Meeting was called to order at 12:17, by President Rick Wilson, as we began the meeting for Teacher Recognitions.
Diana Wilson led the Pledge of Allegiance
Karen Daniels had us sing America the Beautiful.
Katy Spyrka’s quote for the day:
“Finish each day and be done with it.
You did what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to encumbered with your old nonsense.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Bud Daveiro introduced two visiting Rotarians: Terry Kelly, Sebastopol Senior Center, of Sebastopol Sunrise Rotary; Dan Bornstein, Dentist, Santa Rosa Rotary.
Pauline Pellini introduced her brother Darrell Ramando, father of one of the three honorees of Teacher Recognition day, Nicole Ellwood.
Tim Moore introduced guest Francesca Ramando;
Jim Passage introduced his guest, Richard Kenshalo.
Sebastopol Union High School District Superintendent, Steve Kellner introduced Chris Heller, Analy Principal.
Steve also introduced Pat Davys, Ann Humphrey and the three Analy students who filmed the Teachers of the Year in their own classroom when they were told they received their award.
Linda Johnson introduced her guest Lou Frazier;
KellerMcDonald introduced Kathy Bosch, Prinicipal of Twin Hills Middle School;
Barbara Beedon introduced Ellen Harrington;
Jeff Boal introduced his wife, Jean;
JackDunlap introduced his wife Ruth and Visiting Rotarian Bill Sauber, Sebastopol Sunrise.
Green Badge to Red
President Rick presented Michelle Kimble her Red Badge (of Courage?)
Rookie Sketch
Chris O’Neill performed his rookie sketch. He said he had not planned for it, and then preceded to prove it. In fact, he actually had first joined our club five years ago, and then, since he apparently had not planned for it, left us. But here he is again.
In the best traditions of a stream of consciousness novel he spun a tale of his life. His early years were spent in Boston, where his father had a building business. After various construction jobs, and the Marines he went to Florida, then back to Massachusetts, where he lasted 10 days working for a motor cycle shop—until he wrecked his HD. He was in real estate, suffered through the crash of the 80’s, and was involved in property management in Maryland.
Then he saw the light, as far as West County folks are concerned. He got interested in environmental health issues surrounding residential properties. In fact, Chris met his wife, Barbara, in an environmental health class. He had to prove himself with a good test score for the class before she would date him. Better than a background check.
After a seemingly endless number of trips and moves back and forth from the east coast to the North Bay, Chris and Barbara started to look for opportunities in Sonoma County. His real estate investment buddies recommended winery property, but were they serious? Chris thought so, and eventually took a look at Topolos winery and restaurant, which had declined and was facing foreclosure.
He took the chance to invest in this fading business, but Barbara wisely kept working. Although he started in the winery business in 2008, at a tough time, he has stuck with it. While Bob Cary was very supportive of Chris in his first time with Rotary, he did have to leave to work on his business. LindaJohnson encouraged him to rejoin and Chris said he has not regretted the decision.
He grew up in a small neighborhood where everyone knew each other, and helped each other. He looked for that same community for years, until he came here, and found our club.
Announcements
President Rick announced that Diana Wilson is working on Friendship Dinners.
Greg Jacobs commented on the recent rescue of two people from the surf at Goat Rock. As co-chair of the Learn to Swim Program with President Rick he said that in the 32 years of the program we have never heard of any of the kids who took those lessons getting into trouble in the water. We talk to the kids in the swim program about water at the coast and Russian River, and we have a State Life Guard, like the one who made the Goat Rock rescue, come to our classes and talk to the kids. They eat it up.
Bruna’s Brazilian Bash. Our exchange student, Bruna, is doing a Brazilian dinner party to finish up fundraising for her trip to Hawaii. Club members bought a chance at winning a dinner for two by donating a fair price for a dinner for two. The dinner is scheduled for April 16, at 5:30. Three winners were drawn; Rick Williams, Cindy Carter, and Bob Cugini.
President Rick announced next week’s program which will feature student speakers presenting on the issue “Violence and Firearms—Solutions to Address These Tragedies.” Larry Ford is in charge of this worthy program
Recognitions
Ngo Noguchi celebrated the arrival of his fifth grandchild—Francis Scott Ray Noguchi. [This Scribe thought he was going to say Frances Scott Key] $15.
Pauline and husband Pete recently returned from a trip to Viet Nam and Cambodia. Pauline said it was “very nice”, but there’s no place like home. [I don’t think the tourist ministries of those two countries are going to use that in ad’s –Scribe.]
Kathie Mayhew celebrated her birthday on Feb.11, but had to get help from Frank to pay the $10 recognition fee. [Kathie, you don’t want to do that.]
Mark Stevens celebrated an anniversary—but it was in Oct., not January as noted by our fearless president. 10 bucks for 11 years.
Keller McDonald celebrated 39 years of bliss for him (not speaking for Marcia, $10 for all that bliss. What a deal.
Tim Moore proudly announced his 36th anniversary for only $10.
Debbie Brooks was quick to point that she has actually been married 30 years, not 11 as PresidentRick thought, but the fine remained $10.
The Raffle
Rick Williams held the winning ticket and drew the Ace of Spades. This was the third week in a row where the winning ticket holder drew the Ace of Spades and won the pot. With that kind of luck the Pres probably should not play poker for the forseeable future.
Teacher of the Year Program, hosted by Sally Ewald, honors three outstanding West County teachers each year. This project is supported by our Sebastopol Rotary Education Foundation, which focuses on the West County. These awards have now been presented for 10 years. Students filmed each of the three teachers in their classrooms as they were told they received the West County Teacher of the Year award.
The first recipient was Analy High teacher Walt Hayes. Walt, as well as the other two recipients has a list of accomplishments that would take a good very long time to recount. He left the private sector for teaching, and it was not for a higher pay. Walt has taught math, computer programming and AP Computer Science. He has served as department chair, and assisted in the creation of new curriculum and textbooks. He is extremely dedicated to his students, and is respected in turn.
This was very apparent when after he gave a commencement address, he received a standing ovation from the graduating class. He has also supported his colleagues, teaching them how to use technology in the classroom. He has also helped raise substantial support for the Analy High School Education Foundation. Walt said he is “fascinated by teaching” and looks forward to the challenges of the classroom every day.
Katya Robinson is in the field of special education and works for the West Sonoma County Education Consortium. And like Walt Hayes, loves her job. She and Walt stress the need to be flexible each day they arrive at the classroom, because nothing is certain. She works with kids K-2, which is a demanding task.
She started as a classroom assistant but went on to get a Master’s in Special Ed. Although acknowledging this area of education as particularly challenging, it is where she wanted to be. She works with parents, so they can help their children at home. She has called on resources like SSU, and Analy High, to help with her classes. She has created an innovative sports program for kids with special needs. “Rising Stars” is located at Sport City in Santa Rosa, where any kid can play soccer free of cost. Katya put it very well when she said, “I wanted a job that paid me for who I am.”
Nicole Ellwood works at Twin Hills School, in the Twin Hills Union School District. And like Katya is in the field of special education, but in grades 6,7.8, which she admits is a challenge. Her peers have noted that she is supportive of all the students in her school, and that she understands middle school kids very well. One of her students said that “Nicole is nice, but she teaches us well despite us being a rough bunch”
She said that she loves her kids, and she wants to be an ally for them. And yet she has their respect, because when you walk into her classroom, her students are engaged and working. Nicole also started Twin Hill’s first Rotary Interact Club where students learn leadership and community service. In 2014, she was named Comcast’s 2014 California All-Star Teacher of the Year. For that honor, she proudly points out that her school received a check for $20,000. Her motto, which applies to all our recipients: “When my head hits the pillow at night, I want to feel that have done the best I can.”
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Pellini introduced her brother Darrell Ramando, father of one of the three honorees of Teacher Recognition day, Nicole Ellwood.
Tim Moore introduced guest Francesca Ramando;
McDonald introduced Kathy Bosch, Prinicipal of Twin Hills Middle School; 
arbara Beedon introduced Ellen Harrington;
f Boal introduced his wife, Jean;
ris O’Neill performed his rookie sketch. He said he had not planned for it, and then preceded to prove it. In fact, he actually had first joined our club five years ago, and then, since he apparently had not planned for it, left us. But here he is again. 
Greg Jacobs commented on the recent rescue of two people from the surf at Goat Rock. As co-chair of the Learn to Swim Program with President Rick he said that in the 32 years of the program we have never heard of any of the kids who took those lessons getting into trouble in the water. We talk to the kids in the swim program about water at the coast and Russian River, and we have a State Life Guard, like the one who made the Goat Rock rescue, come to our classes and talk to the kids. They eat it up.
Bruna’s Brazilian Bash. Our exchange student, Bruna, is doing a Brazilian dinner party to finish up fundraising for her trip to Hawaii. Club members bought a chance at winning a dinner for two by donating a fair price for a dinner for two. The dinner is scheduled for April 16, at 5:30. Three winners were drawn; Rick Williams, Cindy Carter, and Bob Cugini.
Pauline and husband Pete recently returned from a trip to Viet Nam and Cambodia. Pauline said it was “very nice”, but there’s no place like home. [I don’t think the tourist ministries of those two countries are going to use that in ad’s –Scribe.]
Debbie Brooks was quick to point that she has actually been married 30 years, not 11 as President Rick thought, but the fine remained $10.
Teacher of the Year Program, hosted by Sally Ewald, honors three outstanding West County teachers each year. This project is supported by our Sebastopol Rotary Education Foundation, which focuses on the West County. These awards have now been presented for 10 years. Students filmed each of the three teachers in their classrooms as they were told they received the West County Teacher of the Year award.
This was very apparent when after he gave a commencement address, he received a standing ovation from the graduating class. He has also supported his colleagues, teaching them how to use technology in the classroom. He has also helped raise substantial support for the Analy High School Education Foundation. Walt said he is “fascinated by teaching” and looks forward to the challenges of the classroom every day.
Nicole Ellwood works at Twin Hills School, in the Twin Hills Union School District. And like Katya is in the field of special education, but in grades 6,7.8, which she admits is a challenge. Her peers have noted that she is supportive of all the students in her school, and that she understands middle school kids very well. One of her students said that “Nicole is nice, but she teaches us well despite us being a rough bunch” 
