Volume XX
Number 9

Tuesday
May 4, 2004

Coming Programs Every Tuesday May 4 Paul Franson Why American's Don't Drink More Wine May 11 John Sales Rotoplast May 18 Frank Sottile St. Helena Boys and Girls Club Annual Awards May 25 St. Helena High School Seniors Rotary Essay Contest Coming Events June 17 - 20 District Conference Santa Rosa Birthdays May 13 Jonathan Briano May 14 Polly Keegan May 14 Wendell Laidley May 14 John Sales May 22 Mark Terrell May 26 Natalie Klug May 29 Alston Hayne May 30 Ed Beard Wedding Anniversaries May 1 Jim Meehan (Lee) May 6 Craig Anderson (Barbara) May 6 Norman Mitroff (Patti A.) May 10 Diane Dillon (Bill M.) May 10 Alston Hayne (Lisa) May 18 Phil Toohey (Denise) May 20 Hendrik Smeding (Lettie) May 21 David Brotemarkle (Kathi) May 22 Ortwin Krueger (Pat) May 22 John Vowell (Susan) May 27 Sean Wickersham (Shannon) Club Anniversaries May 1, 1987 Charles Bell May 1, 1987 Don Scully May 3, 1994 Rudolph Papale May 6, 2003 Theresa Engelstad May 7, 1996 Bert Johansson May 11, 1999 Alan Fowler May 14, 2002 Wendell Laidley May 14, 2002 Chuck Meibeyer May 15, 2001 Jake Scheideman

Our Longer Serving Members

EDITOR'S NOTE: We have begun a new series of interviews with long-standing members of our club. Jim Haslip has graciously agreed to do the interviews and reporting. We hope you find the articles interesting and informative.

JIM LIDER

Jim Lider Member since March 1, 1960

Jim Lider joined the St. Helena Rotary Club 44 years ago. He served a term as president (66-67) before any other current member joined the club. As a vineyard consultant, he noted that there were about 10 wineries when he came to the valley as a viticulturist with UC Davis. Since that time, the acreage used for grapes has expanded by more than 4 times. Wine used to be produced in bulk and shipped back east to be bottled. Jim was in the middle of the Napa Valley premium wine revolution. Forbes magazine made a pitch about the value of wineries and the industry took off. Pear and prune orchards gave way to vineyards and bulk wine shifted to premium. Jim's role was educational and he held countless meetings to guide the transformation to the new varieties.

"Long-lasting friendships"
have sustained his membership.

Jim came into Rotary because of the fellowship and opportunities for service to the community. "Long-lasting friendships" have sustained his membership. He speaks with pride of feeling involved in helping around the world. He notes that we were always a "singing club" and that the piano was just as out of tune then as it is now.

In the 60's, the town had 2 schools and the club painted the gazebo and made other park improvements. Members also painted the Boy Scouts cabin, held an annual bike safety rodeo, and provide scholarships for local seniors. One day, some Rotarians began sampling wines (or other spirits) a bit early in the day and, feeling no pain, drove up to a dance in Chiles Valley. On the way up Sage Canyon, they began to hallucinate. They saw an elephant walking down the road. Ask Jim about the rest of the story.

As we get closer to President Phil's debunking, let's keep in mind Jim's recollection of how the club paid its last respects to the former funeral director, Harley Morrison . They put him in a casket and wheeled him down Main Street.

Jim served in the infantry during WWII and, again, in the Air Force Reserves in support of the Korean Conflict. He is married with 5 children. If we ever resurrect those old song books, remember that Jim's favorite song is, "Smile".

Fitness Program Has Begun
- and -
Many Rotarians Participate in 'Valley Men Who Cook'
By Tony Albright

After the opening pledge and invocation President Phil gave a high five to Don Scully and Frank Toller for organizing and leading the Los Posadas Hike. This is part of our Rotary health and fitness program.

Don Scully Frank Toller

• Linda Beard-Delucchi and family have finally moved out after 21 years.
• Charlotte Williamson is celebrating the 3^rd year anniversary of her kidney transplant.
• Jim Haslip's son is going to Uganda and is involved in several humanitarian projects.
• President Phil's son is getting married…and Phil will be paying for it.
• Mike Thomas was able to finally get his city sewer hooked up.
• Bill Word and his team took 2^nd place at the Valley Men Who Cook event. He gave a big thank you to guest Jim Smith for chairing the event.

Fine Master:  Rex Stultz

• Tony Albright fined for producing the beautiful program for the Valley Men Who Cook event.
• Alan Fowler for providing the photographers.
• Dave McLaren and the Dough Boys for coming in 2^nd place in Valley Men Who Cook.
• John Vowell for missing 1^st place by 11 votes.
• Tim Coon for being kept out of the kitchen … he wore open toe shoes.
• Tim Doran for not having enough of his smoked pheasant and wild bore sausage to go around … "didn't have enough road kill".
• Jonathan Briano for providing cannoli like Grandma used to make.
• Al Albright, Ron Scullati, Norm Mitroff were also seen in the crowd at different stages of gluttony.

Guest Speaker:
Robert Wedell, St. Helena Police Chief

Chief Robert Wedell began his law enforcement career in 1984 with the Foster City Police Department. He also worked as a Captain with the Sonoma Police Department. In 2003, he was appointed Chief of Police for St. Helena. He holds a bachelor's degree from UCLA and is a graduate degree from the Command College. His goal is to continue to make St. Helena a great place for people to live, work and visit.

Robert Wedell St. Helena Police Chief

For more information please log on to: www.cops.ci.st-helena.ca.us

Pacific Union College Hosts St. Helena Rotary
By David McLaren

Dick Osborn

On April 20, 2004 our Rotary meeting was held on the beautiful campus of Pacific Union College. We were hosted by Rotarian Dick Osborn, and the College provided a fabulous lunch!

President Phil talked about the walk for multiple myeloma (raising $40k) in which 40 Rotarians participated at Crissy field in S.F. He also spoke about Bob Lamborn's funeral.

Holly Van Houten spoke about the ridge trail project.

Dick Osborn welcomed the group. He introduced members of his staff including:

• Ilena Douglass/Dean
• John Collins/CFO
• Lisa Paulson/VP of Student Services

Guest Speaker:
Dr. Richard Clark, "Educator of the Year"

Dr. Richard Clark spoke about his time spent in the Philippines. He recalled many events about his work, his philanthropy, and his dealings with the local people. Specifically, he spoke about his "taxi service" as there weren't many modes of transportation and having a car was a very communal experience. He equated his time spent in the Philippines as both challenging and rewarding. He pointed out that many people there have Polio and spoke to Rotary's involvement in raising money to fight the disease.

He referred often to the fact that Rotary will have its 100th birthday in 309 days. He equated his chemistry experiment to the inner workings of Rotary. That the combination of persistence and teamwork enables us to make the impact we do every year.

Rotary International Theme 2003-2004

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