SPECIAL DAZE
His Excellency President Mark I called upon Dan Collen at our meeting, noting that he's "been out of town a lot". Dan explained that his January 14th birthday always coincides with the annual NCAA Convention. So he celebrated with friends.
Jason White's birthday fell on a Tuesday this year (February 17th), so he and his wife Maggie made the most of the occasion with a dinner at Sunset Grill. Then, they went home. (Well, it was a school night.)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sir Charles Giannini reminded us that there are limited spots available for Charter Night. The annual event will be held on Thursday, March 5th. That will be our official meeting for the week; we will be dark the following morning. The event will begin at 6 pm with no-host cocktails, followed by dinner at 7 pm. Please contact Sir Charles to save your slot.
The Firehouse Fundraiser is almost here. Contact Craig Newman to get tickets for individuals - they're available for $50 apiece. We have 30 tables sold to groups - and we can certainly provide more to interested businesses or groups.
President Mark presented the coveted Blue Badge to Rebecca Crow at the meeting. She completed all of the newcomer requirements to make the transition from Red Badge more quickly than any new member in recent history.
JESSICA FINES THE NAUGHTY
Finemaster Jessica McKnight asked Dan Collen about his trip to the NCAA Conference in Washington, D.C. (as mentioned in Special Daze). He said that is was exciting being in the Capital during the run-up to the inauguration, although he left the day before the main event. Jessica also asked Dan about a top-rated television show on Thursday nights - it's "Humboldt State Tonight!" Dan said that it started last fall, and has gained the highest ratings for the evening among the all-important demographic of 18 to 35 year old males. With the fines for the two events, Dan joined the elite "Bold and Gold" group.
Lynda Moore is feeling good as she takes a temporary respite from her retirement. She needed the use of a wheelchair recently, and she told us that her next project is to "patch up the nicks around the house at the same height as the wheelchair". At any rate, she's back on the job for a while, and we wish her the best.
"Last week was very cool, I must say." These words were spoken by Bob Johnson, about the previous week's Valentune [sic] serenade for a few Sunrisers. Bob's son Aaron was among the musicians on hand from the Armack Orchestra who performed. Bob said that he has admired other Sunriser progeny as they sang, danced, and/or played their way into our Club members' hearts, but this was his Proud Poppa moment. "Both my kids took their obligatory two years of piano," said Bob, " and they both wanted to be in the orchestra." Aaron decided to take up the string bass, and Bob worked with him over the summer prepping. The payoff was when Aaron told his grandfather that he would be performing at Carnegie Hall later in the school year. Congratulations!
PROGRAM - Our World Community Service Committee
The Club's World Community Service Committee is made up of Chair Howard Stauffer, Karen Burgesser, Bruce LeBel, Jacqueline Debets, Brett Johnson, Michael Boreing, Brandi Easter, Harry Johnson, and Barbara Browning. It is a very active committee, with a full plate of activities that affect people around the world.
The group's 2008-2009 projects include fluoride treatment for the children of Cofradia, Mexico, support for the Nigerian AIDS Orphans project, providing supplies for a hospital in Tomsk, Russia, providing library books and other literacy support in Kalimantan, Borneo, helping to establish the Vangtang Village School in Laos, ongoing support for the Mongkolbory Primary School in Cambodia, helping provide malaria relief in Sierra Leone, and assistance for the District 5130 Group Study Exchange program.
February 6, 2009 - Part Two
We return to our recap of the meeting with ...
FINEMASTER JESSICA
Jessica's first order of business was to award a "Bold and Gold" pin to Scott Heller. This signifies that he has been fined within an inch of poverty (or at least to his limit for the year).
For her sixth anniversary, Rebecca Crow had her wedding ring resized. She and her husband, Abe, also celebrated the occasion with a trip to Las Vegas, a somewhat different venue from the site of their elopement - Mt. Shasta.
Mark Bruce was spotted in a new vehicle recently. This was in response to an accident that occurred in late December. Although he has been tooling about in a 1995 Escort, he purchased a new PT Cruiser with the insurance money. The Escort will be bequeathed to Mark's son, Adam ... but all in good time. When Mark was asked whether Adam is "a new driver", he replied, "No, he usually drives fully clothed."
Jacqueline Debets had some "very exciting news" - Humboldt County has been awarded $2.5 million that will be used to create 12 new certification programs at the College of the Redwoods. Jacqueline wrote the grant request in November, and the grant came in at over half a million more than requested! She said that the programs will help create jobs in areas that the Workforce Investment Board has identified as targets of opportunity.
PROGRAM: CalTrans on the Richardson Grove Project
Charlie Fielder is the District 1 Director for CalTrans, and he came to discuss the proposed realignment of Highway 101 at Richardson Grove.
Charlie noted that CalTrans is a big part of the community, and that they want to work to address the concerns about the project. The goal of the realignment is to modify the narrow passage through the grove to allow STAA (Surface Transportation Assistance) trucks to pass through. These trucks have become the new standard for the trucking industry for their greater capacity and fuel efficiency.
The current alignment is dangerous for large trucks that are currently allowed to pass through the grove, such as cattle haulers and moving vans. Studies including videos show such trucks crossing the center line, and there have been trees that have been "clipped".
The public comment period for the project has been extended through March 12th. More information can be found on the CalTrans website.
FINEMASTER JESSICA
Jessica's first order of business was to award a "Bold and Gold" pin to Scott Heller. This signifies that he has been fined within an inch of poverty (or at least to his limit for the year).
For her sixth anniversary, Rebecca Crow had her wedding ring resized. She and her husband, Abe, also celebrated the occasion with a trip to Las Vegas, a somewhat different venue from the site of their elopement - Mt. Shasta.
Mark Bruce was spotted in a new vehicle recently. This was in response to an accident that occurred in late December. Although he has been tooling about in a 1995 Escort, he purchased a new PT Cruiser with the insurance money. The Escort will be bequeathed to Mark's son, Adam ... but all in good time. When Mark was asked whether Adam is "a new driver", he replied, "No, he usually drives fully clothed."
Jacqueline Debets had some "very exciting news" - Humboldt County has been awarded $2.5 million that will be used to create 12 new certification programs at the College of the Redwoods. Jacqueline wrote the grant request in November, and the grant came in at over half a million more than requested! She said that the programs will help create jobs in areas that the Workforce Investment Board has identified as targets of opportunity.
PROGRAM: CalTrans on the Richardson Grove Project
Charlie Fielder is the District 1 Director for CalTrans, and he came to discuss the proposed realignment of Highway 101 at Richardson Grove.
Charlie noted that CalTrans is a big part of the community, and that they want to work to address the concerns about the project. The goal of the realignment is to modify the narrow passage through the grove to allow STAA (Surface Transportation Assistance) trucks to pass through. These trucks have become the new standard for the trucking industry for their greater capacity and fuel efficiency.
The current alignment is dangerous for large trucks that are currently allowed to pass through the grove, such as cattle haulers and moving vans. Studies including videos show such trucks crossing the center line, and there have been trees that have been "clipped".
The public comment period for the project has been extended through March 12th. More information can be found on the CalTrans website.
February 6, 2009- Part One
SPECIAL DAZE
January 10th was Bryan Plumley's most recent birthday, and he was up and rarin' to go at 7 am. He was out enjoying the sunshine with some buddies, playing 18 holes of golf. "It's not often that I get out to play on my birthday," he noted. He said that he "played terribly". But I say, the higher the score, the more practice you get!
EXCHANGE STUDENT NEWS
Host Mom Kathy Fraser reported on our Exchange Student from Denmark, Kasper Troelsen. He and with the other District 5130 Exchange Students (both Inbound and next year's Outbound Exchangers) spent the previous weekend at Mt. Shasta for a Ski Trip. Craig Newman said that the young folks encountered "about two-thirds dirt and one-third snow". Fortunately, there were no injuries. Cam Appleton noted that the weekend included the initial orientation for the Outbound Students. About 110 Exchangers, parents, and host family members were in attendance.
Bruce LeBel read part of an e-mail from our Exchange Student emissary to France, Eliot Clausen. Among other information, Eliot reports that school is becoming easier as his fluency in French increases.
For more on all of the District's Exchangers, check out the District's Youth Exchange Newsletter Page at http://www.youthexchange5130.org/newsletters.shtml.
A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE
Seth McFarland visited our Club last week to thank us for helping him get to Washington, D.C. Seth is a junior at Arcat
a High School who was recently nominated to represent AHS and our community at the National Youth Leadership Forum on National Security in our nation's capital.
Seth's interests include diplomacy, national security, science, and math. He gave a History Day presentation on Robert Oppenheimer and the evolution of modern warfare. He expects that the trip to the Leadership Forum will (as he said in his request letter to our Club) "expose me to career options where I could combine my interests in these areas".
For more information about the Forum, click here.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our Club recently received a slew of thank you notes from third graders throughout Arcata. The young'uns were expressing their appreciation for their new dictionaries. And we tip our hat to Bryan Reeser, who coordinated the Dictionary Project once again this year. Thank you, Mister Reeser!
Don't forget - Saturday, February 21st is the new date for the Historical Homes Tour. Participants should meet in the Arcata High School parking lot ... um ... sometime that day. (I'll have a time in the next Sunrise Spirit.
Cam Appleton provided an update on ailing Charter Member Hal Fitzpatrick. Hal has been experiencing heart problems, and he recently returned from the Stanford University Medical Center, where he underwent several tests. Hal and his medical providers are trying to determine whether he should have heart surgery or have stents placed to improve his circulation. Keep Hal in your thoughts and prayers.
Plans for the Firehouse Fundraiser are coming together. Chairman Dan Johnson said that we have 24 tables sold [as of last Friday], but we still have plenty of empty seats. Individual tickets will be available at next week's meeting. Please work with your team to find items for the silent auction and raffle.
WATCH THIS SPACE
Part Two of this report will deal with Finemaster Jessica and our Guest Speaker - from CalTrans.
January 10th was Bryan Plumley's most recent birthday, and he was up and rarin' to go at 7 am. He was out enjoying the sunshine with some buddies, playing 18 holes of golf. "It's not often that I get out to play on my birthday," he noted. He said that he "played terribly". But I say, the higher the score, the more practice you get!
EXCHANGE STUDENT NEWS
Host Mom Kathy Fraser reported on our Exchange Student from Denmark, Kasper Troelsen. He and with the other District 5130 Exchange Students (both Inbound and next year's Outbound Exchangers) spent the previous weekend at Mt. Shasta for a Ski Trip. Craig Newman said that the young folks encountered "about two-thirds dirt and one-third snow". Fortunately, there were no injuries. Cam Appleton noted that the weekend included the initial orientation for the Outbound Students. About 110 Exchangers, parents, and host family members were in attendance.
Bruce LeBel read part of an e-mail from our Exchange Student emissary to France, Eliot Clausen. Among other information, Eliot reports that school is becoming easier as his fluency in French increases.
For more on all of the District's Exchangers, check out the District's Youth Exchange Newsletter Page at http://www.youthexchange5130.org/newsletters.shtml.
A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE
Seth McFarland visited our Club last week to thank us for helping him get to Washington, D.C. Seth is a junior at Arcat
a High School who was recently nominated to represent AHS and our community at the National Youth Leadership Forum on National Security in our nation's capital.Seth's interests include diplomacy, national security, science, and math. He gave a History Day presentation on Robert Oppenheimer and the evolution of modern warfare. He expects that the trip to the Leadership Forum will (as he said in his request letter to our Club) "expose me to career options where I could combine my interests in these areas".
For more information about the Forum, click here.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our Club recently received a slew of thank you notes from third graders throughout Arcata. The young'uns were expressing their appreciation for their new dictionaries. And we tip our hat to Bryan Reeser, who coordinated the Dictionary Project once again this year. Thank you, Mister Reeser!
Don't forget - Saturday, February 21st is the new date for the Historical Homes Tour. Participants should meet in the Arcata High School parking lot ... um ... sometime that day. (I'll have a time in the next Sunrise Spirit.
Cam Appleton provided an update on ailing Charter Member Hal Fitzpatrick. Hal has been experiencing heart problems, and he recently returned from the Stanford University Medical Center, where he underwent several tests. Hal and his medical providers are trying to determine whether he should have heart surgery or have stents placed to improve his circulation. Keep Hal in your thoughts and prayers.
Plans for the Firehouse Fundraiser are coming together. Chairman Dan Johnson said that we have 24 tables sold [as of last Friday], but we still have plenty of empty seats. Individual tickets will be available at next week's meeting. Please work with your team to find items for the silent auction and raffle.
WATCH THIS SPACE
Part Two of this report will deal with Finemaster Jessica and our Guest Speaker - from CalTrans.
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