Volume XX
Number 2

Tuesday
Jan. 27, 2004

MEET JOEL TOLLER,
CO-CHAIR OF THE
2004 WINTER BALL
Interview 01.08.04 by Polly Keegan

So, I asked what are you like Joel? "I'm completely unpredictable, and very responsible to a point." Are you stressed out about the Winter Ball I asked? "Hell no. The only time I get stressed is when I pay the bills. I laugh a lot and take everything (and nothing) seriously." Do you have personal goals in the Rotary, Joel? "I have only one goal, to avoid the presidency for as long as possible…." So, I said, what might you change when you finally do take on the presidency? "Not a damn thing! This group is now the most progressive, eclectic and powerful group around, I wouldn't change a thing." So there you are. Meet Joel Toller.

Joel Toller 2004 Winter Ball Co-Chair

Thank goodness Joel is only 32, young enough to energetically handle a new marriage, a career in real estate at Up Valley Associates, two children ages 10 and 14 and the enormous responsibility as co-chair of the 2004 Winter Ball! (Joel acknowledges that Lisa Marie Andersen, his co-chair may be putting in "slightly" more time than he.)

Joel and his sister Chelsea were raised in San Francisco and Marin until the family moved to St. Helena when he was five. Joel graduated from Cal Poly in San Louis Obispo with a degree in Agricultural Business. In 1995 he joined the Peace Corps, working in Panama teaching soil conservation, rice production and crop rotation. He speaks fluent Spanish and still uses it every day in his real estate business. I learned that his great grandfather, his grandmother, two uncles and of course his dad all studied law, but he has no desire to do so. For Joel, real estate is the best! He is self-employed, it is challenging but not complicated, and very creative as there are no marketing limitations other than regulations. A while back he thought about leaving the valley, but fortunately he met Lisa here about 5 years ago and then he wouldn't leave. They celebrated their 1st wedding anniversary this past November (Joel's sister also married last year). They have two children, Tyler who is 10 and Sam who is 14. Joel's wife Lisa is Director of Marketing and Sales for MKF company, winery accounting consultants. Joel describes her as very creative, a wonderful writer and a perfect wife who appreciates the outdoors as does Joel – downhill skiing, mountain biking, horseback riding, but she won't hunt with him (mainly ducks and he eats every last morsel that he shoots). Joel appears very happy and content with his life -- he loves his family, his career and the Napa valley and feels quite confident that he will never leave. The longer he is here, the more he loves it.

MEET JOEL TOLLER ... Continued
 

Frank Toller 2003 Winter Ball Co-Chair

Joel joined the Rotary 3 years ago and with just two years under his belt he took on the co-chair of the 2003 Winter Ball with his dad, Frank who had been involved for a few years. The 2003 Ball made more money than ever before, grossing $350,000, netting about $285,000. The 2004 Winter Ball will be the 14th consecutive year .

Each year the committee finds it more and more challenging to decide on a compelling theme, that appeals to the potential supporters, and draws them in. It has to be a fun event with lots of good wine and food! Approximately 400 paying guests ($150 per person) attend the Winter Ball each year, probably 10-15% are paying Rotarians. The invitation list has been compiled over the years, and grows and grows, but necessarily, the list must provide enough patrons wealthy enough to buy and support the auction (there are about 50 different wine auctions each year that compete with the Winter Ball for donors and buyers).

Bob Trinchero Trinchero Familly Estates

Trinchero Family Estates (Bob Trinchero) is the sponsor of the Winter Ball, providing the place, the setup, 25 employees, and $25,000 startup costs. This year's theme "Chicago" was suggested by Jim Wright. Some of the attendees are costuming up for the event. There will be a 12-piece band, gambling in the form of black jack, roulette and craps. The dinner is being catered by Knickerbocker, there will be wonderful wine including great champagne. The live auction consists of about 20 items, the silent auction will have about 150 items.

Executing the event this year began in August, earlier than usual. Many years, the committees have had to reinvent the wheel because there is not enough time or tie-in from the year before. Joel is actively rallying for a paid part-time admin position to handle the database, the invites, mailings, some of the coordination.

This would make the execution more seamless from year to year, and allow the committees and all the Rotarians to do what they do best – create ideas and solicit donations! Joel feels that a difficult aspect of organizing the Ball is that so many great ideas are presented that never get implemented, either because of time, money or motivation. 

WINTER BALL STUFF
By Polly Keegan
 

President Phil Toohey opened our January 13th meeting.

Phil Toohey Club President

Guests included:

• Aerial Gilbert and her guide dog Hoed, today's speaker,
• Melanie McAllen from the Chamber of Commerce
• Susan Smith, the events coordinator for Sutter Home Winery, 
• Ortwin Krueger from Vineyard Country Inn.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jake Scheideman

Dictionary Program gave out its first distribution at the Young School on January 21st, and the St. Helena school on January 23rd.

Isabel from Interact  announced that they are having a clothing drive.

Jake Scheideman announced that the first ten families have been moved into their new homes.

WINTER BALL

Guest Susan Smith,TFE event planner, announced that Polly Keegan will be setting up the live and silent auction items for the winter ball. The theme is "Chicago", and Susan passed out a listing of items that are desired for display as part of the decoration, including: old cars, tommy guns, 1920's era cameras, liquor bottles, typewriters, suitcases, fringes, headbands, feather boas, silk or beaded purses, or anything from that era! Please notify Polly at 963-2238 or  by the end of January.

BELL RINGERS

Miles Metzger

Frank Toller announced that Mark Terrell is donating a TRACTOR to the Winter Ball auction!

Miles Metzger had a "worm burner" ???? Ask him!

RAFFLE

 The raffle-drawing winner was Jim Wright. No luck!

GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND

Aerial Gilbert is the Director of 500 Volunteers for Guide Dogs for the Blind, the largest Guide Dog breeder and provider in the United States and Canada, and the second largest in the world. Aerial lost her sight 15 years ago when a bottle of eye drops had been tampered with, and contained lye. After 6 months of apathy, Aerial decided she needed to become independent, and her options for mobility are the cane, or the dog. She trained in an educational environment for 6 months to learn the tricks of living blind, then applied to the Guide Dog organization and it turned her life around. It was an epiphany she says, the first time she traveled with her new dog, and found herself walking at a normal pace with her best friend at her side. Aerial found a job developing x-ray films in the hospital where she had previously worked as a BSN nurse, then went on to being a transcriptionist, and then Director of Volunteers for Guide Dogs, where she has increased the number from 130 to 500. Aerial was always an avid rower, and continues to participate in world rowing championships.

The Guide Dog for the Blind organization breeds its own dogs, and has selected homes where they are raised for 13-18 months, then back to the campus where they are trained for about 5 months in formal guideword. About 30% become guides, and the rest are adopted out. Students train with the dogs for up to a month, at no cost to them. About 70% are labs, the other are golden retrievers and German shepherds although they are testing other breeds, such as poodles who have hair instead of fur and therefore non-allergenic. The cost of training one dog is $58k, and there are about 2000 currently out working across the US and Canada. Contributions can be mailed to P.O. Box 3950, San Rafael, CA 94912-3950. For questions, call 800 295-4050 or visit www.guidedogs.com.

WHEELCHAIRS TO NEPAL
By Jim Haslip
 

There was a buzz of excitement throughout the hall as the Rotarians and guests began to assemble for the January 20 ^th meeting. I scurried around the room to meet visitors before the meeting was called to order.

Bert Johansson

Doug Ernst is the new publisher and editor of the St. Helena Star . He has been on the job for only two days, yet Bert Johannson managed to help him set his priorities by paying a visit to our club. Doug has wasted no time getting acquainted and will serve as our guest speaker on March 16. He replaces Patrick Jorgensen who served for only 6 months.

Ortwin Krueger came to visit as a guest of Tim Doran. He is the proprietor of the Vineyard Country Inn and a prospective new member.

The visiting Rotarians proved to be an interesting group. Brian James of New Zealand may set the record for the farthest distance for a make-up meeting this year. He is a retired rural banker from the Hastings Club, one of the oldest in New Zealand. President Phil presented him with a St. Helena banner to take home.

Kelly Cramer of Clayton Valley/Concord Sunrise Club is a regular here. He is a financial planner and working on the local Endowment Committee of the St. Helena Education Foundation. He has an office here and should join our club after he completes some projects in Contra Costa.

Chuck Schram is from Sacramento. He is helping Frank Sottile with fund raising for the Boys and Girls Club.

Jerry McQuiddy

Our own Jerry McQuiddy had a silly grin on his face all meeting. He just returned from his honeymoon to St. Thomas with his bride, Inge .

Joice Beatty asked for our prayers for the recent tragedy to three of our local young men who ate poisonous wild mushrooms and are fighting for their lives. Please keep Christian Dake, Andrew McCormack, and Tyson Rector in your prayers. They have been transferred to the UCSF Medical center.

President Phil opened the meeting with High Fives to Rex Stults, for excellent programs this year, and to Tim Doran who had successful cataract surgery.

Rex Stults Tim Doran

The club will be dark on February 10.

Kathleen Patterson announced that there will be a special Sweetheart's event on Friday, February 13, from 4-6 P.M. at the CIA. There will be a chocolate cooking demonstration and a possible tour of the wine study center. The cost of the event is $27.50 per person.

Frank Toller asked for volunteer auction spotters for the Winter Ball. In addition to the service to the club, they will have free admission to the event and dinner.

Elaine John

Elaine John informed us that the club wishes to help anyone reach their Paul Harris Fellowship if they have already reached $500 in contributions. The club will match the next $250 with a like amount to reach the Fellowship requirement.

Rob Andreae told us about an auction package that is taking the shape of a Playboy Mansion visit. If the winner survives, a trip to an Oprah Show and a Cub's game, are among the events planned. Rob asked for any other Chicago contacts we might be able to add. I think he was kidding.

Lisa Marie Andersen is doing a terrific job of organizing the Winter Ball. A question came up about where to drop off wine donations. They can be brought to any Tuesday meeting.

Polly Keegan needs memorabilia from the Chicago era of the 20s and 30s. Bring it to her.

WHEELCHAIRS TO NEPAL ... Continued
 

The club will meet as usual on February 17 to complete the planning for the ball.

President Phil extended an invitation to hear the Rotary International President speak at a black tie affair in San Jose at the Fairmont.

Andy Bartlett

Andy Bartlett was so desperate to win the tool belt from the raffle that he rushed to President Phil's assistance to spin the ticket cage and shake it vigorously. We tried to ignore the fact that several tickets spilled onto the floor. Alas! Andy could not draw his own number successfully. Sean Wickersham was the winner but did not draw the black marble. Look out for Andy next week! David Brotemarkle and Loren Gardener got the leftover gifts but couldn't give them away afterwards!

Phil Toohey Club President

There was no Fine Master so President Phil went directly to a video on the Wheelchair Endowment project in Nepal. We learned the term, "Namustag" which means "the spirit you live is the spirit in me." There were 580 chairs distributed from the efforts of northern California Rotarians in partnership with the club in Katmandu Valley. Since June 2000, over 100,000 chairs have helped change lives to recipients in over 100 countries. They provide hope, freedom, dignity, and friendship and help spread universal love in the spirit of "Namastag".

THE MEDICAL CRISIS IN US -- A NEW LOOK

Rex Stults introduced our guest speaker, Dr. Marshall Cooperson, and Kathleen de Vries, his Director of Membership. Dr. Cooperson described an alternative to Managed Care medicine. He characterized it as "personalized health care" or "boutique medicine". He treats a maximum of 600 patients and provides a thorough annual physical exam. Patients can call the doctor at any time of the day. There is no waiting for appointments. Patients are seen within 24 hours. The care is individualized with close doctor/patient relationships.

Dr. Marshall Cooperson and Kathleen de Vries

Currently there are about 200 practitioners in the US. The personalized service is made possible by a $1500 membership fee. Everyone sees a doctor and there are no nurse practioners.

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