THE ROTARY CLUB OF SEBASTOPOL SUNRISE Brandt’s Briefs For the meeting held on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 President Ken Brandt Secretary Michael Fels Treasurer Jerry Meshulam Immediate Past President Vickie Johnston Club Service Debbie Klein Vocational Service Bob Keyser Youth Service Wayne Britton Community Service Charlie Judson International Service Jeff Dunbar Membership Al Lustig Rotary Foundation Diana Curtis President Elect Mike Cook And so it began... Exploring the underbelly of the Rotary Club of Sebastopol Sunrise, your crack reporting team has uncovered the nasty truth...people start showing up around 6:15 to get this show on the road. Debbie is setting President Ken up for a successful meeting, Jerry is here early to dust off his abacus; Gus is here to get the room set up; of course Larry and his team are here earlier than everyone working their magic with our breakfast. We were all greeted by greeters Melodie Jackson, Jim Bertoli and, at least in theory, PP Vickie, with PPPDG Helaine filling in. Roving microphones were PP Rod McAulay and Summer Morris. The pledge to the flag was led by Bruce Campbell, who pointed out a few stitches dropped by Betsy Ross. Bill Sauber, returning from his 10-year, self-imposed exile east of the Rockies, showed up and it was like he never left. Wearing garb that represented his three Rotary Clubs, he joined Joe in leading us in the first line of “Califorina Here I Come”. After that we all just moved our lips. President Elect Mike Cook introduced our visiting Rotarians, who are noted on page 2. Anyone ever notice that Gus Ament is doing a great job collecting recognitions, happy bucks and money in general. My arm still hurts. October 22 Program Mimi Enright, Sonoma County Master Gardeners Say, Did you Hear? Caption Contest Winner Mark Olson-”Seriously Ken...Bring Back Bunnies...Bunnies Bring Excitement...Bring Back Bunnies” Mark Reece will celebrate a birthday this week. He refuses to tell us which one, but he seems to be spending more and more time around Mark Olson lately. Martha Lindt will also have a birthday this week. Martha is off exploring the wilds of Spain, and we anticipate that she will be allowed back in this country soon. Terry and Sue Kelley are celebrating their anniversary today! 38 years!! Someone gets the “Most Patient” award!!! Rod McAulay bravely (or foolishly), (or he has a good relationship with a higher power) let us know that Mary was celebrating her 70th. John Balletto... excuse me, Sweepstakes Red Wine Winner at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair John Balletto contributed $100.00 towards Fatherin-Law Phil Kane’s Paul Harris. A little story about Curt and Diane. (Curtis)..14 years as members of the Rotary Club of Sebastopol Sunrise. Couldn’t have done it without them! Caption Contest Submit your Caption Contest entries to: [email protected] Hyperlink probably won’t work, so you may have to do it the old fashioned way! Cutoff is sometime on Tuesday, but we really can’t commit to a time...because we’re feeling “Really out there, in sort of a tubular way” right now. Rotary in Action Reprinted from www.rotary.org Political Strife, Protecting U.S. Diplomats are Part of the Job for this Former Rotary Peace Fellow As an agent for the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service, Justin Peele applies the education he received in conflict resolution as a Rotary Peace Fellow to a job that puts him in some dicey situations – including one in 2013 in which his actions won him State DSepartment recognition for his courage and decisiveness. Peele is one of 2,000 DS agents who protect U.S. diplomats and embassies around the world. The Diplomatic Security Service, the law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. State Department, is the most extensive global security agency in the government, operating in more than 160 countries. "This is my dream job," says Peele, who was in the 2011-12 class of Rotary Peace Fellows at the Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires, Argentina. "I'm in a unique position where I must face conflict head-on." This proved true when Peele served as the assistant regional security officer in Mali. It was a period when the country was torn by political strife and violence as several Islamic insurgent groups fought the government for greater autonomy in the northern part of the country. The crisis led factions of the military who were displeased with the government's response to overthrow President Amadou Toumani Touré in 2012. Because of the conflict, the State Department sent extra security to protect the U.S. Embassy in Bamako, Mali's capital. One day in 2013, violent clashes between students and the police trapped an embassy worker and See Peace Fellow page 5 Visiting Rotarians Ron Puccinelli Rotary Club of Sebastopol Retired City Administration Bill Sauber Rotary Club of Carlisle (PA) Retired Tractor Sales Laura Shaffer Guest of Pam Davis Guests Student of the Month The Club Student of the Month Parent The Club Kent Cromwell Board of Directors Club Service Vocational Youth Service Community Service International Service Membership October 25th November 7th November 8th December 5 December 25 Laguna HS Principal The Club Club Committee Meetings 2nd Monday of each month 3rd Wednesday of each month 4th Wednesday of each month 3rd Wednesday of each month 1st Thursday of each month 1st Wednesday of each month 4th Tuesday of each month 10:00 am 5:30 pm Evening 5:30 pm 1:00 5:30 pm 8:30 am 8:30 am 8:30 am 6:30 pm 5:30 pm 5:30 pm Mark Your Calendars Bocce Ball @ Julliard Park First Friday hosted by PP Vickie Foundation Dinner South First Friday Holiday Party Community Holiday Dinner October 22 Sebastopol Area Senior Center Masonic Hall after Regular Meeting Masonic Hall after Regular Meeting Masonic Hall after Regular Meeting Sebastopol Area Senior Center Sebastopol Area Senior Center Sebastopol Area Senior Center See President Ken Sebastopol Area Senior Center See Diana Curtis for information Bruce & Helaine’s Home Sebastopol Community Church Upcoming Programs Mimi Enright Sonoma County Master Gardners October 29 Omar Gallardo Dia de los Muertos November 5 Matt Stevens/Stephanie Coop SMART Train November 12***Veterans Day Program Professor Peter Phillips Gulf of Tonkin, 50 Years Later November 19***Homecoming Meeting PDG Jim Flamson Joining Rotary No Meeting***We are Dark Happy Thanksgiving Dan Needham Earle Baum Center December 10 Martha Lundt & Gabrielle Desario Adventures in Espana December 17 Program TBA We are being kept in the Dark December 24*** Happy Holidays! No Meeting***We are Dark ***We are Happpy*** December 31 ***Happy New Year! No Meeting***We are Dark ***We are Happpy*** November 26 December 3***Away Game January 7 It’s a Brand New Year111 Laura Shaffer, West County Museum Wesnesday’s program presented by Laura Shaffer was a very interesting about the history Native American Pomos. The area’s first known inhabitants were the native Miwok and Pomo Indians. For many years, the Miwok and Pomo Indians lived peacefully in the coastal mountains and valleys of what we now call Sonoma County. The Coast Miwok lived on the shores of Bodega Bay. The Native Americans’ lifestyle revolved around the seasons, hunting and gathering from the land, and harvesting the sea and rivers. Peace Fellow, continued from page 3 four Malian colleagues in the National Institute of Health offices in downtown Bamako. When the fighting spun out of control, embassy officials called on Peele to safely extract the workers. One of Peele's other assignments was a six-month stint as part of the security detail for U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, as he crisscrossed the world on diplomatic missions, with stops in China, Israel, Europe, and the Middle East. As he and a driver navigated through the war-torn streets, "I could see the smoke and tear "I get a front-row seat for observing gas from a long distance," recalls Peele. "I'm in a unique position U.S. foreign policy, and help represent He now admits to having been a little where I must face conflict the U.S. all over the world," says Peele. nervous, but says he knew that his "It's a great lesson in government, dihead-on."---Justin Peele training would enable him to carry out plomacy, and humanity." the mission. "We found them, hurried them into the vehicle and were able to Although many DS agents have milget out of there safely and bring them back to the itary or law enforcement backgrounds, others are embassy without harm." lawyers, scientists, linguists, and yes, even peace scholars. Peele, who served for three years as a Peace For his response that day, the State Department Corps volunteer in Paraguay, says his experience gave Peele its Meritorious Honor Award for "couthere and as a Rotary Peace Fellow helped him get rageous, efficient, and decisive action taken." his foot in the door at the security agency. "During a time of crisis is the best time to shine," he says. "There is a lot of trust with my job -- to be able to look someone in the eye and say, 'If you're in trouble, I will be the person to come get you.' " In addition to moving diplomats safely from place-to-place, members of the Diplomatic Security Service work with host nation law enforcement representatives to investigate crimes against U.S. citizens, coordinate protection details with the security teams of foreign dignitaries, and maintain frequent contact with local community members. He recalls that the State Department officials who interviewed him were impressed with his global education in peace and conflict resolution. "With Rotary and the Peace Corps I was able to work closely with the local populace. I think that went a long way in getting this job," he says. "I learned a lot from my peace fellowship. The bottom line is that everything we do is to ease the suffering of others," says Peele. "Not only are the Peace Centers a good example of that, but everything Rotary does is an example of how to reach that goal." Our newest group of Paul Harris Fellowship recipients October Laguna HS Student of the Month My name is Teray. How may I help you? If this isn’t Caption Contest material, we don’t know what is! eport R e n i t h Suns rts tha o p e r TriWebb Marty through his g e in he cam ass with fly p ple By colors
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