After dinner, Rich Brandes presented some Rotary history and then showed a video of Bill Gates announcing the $2 million matching challenge to Rotary for Polio Plus.  Rich and Dean then commented on the recent announcement that the challenge had been met in early January.  Good work Rotary!  And that the Gates Foundation had voted an additional $50 million to the polio eradication effort.  In addition, a new success was announced in India; no new cases of polio were reported during the past year.  As a result, only 3 countries remain with endemic polio – Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan.

Since Rotary launched the polio campaign in 1985, Rotarians worldwide have contributed over $1 billion and two billion children have received oral vaccine.  It is estimated that 5 million children have been spared disability and 250,000 lives saved during this period.  It’s good to be part of something important.

Past Presidents Erich and Joe then shared the podium and talked about our clubs 45 anniversary.  Many stories and laughs from the days of old were shared.  President Tom then thanked the club for their good work during the year and awarded Rotarian of the Month pins.  Awards went to Erich, Vivian, Ron, Tom B, John P, Lin Scott and Jennifer.  Tim Bosma conducted a lively wine auction, achieving far more revenue than one would guess from the wine being auctioned.  And with a lot of laughter, Charter Night 2012 was brought to a close.

This year’s event will begin at 2 pm, Saturday Oct. 1 at the Mendocino Art Center.

The previous week, from September 27 to 30, artwork and raffle prizes will be on display.

To learn more.

GSE team members included Tetsuro Ohtake, Yuko Togawa, the GSE Leader Makoto Sone, Makiko Yoda, and Masaki Ishido.

• Tetsuro “Tex” specializes in International Communication at the Atami Korakuen Hotel.
• Yuko “Yukes” is an Associate in Liberal Arts and an English-Japanese translator.
• Makoko “Mako” is a chemist and was Director of the General Institute of Technology.
• Makiko “Yodie” specializes in gardening and develops new varieties of grass plants at the Yamanashi Farming Experiment Station.
• Masaki “Mas” studied material precision chemistry, and is now policeman at the Ito Police Station.

This new addition to our club will provide us with a one-stop resource for much of the need to know information about our club and Rotary in general. Once we have the initial layout smoothed out, our communications will start funneling towards our new website.

I’m looking forward to the new opportunity of  communicating with our community about who we are and allowing them to learn more about us.   It may lead to more individual interest in our club!  It also  may be a tool in facilitating some of the goals from our recent Vision Program.  Take a look around and enjoy our latest accomplishment.

My thanks to the Website Committee; Bruce Lewis, John Innes, Susan Warner, Harold Hauck and all who have participated with their interest and input into this project.   A special thanks to our designer and supporter Dennis Freeze.   A great manifestation of this year’s theme… “The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands”.

Dean Watson

President

The event was well attended and featured Clifford L Dochterman as our key note speaker. Clifford is known for his humor and entertaining presentations. He also offers insight and inspiration in regards to our achievements and future. It was an honor to participate in the evening.

The dinner was held in Petaluma CA at the Sheraton Hotel.

Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Antiquis temporibus, nati tibi similes in rupibus ventosissimis exponebantur ad necem.
In the good old days, children like you were left to perish on windswept crags.

Recedite, plebes! Gero rem imperialem.
Stand aside, little people! I’m here on official business.

Heus, hic nos omnes in agmine sunt!
Hey, we’re all in line here!

Conlige suspectos semper habitos.
Round up the usual suspects.

Quidquid excusatio prandium pro!
Any excuse for lunch!

Neutiquam erro.
I am not lost.

Ita erat quando hic adveni.
It was that way when I got here.

Non calor sed umor est qui nobis incommodat.
It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.

Di! Ecce hora! Uxor mea me necabit!
God, look at the time! My wife will kill me!

Lex clavatoris designati rescindenda est.
The designated hitter rule has got to go.

Purgamentum init, exit purgamentum.
Garbage in, garbage out.

Hodie adsit, cras absit.
Here today, gone tomorrow.

Caesar si viveret, ad remum dareris.
If Caesar were alive, you’d be chained to an oar.

Id quot circumiret, circumveniat.
What goes around, comes around.

Modo fac.
Just do it.

Nunc hoc in marmore non est incisum …
Now this isn’t carved in stone …

Quomodo cogis comas tuas sic videri?
How do you get your hair to do that?