Theme for this year is, “Rotary Opens
MORAGA Opportunities.”
ROTARY
NEWSLETTER
July 7, 2020
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Dianne Wilson provided the Invocation
Next: July 14, Noon and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
We are now conducting regular In her invocation Dianne reminded us of
the words of George O’Keefe, Teddy
meetings on-line video or by phone!
Roosevelt and John Thune on American
greatness.
Program: Lucas Tucker, Friendly
We had one guest at today’s Zoom
Flash Fiction event – Larry Tessler. It is always great
____________________________ to see Larry.
To participate next week:
Zoom connection information for next week’s ~~Happy Bucks~~
meeting will be distributed early next week.
Dianne Wilson provided $5 Happy
Bucks because Brian South and the
Upcoming Speakers:
Moraga Police provided an escort for a
July 21 –David O’Connell: Saklan School
4th of July outing of Moraga Royale folks
July 28 – Kid Power: Erica Leonard up to CVS Pharmacy in Rheem. The
Sept 8 – Mark Nagel: St. Mary’s College residents were able to have an hour at
Dec 1 – DG visit: Mark Roberts CVS prior to the regular opening. Thank
you to Brian and the Moraga Police
Department!
~~First Meeting of the 2020/2021 Past-President, Evie Michon gave $5
Rotary Year ~~ Happy Bucks to repeat Dianne’s pledge
President, Brian South rang the and praise of the Moraga PD.
Moraga Rotary Bell to open the first
meeting of his term. The Bell and Cliff’s Moraga Rotary President, Brian South
Rotary Gavel are now proudly kept in had a Happy Buck for the pleasure of
Brian’s office. Brian reminds us that this attending a virtual ceremony for 950
club has been meeting for over 53 years incoming Rotary Presidents from all
and the Rotary International Presidential over the world. Brian recommends
Rotary International virtual and Zoom
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presentations for all Rotarians. They can ~~Club Business~~
change your life.
We Need Greeters and Invocators!
Past President, Debbie Koo had $5 Herb Wehmeyer, who is not with us
Happy Bucks because last weekend she today does a fantastic job as coordinator
spent 48 hours out of Moraga. She of this important task. At the tail end of
visited with her daughter and son-in-law this newsletter you will find a sign-up
in Sonoma for 2 nights. sheet. Please look it over and find a
date or dates that work for you. Please
John Erickson had exciting news! He
don’t be shy! (You might pick a
got a new pickup truck. This is a Dodge
date/dates and identify an
which marks a return for John from Ford
alternate/alternates – as an online sign
(his last truck). When asked what the
up can be complicated) and send your
color was, John replied “white.” The
selection to Herb at: oherbw@att,net
newsletter editor is pretty sure it
probably has all the bells and whistles – President Brian South reminded us that
for sure it has that tricky Dodge tailgate he put a teaser in last week’s newsletter
that turns into a stairway… John said he about a new meeting activity. Today he
spun the Wheel of Misfortune (which revealed that after discussion with Cliff,
we’ve been missing during our Zoom there will be a “What’s in the Box?”
meetings) and it came up $20 as his competition. Each guess costs $1 and
Happy Fine. Of course, John doubled each week Brian will give a hint as to
that and pledged $40 to the Club. “what’s in the box” until someone
guesses and wins the item. (We are
Linda May had $5 Happy Bucks for a
invited to confidentially submit ideas for
happy visit…daughter Kristin and her
box items to Brian. The box is about 10”
boyfriend were with them for 4 days.
by 10” and wrapped in blue paper.) The
~~Birthdays~~ first box drew bids from:
Jim Campbell celebrated his birthday in • John Erickson, who thought it
Sonoma and commented that hardly might be a $1 bill.
anyone was in Sonoma. However, • Gary Irwin who guessed candy.
getting home was a problem with a • Debbie Roessler, who was sure it
closed bridge due to a close brush fire was a tee-shirt.
on Route 37 and more problems with a • Dianne Wilson came in with the
close fire on route 880. He and Linda correct answer and guessed a
had a great time anyway, and Jim will “book.” Consensus argued that
send his $60 to the Club. you had to also guess, “What sort
of book?” and Dianne guessed a
Dave Kruegel had a birthday but was “Rotary book” which was correct.
not in attendance. Ditto for Mike (Note, it was not Cliff’s book but a
McCluer. We will catch up with them in “100 Years of Rotary” book.
the future. Dianne wins the book and John,
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Gary and Debbie R. each owe a Lake Shasta, etc. There were
$1 to the Club. barbeques here in Moraga, visits to the
steam trains in Tilden Park and
Remember – to donate items for the innumerable interesting local events.
“Guess What’s in the Box” activity There was a big trip toward the end of
contact Brian South. the year to Washington D.C. and
~~Speaker(s)~~ Disneyland which required financial help
from the exchange students’ families.
Today’s speakers were Lillian
Roodveldt, Debbie Roessler and Rich Due to Eddie’s diligence Moraga Rotary
Render who were integrally involved Club was a hot spot with gatherings
with the Rotary Student Exchange covering all of the District’s exchange
Program within District 5160. Lillian students. Our Rich Render was the
started the discussion by telling us that District Treasurer for Exchange
at the end of her husband Eddie Students - so see what a deep
Roodveldt’s tenure as Club President background he has!
they were at a Rotary dinner with Cliff Each year applications would come in
and Mary Elena in Redding, CA. A starting in early January. Of course,
question came from the podium – California was a popular destination.
“Would anyone like to volunteer to chair There was an exchange student
the Rotary Exchange Student Program inbound from Germany that thought a
for District 5160?” Eddie said he might California assignment would result in a
be interested, and Cliff told him, “Go year in Los Angeles or San Francisco.
ahead and volunteer. You won’t regret How very exciting he thought! However,
it.” So, Eddie stuck up his hand which he was assigned to Weed, CA. The
was the start of a several year Rotarians in Weed showed him a great
commitment to these students. Each time and his stay turned out very well.
year there would be about 24 going out Proving once again that Rotarians are
from the district to foreign locales and dynamic and just basically FUN!
about 31 coming in. These were
children of Rotarians, and they would Here are some photos of the Exchange
spend senior year of high school. They Kids. (Please forgive the newsletter
would come in, stay for a year with a editor for getting the names wrong…)
host family who would cover their food
and basic costs, attend the local high
school and learn about the host country
through local tours and learning
programs. The tours and learning
programs were paid by Rotary District
5160 and included local events and
sites like lunch in Chinatown SF, bus trip
over the Golden Gate Bridge, tour of
Alcatraz, a weekend on a houseboat on
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The involvement of Moraga Rotary with
the Exchange Students was roughly
2004 though 2007. Some of these kids
(Amy, Marina, Flor, Maria and Anna)
come back to the Club for occasional
visits. They’ve gotten degrees, married
and are in the midst of raising children
around the world. The active
participants in their adventures while
here – Lillian Roodveldt (& Eddie),
Rich Render, Gary Irwin, Debbie
Roessler, John & MarySue Erickson,
Eddie & Lillian at dinner with a Rotary Exchange Ron & Yelena Mucovich and Cliff
Student. (This could be Amy (spelling apologies)) Dochterman miss them but as Rich
Render said, “We’ve all gotten older and
no longer have children in high school.
This is an adventure for a new
generation of Moraga Rotarians.”
As past President, Eddie Roodveldt
liked to warn prospective host families:
“Be careful. There are many risks in
hosting an exchange student. They are:
• That you will fall in love with the
student.
• You might end up having to visit a
The group of Exchange Students – The tall guy is Stuart foreign country.
from Scotland. He wasn’t an Exchange Student but • You will be perceived as a hero.
came to escort Amy home. (They plan to marry in 2021
in Burgundy, France.) • As you drive them to the airport to
say goodbye – you will cry and not
be able to see the road.
~~Final Words~~
President Brian told us this year’s
speaker gifts will be first aid kits for the
Moraga schools. Each Moraga
classroom will have one. These are a bit
more than pure first aid kits. There is
more inside than the typical band aids.
Perhaps it’s better to call them medical
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kits. In this day and age when so many week’s speaker will be Lucas Tucker of
things are unknown, the schools need to the Campolindo High School Interact
be ready for many unexpected Club on “Friendly Flash Fiction.”
situations. Each of the kits we donate
will be identified as “Donated by Moraga
Rotary.” A kit today is being donated in
honor of Lillian, Debbie and Rich our
speakers today. The meeting was adjourned with a
ringing of the Moraga Rotary Bell and a
Don’t forget to notify Herb Wehmeyer of blessed week to all. See you on the
your Greeter/Invocator choices and next Zoom next week!
Moraga Rotary Directors 2020/2021
President Brian South
President Elect Brian South
Past Co-Presidents Evie Michon & Debbie Koo
Secretary Jennifer Brophy
Treasurer and Youth Services Chair Rich Render
Club Administrator Debbie Roessler
Foundation Chairman John Erickson
Community Service Chairman Tony Schoemehl
Public Relations Chairman Gary Irwin
Fundraising Chairman Frank May
International Service Chairs Dianne Wilson & Debbie Koo
Membership Chairman Roger Gregory
Director at Large Mary Sue Erickson
Director at Large Linda May
Advisor to the Board John Erickson
Advisor to the Board Jim Campbell
Advisor to the Board Cliff Dochterman
District Governor 5160 Mark Roberts
President, Rotary International Holger Knaack
July newsletter editor – The Rajah - Gregory
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By the way, here’s a reminder from our District Governor you may want to check out!
We can cheer on our new President!!!
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