AND YOU THOUGHT OBAMMA BROUGHT CHANGE!
President Dirk wasted no time today, ringing the bell promptly at 12:15! After a thought for the day by Jeff AND an invocation by Will, he was off to a great start. His first move was to have Kelly's son Jace recite the 4-Way Test! (By the way, Jace will be coming by next week to tell us about hsi hopes for the Wakayama trip. Bring your cash, as we'll be passing the hat for him)
Next, Dirk announced that WE WILL HAVE FUN!
Then, in a shocking and suprising move, Dirk uncovered The Concord/Diablo Wheel of Fate! "Round and Round it goes, how broke you'll be -- nobody knows!" Dirk has thrown out the traditional hefty fine schedule, and introduced a Wheel of Fate. Instead of paying a fixed fine, the member in question will spin the wheel and hope that "Luck is a Lady" today... Fines range from nothing to paying $2 for every member who's not at the meeting. The Wheel also takes the place of marbles with 24 prizes for any winning ticket.
ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER NEW MEMBER!
Eric Maldonado was inducted at this week's meeting! Eric has the honor of having the longest title in the club -- He is the Contra Costa County Community Involvement Officer Corporate Relations with Travis Credit Union.
He's been in the financial sector for about eight years, and is new to Travis and the position of many words. He's a San Francisco native, and has a daughter, Hope. Welcome Eric!
TWO NEW MEMBERS INDUCTED 4/8!
Edi Birsan knows his ammo! His company, E.D.I. Inc., spends most of their time at the docks at the future Kasper Marina in North Concord. (The former Naval Weapons Station - Now the Army's docks) They inspect shipping containers, especially those carrying amunition!
Edi's lived in Concord since the early 80's, and served on the RAC, a commission to assist the City in being able to develop a reuse plan for the decommissioned Naval Weapons Station.
Will Harper is just shy of being married two years. He and his wife have a beautiful new daughter, Poetry Sophia. He is the Youth Ministries Director at the Salvation Army in Concord. He outlined several programs available to young people including basketball, girls dance class, and an after-school tutoring program. Prior to accepting the position at the Concord Salvation Army, he was a basketball coach at Cincinnati State.
WELCOME TO ROTARY KEN LIEBER!
A BIG Concord-Diablo welcome to our newest member, Ken Lieber, who was inducted March 25, 2009.
Ken is with PG&E and lives in Antioch. He's been married to Starr and has two adult children.
LOS MEDANOS COLLEGE ROTARACT
FUNDRAISER APRIL 4th
Chris Ofstad, the president of the Los Medanos College ROTARACT Club paid a visit to our March 25th meeting to elicit support for the upcoming fundraiser dinner on April 4, 2009.
The beneficiary of the monies raised will be Invisible Children, an organization who provides quality education to children in war-torn Northern Uganda.
The cost of the dinner is $15 per person. In addition to dinner, there will be an African Dance Performance, informational presentation and a number of great door prize drawings, including Ugandan art, Oakland A's box seats, and a Joe Montana autographed football!
The dinner will begin at 6PM, and will be held at the Cafeteria at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg.
Send Chris Ofstad an e-mail for more information.
WELCOME TO ROTARY BLANCA CAMPOS!
A BIG Concord-Diablo welcome to our newest member, Blanca Campos, who was inducted February 25, 2009.
NEW YEARS' GREETINGS FROM JAPAN!
In addition to the holiday greetings we received ftom the members of the Wakayama West, we also received this update from Masahiro Nakasuji, via Dirk Wentling:
Hi! How are you?
I was very happy!
Today is spcial celebration in Japan for peaple who became 20 years old.
This celebration is Japaniese tradition.
Peaple are put on the kimono.
Kimono is very colorful and beautifull!
I was very happy. : )
When I come to Japan, please contact me.
I go to meet with pleasure.
See you then. Thank you.
Nozomi Nakasuji
Nozomi in her special kimono
Nozomi and her parents
Kohta, Nozomi, and Ikumi say, "Hi!"
CAMBRIDGE CHRISTMAS MEETING SET FOR DECEMBER 17th
You won't want to miss this year's Cambridge Christmas meeting on December 17th. This is the meeting where all the toys we've collected and wrapped are presented by Santa to the children at the Cambridge Preschool. Lunch that day will be prepared by the parents and is always great. We will donate the amount we usually pay for lunch to the center.
The center is located at 1146 Lacy Lane in Concord. The meeting starts at noon. You should find ample parking across the street at Cambridge Elementary or on the street.
This is a great meeting to bring a guest to as well. There's not really a better way to see Rotary in action than this event.
RING THE BELLS ON DECEMBER 13th
Our annual Salvation Army Bell Ringing at Broadway Plaza is set for December 13th. Contact Phil Winslow to reserve your shift.
WRAPPING PARTY SET FOR DECEMBER 10th
Our annual Cambridge Gift Wrapping Party will be hosted again by Greg & Lois Grassi. We'll start at 6:30 and wrap until we're done! (Of course, we'll order pizza to sustain our stamina)
Every member of the family of Rotary is invited. The Grassi's address is listed in the roster of the "Member's Only" section of the web site.
MONUMENT CRISIS CENTER GIFT DELIVERY WEEKENDS SET
While not an "official" club activity, many members enjoy delivering presents with their families to the Monument Crisis Center clients. This is a very rewarding activity, and great for every member of the Rotary family. You can stay as long as you like, and go one or all days.
The gift delivery is set for December 6th & 7th, and 13th & 14th. The warehouse is at 1000 Detriot Ave., Ste U&V in Concord. Although the warehouse opens at 10AM, the organizers suggest coming later, as they are usually swamped when they open. That way, you'll get a little more sleep and not have to wait as long to get presents.
KOHTA ARRIVES SAFELY HOME
This morning (8/15/08) we received the following dispatch from Kohta's father in Wakayama, Japan:
"Kohta was taken care of very much.
He arrived at Japan safely.
He says that daily life in U.S.A. was very pleasant.
For Ikumi, Nozomi and three people of Kohta, a memory with you is valuable experience.
Thank you very much.
Masahiro Nakasuji"
KOHTA VISITS YOSEMITE
Kohta and Jace Ganuar hiked up to Vernal Falls in Yosemite
Jeff, Kohta, Beri and Jace arrive in Yosemite
KOHTA TAKES SAN FRANCISCO!
Dirk and Amanda Wentling took Kohta on a whirlwind tour of San Francisco on Monday, August 5th.
Here's a dispatch from Dirk on the adventure:
We went to ATT Park,
Walked the Embarcadero, walked down and up Lombard St, strolled the Wharf
and had lunch at Taratino’s, went to Alamo Plaza and saw the “Painted Ladies”, drove through the GG Park where he saw Bison for the first time. Checked out the windmill at Ocean Beach side of the park, walked around the Cliff house,
Stopped by the Legion of Honor,
Walked down to China Beach (and back up again!), went to Baker Beach
and walked almost to the Bridge but it got real cold and it was getting late.
He was asleep before we made it back to the Van Ness onramp to I80.
After spending some time at the Bay Area Crisis Nursery project, Nancy Glenfield and Kohta paid a visit to Mt. Diablo. It was an absolutely picture perfect day, and Kohta could almost see Wakayama!
Kohta Enjoys the view.
BACN WORK DAYS A SUCCESS!
We, along with the Pleasant Hill club, worked on two consecutive Saturdays (7/26 & 8/2/08) to install the improvements provided by our matching grant application last year. The district turned the $4,000 contributed by our three clubs into $8,000! Just like magic!
Kohta Gets In On The Fun with Beri & Jeff!
Saws are for girly men, John Newman
proves that real men use chisels!
Nancy Glenfield Paints The New Toy Garage
MICHAEL VISITS CASTLE,
DECLARES HIMSELF "KING OF THE WORLD"
Actually, Michael didn't say anything like that, it just sounded like a good headline. We received the following dispatch from Mitsuteru Nishitani:
"Michael is very fine yesterday. He visited the Wakayama castle with Mrs. Nakasuji & our manager Toshiko."
MICHAEL ARRIVES IN JAPAN!
Our outgoing exchange student to Wakayama Japan, Michael, has arrived safely and was greeted by two members of the Wakayama club.
You will be able to check out his adventures on the Wakayama blog detailing the adventures of both Michael and Kohta by clicking here.
SPECIAL GREETING TODAY! (7/30)
Todays' meeting was indeed special! First, we had a very special guest who greeted everyone who came in -- EMMA! She's seen here saying hello to Nancy Glenfield.
The only shaky moment was when she awarded a loooooong pencil to Dirk for a correct answer to a question she posed. (She was not aware of the long-standing provision in the Club's bylaws forbidding Dirk to have sharp or pointy objects)
