 | Rotary Times |  |
President: Ross Bickford
President Elect: Jeff Davis
Secretary: Kim Menary
Treasurer: Andy Hilldale
Meeting time & place:
Upcoming Events
- Fabulous Friday at Betty Spaghetti's @ R3, 12/19 @ 6:00 p.m.
- Crab Feed, 1/31/15, Shone Farm
Upcoming Speakers/Special Meetings
- 12/23: Dark
- 12/30: Dark
- 1/6/2015: Club Assembly
- 1/13: READY Project
- 1/20: Steve Henricksen
- 1/27: Portrait of Sonoma County
- 2/3: Community and Family Service Agency: CFSA; Mary Greski
- 2/10: Holiday Party
- 2/17: Sonoma Canopy Tours: Debbie Klein
- 2/24: Global Student Embassy: GSE; John Grech
- 3/3: Leadership; Tanya Narath
- 3/10: TBD
- 3/17: Party
- 5/19: Scholarship Dinner
Welcome!
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Meeting Called to Order
Acting President Donna called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
The Pledge was led by Chuck.
Brendan gave an invocation.
We all recited the Four Way Test.
For a song, Daniela chose "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer".
Visiting Rotarians: Senator Mike McGuire (Healdsburg).
Guests of Rotarians: Chris Rogers, Anaid Gonzalez, Kathy Smith, Pam Mueller, Erin Rickard.
Correspondence: Grant thank you letters from Guerneville Elementary School (Ballet Folklorico and ESL program), Forestville Food Chest, Russian River Health Centers, Sutter Hospice, and Food 4 Thought.
Announcements: Michael Rickard reported that Napa Auto Parts avoided flooding last week by about 2'.
Herman G thanked those Rotarians who acted as judges in the Parade of Lights. They had a record number of floats this year. Herman G also just returned from a School Board conference in SF.
Lori reported that she was officially sworn in to the West Sonoma County Union High School District Board.
Jeff reported that he volunteered at the Healdsburg Rotary Crab Feed over the weekend. He picked up some ideas for us.
Brendan hosted a fireside chat at his new place in Occidental. Daniela and Soledad learned about Rotary from Donna, Ed, Mike Nicholls, Andy, and Brendan.
Don't forget to be looking for silent auction items for the Crab Feed!
Happy Bucks: Hans gave his last $2 to celebrate the 1st birthday of his and Lori's puppy.
Lori gave $5 for her swearing in to the High School Board.
Chuck gave $5 for buying flowers for Kim.
Brendan gave $10 for having had a good time entertaining guests at the fireside chat.
Jeff gave $5 for a good time at the Healdsburg Rotary Crab Feed.
Herman G gave $5 for having a good time at the school board conference.
Fines: Daniela was fined $5 for turning 27 and an additional $5 for being the youngest member of the club!
Kim was fined $5 for a birthday as well.
Michael Rickard, not to be left out, was fined $5 for his 65th birthday and a further $5 for his upcoming celebratory dinner at Cattleman's.
Raffle: Kim had the winning ticket, but came up short with a king.
Program: Michael Nicholls introduced Senator Mike McGuire (AKA "Goat Boy"). He is an Alexander Valley native and Healdsburg High alumnus. He was elected to the school board at the age of 19 and the city council at 23. He is also an ad hoc member of the broadband committee on which Michael Nicholls serves. In past years he has been our guest auctioneer at the Crab Feed. Before turning over the floor to the Senator, Michael presented him with a gift from the club. A re-gifted low flow shower head that the Senator had previously given to Michael as a gag gift.
Mike McGuire first thanked everyone for the support in the election, particularly Herman G, who had campaigned diligently for him. The district he now takes over is one of the larger in population at approximately 1.3 million people.
He informed us that a County emergency had been declared due to the heavy rains and flooding. It is estimated current damages are in the $16 million range, much of which came in heavy flooding in Healdsburg. 3 homes along the coast also slipped from the bluffs in the heavy rains.
Unemployment in Sonoma remains low (about 5%) and lower in Marin (about 3.5%), but higher in the more rural counties to the north.
He quickly went through a list of items he expects will be upcoming issues before opening up to questions: His support for a manufacturer's tax credit from 4% up to 6%, cutting Secretary of State fees for small businesses, getting $50 million in additional support for Sonoma County Airport, getting per pupil spending up from our current last place among the states (we just fell behind Mississippi), supporting career tech, agricultural, and ROP programs that are result based.
Pensions are still a problem. There seems to be no avoiding that both employees and districts will have to pay more in future.
He will support keeping parks open, and fight against fracking.
There will be a 2016 recreational marijuana use ballot initiative. He supports a rival initiative that would have additional regulations.
In healthcare, mental heath remains the #1 area of need.
In transportation, he supports a revision of how gas taxes are allocated by County. Currently it is by number of registered vehicles rather than number of miles of road in each county which leaves rural counties underfunded compared to suburban counties. He will continue supporting improvements to the Marin-Sonoma narrows and SMART. Bus fares will be waived for veterans and students.
Mike McGuire's office can be reached at (916) 651-4002 and his email address is senator.mcguire@senate.ca.gov
Thought for the Day: Donna read a verse that Ross had provided.