Volume XIX
Number 20

Tuesday
Mar. 25, 2003

March 11th -- What a Day!
By Morris Minton

The meeting began after the usual formalities with announcements, under the auspices of President Jeff Epps.

Jeff Epps Club President 2002-2003   Sean Wickersham   Morris Minton

GOLF - Jim Wright briefed the membership about the upcoming Starr Baldwin memorial golf tourney on Thursday, April 24, 2003, sponsored by Vintage Bank and the St. Helena Star.

RAFFLE - The weekly raffle drawing was won this week by Nicaragua project group leader Jake Scheideman , and his winnings of $100 was thoughtfully donated to the "Field of Dreams" project

Finemaster Sean Wickersham was flooded with "Bellringers" this week:

• Don Scully told about the course he experienced in animal tracking based on the Apache tribe and their several thousand ways of tracking.
   
• Frank Sottile shared the sad news of the passing of his mother-in-law, so rapid on the heels of the passing of his own mother recently, and donated $100 in her memory.
   
• Morris Minton told the members of his recent personal profile feature article in the Napa Register, highlighting the recent opening of his dermatology medical practice here in St. Helena.
   
• Jeff Epps followed with some of his clever repartee about his recent "complete" dermatological exam with "Dr" Minton.
   
• Kay Philippakis shared of her recent marriage to fellow attorney Joe Potter.

Continued ...

Rotary Meeting Notes -- March 11, 2003 Continued

SANTANGELO CONCERNED

The program was presented by Gina Santangelo, Superintendent of the St. Helena Unified School District, introduced by Rob Andreae, and was a close-up description of the current crisis in the state education system, relating to across the board staff cutbacks of major proportions. Highlights included the facts that a revenue limited district like St. Helena averaged an annual allotment of $6.7 million. However, St. Helena is fortunate to have an excellent tax base and thus raises approximately $12.4 million annually.

Governor Davis is proposing taking the difference of about $7.5 million away from the district and distributing it elsewhere in the state. If some compromise is not reached in the next week, approximately 35% of the teachers and other general staff will receive their layoff notices for the next school year. The presentation ended on a not exactly optimistic note, and Superintendent Santangelo also discussed her upcoming retirement next year.

District Assembly
by Wendell Laidley

John Sales

Five St. Helena members attended the 2003 District 5130 Assembly on Saturday, March 15, in Ukiah. President Jeff Epps, President-Elect Phil Toohey, Tim Doran, John Sales and Wendell Laidley all drove up Saturday morning. Each attended classes of his own personal interest, and everyone left with a sense of having learned something of value to take home. John Sales displayed his powerful Rotoplast Trip photographic exhibit to many interested Rotarians from all clubs.

The Morning Keynote Speaker, Keith Woods of North Coast Builders Exchanges, struck a sensitive chord on "time poverty" as change is everywhere, and we face increasing competition for our time from so many directions. Everyone has the same 24 hours each day, and the responsibility for how we allocate it is uniquely personal in the final analysis. On Leadership Attitude he reminded us that the most successful captains view their ship through the eyes of their crew and encouraged all to share credit for accomplishments. But he also reminded us that we "can't talk our way out of problems we behaved ourselves into" and to beware of wasting valuable time on futile short-cuts on important issues.

He closed with good advice to all of us who might waste time beating dead horses, "If the horse you're riding dies, get off." Perhaps that's easier said than done, but always is good advice.

Rotary Meeting Notes -- March 18, 2003
By Jim Meehan

Paul Krsek   Tim Coon   Jake Scheideman   Carol Collison

Following President Bush's speech of last night, Paul Krsek led the group in thoughtful prayer, especially directed to the parents of sons and daughters in the armed services on both sides of the potential conflict. He also reminded us that God is known by other names in other religions, but is the same God to whom we all pray for peace.

A large number of visitors were at the Tuesday meeting. Tim Coon introduced his wife Teresa (of 17 years on March 15) and his son Tyler (speaker for today's program). Kari Ruel , co-owner of Napa Valley Life magazine and Jessica Joaquin, Editorial Assistant of the St. Helena Star were there to provide press coverage of Tyler's presentation. Diane Bylund, guest of Rex Stults, attended her fourth meeting; she is a local innkeeper and lawyer. Steve Yost had two guests; Steve Fox of Santa Rosa Rotary (husband of Caroline Fox our local web publisher) and Susan Vick, owner of "Venue" a new Main Street retail shop. Rose P. Camp, the new Director of Administration and Finance at the CIA also joined us as a guest of Tim Doran.

Following the Welcome Singers, Rex Stults spoke about the upcoming Food cook off. He needs a team of Rotarians to help in the upcoming "Valley Men Who Cook" event which will be led by Miles Metzger. He also is looking for two more golfers from the Rotary to play in the 14^th Annual Starr Baldwin Memorial Golf Event to be held April 24^th .

Jeff Epps asked Phil Toohey to say a few words about the upcoming District Conference in Fortuna (near Eureka) . . . and after a halting start, Phil not only got the dates May 1-4 correct (after Jeff's help) but did a nice job reporting on the recent District Assembly meeting held March 14-15 in Ukiah. Jeff went on to say that the buzz at the Assembly meeting was how our club accomplished the Winter Ball dollar results. He raised his hands and answered, "Only in St. Helena and only with a great committee of people!"

COON AT THE PODIUM

Tim Coon was asked to take over as finemaster and he did so with his usual gusto and verve. His questions' theme dealt with both March 17 and AOL Polls! Many in the room were fined, including Mike Njo $20.00 and Gary Delucchi $25.00. One highlight occurred when Carol Collison correctly answered St. Patrick was born on March 17, 695 AD. Since Joel Toller gave her the answer, both were fined $10.00. This proves again that when the Irish try to help the British learn about their Island, the result is both sides pay.

Miles Metzger was a bell ringer with his story about overcoming the fear of flying to Brazil – win at playing golf along the way! Jerry McQuiddy explained in a three-part story about his black eye. You had to be there to catch all the medical maturations - but there where some good laughs along with congratulations for Inge the "New Blond" in his life (remember, you had to be there). We learned that Inge recently received an engagement ring from Jerry.

Guests won the day's raffle: Tony Albright (did not get the black ball), Steve Fox and Kari Ruel.

TYLER COON'S NICARAGUA TRIP

Tyler Coon came very well prepared for his presentation in PowerPoint. Unfortunately, the equipment did not cooperate. While Tyler was working to get his presentation up on the silver screen for all to see, his dad, Tim along with Jeff Epps carried on by telling the club some of the history behind the Nicaragua program. 

This was the fourth in a series of trips to the small community of a poor third world country. A team of 17 including Rotarians is dedicated to making a difference in the lives its inhabitants. By now, most of St. Helena knows the compelling story of Jake Scheideman. He and others have returned often to the town (he is there now) and built a baseball stadium. While the local people have little in the way of material goods they are a proud, and happy people, fastidious about personal hygiene. The goal of the most recent trip was to build a new playground (8 swings and a Jungle Gym) plus an 80-foot by 40-foot cement Basketball/Volleyball court. Shirts, caps, balls, bats and ball gloves were also distributed to the local people. 

Tim basked in the memory of his 12 year-old son being a star pitcher in the Locals vs. Gringos game. It was obvious that Tyler was humbled by what he experienced on the trip. He was very knowledgeable about the country and its people. He related how they traveled in "Chicken Buses" (there are no trains).  He told us that the average pay is $1.00 per day. Some of the political problems that face the country include the current house arrest of the country's President for stealing millions of dollars from hurricane funds. Tyler told his father as they left for home, "I am very embarrassed, I have so much and they have so little." From listening to all the speakers one would surmise that it was truly a life-changing trip. At the close, both Jeff and Tim said that while Jake Scheideman has reached folk hero status, Tyler is now the "heart throb" of all the local youth (girls in particular).

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