Rotary International Website.. click here

District 5130 Website.. click here

Petaluma Valley Website.. click here

When asked how the District Assembly that was held this weekend had turned out, our reporter and Lady-About-Town, Pamela Tuft replied:

Don't miss the photos, especially if you missed the action....click on:
Assembly Photos. or click here and here to view a slide show of the images.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008 convened by President Sally, theme for the year ‘Rotary Shares’.

Forrest F. led the pledge.

Thought of the Day: How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak AND the strong.  Because someday in life you will have been all of these.  George Washington Carver. .

VISITING ROTARIANS:  Alan Anspach, Petaluma Sunrise (youth services); Laurie Hammer, Terra Linda (printing services); Sue Pilot, Rohnert Park Cotati (area coordinator for Joe Nation, Senate candidate). 
                                                                                               Remember this guy?
Alan Anspach – rejoined Rotary the Petaluma Sunrise after 3 years absence...he founded the breakfast Club as a spin off of PVR, of which he had been a member and president!

VISITORS:  Tia Ridgeway, mother to Brandt Livingston, our foreign exchange student 2007 to Brazil; Timo Rivetti, Wine Alliance and Petaluma Gap, Jeff Maddox, Executive Director of Petaluma Gap;

ANNOUNCEMENTS / EVENTS.
*First Friday coming soon to Rooster Run; check your calendars;
* Butter and Egg Days – JoAnn asked for some help last week, more still needed.  *Chili Cook Off – April 27th – Austin in charge, in need of more chefs. 
*May 12th Sunrise Rotary fundraiser 72 holes of golf in one day, Petaluma Golf       and Country Club; also soliciting for sponsors for his playing in the 72 holes in one day event. 

Jim O’Grady thanked Deni for the great golf tournament poster.  Jim O. and Sue Hussey talked about the Rowtary on the River event, with changes planned:  a Saturday social with hot dogs/hamburgers in the evening; cabins will be available on a single night minimum (the first Saturday after Memorial Day).  Enough support was shown, event will move forward.

Jim Furuli, Rebuilding Together, April 19th, please sign up.  Jo Thornton, signup for the Golf Tournament is being passed around; please sign up to sit on a hole (not literally) and serve food.  Need more auction items, sign up now, be creative.
Fourth of July – informational booth at the festivities; need a Committee to help with creating the brochures, posters, etc. for the booth.  Diane Z. Challenge Day video is available from her. 

HAPPY DOLLARS, FINES, ETC.: 
Great things happen: $10 in the bucket; Stanley Mouse artwork for the Foot Race; Diane gave a Foot Race T-Shirt to John Strong for facilitating bring Stanley Mouse to Petaluma. 




Tabatha’s husband 46th birthday, with a great, decorated special birthday at home, still recovering from his back surgery;
Philip P.’s wife, Adrienne’s birthday with a donation to his fine schedule;
Forrest’s first meeting of our Club anniversary, April 4, 1974;
 Alan donated $20 to our Club on behalf of Forrest; Sue Hussey celebrated Ray’s 6th birthday with a trip to Chuckie Cheese and being measured for his new height;
John Strong, 24 years in the Club with a donation to his Harold Alexander;
Jennifer Carter celebrating her new car with $30 to her fine schedule.



President Sally called up JoAnn, Russell, Deni, Tricia to recognize her sponsorship of new members. 

Dave Johnson was recognized for hosting the Scholarship Committee this past week, they have picked 5 great students.  Dave requested from the Service Club chairs the submittals for awards this year.
Pam thanked Dave for doing her Community Service report; and thanked everyone in the Club for the well wishes and support for Sam this past week; Catrina is doing great.



Raffle:  The wrong marbles were picked by Tabatha and Josephine.  The ticket was won by Liz M., who picked the wrong colored marble; there are only three marbles left. 





PROGRAM:  Timo Rivetti and Jeff Maddox.  Timo is a hobbyist wine maker.  The Petaluma Gap was created at the home of Tia Ridgeway, who grow Pinot Noir with her husband (ridgewayfamilyvineyard.com).  The Petaluma Gap is a non-profit with about 54 winegrowers; 30,000 cases of wine made; good quality wine.  We have been growing grapes in this area for over 150 years.  The Gap was created from the gap that brings in the wind in the afternoon and the fog in the evening.  Jeff got involved in the group two years ago, he is a serious hobbyist; moving from Utah about 10 years ago.  About 1 _ years ago he read about the Petaluma Gap and indicated the desire to join.  Got to be President by the end of the first meeting he attended.  Great time with a wonderful group; getting bigger and bigger all the time.  Looking at economic forecasts for California and Sonoma County:  1,000 acres under cultivation around Petaluma; average price per ton of grapes of $2,500 = $5.5 million dollars.  The group has various levels dependent upon degree of involvement in the wine industry.  About 15 wineries are making wines in the Petaluma area; 31 vineyards.  Timo, Jeff and Tia shared information on various wineries, tasting rooms within 3 miles of Petaluma; all worth visiting.  They offered names of numerous restaurants who feature or offer Petaluma wines.  Petalumagap.com is the new website, check it frequently for updates.  Cost to develop per acre is more than $25,000 - $40,000. 

The San Francisco Chronicle wine competition, one of the top two grapes came from Petaluma. 


Your hapless Editor,
pt