THE VALLEY SUNRISE

THE VALLEY
SUNRISE
SEPTEMBER 24, 2015
Award-Winning Newsletter for THREE CONSECUTIVE years (2010-2013)
STAFF
Anthony Aranda: Editor
Steve Weir: Reporter
Joan D’Onofrio: Production/Design
John Wenzell: Photographer
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
OFFICERS
K.R. Ravindran: Intl. President
Ken Courville: District Governor
Tina Akins: Asst. Governor
:
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
PLEASE START
YOUR ENGINES
President Dave Kemnitz opened the meeting by introducing
our most illustrious guests: the Interact Officers: Reed,
Melissa, Lynette, Natalie; our foreign exchange student
from Switzerland, Sophie; Martin Robinson; District
Governor, Ken Corurville; Assistant Governor of Area 6,
Tina Akins; and Chris Krnich’s wife, Jenny Krnich.
Dave Kemnitz: President
Maryann Carroll-Moser: Pres. Elect
Chris Krnich: Treasurer
Fred Nelson: Secretary
Tommy Wolf: Sgt-at-Arms
Irene Davids-Blair: Charitable Fund
Anthony Aranda: Vocational Services
Monica Fraga: New Generations
Ken Nishimorri: Foundation Director
Bob Huck: Community Services
Joan D’Onofrio: Membership
Clayton Worsdell: International
Julia Aguilar: Club Services
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AWARDS
An explanation of the Paul Harris Award, was delivered by Ken Nishimori who bestowed Chris Krnich, along with his wife Jenny,
with the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. Ken communicated the history of the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. District Governor, Ken
Courville and Ken Nishimori presented the medallion to Chris Krnich. It was great to see his wife Jenny here for the award. Club
president Dave Kimnitz, Ken Courville and Ken Nishimori were all proudly wearing their Rotary shirts. Fred Nelson kindly pointed
out that they looked like the Beach Boys LOL. Fred is always great at recognizing good humor.
Governor Ken called up Chris, Jenni and Ken Nishimori who reminded us that our theme this year is “be a gift to the world.” Ken noted
that some Rotarians help by going out into the world and helping struggling people in other countries through humanitarian acts, while
others are active in the community doing fundraising and local humanitarian projects. But for most of us we provide help through
contributions to the Rotary Foundation. In response to those contributions, Rotary International recognizes its members and
nonmembers for their significant contributions to the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. They have been doing this since 1957 for
contributions of one thousand dollars or more to the Rotary Foundation. Ken noted that Chris’s contribution moves us closer to a world
with peace and good will. There was much more to Ken’s speech and I encourage you to come to our meetings to share in these great
moments.
Our Governor, Ken Courville, presented the award and President Dave awarded the certificate. We all congratulated Chris for his very
generous accomplishment. Governor Ken informed us of an additional recognition that is available in the form of a set of wings given to
those who have committed one-thousand dollars. The recipients are: Mureleen Benton, Irene Davids-Blair, Torsten Jaccobson,
Chris Krinch, Owen Murphy, Ken Nishimura, and Clayton Worsdell, Governor Ken further noted that if Rotarians donate onethousand dollars in one year you are providing the money needed to inoculate two thousand children.
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PROMOTIONS
President Dave retired two RED BADGES and awarded Mary Kemnitz and Anthony Aranda their BLUE BADGE,
MILESTONES
Ben Wentling celebrated his birthday working the Lodi Grape Festivle and that he had a great time celebrating his 29th birthday (not
sure how many times he has done that)!
Mary Kemnitz celebrated her birthday and told us that she received beautiful flowers from her husband Dave and also received
flowers from her son. She said that now her office looks like a funeral parlor. Mary donated $100 to Paul Harris Fund and, at Dave’s
request, recited the Four Way Test.
Eric Wren celebrated his birthday August 20th and again September 20th and donated $50 dollars.
Ken Nishimura has a birthday coming up, but he is going to wait until October 23rd to contribute which is world polio day and he will
make a contribution to Polio Plus.
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
Maryanne Carroll-Moser gave us an update on the 9th annual Rotary Goes Italian dinner/auction fundraiser. We are asking for each
member to donate $20 or contribute two bottles if good wine to be auctioned off at the event. There will be over 40 bottles auctioned off
to one lucky winner. We are also asking each club member to donate two dollars or one lotto scratcher for the lotto board. We expect to
have 40 lotto scratchers on the board to be auctioned off during the dinner. A donation letter has gone out to the club so please
circulate it in the business community so they have the opportunity to donate a prize to the auction. We have some great prizes already
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but need more. Bill reminded us to use OPM this a time to ask friends that you have supported in their events and invite them to our
diner for great food and a really fun time. The event will be held October 10th at the Oakhurst Country Club at 6:00 PM. Dress is casual.
The committee participated in a food tasting at the country club after Thursday’s meeting, and sampled eight of the available dishes to
make sure we get the best choices for the event. We will have an update for you next week.
Dave Kemnitz and Clayton Worsdall attended a meeting at the Palo Alto Rotary Club and gave a presentation on our club’s Clunkers
4 Kids program.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Fred Nelson delivered sad news to our club that our dear member Bob Deiss passed away. Fred was not sure when or how he died,
but noticed it when he was on Bob’s Facebook page. If anyone would like to send a condolence card to Bob’s wife Karen you can get
his address from our district web site. Bob will be missed. He was a great Rotarian and a fine man.
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ESTATIC (GRUMPY) BUCKS
Ben Wentling had a buck for his recent trip to Lodi Grape Festival (Fred asked if he crushed it), and a buck for his upcoming event the
Martinez Booze and Blues Festival. He also gave a buck for his younger daughter’s birthday and will treat her to lunch today.
Clayton Worsdall had a buck for the presentation he and Dave gave at the Palo Alto Rotary club showcasing the Clunkers 4 Kids
program, and reported that they showed a lot of interest in supporting our efforts. Last week General motors sent him and his wife to
Bermuda for a week.
Tommy Wolf had a happy buck for his Health and Wellness event to be held September 30th and he invites everyone to come. 6:00 to
8:30 PM 2190 Meridian Park Blvd Suite H Concord CA. Wine and appetizers will be served.
Joan D’Onofrio announced her Art Awards Fundraising party to be held at her house Sunday, September 27th. Everyone is invited to
view winning student art, an exhibit by the Concord Community of Artists, good fellowship, and tasty wines.
Anthony Aranda had a happy buck to celebrate the news that his daughter Kathleen Rose has been blessed the conception of a new
baby she is due in May of 2016. This will be his 5th grandchild.
Julia Aquilar announced that her baby boy will be celebrating his 22nd birthday.
SPEAKER PRESENTATION
President Dave formally introduced our speaker, District Governor Ken Courville. Ken was born in Fall River, MA and received his
degree in public service law enforcement from the community college in Fall River. He Married his wife, Maryann, in May 1977 and
retired from Coca Cola after 28 years of service. Maryanne was a teacher and retired in 2008. She served on the Dixon City Council
and also served four years as Vice Mayor and eight years as Mayor. Together they have four children.
Ken joined Rotary in 2001 with the Dixon club and has remained with that club. There he held various positions including club
president. Ken also has served as assistant Governor and was selected as governor for this term.
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He told us the story behind the sports coat he was wearing. Every year the President of Rotary has the honor of deciding the color of
the coat that the Governors wear. Past presidents have had very different taste. Cliff Dochterman, had the red coats and one president
had gold coats that made them look like real estate agents. And another president had green coats so they all looked like they had just
won the Masters. But our current president K. R. Ravindran decided to have everyone wear a navy blue coat, because he believed that
everyone owned one and that is the type of leader he is. He is very frugal. When we earn money he wants it to go to the cause and not
to a coat for the leaders.
Ken has ten challenges he wants us to help him with. The first six are to have fun. He said that he can see we already have that under
control. The other four are:
1) Keeping our members engaged in our clubs particularly our new members. Last year for district 5160 our net growth was a minus
20. Members want to come to Rotary to get things done, to make a difference, and to have projects to help keep them engaged.
2) Continue to give money to the foundation for the things it does. Less than 18% of the money we spend is outside for our local
communities. That money really goes a long way helping people in other countries. He estimates that our 70 clubs will donate 2.5
million dollars locally and another half million to other countries. That is a very significant number. We must remember to bring in other
people’s money. The irradiation of Polio is key. He said that we are so close, but if we do not stay focused we are just as close to
getting it back in many areas. Africa is done they need just 2 more years to be clean.
3) He is challenging each club president to produce one more Paul Harris member that will be a net of 70 additional members.
4) Get children involved in our projects and in Rotary. This can be accomplished through programs like Interact, Camp Venture, Camp
Royal, and Rotaract. He pointed out that it is nice to see our foreign exchange student, Sophie, here today and said that we must keep
our presence in the media which will help with all of our goals.
Lastly, Ken said “I am asking that everyone help with the box my wife and I put together. It does not cost you a thing. What I am asking
for you to do is every time you do something nice (random acts of kindness) to write them down on a piece of paper and put them in
the box and they will be posted at our District conference April 1-3, 2016 at the Yolo County fairgrounds in Woodland, CA. You need to
register by October 1 of 2015 to get the $79.00 discounted price after October 1 the price will be $99.00 per person.”
Ken presented an award to two of our members for being a “gift to the world.” Fred Nelson and Irene Davids-Blair. He had Irene
present the award to Fred and Fred to Irene. For being leaders and shining examples as Rotarians. Ken gave his thanks for letting him
be governor and for being a member of District 5160.
MY$TERY GREETER--GOTCHA!
This week’s greeter was Carrie Kroeger. Several people had to pay for not greeting her this morning and even someone sitting right
next to her at her own table!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
October 1: Next week our speaker is Mark Ruefenaht the founder and president of
Dogs 4 Diabetes. You don’t want to miss that.
October: No meetings at the Food Bank this entire month
October 10: That’s Amore! Annual Auction and dinner celebration at the Oakhurst Country club.
April 1—3: : District Conference
About that Dinner—That’s Amore!: Once again, PLEASE, if anyone has any excellent wines
they would like to donate, for the auction, please let Maryann know—heck, let anyone of us know or just
bring it to the meeting. Also, we are still in need of auction items, so if you have something to contribute,
step forward please.
Friday Night Social
Thanks to Torsten and Tineke for hosting an evening at their villa. What a beautiful evening it was. Food
was outstanding and conversation was nonstop.
Donor Cars For Sale
Here is a list of the donor cars available for sale:
2001 GMC Truck conversion. 112k miles, air ride suspension, very nice truck, runs good smog present new price:
$7,995.00 or best offer
1999 Acura Integra. very nice car, fresh cat converter, smog present, stick shift runs great, good commuter,149k
miles: $3,495.00 or best offer
1967 Cadillac. must sell has been here too long runs great try $6,995.00
2004 Acura RL Fresh donation150k miles Looks and runs great, all the goodies Nav, leather, roof, loaded:$3,995.00 Just
service work needed plus tires
1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee 255k miles looks and runs like new all maintenance records D&H cared for: $3,995.00 obo
1999 Nissan Quest 7 passenger runs good129k miles: $1,795.00 this is a great deal!!
2000 Ford Expedition. needs basic services have not started work on yet looking at all offers!
2004 Chevy Malibu. runs very good 90k miles smog present just shocks needed $3,495.00 obo
COMING ATTRACTIONS
The next issue of our Club’s Newsletter will present a new feature called “Getting to Know Us.” Each
week a series of questions will be answered by one of our fellow Rotarians. It is based on the Proust
Questionnaire.
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