ROTARY AND IN CASTRO VALLEY?
For some of the absolute best pictures of our activities, please thank Gary Bosley for his hard work as he has captured many of our events for us.
• The FESCO pix are at fesco.shutterfly.com . . .
• The chilicook off shots are at ChiliCookOff2014.shutterfly.
• The Eden photos are at edenwaterfall.shutterfly.com . . .
the great thing is that no special access is required on either site -- people just go to the URL (or cut and paste them in in search box) and click on one of the small photos. The photos enlarge. Thanks, Gary!
If you really want to know, you have GOT to go to CV Rotarian Ken O’Donnell’s website:
www.MyCastroValley.com . . . Visit for any excuse but visit it . . . the video opening is worth the trip to
http://mycastrovalley.com
Please also visit www.facebook.com/
great video footage of Castro Valley events! In case you missed the big Chili Cook Off or Rowell Ranch Rodeo Parade, Robert has posted about five minutes of video coverage of the weekend's events. Go now to www.facebook.com/
Also, please remember to visit www.castrovalleyrotary.org often and also www.rowellranchrodeoparade.com as these websites that we maintain and are packed with information and lots of pictures
RECOGNITIONS
$45 Bruce Johnson (and Linda) - 45 years of wedded bliss
$100 Charles Mortimer - 56 years old plus trip to England
$xx Dwight Perry and Al West - Trip to Mexico to visit Dwight’s nephew (great story about a shark)
$xx Tim Fiebig - (Note from Scribe: Sorry, brain took a vacation and don’t remember)
PAYING IT FORWARD
$25 Bruce Johnson honored Sheriff Ahern and his officers for the protection they provide all of us
$5 Cliff Sherwood recognized Bruce Johnson for knowing that Cliff and Dwight Perry were classmates with Mark Twain
PROGRAM - November Program Chair Mark Poniatowski introduced Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern, who presented a program few in attendance will forget in the near future. He speaks from a vast amount of experience as he has never lived anyplace but in Alameda County, and has been serving in the Sheriff’s Department since 1980 (thirty-four years). He started off with a job description that has to be challenging, even on a good day, as in addition to being the County Sheriff, he is also the Coroner, Director of Emergency Services and is an Officer of the Court. His statement early on that there are no non-violent prisoners to be released as they have already released all of them. Santa Rita is one of the most outstanding jails in the United States with a circumference of 1.5 miles. Alameda County Sheriff’s Department has sixteen hundred employees, one thousand who carry badges and six hundred who work in support roles throughout the department. Sheriff Ahern stressed that every single individual was critical to the work of the department. The Sheriff’s Department offers many programs for inmates, including counseling and job training. Since initiating the variety of programs, the recidivism rate has dropped from 60-75% to 15-20%. Sheriff Ahern shared what is like to be serving in law enforcement in Alameda County and showed a video highlighting the multiple officer involved shootings where they are placed in a life or death situation. His power point presentation outlined many of the programs within Alameda County that were initiated by others in addition to him. It was simply a tremendous presentation. Well done, Sheriff Ahern!
LOOKING FOR THE MOLAR WITH THE GOLD GLITTER FILLING DONE “JUST FOR US” BY DR. HEIDI , Sheriff Ahern reached into the ticket container and pulled out Charles Mortimer’s ticket, who then had a chance to win $ by pulling the correct tooth from the bag. Alas, Charles pulled a “Ray Wallace” and pulled out a tooth with decay and paid $5 for the privilege!
Upcoming meetings:
Nov 18, 2014 Frank Mellon, EBMUD Director, California's Drought
Jan 06, 2015 Club Assembly, Club Assembly
Jan 13, 2015 Club Speech Contest, Club Speech Contest
Feb 03, 2015 Larry Jacobson - Award Winning Author: Navigating Leadership for Entrepreneurs
Feb 10, 2015 Galin Luk - Marine (there are no former or retired Marines) & Litigation Attorney - Marin training and "poetic" court room cases
Feb 17, 2015 Allart Ligtenberg - Los Altos Rotary - Water, Health, Hunger & Solar
See more at: http://www.castrovalleyrotary.
Speaker Chairs and Monthly Themes:
October: Chris Appleton, Vocational Service Month
November: Mark Poniatowski, Rotary Foundation Month
December: Bill Nott, Family of Rotary Month
January: Dwight Perry, Rotary Awareness Month
February: Hafsa Burt, World Understanding Month
March: Jim Negri, Literacy Month
April: Cliff Sherwood, Magazine Month
May: Randy Vanderbilt, Community Service Month
June: Bernie Kempen: Rotary Fellowship Month