Rotary Meeting, June 21, 2022
We had a standing-room-only Rotary lunch meeting (until more tables were brought out) to enjoy a fantastic meal (kabob chicken and rice with a terrific dessert table). Our esteemed public officials bring out our fellow Rotarians!
Our 84 Rotarians and guests were greeted by LAURIE WRIGHT (Tri Counties Bank) and KERRY WOOD (Sacramento Region Community Foundation) and ushered to the well-stocked wine reception. DAVID BRANDENBURGER (Newmark) and STEPHEN BRANDENBURGER (Loch Leven Lodge www.lochlevenlodge.com -Your next vacation Destination) hosted with wines from 827, DeLoach…and well, in the picture below. LEN SIMPSON (2020 Financial Advisers of Sacramento, L.L.C.) provided the chronicling of our meeting through candid images and photo’s taken throughout the meeting.
The BRANDENBERGER team- DAVID and STEPHEN) Master Sommeliers
PRESIDENT BOB MILLER (First US Community Credit Union) gaveled the meeting in order and seemed just a little too happy to announce that his term ended after the next meeting. With the tight schedule of our guest speaker, Sacramento Police Chief KATHY LESTER, PRESIDENT BOB MILLER (First US Community Credit Union) called an audible and adjusted our schedule appropriately.
CHIEF KATHY LESTER- MAKING US BETTER THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED POLICING
Our own KERRY WOOD (Sacramento Region Community Foundation) introduced CHIEF LESTER. CHIEF LESTER began her career not as an MCI Telecommunications Representative but as a Sacramento Police Department dispatcher. CHIEF LESTER is a lifelong learner who successfully navigated her Sacramento State education, master’s degree from Mississippi, language work in Monterey to learn Russian, CHIEF LESTER’s experience in just about every department in the department made her the most qualified person to be the Chief. As the 46th and first female Chief of Police for the police department CHIEF LESTER embraces the community based policing. This priority helps to identify trends, focus on solutions, hold accountable those individuals at risk, and provide exceptional customer service.
CHIEF LESTER knows gun violence and homicides are up and is working with the city to develop solutions based on the root causes. According to Lester, gun violence is concentrated in a small geographic area with a small group of people. CHIEF LESTER will continue to focus on accountability and transparency on behalf of the department as it is important including the sharing statistics.” Share what we are doing and why we are doing it.” On customer service,” I want my cops to be nice! I tell new officers they have a great opportunity to change the world.” On community service, “Don’t ever ring the bell if you want to change the world.”
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY – VIRTUE AND KINDNESS
CLAYTON LEE (C.K.L. Trust)
There is power in Kindness: The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life
Acts of generosity and decency are the secret to a fuller, more satisfying life. Kindness is not some squishy virtue but the very key to your own happiness.
Being kind not only has a direct effect on others, but it has a positive impact on you as well.
It is one of the greatest attributes that someone can have.
Do things for people NOT because of who they are or what they will do in return, but because of who you are.
CLAYTON hit the nail on the head as he emphasized the importance of virtue, and specifically kindness. He emphasized the power in kindness and that kindness is the key to happiness. CLAYTON suggested that we are kind because it is who we are rather than how others perceive it.
ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE – OUR OUTBOUND EXCHANGE STUDENT LENA NEIMEYER
SARAH HODGE (Association of California Water Agencies) introduced our outbound exchange student LENA NEIMEYER as she prepares to get to Germany in the Fall. LENA has communicated with two (2) of her three (3) host families in Germany. LENA will be located in Gossler, which is a city of 50,000 people located three hours west of Berlin. LENA will be staying in UNESCO area and will attend a vocational school focusing on STEM. LENA is excited about her first trip to the Nederlands, Belgium, and Luxemburg. If anyone has an idea for host family gifts please let SARAH know. SARAH greeted us in two (2) languages.
LENA’s speech is noted here below:
Hallo, ich bin LENA NIEMEYER und ich bin 17 Jahre alt. Ich werde im August nach Deutschland gehen. That means: Hello, I am LENA NIEMEYER and I am 17 years old. I will be going to Germany in August. I will be attending high school in a town Northern Germany called Gesler which has a population of about 50,000. Gosler is about 3 hours west of Berlin and an hour southeast of Hanover which Is where I will fly into. Gosler is designated as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational Scientific and cultural organization otherwise known as UNESCO because of its 1500 well-preserved half-timber houses from different eras. It gained its wealth from mining and it became the home of the German Emperor. The school I will be attending is a vocational school. They offer courses in engineering, science, and technology. I am excited for a trip I’ll be taking at the beginning of the year with other students to visit the Netherlands, Luxemburg, and Belgium. While I am going to school in Gosier my first host family lives in a small town about 20 minutes outside of it called Liebenberg. This town is made up of 200 houses and is surrounded by farmland. My first host family has 2 kids, a girl who is 15 and a boy who is 18. The girl is going to Ecuador also through Rotary. They have a vacation house on a lake that they like to visit throughout the year. I have video called with them a few times to get to know them before I get there. I haven’t heard from my second family, but my third family has reached out to introduce themselves and they live in Gosier. They have 4 kids, but only one lives at home because the other 3 are in university. They decided to become a host family because the dad is a part of the Rotary Club in Gosler. I am really excited to start this adventure. I think it is going to be a lot of fun to meet new people and immerse myself in Germany’s food and culture. To prepare I have been working on my German. Even though I studied it for 4 years in high school, I know it will be challenging to speak and understand the language. I am also preparing by packing my stuff, finding gifts for my host families, and practicing my presentations for my host club. I plan on giving my host families some Blue Diamond almonds and some gear from the sports teams in the area. If any of you have ideas for what I should bring, I would love to hear them. Thank you so much for sponsoring me and giving me this opportunity. I look forward to coming back here to tell you about my trip.
Safe travels LENA-This will be an amazing adventure for you!
ROTARY LUNCHES ARE EXCLUSIVE!
Please remember to RSVP for our luncheons as it ensures that we have the correct number of lunches for the guests. Our meeting today had 70 RSVP’s with 84 total Rotarians and guests. This is a great problem to have but service above self; RSVP.
INTRODUCTIONS OF GUESTS – GIULIANO KORNBERG (SACRAMENTO PHILHARMONIC & OPERA)
We had a fantastic list of guests Including;
- RICHARD HARRIS of the Sac police foundation, guest of KELLEY MORAN
- JOHN MASSEY guest of TIM PINKNEY
- ANDREA CHAVEZ guest of APRIL JAVIST
- Attorney DAVID CHU (The Goralka Law Firm) guest of JOHN GORALKA (The Goralka Law Firm)
- LENA and KIM NIEMEYER , guests of SARAH HODGES (Association of California Water Agencies)
- CAMERON S., guest of KELLEY MORAN
- BRANDON WARREN guest of TOM BACON
- GLENNIS BUTLER STONE, guest of DANIELLE MCGARRITY
- DOC STEVENSON Guest of TODD KOLOKIAN (Sacramento Children’s Home)
CLUB ANNOUNCEMENTS
CLAYTON LEE (C.K.L Trust) talked about the important work RCS is involved and the total dollars that each project is valued: Current projects; Ethiopia $800000, Uganda $4000000, and Honduras $800,000. Future Projects; Guatemala $800,000 and Tanzania $800,000. We are looking for volunteers to go to Honduras later in the year or the first of next year! These are life-changing events. Everyone is invited to Honduras. Waterforpeople.org
VIRGINIA WADE: We need Rotarians to help at Loaves and Fishes on the 30th of June. Help is needed for both morning and lunch shifts. Virginia is concerned because we need 4 Rotarians for the morning shift and 6 Rotarians for the lunch shift.
PULSE REPORTER TEAM RECOGNIZED FOR A YEAR WELL DONE!
PRESIDENT BOB again seemed just a little too happy to say that his last meeting is next week. PRESIDENT BOB MILLER will head a celebration of recognition for the great work by our Rotary Club of Sacramento this past year under the MILLER Administration. With that, PRESIDENT BOB wanted to prime the pump (or prequel) and recognized JOHN GORALKA and the entire Rotary Reporting Pulse Team. JOHN’S recognition includes SULAF AL AJEELI for the diligent work and support of each other. John was presented with a beautiful award complete with images of the Pulse. Our other reporters are DR PAUL KEEFER; SHIRLEE TULLY; NANCY TEICHERT; JOHN MCINTYRE; DANIELLE MCGARRITY and JIM CULLETON.
PRESIDENT BOB also presented PAUL HARRIS Pins to DAN MCVEIGH (8th Paul Harris) and JOHN FRISCH (Newmark) (5th Paul Harris)
The Pulse Reporter Team
COMMUNITY GRANTS
CHRISTIE HOLDEREGGER (Volunteers of America) presented the Community Grants awarded in 2021-2022 and recognized the team that evaluated them. The team received 24 applications valued at $142,000 in requests and awarded 14 applicants for $20,000. Truly the Rotary Club of Sacramento is strengthening our community through service the exchange of ideas and fellowship.
LET’S GO FOR A RUN!
PRESIDENT BOB highlighted PAST PRESIDENT DR. WES YEE (Yee Dental Care) and the honor of throwing out the first pitch at the RiverCats. DR. YEE successfully through the ball near Homeplate and he did not hit Dinger!
STEVE HOFFMAN honored PRESIDENT BOB for his term but reminded PRESIDENT BOB that STEVE is still waiting for the approval of his admission to the Young Professionals…..perhaps that should be the Young at Heart Professional. He donated to reach his EDDIE MULLIGAN
JOHN GORALKA donated in recognition of the Rotary Pulse team.
UPCOMING MEETINGS AT A GLANCE!
06/28/2022- Don’t miss Recognition Day! The MILLER Administration enthusiastically ends….will there be a peaceful transition of power?
07/05/2022 – Dark
07/12/2022-Installation – Meet PRESIDENT-ELECT LINDA GEERY
07/19/2022– SEAN MINOR of Minor Wines located at 2277 Fairs Oaks Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95825. https://www.seanminorwines.com/