Volume XIX
Number 17

Tuesday
Feb. 11, 2003

WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW
ABOUT YOUR WINTER BALL
  By Steve Yost

BACKGROUND - Although our club had done many things over the years to raise money for charitable purposes we did not have a real "main event."

Don Heydlauff   Bob Trinchero

How was it conceived?? Well, back in 1990 when Don Heydlauff was president-elect, he attended the Rotary training course for incoming presidents (PETS Conference) in San Jose. While there, an assignment given was for each participant to come up with an idea for a "signature event." He thought about a winter ball (black tie) but needed a cause to justify the event. His wife Toni suggested the Boys and Girls Club of St. Helena needed financial help and viola! He had the idea and the cause.

But where was he going to start?? At the time, Sutter Home Winery, which is now known as Trinchero Family Estates (TFE), was donating money to the Boys and Girls Club so Don arranged a meeting with the TFE board of directors: Bob, Roger, and Vera Trinchero. At the time, no one from TFE was a member of our club. After some talk and negotiating, he convinced them to put up the money (to underwrite the event) and he would put up the Rotary Club to make it happen and everyone would be a winner. Sutter Home would get more bang for their bucks, Rotary Club of St. Helena would have a fun-filled major fundraiser, the Boys and Girls Club would financially benefit, and the community would enjoy supporting the ball. So, TFE gave $20,000 to the cause.

Now what?? Don does not believe in chance, rather things are preordained. He announced the plan at one of our regular Tuesday meetings. Afterwards, a new member Helaine Katz came up to him and volunteered to chair the event. She had gained a great deal of experience in putting on similar functions in San Francisco, so she was a natural to take on the first winter ball which was named Puttin' On The Ritz. Don got the club behind the program and Helaine supplied the leadership and knowledge to make the first ever ball held in February of 1991 at the C.I.A. (then Christian Brother's Winery) a roaring success.

(Continued ...)

And then?? For one thing, Bob Trinchero joined Rotary in that February of 1991; thus, even more closely aligning TFE with the ball. The fund raiser was held again at the C.I.A. site in 1992 where the theme was Winter Wonderland and then moved to TFE's facilities in 1993 because more room was needed and costs could be reduced. Helaine successfully chaired the event for six years. After Helaine, Paul Kresk, Dave Brotemarkle and Rob Andreae agreed to chair the event the year after their presidency. Since then, members have volunteered (see Winter Ball Highlights). TFE allowed their event coordinator, Susan Smith to help organize the facility and decorations. Tim Doran contributed, for free and sometimes at cost, printing the invitations and programs. So now let's get ready for Old Havana this month!!

WINTER BALL HIGHLIGHTS, 1991-2002

A BUS TRIP TO THE CITY
By Steve Yost

Dave Brotemarkle led a band of happy Rotarians on a bus trip to the Yerba Buena Center For The Arts in San Francisco where we saw the Gilbert and Sullivan musical "Princess Ida". The trip took place on Saturday, February 8, 2003. Dave served us food (obtained from Sunshine Market) and beverages on the way down so we were well-fortified for the show. Rotarians attending included the Baileys, Rogers, Terrells, Thompsons, Wandels, Yosts, and Elaine John and Charlotte Williamson, plus assorted guests including Dave's two daughters. His wife Kathi played the part of Lady Psyche. THANK YOU DAVE!

Rotary Meeting Notes -- February 4, 2003
by Father Mac

The house was packed as we pledged allegiance and John Sales offered the invocation. We remembered in a moment of silence those who lost their lives on the Columbia Spacecraft, their families and the nation.

Announcements

Focus is, of course on the Winter Ball. Remember the date Feb 22, just days away. Joel Toller, Lisa Marie Anderson, Mike Smith all gave updates on auction items, both silent and live. Frank Toller made mention of the over 100 volunteers that work so hard to pull this thing off. Frank also drew attention to the Boy Scouts who help so much with parking. The Boy Scouts were all present at the meeting and received a round of applause for their contribution. Rich Shurtz brought along a poster of the Sattui fantasy palace, and encouraged everyone to consider the dinner for 12 that will be one of the live action items.

Raffle winners were Mark Terrell, Roger Adams and Jim Meehan.

Jeff Epps Club President 2002-2003

President Jeff Epps gave a moving witness to the legendary work of Jake Scheideman in Nicaragua. He was obviously deeply moved by the experience of going there himself and participating in the work. Jeff is sponsoring a young Nicaraguan girl so she can go to school, and he had recently received a letter from her expressing her gratitude and the incredible opportunity his support was giving her. Well done Jeff, Jake and all who have gone to Nicaragua to make a real difference in people's lives there. You are an inspiration to all of us.

Fine master Jim Wright drew attention to the many Rotarians who have just recently joined the club. He asked all those who have become members in this past year to stand. Ron Clark, Jim Meehan, Michael Njo were among those who had to introduce another Rotarian as well as another new member. It proved to an amusing and effective way to get to know some of the newer members. Well done, as always, Fine master Wright!

The Program

Don Scully , overseer of Youth Development for our club, introduced Bert Johansson who is the club liaison to the Boy Scouts. Bert then introduced Stu Smith, the Troop I Scoutmaster. Stu has been the main man for many years, and has devoted a good deal of his energy in making Troop I the great Troop that it is. He began by drawing attention to and giving thanks for the incredible adult support he gets from the men who come alongside the Scouts and work tirelessly for them.

Stu then invited a number of the Scouts to submit reports on the kinds of things they had been involved with in 2002. Among them, a slide show from Mt. Olympus, a 7900 ft. peak in Washington State. Several other Scouts had been on a Florida outing and reported on Scuba diving and marine biology.

Two Scouts earned the prestigious Eagle Court of Honor: Chris Kinsey and Josh Phelps. The Scouts fetched several hundred trees this Christmas and hope to pick up 400 Christmas trees next year. Thank you, Scouts!

President Jeff Epps and Stu Smith, Troop I Scoutmaster

In closing, Stu talked about how critical a period of development the years between the ages of 11 and 18 are in the lives of young men. They enter the Scout program as boys and emerge at 18 as men with a sense of responsibility and maturity. On that note, he announced the Scout of the Year: Josh Phelps, who was awarded $200, Runners up Carl Erickson and Ivan Ramirez, and Rookie of the Year, David Phelps. Congratulations to the outstanding young men!

Rotary Meeting Notes -- January 28, 2003
by Wendell Laidley

President Elect Phil Toohey ran the meeting. President Jeff was attending Super Bowl functions after his return from Nicaragua.

Phil Toohey

Bob Hoffman got a welcoming hand on his return after neck surgery.

Ed Beard got a round of applause for 57 years of marriage, to which Don Heydlauff added that the secret to a long marriage is the husband learning to say "Yes, Dear" in a non-condescending tone.

Tim Coon asked members to bring in their wine contributions for the 100 bottle Winter Ball auction lot before the Ball. They can also be delivered to Joel Toller's office.

Andy Bartlett

Andy Bartlett reported on the Youth Exchange Program and asked for members to host Anne-Lise from Belgium for a Sunday dinner.

Tim Coon told of his trip with his son to Nicaragua. They accomplished all their objectives of finishing the basketball court, installing jungle jims, a volleyball court and other facilities. Tim said they got done more than they ever expected and that Jake Scheideman's way with the people made everything happen quicker.

Jake added how proud he was of President Jeff, how hard he worked every day, and how much he seemed moved by the experience. Clearly the trip was a big success for the Nicaraguans and equally so for the visitors. On the last day, Jake estimated there were 300-400 kids waiting and ready to play as soon as work was done. As they left town, the swing sets were fully used.

Winter Ball: Joel Toller gave an update and Lisa Marie Anderson reported on auction and decorating needs.

Guest Speaker: Lt. Col. Leslie G. Denend

Mike Thomas introduced his friend Les Denend, an Air Force Academy graduate and Vietnam fighter pilot who returned home in 1971 to attend Stanford for an MBA and Ph.D. in Economics, Public Policy and Business, followed by a Fulbright Scholarship and a White House fellowship in the Ford Administration then a successful business career as President & CEO of Network General Corp and a McKinsey & Company partner.

Lt. Col. Les Denend

Lt. Col. Denend did not disappoint after the impressive introduction, and gave a fascinating insider's view on how information reaches the President and why Presidents say what they do (from their advisors), all perfectly timed before the State of the Union speech that night.

He explained how four coordinating bodies report directly to the President: 1) Budget (through OMB), 2) The National Security Council (NSC - comprising only the President himself, Vice-President, Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State), 3) Economic Policy, through the Council of Economic Advisors, and 4) Social Policy through all the other agencies.

Lt. Col. Denend then described the process that has been scripted since the Eisenhower Presidency, with a memo on a topic such as "What should our policy be in Korea" going from NSC staff first to working groups, then to a Principals group, and then to the NSC meeting where the President gets what he needs.

Things go wrong if the original memo is poorly written or if someone gets the direct ear of the President, such as an old friend from Texas.

He closed with a take-away inviting us to listen to the State of the Union Speech carefully and try to discern where the main points came from.

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