February 12, 2014

NEXT MEETING February 18:

Program: Mayor Ken Chew, talking about the Town

Greeter/Invocator for Feb 18 Tony Schoemehl

Kevin Reneau gave a Happy Buck because he has nominated Cliff Dochterman to be Moraga Citizen of the Year, and he is asking for Rotarians and friends to send letters of support to the Lamorinda Sun newspaper, who handles such things (ask Kevin about it). Brother Dominic, our speaker, gave a Happy Buck because the students are back from JanTerm and the campus is exciting again. . . Louise Schopke gave a Happy Buck to enjoy visiting Rotary by herself and having some personal time. . . . President Nora attended the breakfast meeting of Kiwanis to promote Nite at the Races, and whined so much about having to get up so early, and in the dark, and in the rain, that I forgot to write down if she gave a Happy Buck or not. Linda and Frank May celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary with a wild and crazy night at the Kiwanis Crab Feed, but later celebrated more appropriately, they say.

~COMING UP~
Feb 18 Board of Directors meeting Feb 24 -- A Nite at the Races committee meeting 5:30 *Feb 25 Bobbie Preston Hospice of the East Bay *Indicates a regular Tuesday noon luncheon meeting **Indicates our monthly evening meeting at 6pm

~~VISITING ROTARIANS~~
Michel Stricklesse and his wife Fernande Bellens, who are Rotarians in two different Clubs in Brussels, Belgium were visitors at our Club today. Michel is an architect and was attending a convention in Las Vegas, and came to the Bay Area to visit their friends Jim and Linda Campbell. They became friends after meeting at the 2009 Rotary International Convention in Birmingham, England, a few years ago. They brought and presented their Club banners to President Nora, and of course received banners from Rotary Club of Moraga. (see photo).

~~ROTARY BUSINESS~~
Gary Irwin gave the thought for the day by reciting quotes about Olympic ideals, as expressed by Pierre Coubertin (founder of modern Olympics), and President Ronald Reagan. Members guests were Linda Campbell, Lou Roessler, Anne Damaschino, Leslie Lynch, Mary Sue Erickson, and Yelena Mucovich. Guests of the Club were Roger and Janet Gregory, sponsored by Ron Mucovich. Our speaker, Brother Dominic, was also introduced.

~~HAPPY BUCKS & HIGH FIVES~~

Jim Campbell gave a High Five for the exciting ride in the rain in the Marin Headlands in his Dodge Durango, a huge hunk of tin with big engine and 4wheel drive. I hope his Belgian friends were equally ecstatic. . . . . Golfer Gary Irwin holed a shot from 180 yards out for an eagle (2 under par), and gave a High Five for it. . . . John Erickson gave just $2 for the narrow overtime basketball victory by his Wildcats over an eastern team (but still in KS). . . .Michel Stricklesse, our visiting Rotarian, gave a Happy Buck because he was happy to be meeting with us. . . .

~~NEWS FLASH~~ ~~PROGRAM~~

Our featured speaker, Brother Dominic of St. Marys College, was introduced Debbie Roessler. Brother Dominic entered the Novitiate of the Christian Brothers after high school in 1955 in Pittsburgh, PA, and has served in many jobs in the U.S. and in the Phillipines, with a posting to the Mission Office of the Christian Brothers Generalte in Rome. In 1992, he became Assistant to the President of St. Marys College, and he served for nine years. After an intervening job, he came back in 2005 to the same job, and was made an Honorary Alumnus in 2007. Somewhere along the line he became an expert in the winemaking history of the Christian Brothers. The local Christian Brothers in 1879, seeking a source of income to support their work, bought a dairy farm in Martinez which, incidentally, had a 12acre vineyard. In 1881, Brothers Victorick and Celestine began working to develop a winery operation, and in 1904 they built a three story building that housed the winemaking machinery and storage area. Most wine was sold to priests, and commercially in small kegs and barrels, and they also produced a brandy. During Prohibition (1919-1933), all products were sold for sacramental or medicinal use only, of course. In 1923, they sold the dairy operation and concentrated on wine and brandy. Larger storage tanks were installed, a wine consultant was hired, and distribution beyond the Bay Area was through a Mr. Boyle in Milwaukee. Since Martinez was growing rapidly and the winery was squeezed for space, the Brothers bought 345 acres in Napa Valley, of which 180 acres were vineyard. The purchase also included 12,000 gallons of grape juice, which probably was made into wine or brandy shortly after the purchase. In 1934, Brother John Hoffman, a good financial man, was assigned to the winery, followed a year later by Brother Timothy Diener, the winemaker. These two men were responsible for the commercial growth and remarkable success of the winery in the 40s and 50s. The operation was required to pay Federal income tax as a business. The entire winery operation including the valuable Napa Valley land was sold in 1989 to Heublein, a large beverage conglomerate.

Flor Huart, our former exchange student from Argentina, has been working in marketing for a video game company, and is now working in their London office; she is very happy to be there, despite the weather. Flor calls each year to wish Carol a Happy Birthday, and this news flash is the last item for the newsletter.

***CALENDAR OF FUTURE EVENTS***

Feb 24 A Nite at the Races committee mtg. Mar 15 A Nite at the Races Fundraiser Mar 25 Moraga Chamber of Commerce Social April 12 E-Waste Fundraiser (note date change!!) May 10 Moraga Community Faire June 24 Demotion Party

MORAGA ROTARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2013-2014

President...........Nora Avelar President-Elect....Debbie Roessler Past President ....Frank May Secretary....Kevin Reneau Treasurer......Lad Lynch Community Service Chair...Barbara Bruner New Generations Chair.........Rich Render International Service Chair..Tony Schoemehl Membership....Frank & Debbie Public Relations..Gary Irwin Director at Large.....Cliff Dochterman Director at Large.........John Erickson

THE 2013-14 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL THEME

ENGAGE ROTARY, CHANGE LIVES

Visit Our Award Winning Website:

www.moragarotary.org
And like our Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/rotaryclubofmoraga
This months editorGary Irwin February Room Setup.. Marv Ellenberg

~ PLACES TO MAKE UP ROTARY ~

MONDAY Danville @ Noon.......Faz, Danville TUESDAY Diablo View @ 5:30pm...Lift Lounge, Walnut Creek WEDNESDAY Orinda @ Noon......Orinda Country Club Berkeley @ Noon..His Lordships Restaurant Rossmoor @ Noon.Hillside Clubhouse, Rossmoor THURSDAY Pleasant Hill @ Noon......St. Andrews Presbyterian Church Lafayette @ Noon....Oakwood Health Center Oakland @ Noon......California Ballroom FRIDAY Lamorinda Sunrise @ 7am....Celias Mexican Restaurant Concord @ Noon.....Concord Hilton