the valley sunrise - Clayton Valley Concord Sunrise Rotary Club

THE VALLEY SUNRISE
OCTOBER 8, 2015
Winner of the Cliff Dochterman “Spirit of Rotary Award” of 2014-2015
STAFF—for this issue!
Joan D’Onofrio: Production/Design
Carrie Kroeger: Reporter
John Wenzel: Photographer
GOOD MORNING ROTARIANS…
PLEASE START YOUR ENGINES
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
OFFICERS
K.R. Ravindran: International President
Ken Courville: District Governor
Tina Akins: Asst. District Governor
And, at the sound of the bell, we are off to
the races! There will be lots of laps around
the track this morning as there is much to
cover in this issue. Monica Fraga led us in
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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 Nishimori: Foundation Director
Bob Huck: Community Services
Joan D’Onofrio: Membership
Clayton Worsdell: International
Julia Aguilar: Club Services
the Pledge of Allegiance while Maryann
Carroll-Moser waved the checkered flag
for this Saturday’s That’s Amore! Rotary
Goes Italian Dinner and Auction. She also
led us in the 4-Way Test.
CONTENTS
Thought of the Day
Guests
Movers & Shakers
Ecstatic (Grumpy) Bucks
Announcements
Speaker Presentation
Mystery Greeter
Getting to Know Us
The Gallery: Photography Exhibit
Thought of the Day
Dr. Tommy Wolf’s thought of the day was a quote by,
Stand Up Comedian, Andrew Dice Clay who said:
“I just want to make people laugh as hard as they can,
and I really think they need that.”
Mr. Clay would be happy to know that Tommy is in
sync with his philosophy as he keeps our Club engaged
in laughter.
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Guests
Sophie Etter our foreign exchange student from Switzerland
Speaker Colette Carroll with Mureleen
The Interactors: Reed, Melissa, Lynette
Ricky Fraga
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Movers and Shakers
AWARDS & CHARITABLE GIVING
Anthony Aranda is our Rotarian of the Month. He’s everywhere! Helping, leading, doing.
President Dave Kemnitz presented Chris Krnich a check for $375 to Clayton Valley Charter High School’s Girls Golf
team from the CVCS Charitable Fund. There are 12 currently on the team and Oakhurst is their home course.
SERVICE ABOVE SELF
DICTIONARY DISTRIBUTION
On October 1st members of our Club participated in the Annual Dictionary Distribution project and gave
dictionaries to every third grader at Silverwood Elementary in Concord and Diablo View Elementary in
Clayton. Bob Huck, Jeff Rondini, Jim Swanson, Chris Krnich and Rich Lueck presented each student with
their very own book and one student said: “Wow, this is great. It’s like Google in a book.” The next day Chris
Ruzicka, Ben Wentling, and Maryann Carrol-Moser joined the group and helped distribute the dictionaries
to the third graders at Highlands Elementary in Concord.
WHEELCHAIR RECIPIENTS IN S AN FELIPE
Lehmer's Concord Buick GMC made possible the delivery of 10 wheelchairs to our Rotary Twin Club in San
Felipe, Baja, Mexico. They loaned our Club a brand new GMC truck to get the job done. Our deep and heartfelt
thanks is extended to Lehmer’s for their generosity. It was a beautiful endeavor consistent with the Rotary
mantra: "Service above Self."
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Ecstatic (Grumpy) Bucks
Torsten Jacobsen brought us up to speed on
his adventures in San Felipe where the clinic is
doing very well. It now has a gynecologist
helping, along with a Mexican physician
(making it truly international), and a digital
mammogram. On the not so Happy Bucks side,
he reported being stung by a stingray and had
us all laughing with his hilarious description of a hummingbird that actually sat
on his head and snuck a peek at the book he was reading. Then there was the
descriptive issue of the snake. According to Tineke, who spotted it in their
family room had this to say: “I saw something moving in my peripheral field of
vison and saw that it was a sidewinder snake moving closer and closer to me. What else could I do but scream
and the darn thing stopped dead in its tracks.” That was her opportunity to run and get Torsten who came to her
aid au natural but well equipped to kill the darn intruder. After several attempts he was able to smash the snake
with a shovel. The next day, Torsten skinned it and cooked it for the dogs for dinner.
Clayton Worsdell is happy co-sharing the picture-taking with John Wenzel for the newsletter. Pictures make this
newsletter possible, so thanks to both of you.
Chris Ruzicka was happy for being one of the top 100 practices meeting future practices in his business.
Ken Nishimori happy for the recent presentation Larry Hutchings and John Wenzel gave regarding a grant in the works.
Julia Dawson-Aguilar wasn’t super happy waiting three hours for a tow truck when her car broke down, but is indeed
happy about her date for the Auction Saturday night.
Monica Fragga gave her happy bucks in honor of Mr. Letts, the plumber. She was even super happy to pay double time
since he had to come in the middle of the night.
John Wenzel gave a happy buck for his talk with Larry Hutchings on Tuesday – and his shirt from Miles
Maryann had a less than happy buck from needing to go to the dentist, but very happy about the Auction participation.
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Announcements
Maryann Carroll-Moser brought us up to date on That’s Amore! our party this
Saturday at Oakhurst County Club. She said: “The committee has been doing a
phenomenal job, and the least we can do is support them by buying tickets and
bringing friends. She reminds us also that all this money goes to charity and for
those who can’t attend they can still participate by buying the 50/50 raffle tickets.
(The rumor that you need to be present to win is unfounded.)
John Wolfe happily thanked those who ponied up the $20 per member for the wine
barrel auction and let us know that it is not too late to contribute either a bottle of
wine or the $20 if you haven’t done so yet!
Bill Selb reported on the auction items he has collected to date and noted that: Ed
Moresi of Moresi’s Chophouse and the Mudville Grille donated a $55 gift certificate.
Le Veranda Café donated a $50 gift certificate and Peet’s Coffee donated a free
pound of coffee every month for one year.
Random Acts of Kindness: President Dave reminded all of us to put our Random
Acts of kindness in the box for Governor Ken. Tommy had a good one.
President Dave reminded us that Terry Scott will be speaking on fundraising for
Alzheimer’s Research at our next meeting.
Grant Writing Seminar – Fairfield, Saturday, October 10. This seminar is free and
runs from 8:30 am -2:00 pm. Anthony Aranda will attend.
That’s Amore! Rotary Goes Italian Dinner & Auction at Oakhurst Country Club
6:00 pm.
District Conference in Woodland – YOLO April 1--3, 2016. Booths will be
available on Saturday. There is no charge for booths. If you have a hobby or items
you make, you can sell then at the fair as long as you donate a portion to charity.
Home Team: For those who missed the meeting last week, five Club members
participated. They had plenty to do and were handsomely rewarded with homemade
apricot jam. November 21 is the next scheduled date.
Adopt-a-Block will be held Saturday Oct 17th and everyone will meet at Lisa
Truesdell’s home.
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Speakers’ Presentations
TORSTEN J ACOBSEN
Torsten updated us on the African projects: “Several weeks ago a presentation
was undertaken to bring everyone up to speed on two African projects that the
club has been involved in for years. Unfortunately our then computer was not
up to speed preventing the showing of the videos that really captured in a more
living fashion the needs and results, especially important since our partners and
recipients in Uganda had gone to great effort and expense to make their video
especially for us and have been asking for feedback so we will do a short 15
minute wrap up.”
Torsten reported that only 18% of folks in Rotary are attracted to International
projects. However, it is not true for our Club. Our Club has played a
significant role in the district award that was received this year and it is, in
fact, world-wide International projects that distinguish Rotary from other
similar organization – Kiwanis, Lyon, t. etc. etc.
Our Club has a water project in Central America, a cancer center in San Felipe, a wheelchair program, orphanage support,
decades-long eye clinic in Zambia run by Bud Tysinger, support for the Burkina Faso project, and the list goes on Our
projects require Grant writing – the more we succeed, the more likely we are to get grants. The more we get and give, the
more we get and can give!
As mentioned before, this club has supported the SIGN programs in Ethiopia, assisted container transport and of course
been the lead club for our Adopt a Village project in Uganda. Ethiopia is almost “done” needing only support for the
program in Barhirdar’s orthopedic programs and a final SIGN site in the South of the country. Uganda will be done within
a year. Phase 1: pregnant pigs, egg laying chickens, latrines, bore hole for clean water, seeds for feed, all this they did
magnificently – even started their own mini-loan bank! Phase II: banana suckers, sewing machine, manual brick making
machine (one a minute), kits for pregnant mothers, cutting maternal deaths in half, catering equipment, financial skills,
school supplies. Phase III: A Medical Clinic patterned after a similar facility facilitated by Rotary elsewhere in the
country that resulted in peace and conflict prevention, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal
and child health needs addressed, basic education, economic and community development, all while becoming SELF
sustaining. All from a grant from 3,000 people.
COLLETTE C ARROLL
Mureleen Benton introduced our second speaker, Collette Carroll, founder
of California Re-Entry Institute. She’s also a 2015 CNN Hero, a program
started in 2007 by Anderson Cooper, where she was in the top 25 out of
25,000 nominations. Collette wants us all to understand that even people who
have made horrible mistakes in life are still human beings and deserve to be
treated that way. She pointed out that:
 6.9 million persons in 2013 are under supervision
 1 out of every 100 adults in the US is incarcerated
 Likelihood of going to prison is 1 in 15.
 70% recidivism, particularly in the first year
 50% in the first three years
 It costs CA $65,000 per inmate, $100,000 for juvenile offenders
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The CRI is made up of inmates from San Quentin, 24 months from the date of their release and prepares men for reentry
into their new neighborhoods and assisting them through incarceration and release. They currently serve 60+ men and
have 175 signed up for their April class. Sadly, they don’t have the capacity for that many.
Every man gets individualized case management, job placement and planning, and a place to live. On their release, they’re
presented with a packet worth approximately $250 containing a prepaid cellphone, fresh linens, clothes, underwear,
sheets, towels, a pillow, a bag to carry their stuff in. This allows them to use their small gate money as seed money, not
immediately expending it on necessities.
CRI = productive citizen. Pre-release preparation, they each make a plan and then follow up on it in four steps:
 Accountability statement
 A safe place to live
 Honest employment
 Family/community
Looking for volunteers - Most of these men did not have a positive male role model in their life. They need solid men in
their lives and she’s looking for male volunteers. Men that can offer jobs, time, take them out for coffee, provide
assistance for going to school, and computers. Collette wants them to succeed, not just exist. Her current recidivism rate is
zero. They know that there is someone they can call for support. They are also aware that they need to and can ask for
help. Most of them have either forgotten how or have never had anyone to turn to.
President Dave Kemnitz presented Collette with a $1,000 check from the Clayton Valley Concord Sunrise Charitable
Fund. She was also presented with a book that she signed and will be donated to the Clayton Library Children’s’ section.
My$tery Greeter –GOTCHA!
Want to know why Monica Fraga is smiling? She was the Mystery Greeter and brought in quite a haul!
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Getting to Know Us. Spotlight
on
Christopher Krnich
What is your idea of perfect happiness? A rainy day, a good meal, and
football on TV
What is your greatest fear? Kittens, and you should be too.
What is the trait you most deplore in others? Judging others.
What is your greatest extravagance? I just got married.
What is your current state of mind? Exhausted.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Being able to say the
alphabet backwards.
On what occasion do you lie? Poker.
What do you most dislike about your appearance? My lack of height.
Which living person do you most despise? It’s a tie between Nicki Minaj or Kanye West.
What is the quality you most like in a man? Dashingly good looks.
What is the quality you most like in a woman? Humor.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse? I don't know.
What or who is the greatest love of your life? My wife?
When and where were you happiest? April 12, 1997 for no real reason...
Which talent would you most like to have? Being really good at Jai alai.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? My lack of focus. What was the question
again?
What do you consider your greatest achievement? Graduating 3rd grade.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? A kitten.
Where would you most like to live? I would just be happy in a house I owned, especially if it was a mansion
on a private island in the Caribbean with 24- hour employees and a masseuse on call... but that's it.
What is your most treasured possession? A pocket watch my parents gave me on my 16th birthday.
What is your favorite occupation? I'd love to be a talking mime; I would be the only one out there!
What is your most marked characteristic? Besides my size?
What do you most value in your friends? Honesty and loyalty.
Who are your favorite writers? Andy Weir, Steven Pressfield, Tom Clancy.
Who is your hero of fiction? Rambo.
What are your favorite names? Most people call me Krunch, but I also like going by Alejandro.
What is your greatest regret? Not pursuing my dream of being a trapeze artist.
How would you like to die? Horrific trapeze accident.
What is your motto? Always leave them laughing. There is nothing in life that can't be fixed with a smile.
Well, except for anything mechanical, or wood, or metal. Ok, only a couple of things can be fixed with a smile,
for the rest you need duct tape.
What would you order as your last meal? Is this like a death row thing? I'd go big! Steak, lobster, mac and
cheese, asparagus, Brussel sprouts. Oh, and Apple Pie.
When you reach the Pearly Gates, what do you expect God to say to you? “Krunich, Krenich, Ker, how do
you pronounce your last name?”
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Don’t Forget!
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
October 15: Regular Meeting at Oakhurst Club: Speaker is Terri Scott
October 17: Adopt a Block
October 22: Regular Meeting at Oakhurst Club. Speakers are the Interact Club Members
October 29: Regular Meeting at Oakhurst Club. Club Assembly
November 4: Board meeting at Buttercup Restaurant 7 a.m. Members welcome
November 5: Regular meeting at Oakhurst Club. Speaker is Dr. Michael Barrington
November 12: Regular Meeting at Oakhurst Club
November 19: Regular Meeting at Oakhurst Club
November 21: Home Team
November 26: NO MEETING Happy Thanksgiving
The Gallery
Enjoy the work of Clayton Worsdell
Clayton took these photos Thursday morning from the parking lot before going into the
meeting: the Crescent Moon and Venus shining brightly over the hills.
Coming Attractions
You spoke, we listened. Seems our members are missing the jokes that are normally at the end of each
Newsletter, so next week we will be back with a bunch of them. Who will be in the “Getting to Know Us”
spotlight? It could be you. Stay tuned…and have fun at the party everyone.
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