Volume XX
Number 1

Tuesday
Jan. 13, 2004

THE CLUB IS LIBERATED
First Woman in St. Helena Rotary Club
By Diane Dillon

EDITOR'S NOTE: Diane Dillon wrote this article for our 75th anniversary program in 2001. Since then she has been elected to the Napa County Board of Supervisors from our district. In addition to everything else she does she "is one of the guys" as she often participates in our club golf/dinner outings. 

Diane Dillon President 1991-1992

The door for membership into this previously all-male organization was opened in May, 1989, when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a California law against sex discrimination, saying that Rotary clubs could not exclude women because of their gender. In September, 1987, then-President Leon Brauning called and asked if I would be interested in coming to a Rotary meeting and consider joining. When I asked Leon if he had extended the invitation because I was a woman, he smiled and said, "Why no, Diane – we have no attorneys in our club and would like to fill that classification."

With some apprehension, I attended my first Rotary meeting – not knowing that Rotary would become an important part of my life and add so much more to it – new friends, new experiences, and a new way of contributing to my community and society. A few years after joining I was asked to serve as President, and I did so in Rotary year 1991-92. Overall, I enjoyed my year as President. However, my debunking party was especially memorable; everyone (except me) wore something pink. It was a great evening, and closed with a serenade of the fellows singing "Stand By Diane" (to the country western tune of "Stand By Your Man"). The St. Helena Rotary Club members did stand by me that year.

Many Rotary clubs are located in countries where women are still excluded. In 1989, when I traveled to the Bordeaux region of France with the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce, the Libourne Rotary Club hosted an evening dinner gala for the visitors to which wives were invited, although women were not admitted to membership in French Rotary Clubs. When the president of the Libourne Club introduced all the visiting St. Helena Rotarians, he called on me last, and then came across the room to place a special Rotary pin on my lapel. There was no doubt that his peers knew then his position on women in Rotary.

THE CLUB CLUB IS LIBERATED ... Continued

In 1994, when my husband and I were visiting St. Andrews, Scotland, I decided to "make-up" at a lunch meeting of the nearby Cupar Rotary Club. I found the restaurant/bar where Rotary met, and entered the door. I shall never forget the distinct reaction of the assembled members – they divided into two groups, like the Red Sea parting. Then a member of one of the group quickly came forward and was joined by several others to welcome me to their club. The first person to greet me had been the visiting District Governor, an advocate of allowing women in Scottish Rotary clubs. He appeared delighted to see me, and even more delighted to learn that I was a past president of my club. Although one-half of the group stayed quietly on the opposite side of the room, viewing me as if I were a creature from another planet, I was, nevertheless, treated like a guest of honor. I was asked to and did offer a few remarks about being a woman in Rotary, and the importance of having women in the club. What a delightful meeting it was! I shall never forget it and hope that I inspired the members from that half of the club that shunned me to reconsider their position on the subject.

I was flattered to be invited to join St. Helena Rotary as its first female member, and honored to serve as president. I am grateful for the many friendships I have made and the opportunity I have been given to serve my community. I think having women in Rotary has made it a better organization, just as having it in my life has helped me to grow and feel like I have led a more useful life.

Rotary International Theme 2003-2004

DICTIONARIES FOR
THE KIDS
By Father Mac

There was a light attendance for the last meeting of '03 on December 30th, but the fellowship was good and spirits were understandably high in the wake of the season's activities. There was even a visiting Rotarian, James Robertson, from North Carolina.

Andy Bartlett

The most important announcement was about the February 17 distribution of dictionaries by Rotarians to third graders, and much was made of the impact this program is having in the Valley, and all the good coming out of it.

Andy Bartlett again drew attention to the soccer gear that the Interact club had garnered for Project Amigo. Well-done Interact kids!

PARTNERS FOR HEALTHY NAPA VALLEY
Speaker - Don McComber

The program speaker for the day was Don McComber, former executive with Fireman's Fund Insurance Division, and currently serving on the Hospital Board of Trustees at Queen of the Valley Hospital.

Bob cast the long range vision for the Queen which was launched two years ago. The plan, of course, was ambitious and very expensive for the 180 bed facility. It involved some 15 million dollars, 13.8 of which have been raised. Don was with us to explain that the Kresge Foundation had agreed to challenge the board by saying that if an additional million could be raised, that the foundation would add to it another 500,000!

There are several goals that the Hospital seeks to achieve. Key among them is additional state of the art medical equipment and the top flight physicians required to make best use of it. Secondly, they wish to begin robotic surgery and to introduce this very modern technology to the Queen.

Perhaps most exciting was the goal to build a 47,000 Sq. Ft. wellness center. This is a facility that would focus on keeping people well rather than treating them when they are ill. This is a whole new emphasis in medicine and long needed. The facility would have fitness equipment and pools of various types, all to make the Queen "a hospital dedicated to keeping people out of the hospital". This is the vision of the Sisters of St. Joseph.

President Toohey offered Don a bottle of the Valley's finest as Don invited all Rotarians to consider a financial gift toward the realization of the Queen's vision.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. MAC+

Kathleen Patterson President-Elect 2004-2005

Kathleen Patterson, asked Jake Scheideman to open our January 6th meeting, and he did so by providing a brief update on the recent selection of Guatemala citizens who will live in the new homes being built by Habitat for Humanity.

Kathleen was substituting for Phil Toohey, who was back on the East Coast visiting his ailing mother. Kathleen announced that the next Rotary District meeting, a one-day event will be held April 17, 2004 in Eureka.

Club Secretary Mike Thomas attempted but did not draw the black marble. The finemasters for the day were Joel Toller and Lisa Marie Andersen. Joel asked for buyers of new autos seen in the parking lot in the New Year to raise their hands. He fined Kathleen Paterson $50.00 for her new Lexus, but felt we needed to give the $50.00 fine to Alston Hayne for buying a Ford.

Joel Toller Lisa Marie Andersen

Much meeting time was spent discussing the Winter Ball. Joel requested that all members start bringing in a bottle of fine wine for the members donation lot. This year's goal is 100 750 ML bottles of wine. There were several "bell ringers", including Jerry McQuiddy who is finally taking his new bride on a honeymoon trip. Mark Terrell pointed out that Ohio state won their bowl game! This was the first time we heard about Buckeyes in the New Year . . . alas, likely it will not be the last.

REDEVELOPMENT OF LAKE BERRYESSA
Speaker - Carol Kunze

Incoming Rotary President Kathleen Patterson introduced Carol Kunze, a former attorney who is now the Executive Director of the Berryessa Trails and Conservation organization.

Carol put on a powerful program as she described changes that may lead to a new vision of Lake Berryessa. In the 1950's there were less than 25,000 people in the city of Napa and the county itself was a sparsely populated rural area. It was at that time, that the U.S. Dept. of Interior Bureau of Reclamation signed lease contracts with 7 concessionaires to manage recreation programs and facilities at the lake. These leases will be expiring in 2008-09. In June 2000, that the Bureau of Reclamation began to plan for the types of facilities and services needed for this federal property after the contracts expired. The plan is being developed with public input. Carol told us that we could send our opinions by February 4, 2004 to:

Ms. Janet Sierzputowski
Bureau of Reclamation
2800 cottage Way
Sacramento, CA 95825
Fax: 916-978-5114
Email: jsierzputowski@mp.usbr.gov

Also, you may contact Ms. Kunze at 707-966-5211 or go to their website www.BerryessaTrails.org. Your input will lead to a better plan for Napa County!

Home  |  Leadership  |  Make Up Clubs  |  Calendar  |  Newsletter  |  Winter Ball  |  District 5130  |  Rotary International  |  Archives  |  Contact Us

Copyright 2003 - St. Helena Rotary Club - www.sthelenarotary.org