Volume XI, Issue 22: December 16, 2011

Happy Holidays to all. Please be sure to check out the video of the 

AHS Madrigal Choir performing "Santa Baby" ...

A Moment With Noëmi 

It was another busy week for our Exchange Student Noëmi Schönenberger. She helped out at the Arcata Invitational Basketball Tournament, went to the beach, and helped decorate a Christmas tree. Then at our meeting, she exchanged gifts. President Scott gave her a card that said that we have purchased an Arcata High School Yearbook for her. And Noëmi gave Scott a Swiss Calendar for the coming year.

Announcements

If you worked at the AIBT or if you were a sponsor, George Cavinta wants to say "thank you". He also asked for suggestions for improvements - if you think of anything, let George know. The Club, of course, wanted to thank George for spearheading the project (in addition to the time he spent putting together the Foster Youth Dinner simultaneously)!

Maggie in Germany

A hemisphere away, Maggie Kraft has also been busy. She sent me an e-mail titled "Not just goofing off here". Quite the contrary - Maggie (who is with the Peace Corps, working in Botswana) did some continent-hopping from Africa to Europe and back again. While she was in Germany, Maggie exchanged banners on our behalf with the Rotary Club of Wiesbaden-Rheingau, noting, "I got a free lunch out of it!" For information direct from the source, click on the link in the panel to your right - Sunriser Maggie Kraft in Botswana.

Two soon-to-be-Outbound Exchange Students - Colin Swenson (sponsored by our Club) and Zoe Tinseth (sponsored by the Arcata Noon Rotary) - were guests last Friday. In addition to being Exchangers, they are also the President and Vice-President (respectively) of the Interact Club at Arcata High. The group's next project is supporting "Coats for the Cold", a local organization. The Interactors will be collecting new and gently used coats throughout January, and distributing them locally. For more information on the project, click here: COATS FOR THE COLD. Colin and Zoe told us that the AHS Interact Club was dormant last school year, and the group has restarted. They presented a Thanksgiving lunch for seniors and they helped at the AIBT as well.

New Paul Harris Fellows

Foundation Chair Terri Clark loves handing out jewelry, and she was in high gear last Friday. We honored four new Paul Harris Fellows! Orrin Plocher was the first to be recognized for his contributions to the Rotary Foundation. He was followed by Exchange Student Noëmi Schönenberger and "Rotary Kids" Megan Breyer and Kate Breyer. Congratulations to all four, and thanks to all of you who support the work of the Rotary Foundation. 

Remember, the Foundation is one of the most efficient charitable organizations that you can support. It has received an A+ rating from CharityWatch.org. To make a tax-deductible contribution, click here: I WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

- Orrin and Terri -

- Noëmi and Terri -

- Kate, Terri, and Megan -

Our Annual Holiday Treat

For many years, the AHS Madrigal Choir has attended our last meeting before their winter break to entertain us. This year was no exception. Click on the "Play" button to hear the group's distaff members perform "Santa Baby".

Volume XI, Issue 21: December 9, 2011

A Moment With Noëmi 

Noëmi Declares Her Allegiance?

Exchange Student Noëmi Schönenberger said that she's had "the feeling that I've not been here". Well, she has been busy. For example, she was at Lake Tahoe recently. She didn't get much skiing in, as high winds led to a mountain closure. But that was okay - she loves the snow. And she also moved in with her new host family, which means that "I now have a four year old sister!" 

Noëmi received a gift that helps clarify her understanding of the fans of American football. Or maybe it doesn't.

In other Exchange Student News, Cindy Sutcliffe read a letter from Grace Lovell, who is currently representing our Club in Chile. (You can check out her adventures by clicking on the link to your right - "Exchange Student Grace in Chile".) We also heard that Nilvan Olivera, Jr., who was an Inbound Exchanger not long ago, has passed his US Medical Licensing Exam.

Julie Vaissade-Elcock: Rotarian of the Month for November!

President Scott said,"Of the last 10 papers, we've been in 7!" He was referring to the efforts of our Public Relations Committee, headed by Julie Vaissade-Elcock. Julie works to ensure that our Club's efforts continue to be noticed in our community. Great job, Julie - congratulations!

Announcements

President Scott and President-Elect George Cavinta wanted to let us know that the Sunrisers who worked at the previous evening's Foster Youth Holiday Dinner did a Great Job! We served about 300 people at the event, and we may be following up with a holiday gift program for the young people. George had special praise for Murphy's Market, which responded to a last-minute request for assistance providing food for the dinner, and for Sunriser Craig Newman, who was there from the get-go, making things happen. Craig was also at the AIBT, which began the same evening. (Maybe he's cloned himself.) 

Terri Clark asked us to empty the change from our pockets, and to place them in the "End Polio Now" boxes that had been placed on the table earlier. Although the boxes were not initially effective in holding the coins placed within, the money will successfully make it to help support the Rotary Foundation's PolioPlus Program. Terri reminded us that we are "this close" to ending this disease. She reminded us that polio is only endemic to four countries - Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, and Nigeria (which form the sadly appropriate acronym "PAIN"). She told us that there has been only one case of polio reported in India recently, although the news from the other three countries has not been as good. "Polio is still only a plane ride away," Terri reminds us.

We Welcome New Members Dawn and Laura!!

It's always exciting to bring new members into our Club, and last Friday, we had two! Lori Breyer introduced the newest Sunrisers, and reminded them (and all of us) of the commitment to service they are making.

Bob Johnson proposed Dawn Elsbree's membership. Dawn serves as the Headwaters Funds Coordinator, so her classification is Economic Development - Government. She has been married for 22 years to Andy Elsbree, and they have three children: Nicholas, Trevor, and Claire. Dawn's interests include hiking, backpacking, scuba diving, river rafting (more on that later), and traveling.

Laura Montagna's sponsor is President Scott. She owns NuGames (here too, more information will follow), and her three children are Marco, Gina, and Jeffery. Laura likes the theater and playing the steel drum.

Lori Breyer, Bob Johnson, Dawn Elsbree, Laura Montagna, and Scott Heller

Recognitions with Bob Johnson

Bob led off by asking whether we recognized the bass line that was playing during his introduction. If anyone did they were too busy groovin' to the riff to respond. Bob said that it was from the self-titled Blood Sweat and Tears album from 1969 - one of his favorites! So he asked Romi Hitchcock-Tinseth what her favorite album is. Romi was hard-pressed to be specific on such short notice, but she said it's probably by the Indigo Girls. Cam Appleton's favorite is After The Gold Rush by Neil Young.

Bob said that there's a new river guide in the Club, now that Dawn Elsbree is a Sunriser.  Bob showed a photo of some rapids on the Rogue River and asked Dawn if they looked familiar. It seems that on that stretch, her husband Andy decided to do some fishing from the edge of the raft. He ended up in the water, pole and all. Bob recalled that, although Andy's not usually much of a drinker, he imbibed a bit that night. He was evidently worried about all of the microbial critters he may have ingested.

Bob said to Laura Montagna, "We have known each other a long time as well." Years ago, they took a class offered by Eureka Adult School that taught how to drink wine properly. (Apparently it does not require a paper bag.) Laura said that she started NuGames with her children, who are now grown up, and she is looking for a buyer.

Jessica McKnight was out of town and even out of the country for her birthday this year. She left for Mexico before Thanksgiving, and returned last week. She and husband James Hitchcock visited Barra de Navidad, which is in the state of Jalisco, south of Puerto Vallarta. The town was hit by Hurricane Jova in mid-October, and there were many signs of the fury of that storm. However, the residents have been working hard to repair the damage, and Jessica noted that "I put many tourist dollars to work". 

In Other News

President Scott told us that some of the businesses owned by Sunrisers have been nominated for this year's Arcata Chamber of Commerce awards. DANCO, owned by Dan Johnson, is a candidate for Business of the Year, while Kyle Visser's Shred-Tec is in the running for Green Business of the Year. Rounding out the nominees is Kinetic Koffee, co-owned by Charlie Jordan. It is a potential Small Business of the Year. Good luck to all three deserving businesses.

Volume XI, Issue 20: December 2, 2011

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Don’t forget – the Foster Youth Dinner will take place the evening of Thursday, December 8^th. It all happens at Bethel Church, which is located at 2734 Hubbard Lane.

December 8^th is also the day that the Arcata Invitational Basketball Tournament (AIBT) begins. The tournament continues through Saturday, and we need Sunrisers to staff the t-shirt sales tables and to provide security for the hospitality room. You’re also invited to the Plaza Grill for the Coaches’ Party at 9:30 Friday evening.

But the next morning (sometime between 8 and 11), you’re expected at the Benefit Breakfast at Arcata High. The proceeds from the breakfast will support the AHS College and Career Center, which receives about half of its funding from this event.

Jim Ritter, who coordinates "Jacoby Creek Live" and "Sunny Brae Live" programs at those two middle schools, visited to let us know about upcoming career exploration events. The groups will hold a Job Shadow Days on Wednesday, March 24th and April 23rd. If you would like to be "shadowed" for a day, contact Jim at 822-4896.

The Arcata Playhouse showed their appreciation for our recent "Makeover" by providing some free tickets to their show, "A Playhouse Recessionary Christmas". The play will continue this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. For more information, click this link: PLAYHOUSE

FORMER SUNRISER BOB WALLACE TALKS AIBT

Bob Wallace returned to our Club, if only for a meeting, to discuss the Arcata Invitational Basketball Tournament. Bob is the Arcata High School Basketball Coach, and he reminded us how we became involved with the AIBT.

When Bob Johnson was Club President, we were approached by Jerry Paul and other members of the AHS Athletic Department to discuss the future of the AIBT. Although it was the longest running basketball tournament on the North Coast, it needed a sponsor to continue. Bob Wallace remembers the enthusiasm of the Sunrisers at the meeting, especially that of Charter Member Stacey Douglas. We agreed to step in, and we've been there ever since. 

Bob talked about two individuals who worked long and hard to make the AIBT the premier event it is today. First is Jerry Paul himself. Jerry taught and coached at Arcata High School from 1961 through 1993. In 1993, he was named to the California Coaches Hall of Fame. In addition to coaching boys' and girls' basketball, Jerry also coached track and field, golf, and cross country. The AIBT is also known as the "Jerry Paul Classic" in honor of his service to Arcata High.

Coach Robbie (sometimes known as Bob Robertson) was the Tournament Director for many years, and Bob said that when he stepped down, it took an entire committee to replace him. We always looked forward to Coach Robbie's annual visit to our Club to talk up the AIBT.

Bob also noted that the AIBT has its own legacy, providing memories for many community members. In years past, it has generated enough funds to support other programs at the school. Bob would like to see the tournament get back to that level. Current Tigers Tom Witzel and Tommy Grubb encouraged us to attend this year's tournament, and they thanked us for being so involved over the years.

RECOGNITIONS

Former Sunriser (and Past President) Wendy Madsen joined us at Friday's meeting, along with her beau Robert Nelson. Before she was President, Wendy served as our Sergeant-At-Arms, and her "theme" was helping Sunrisers who weren't wearing a Rotary pin purchase one. She did it again last week! (Show Rotary!)

Chief Recognitionist Bob Johnson called upon Howard Stauffer, who is recently returned from Sri Lanka. Howard had been on a bicycle trip there, and he said that on his second night of the tour, he was lying in bed asking, "What was I thinking???" Howard didn't say much about the trip, though (it will be the subject of a future discussion). What he did want to say was that his son recently bought a pickup truck. "It's the first pickup truck the Stauffer family has ever had!" he exclaimed. Howard then said that he and his wife Rebecca are considering a relatively sedate trip to Europe in the next year or so. 

Last Friday was Your Editor's anniversary. Shelley and I have been married for 16 years, and we celebrated by going "on tour" the week before. We visited family in Concord, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Pollock Pines over the week of Thanksgiving. We also planned (and carried out) an anniversary dinner that night.

Orrin Plocher recently spent 21 days in the Midwest, and he said, "I don't recommend it." He was visiting his ailing father, and he encouraged all of us "Men of a Certain Age" to undergo a prostate exam.

Bob J then caught up with Wendy Madsen, whom he called a "de facto Honorary Member" of our Club. Wendy is a member of the Inglewood Rotary in Colorado, in which the average age is 70. She called Inglewood a "little tiny, really weird community". Her Rotary Club is involved in several wonderful projects, and many of the members in their 80's travel to the project sites to participate. She also said that her daughter Hayley plans to wed soon. More was said, but in the battle of Freedom of the Press vs.the Wrath of Wendy, Your Editor has chosen ... discretion.