The Rotary Club of Arcata Sunrise

Volume VII, Issue 29 — January 30, 2008

Club President 2007-2008: Lori Breyer

Editor: Dick Johnson

editor@arcatasunrise.org

Notes From Our Last Meeting

Jessica Bono, our Exchange Student from Italy, was a little tired last week. Arcata High students spent the week working diligently on their finals as the grading period ended. This was another new experience for Jessica - they don't have finals in Milan! And Jessica is up on her American geography. President Lori asked, "What is the capital of Minnesota?", and Jessica got it right! (Her answer was Saint Paul, not M.)

Amy Bohner reported that the Community Services Committee has been quite busy. The RUOK Program has its own website (www.ruok.com) and pamphlets are available. Community swimming lessons are scheduled to start in April, and with the cooperation of HealthSport, we will be providing scholarships to those who need them. As noted in the For Your Calendar section, the annual Non-Native Plant Eradication event will take place on April 26th. Also in April, we will begin Rotary Walks - a stroll through our town, which will take place each month. And we have just completed this year's Dictionary Project, having completed the circuit of the elementary schools in our service area.

Dan Johnson discussed the coming Firehouse Fundraiser, which will be held March 15th at the Blue Lake Casino. This year's theme will be Old West Gambling, so break out your 10-gallon hats and put on your best poker face for the event. Dan told us that we are looking for big-ticket live auction items once again. Mark Burtchett will handle the silent auction, and he is looking for about 40 items ranging in value from about $200 to $400. And all Sunrisers are expected to contribute something for the raffle. Dan reminded us that the event is only about 8 weeks away. Due to  the venue change, there will be fewer tables available, and fewer individual tickets as well. So if you sponsored a table last year, you should contact Brian Stephens as soon as you can.

Cam Appleton reminded us that this weekend (February 1st through 3rd) is the annual District 5130 Youth Exchange Ski Weekend. All Sunrisers and pals are welcome to attend, the event, which will take place at Mt. Shasta. This is the event at which new Outbound Students learn where they will be going later this year. If you would like to go along, contact Cam or visit the District Youth Exchange website.

Foundation Chair Terri Clark proudly presented our newest Paul Harris Fellow last Friday - Karen Burgesser! Congratulations and thank you Karen!

Fellowship Chair Sir Charles Giannini reminded us that Charter Night will take place February 16th, at the Morris Graves Museum. He said that he is inviting Charter Members who are no longer in our Club to attend, and he hopes that we will too!

District Governor Nominee Kirk Brown of the Del Norte Sunrise Rotary visited last Friday. He asked Past President Sir Charles Giannini and Foundation Chair Terri Clark to step forward to receive an award on behalf of the Club. Kirk said that, at the Foundation Dinner, we were recognized for adding 15 new Paul Harris Fellows during the last Rotary year.

Wendy was more specific in dealing with Scott Heller, who was sporting a tan. Scott spent 10 days in Cancun celebrating his birthday. It was very special - no kids, just his wife, Danielle.

Wendy had e-mailed several of her targets, to give them a heads-up. Cam Appleton was one of those warned, and yet he didn't have much dirt on himself. So Wendy asked, "True or false - Cam Appleton is a phenomenal snowboarder?" I hope someone reports after this weekend's Youth Exchange Ski Trip, 'cause I sure missed the answer.

Jacqueline Debets hasn't had many exciting trips lately, save for a business meeting in Sonoma County. She and husband Rick Bend are planning a trip to Hawaii soon. More on that later.

"The Sweetest Girl in Rotary" is Jessica McKnight, according to Wendy. At the recent Firehouse Fundraiser Committee meeting, Jessica told Wendy that she had attended a fundraiser in Ferndale the previous weekend. The theme for the event was M*A*S*H, and many people dressed up as their favorite character from the show. "I always love an opportunity to put on a costume," Jessica said, but she wanted something that would make an impact. So with the help of her friend Karen at the Costume Box, she went as a Korean peasant, "Looking for my G.I."

"Where have you been, what have you been doing, and where are you going?" Wendy posed those rapid-fire questions to Karen Burgesser. Karen's answers were also quick: "Work, work, and work." But there is hope on the horizon for future Finemasters - she is going to Hawaii in June with 25 family members, and in 2009, she plans to travel to Italy.

Janice and Craig Newman were recognized for their son Ryan's latest achievement. Ryan is a very talented musician who plays bass in several bands in the Bay Area. He has a friend who plays jazz guitar, so Ryan sat in on his latest album - which was nominated for a Grammy! The album is Party Hats by Will Bernard.

President Lori continued in the fining mode by recognizing Dan Collen on his recent birthday. Dan said that he and wife Sarah were in Nashville and they had a great time.

To support the Foundation's work, we held a Final Friday Foundation Auction. Two items were up for bid; the first donated by Orrin "O.P." Plocher. This was a "case of sunshine" - fresh fruit imported from Arizona (some pieces were more local, but what the hey). The winning bidder was either Jessica McKnight or Mark Bruce ... or both!

The second item was John Wesa's latest work of art, "What Did You do on Your 61st Birthday?" This commemorates John's recent attempt to launch a Barbie doll into the upper reaches of the atmosphere, an effort that has received much coverage in previous issues of the Spirit. The objet d'art in question was a display box/frame with the actual doll used by John (variously known as "Astronaut Barbie", "Skin Graft Barbie", and "Toy Abuse Lawsuit Barbie") strapped to an apparently genuine bottle rocket, and bearing the legend, "All For Science". John noted that, if it were a religious icon (and I'm not saying that it's not), "in the Catholic tradition, this would be a second-hand relic".

Oh yeah ... Terri bought this one!