He began by passing around an old photo album and asking if anyone had any idea what the pictures were of? --- “Rotarians,” guest Mallon deadpanned – and how old? “Not as old as me,” quipped someone (Rose, maybe?) Warren estimated the photos were collected in or around 1988, and he put stickers on them for people to identify: current, past or no-longer-with-us Rotarians, and passed it around.
We’re having a meeting regardless of popular demand, a social, Warren said, starting with announcements. Ralph suggested a shop talk and Warren promptly nominated him.
He rang the bell and asked EJ Dieterle to lead the Rotarians in the Pledge of Allegiance which he did. Warren the asked if any veterans were present, and mentioned flag etiquette; for example, if the flag is flown at night it should be illuminated, and how the field of stars should always be flown in the upper left.
He asked for an inspirational thought, and Ginger Minoletti said, “The sun is shining,” and Doug added “We had snow days,” which was cool (literally). Joe Brennan spoke of a first international exposition in four years, in La Paz, Mexico, on which he planned to be one of eight volunteers to help open a medical clinic and to which he would like the club to make a donation to support. After the visit, he said, he will make a report as to what the clinic really needs. The trip includes a visit to the coast to see the blue whales
Susan talked about the Abundant Grace breakfasts; the next one is set for March 29, with shifts at 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. Lists were made of volunteers for each shift. It was asked, does anyone know where the bag of aprons disappeared, and speculation abounded. Susan also mentioned Coastside Hope packaging this month too; we’re on for the 15th at 5 p.m. at Mary Rogren’s house; it’s a monthly thing, so put it on your calendar. Abundant Grace is also doing Step Up for the Homeless; Liz visited the Web site and found the team for us. If you’d like to join, “it’s a virtual run/walk/roll/swim/whatever you want to do,” go in there and sign up. (Abundantgrace.org)
Life Skills is also coming up, on the 13th through the 17th of this month; at Pilarcitos High School; if interested, contact Charise.
There is one more Little Library that was just installed and is now awaiting more books, and needs Rotary stickers on the outsides. It’s at Oak Avenue Park, behind Tres Amigos. Liz and Joe are working on new labels for them with contact information.
Ginger shared a personal email she received from Rotary International President Jennifer Jones, thanking her for sponsoring a new member (Bella Bono.) In terms of getting new members, whenever you can and wherever you are, ask someone to come to lunch, it’ll be a good meeting. March 16th will feature Dr. Al Fricke, a forensic psychiatrist with a background in working in sexual crimes; he spoke at the women’s club and Ginger attended his talk, she noted the he spoke of his background and said it would be a great meeting to bring someone to introduce them to Rotary. All information pertaining to Rotary – District 5150, membership requirements, Rotary International, club meeting location, and more -- is all on the Web site.
Other moments from the meeting:
Ginger segued into Mitone’s “soiree” on Tuesday night at Barterra Winery, at which Ginger was present with Bella and some other Rotarians. Mitone spoke of introducing a Rotary Means Business event here recently, where she realized that there were not enough business networking opportunities here for people who were still working or who owned their own businesses, and were trying to grow them. We don’t have that networking opportunity at Rotary club meetings. So, she thought, let’s bring Rotary Means Business back. They had a first such event at Barterra on Tuesday evening, to which they invited about 20 local business owners, and they had a successful event with lots of time to mingle and talk and get to know each other. The speaker came from Toastmasters, and gave insight on how to evaluate and work toward goals. Mitone thought this was a great event and a great way to bring in new members and exposure to the Rotary Club of Half Moon Bay, and we should do it again. Ginger noted that networking and exchanging business cards was a great way to get to know people.
Warren asked our new member, what was surprising or unexpected about that to her? What did she learn? Bella responded that she enjoyed the personal and workshop aspect of it, liked the opportunity to chat with other business owners, liked the good tips on marketing she got, and information to boost her marketing skills, and she found everyone “super welcoming.”
Warren spoke of the workshop, how do you do a business plan, and what stood out for him was “finding the North Star; the why” and the acronym SMART – specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable and time out. If you have those in your business plan, it helps you achieve.
Mitone spoke of a speaker she had become acquainted with through Toastmasters, an engineer, a brilliant speaker but very introverted and who had joined that organization to help her break out of that introversion. She lives in Pacifica.
Ginger mentioned that there is a new featured musician, Michael Hammond from the Florida Keys, performing on acoustic guitar on Friday evenings from 5 to 7 p.m. at Barterra Winery.
Dave Dickson said his seventh grandchild. Eleo (not sure if I got that spelling right!) was born January 20. He was vacationing, came home and then went to the cold weather in Chicago – from which he came back with Covid. But he’s fine now.
Doug Mallon happily spoke of his new “crar” or “cruck” -- a brand new Ford Maverick, which combines the best of car and truck with roomy, comfy passenger seating and four feet of cargo room, making it an ideal four-wheel-drive Rotary workhorse, for Pumpkin Festival and Doug’s DIY projects. He’s hoping for 20 years out of it.
EJ is alive and kicking with music right now. As far as Oktoberfest goes, it’s alive and kicking and will add cooking this year. And the Rotary Club of Pacifica, end of April, is having is Bowl-a-Thon, a lot of fun. If anyone is interested, let him know. It’s April 23 from 5 to 7.
Bella mentioned Dream Machines, back this year on Sunday, April 30, supporting the Coastside Adult Day Health Center. Remember, we used to do that. Rose’s husband is the coordinator for the Food Court for Dream Machines; so if Rotary is interested for next year, now is the time to think about it. To have a presence there, with some kind of food booth perhaps. She was thinking clam chowder, except that Sam’s Chowder House is right there … the Lions’ Club is not doing hamburgers, but it’s something to put on calendars; let Rose know if we want to participate.
Joe Brennan says he does Sierra Club trips with stories around the campfire; he was asked last time about a program he had been active with, “Jackass Penguins,” whose call “sounds like a jackass bray.” They’re from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, where one good tanker breakup could decimate them so he was involved with a successful breeding program for them. The penguins, which mate for life, turned out not to be good parents, so they sent back from Kansas City for an incubator, which resulted in healthy eggs. He did some maintenance and so felt “parental pride” especially as the program took off. He ended up with a colony of penguins on the roof, but heard that a casino in Las Vegas had offered space -- “Oh my God, we’ve gone over to the dark side,” Joe laughed – but after being reassured by the local Fish and Game, he visited the area and found his “babies” among the pink flamingos. Flash forward a decade when he is preparing for the wedding of his niece in L.A., and he sees two penguins who had aged out of the casino program, were bought for Hollywood commercials, and took part in the wedding with the rings around their necks.
Then, in 1991 and back in the Steinhart Aquarium, the Academy of Sciences had a photo display including the book “My Tibet” by photographer/climber Galen Rowell, who paired his photos with phrases by the Dalai Lama. His Holiness liked birds, and one named Oreo was selected to visit him; Joe escorted His Holiness in, past a display of prayer flags, to Galen Rowell, and was reminded by the Dalai Lama that there was a proper order to the colors. The Dalai Lama calmy petted the penguin with both hands, with Joe nervously thinking, “this is going to end poorly” – but the Dalai Lama just inquires if the bird flies, so Joe happily conducts him on a tour of the birds. They stopped at the octopus tank where the Dalai Lama said, “That’s an ugly one,” whereupon the chairman of the board, without missing a beat, answered, “Yes, but it’s someone’s mother.” Then they went on to see the dolphins and penguins with the artist.
Dictionaries were the next topic of discussion; they will be distributed to Hatch, El Granada and Farallone View schools. Prez-elect-elect Irwin will handle El Granada and Warren will handle Hatch; volunteers will be welcome to do others with brief introductory chats introducing ourselves, discussing Rotary and the Four-Way Test and leading the kids in looking up a word or two. Someone is needed to do Farallone View, and two to three Rotarians are needed to do the other schools. Joe will do Farallone View; now we need to reach out to teachers and bringin fellow Rotarians.
There as mention of a Sarasota County school district that refused dictionaries on a basis of health concerns. But all we do, Warren said, is just provide them, he won’t criticize; and this too will pass. What we can do is impact the third graders here. Joe gave an example of a student’s parent he knew, that, since they were learning English, made greater use of the dictionary than their child did.
Shop talks followed; Ralph Ely was scheduled to give one, though he pointed out that we should choose someone we don’t know instead. So Sean Engmann stood up and a few listeners agreed he was ready to go and urged him on.
Sean modestly said that though he might not do as well as Joe, he could still talk till he was blue in the face. And he talked pleasantly and engagingly.
He spoke of his background in sports: he coached high school baseball in the city for about 15 years and also refereed basketball for about 20 years and still does, in addition to transitioning into real estate in the last few years. He just sold his house, and there was a Rotary connection; he had previously run several businesses in the financial data space and social media space. He had done extensive traveling but decided he didn’t like hotel rooms without his family, but real estate called to him.
Back to the coaching, he was always known for coaching baseball; he takes really slow walks to and back from the mound, and met with success. He has coached at a small school; in the Presidio, and at an International high school. He argued calls and sought second opinions; and sure enough the other umpire changed his call “so the other coach goes nuts” leading to across-the-field yelling matches.
He did a lot of coaching and a lot of refereeing; he recalled an incident with an article in the Review involving Warren’s daughter from 10 years ago. Arguments, good times, traveling; “not as entertaining as Joe’s penguin stories,” but – “that’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it” and he trailed off amid happy laughter.
He glossed over his personal life: He mentioned his wife of five years, Kristin, and one-and-a-half-year-old son, Shane, now “babbling a little … running me ragged and my hair’s a lot grayer” but “the best thing that ever happened to me.” They’re hoping that another one comes soon and he is sponsoring a Little League team with a firefighter, a narcotics officer, and a construction worker on it. He’s coaching 6- and 7-year-olds like they’re high school kids, and the realtor is the toughest coach of them all.
The issue of the chocolate factory in his past came up. Turns out it was for the best because it got him into real estate.
He was born and raised in San Francisco, and his wife was born in Pacifica but moved to El Granada with a wish to live on the Coast, and he’d never have it any other way now. He coached at Balboa, attended International high school Both wished to have, and now happily do have, a lot of pets including a lot of dogs.
Enthusiastic applause followed.
Paul Wrubel, in something of a waggish mood since “Krystlyn’s not here,” suggested forming some phony committees that would decide to get rid of clam chowder in favor of, say, lox and bagels. Others caught on to his thinking with suggestions like meeting in the courtyard (in “rain, hail or sunshine,” said Warren) or having a social at the jail or at the dump, or an early April Fools, and inform her that Rotary Means Business was “a complete bomb,” said Warren.
Asked if Stacy was taking notes of all this, the retired journalist’s answer was: “Remember to whom you are speaking. Of course I’m writing it!”
Warren gleefully held up some of the old photos – “Did you recognize Irwin Cohen?” and his daughter. Warren mentioned some longtime members, some of whom are no longer with us: Greg MiIler, Jug Shoaf, John and Larkin Evans, the Mackintoshes, the Palmers, Dr. Joy and her son, and more. Lots of memories.
Mitone mentioned the recent district social in South San Francisco with a theme of games. There were tables set up with boards and pieces for many games. She thought we might enjoy doing the same.
Wednesday is International Women’s Day, and there is an event put together by Rotary in San Francisco on Wednesday evening at the automobile museum. Mitone has information.
Remember to sign up for the district assembly on March 25 at Redwood High School in Larkspur. It has a lot planned for incoming presidents i.e. airhorns, a barbecue lunch and information on many topics.
Mitone has been asked to put together a district social event in September on the Peninsula. No fundraising, it’s purely social. The date is Sept. 30 and she is looking for ideas and venue suggestions.
Irwin mentioned an exchange student from Denmark that had discussed visiting, but had passed away. Rotary fosters lifelong friends, Warren pointed out. Discussion followed about exchanges, and how the children of exchange students sometimes visit host families.
The raffle was held; Doug’s name was picked but he got a green marble. Rats!
Ginger said that Inkspell Books is doing a book fair at Barterra on March 12 from 4 to 6 p.m. It is providing the books, and the event will benefit Hatch School. Cindy Whittemore often brings books to the winery, and she has donated books around the coast.
See you next week! exclaimed Warren as he rang the bell.
