 | Rotary Times |  |
President: Ross Bickford
Secretary: Kim Menary
Treasurer: Andy Hilldale/Jennifer Rodriguez-Mueller
Meeting time & place:
Upcoming Events
- Plaza Concert, 8/14 @ 6:00 p.m., Brothers of Siren
- Plaza Concert, 8/28 @ 6:00 p.m., The Volkler Strifler Band
- Plaza Concert, 9/11 @ 6:00 p.m., Petty Theft
- Youth Park Hot Dog Stand, Friday 9/19 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Guerneville Cemetery Cleanup, Saturday 9/27 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Crab Feed, 1/31/15, Shone Farm
Upcoming Speakers/Special Meetings
- 8/12: Efren Carrillo - State of The County
- 8/19: Catholic Charities
- 8/26: District Governor's Visit - Kevin Eisenberg
- 10/7: Service Above Self Award Dinner
Welcome!
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Meeting Called to Order
President Ross called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.
The Pledge was led by Mike Torr.
Jennifer gave a message/invocation.
Daniela led us in a verse of Amazing Grace
Visiting Rotarians: None.
Guests of Rotarians: Beltran Rodriguez, Pam Mueller, Mary Szecsey
Correspondence: Megan Simmons thanked us for receiving the Sam Pullaro Memorial Scholarship
Announcements: We have been asked by the Forestville Youth Park to work the hot dog stand at their September fund raiser on Friday 9/19 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Brendan Passed around a sign up sheet and got 3 volunteers, which is apparently all we will need.
The RR Historical Society is planning a cleanup of the Guerneville Cemetery on Saturday 9/27 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (drop by when you can, they don't expect people to work all day). They have asked us to head the event since we have insurance. Brendan will check to see if our insurance covers non-Rotarian volunteers. If so, and with approval from Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Brendan will pass around a sign up sheet.
Rich and Roscoe have submitted letters of resignation. The board did not vote to accept them at this time, pending possible alternatives... more to come.
Ross has been in contact with Sebastopol Sunrise regarding the Rebuilding Together program. We will see if we can participate and help some of our local seniors with some home repair needs. Ross will have more info to come.
We are now accepted into the Google Nonprofits program. Among other things, this will allow us $300 in free Google advertising per day. An ad hoc committee of Brendan, Jennifer, Daniela, and Mike Nicholls was formed to manage the ad campaigns.
It was voted by a majority of the board and general membership to move our meeting location to Northwood starting next Tuesday. Ross will contact Northwood and Highland Dell.
Happy Bucks: Ross gave $5 for his candidacy for the Monte Rio School Board and another $5 for having his home mostly to himself after family departed after his sister-in-law's 50th birthday. Herman G. gave $5 for his dad having left for Mexico, allowing him some peace! He also filed his papers for the school board election. Jennifer gave $5 for being happy about Beltran's new startup on the horizon. Ed gave $5 for his grandson's 13th birthday party. The house survived it!
Fines: Ross fined himself $5 for being late to the board meeting. Jeff turned himself in for a $1 fine for forgetting his pin!
Raffle: None tonight.
Program: Our speaker Jared Garrison-Jakel spoke to us of the health effects of companion animals. He defined loneliness as the discrepancy between our desired relationships and our actual relationships. 12% of 1st graders, 5% of adults, and ~20% of seniors report feeling lonely. Loneliness leads to poor health outcomes (stress, weight gain, lower HDL levels, etc.).
Approximately 62% of US households have a pet of some kind. It is a $45bn/year industry in the US alone. Benefits of having a pet include lower stress, loneliness, and anxiety, as well as increased autonomy, feelings of competence, and self-esteem. For the elderly, some of the additional benefits are unconditional support, constant contact, and they don't judge your strange personality traits! Some people are also able to move affection for lost loved ones to their pets to allow them to cope with grief.
People with dogs tend to spend 1.4 hours per day outdoors than people who don't.
There are organizations such as PAWS that exist to help match the most needy with pets.