Volume XXI
Number 19

Tuesday
Oct. 4, 2005

"Service Above Self"
By Gene Armstead

DISTRICT GOVERNOR CHARLIE KELLY

September 20, 2005. The meeting was honored by the presence of District Governor Charlie Kelly. Alan Fowler and Dick Rogers each brought their spouses, Kathryn and Judie, respectively. Honorary Rotarians Anne Kosielak and Swantje Paragenius were also in attendance.

Doug Ernst reported that the Rotary Team for Relay for Life raised $2,000 for the fight against cancer. Phil Toohey reported that the team walked a total of 150 miles and that Suzan Rada alone walked 26 miles. Suzan said that was more than she had intended. She also commented that she hopes the team will be even bigger next year. (Calistoga Rotary had three teams, just in case anyone is counting.)

	Tim Coon left for the New Orleans area as a FEMA Inspector. While there, he is going to connect with local Rotary clubs to find out who needs what, and where. The hope is to establish club-to-club relationships with clubs in that area, and to get them the help they need.
TIM COON
	Diane Bylund noted that many members remembered to bring in their donation of a bottle of wine for the Nicaraguan Relief Lobster Feed coming up October 8th. Some didn't. Jake Scheideman thanked all for the wine donations. Diane also reported that unless members bring in their raffle prizes really soon, they will be billed $50 for the missing prizes. She will then go shopping. For prizes.
DIANE BYLUND

Service Above Self ... Continued

STEVE YOST

Steve Yost reported that a good time was had by all at the Texas Hold'Em night last week. They were a table short because not everyone who signed up, showed up. (Sorry Steve, I really wanted to be there.) Those AWOL will be billed, nonetheless. The best time may have been had by Lisa Marie Andersen's mother, Marcia Kalapus, who was the big winner that night.

Steve also sent around a sign-up sheet for salads, entrées, or desserts for the Club pot-luck on Thursday, 10/13 at 6:30 PM. (To bring, that is. You can eat whatever you want when you get there.)

Jim Wright said that the Rotary team came out on top (again) at the St. Helena Hospital Foundation Golf Tournament last Thursday. Elaine John said 104 golfers took part in the tournament and thanked Jim and the Vintage Bank for their support of the Hospital Foundation's annual tournament.

BILL WORD Club President 2005-2006

President Bill Word said he is looking for the Club's new banner. If anyone sees it, there will be a brief amnesty period. Several said they had seen it, but didn't know where it is now. The banner may be named Waldo. 

These results just in from the raffle: Ron Sculatti drew a marble. It was the wrong one. Alston Hayne and Suzan Rada waltzed away with the remaining raffle prizes.

A special feature of the meeting was the recognition of Paul Harris Fellows. Jim Haslip and Alan Fowler received Paul Harris Fellow Awards, Dick Rogers received recognition for his second, and Phil Toohey was recognized for gaining yet another level. Many Paul Harris medals were proudly displayed, and when all Paul Harris Fellows were asked to stand, this reporter lost count. At least half the room stood. Awesome.

Paul Harris Fellows

Service Above Self ... Continued

PHIL TOOHEY

Phil Toohey introduced the speaker, District Governor Charlie Kelly. Charlie (having noted that in Rotary, everyone is known by his or her first name) held sway for a very interesting thirty minutes. Among the nuggets that he shared:

The Charter-President of the New York Rotary Club (#6) published a pamphlet titled "Rotary is one kind of thing and every other club is something else." What makes us different? "The ideal of service is the tie that binds; it's the idea that separates us from all the rest, from everything and everyone else. And service means really helping people, not just doing nice things."

David C. Forward of the Rotary Club of Marlton, New Jersey, authored A Century of Service: The Story of Rotary International (note: it's available from Rotary International for $25) with many interesting facts, figures and colorful characters. For instance, the first Rotary project to make a splash was the construction of a public toilet (there was a slight pause to let the groans die down) but in fact the real first project was the purchase of a horse for a traveling preacher.

Paul Harris said that we need people with microscopic vision that can see the minute details, the atoms and molecules, but we also need people with telescopic vision, who can see the stars. The Paul Harris Fellow Award was established in 1957. After 25 years, there were 100,000; in 1989, 250,000; in 1995, 500,000. Now there are over 800,000 Paul Harris Fellows.

Mother Teresa: "My work is but a drop in the ocean, but if I didn't put that drop in, the ocean would be one drop less." And Cannon Ferrer said "I am but one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something; and what I can do, I should do, and what I should do, I will do."

RI President Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammer says that Rotary needs to "return to our roots" and has chosen as this year's motto "Service Above Self," which is also the Rotary slogan. President Stenhammer believes that he has chosen "the best motto ever created."

"Enthusiasm without purpose has nowhere to go, and purpose without enthusiasm will go nowhere." Charlie asked each Rotarian to look for just one new thing we can do for our families, for our Club, for our community, for the world. One new thing that will create a new friendship, improve the community, even change a life.

Rotary Membership Moments

Week 14 – October 2-8, 2005  Public Relations – At every fund raising event have a booth or at least a table that promotes the club, it's service to the community and international projects. Have handouts that tell what Rotary is one the largest international humanitarian service organization in the world. Rotary promotes world peace and understanding. Let the community know the Rotary Club of St. Helena is looking for a few good men and women to become members. Help create a club brochure that tells the Rotary story.   Week 15 – October 8 – 15,2005   We are now three months into the Rotary year. Have you invited anyone to a meeting? Look around your community; we must all be ready to communicate the benefits of Rotary. Many times that potential member is right in front of us, too close for us to see. The hotel catering manager, the consultant that works at home, co-workers, the franchise owner or your partner or spouse. Don't be stingy, share Rotary!

Rotary Youth Exchange Program
By Gene Armstead, Rookie Reporter
 

BILL WORD Club President 2005-2006

September 27, 2005 President Bill Word opened the meeting precisely on the stroke of 12:15:23 PM, and gave us a Membership Moment, urging members to be a mentor, to help a new member learn about Rotary.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Steve Yost reminded all of the planned potluck the evening of October 13th at Rutherford Hill Winery. There will be a wine tasting, followed by dinner in the caves. Steve asked for a volunteer to help organize the event. If you can help, call Steve.

Phil Toohey said he has three hikes planned:

• 10/9, 9:00 AM leave the Silverado Trail trailhead to hike/walk the Oathill Mine Trail.
• An October hike in Yosemite. (Phil is working on the scheduling of this one.)
• In mid-May, 2006, he plans to lead a group hike in Nepal for 12 to 15 days. See him for details.

DOUG ERNST

Doug Ernst again thanked participants in the Relay for Life and distributed T-shirts to those worthy participants.

Visiting Exchange Student (and Honorary Member) Swantje Paragenius brought a flag from her home club and exchanged flags with President Bill. Swantje distributed an information sheet about herself, which included that she is from the Rheinland, near Frankfurt, Germany. In Germany, she attends the "Hildegardisschule," a private all-girl's school. In school there, she rowed for a couple of years, taking part in international competitions, and also participated in half-marathons. Here in St. Helena, she is learning to play soccer. Her future goals are to attend university, then either be a pilot or a reporter for her own newspaper. Swantje said that she would very much like to hear from and get to know members of the club and their families.

HENDRIK SMEDING

Hendrik Smeding encouraged members to be a host family for a weekend for Swantje. Her host family until January are the Asmuths (963-2424); after that, she will be with the Koscielaks (942-6707). He volunteered to go along if someone wanted to take Swantje to a football game some weekend.

President Bill announced that there will be a dedication of Centennial Park at 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 22^nd. The Club will be "dark" on the following Tuesday, October 25^th. Bill asked that members plan to attend and that they also plan to show up early to help set up for the event. He said that some number of dignitaries and others of special interest will receive invitations. He asked for – and received –help addressing the invitations.

President Bill also announced that new St. Helena street maps are available, courtesy of Rex Stults and the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce.

RAFFLE

DALE SMITH

Dale Smith had the lucky ticket, but his luck was limited to pulling out a white marble. The remaining prizes were claimed by Visiting Rotarian Herb Salinger and David Brotemarkle.

The Fine Master being amongst the absent on this date (Fr. Mac was obviously answering to a higher call), President Bill asked for Bell Ringers.
 

Norm Mitroff announced that as a result of a favorable professional services contract decision by a prominent local vintner, he would donate whatever it will take for his Paul Harris Fellow Award. Charlotte Williams was so pleased with the announced quality of her grapes that she donated $20 towards her Paul Harris Award. Polly Keegan said that her son ran off to the Cook Islands and got married, for which she donates $100 towards her Paul Harris Award. Ortwin Krueger said he was so pleased that his son got a good job that he donated $100 toward his Paul Harris Award. Carol Sobczak proudly announced that she got the bay leaf in the sauerkraut and donated $10 towards her Paul Harris Award. (She explained that getting the bay leaf in the sauerkraut is a good thing.??)

Rotary Youth Exchange Program ... Continued

ANNE KOSIELAK
2004-2005 ROTARY EXCHANGE STUDENT
NATAL, BRAZIL
 

Hendrik Smeding introduced Anne who spent a year in Natal, Brazil, as an out-going exchange student, and out-going she was. She was also poised, articulate, energetic and interesting.

Anne said that in Natal, there were nine Rotary exchange students, plus three AFS exchange students. To help them, one of the high school teachers set up weekly Portuguese lessons. She said that she became so proficient in Portuguese that she was taken for a local. It also helped that she dyed her blond hair brown, since in that part of Brazil, there were so few blonds.

Anne described the cultural shock that she experienced, including:

• The young people actually seemed to respect and care for their elders. (Some in the audience could not figure out why that was so unusual. These obviously were not parents themselves.)
• In Natal, it was customary to have the main meal of the day at noon, and to have no evening meal. Although they didn't have any peanut butter, her mother sent her an emergency supply of that and Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.
• School days were from 7:00 AM to noon. After that, students were free to pursue their personal interests. (Natal has some very nice beaches, according to Anne.)
• There was no traffic law enforcement in Natal, so driving was terrifying at first, but she soon got used to it and learned to trust the experience of whoever was driving.
• Natal (and Brazil) had no identifiable middle class. It seemed that the homes were either mansions or shacks.

In February, Brazil celebrates Carnaval, although in Natal they celebrated Carnatal. She said that there was an area of about twelve blocks of the city within which there were 5,000 people per block, celebrating for four nights. Anne was very enthusiastic about Brazil and highly recommended some cities that she had visited. But you'll need to call her to find out what they were.

ST. HELENA ROTARY BOARD DISCOURSE
September 20, 2005
By Donn Black

Membership: Bonnie Schoch's resignation due to work pressures, unenthusiastically accepted, with regrets. The Club is at 94 members.

Good Works: Proposals were discussed considering donations of wheelchairs to a Katrina relief fund, some multimedia equipment, a PR tool and a specified donation to Napa Valley Search and Rescue.

Interact Club: Proposal to have the St. Helena High Interact Club adopt cleanup around a needy family home each month taken under consideration.

Club Assembly with District Governor Charlie Kelly (South Ukiah Club). Club reports:

• Club Service, Steve Yost: Nairator; Club Programs; PR; Sunshine Bonding; Fellowship via Golf; Texas Hold'em; Pot Luck dinner.
   
• Community Service, Jim Haslip: Food pickup Fridays from Farmers Market for Food Bank; Junior Achievement participation; Vintage Hall Park; Schools foundation funding for teacher projects; Organ donor program; Main Street Christmas decorations; Kitchen remodel at Native Sons Hall; Schools reading aloud program participation.
   
• International Service, Jake Scheideman: Nicaraguan house building project, 20 homes completed, 45 to go; Nepal project; Foreign exchange students, ala Swantje Paragenius!
   
• Vocational Service, Phil Toohey: Teachers BBQ; Wheelchair program.

• Youth Service, Roger Adams: Boys and Girls Club support; Schools dictionary project; Boy and Girl Scout support; Student field trips.
   
• Physical Fitness and Health, Suzan Rada: Hiking, cycling, kayaking trips—something every month; Bocce team; International Fellowship of Healthy Rotarians—a program for every club member.
   
• Rotary Foundation, Elaine John: Meeting Annual Fund goals; Every Rotarian Every Year project regarding Paul Harris Fellow goals.
   
• Winter Ball, Kelly Crane & Polly Keegan: February 25, 2006 is the date, Moroccan is the theme, complete with snake charmers, tents, finger food (optional), a house-broken camel, auctions, a band, dancing, dinner, and the works!
   
• Boy Scout Troop 1 Committee, Prez Bill Word: A new committee.
   
• Saint Helena Rotary Foundation, Kathleen Patterson: Substantial financial support for Boys and Girls Club, Schools Foundation, Scouts and other youth serving organizations, (from Winter Ball).

"ST. HELENA, GIVE YOURSELVES A HAND. YOU ARE DOING A TERRIFIC JOB! I WISH I COULD TAKE YOU TO MY OTHER CLUBS TO HOLD UP AS AN EXAMPLE. GOOD WORK!"