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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
 | | Alex does it all |
Alex Arnold, our new prez, offered this: "Life is too short for petty things, so kiss slowly, laugh insanely, love truly and forgive quickly." What he forgot to add is "And join Rotary."
GUESTS
Kevin Cragholm - Husband of Alicia, back for second visit
Mariam Worsham -Becoming a regular, helping with canoe marketing and keeping hubby Chuck Yeager from capsizing
Bonnie Peacock - Las Trampas guest speaker
Claude Garbarino - Las Trampas board member
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
7/24 Chuck Bove, 7th anniversary "date night." $7.
7/24 Tay Wheeler, 40th anniversary in Napa. $40.
7/26 Gillett Johnson, birthday, you can look it up on Facebook where all information, including birth date, is false. $20.
7/28 Charlie Franklin - 11th year Rotary anniversary. $10.
OTHER HAPPENINGS
 | | Don's a major leaguer alright |
Cal Lee proclaimed that Don Reichert has obtained major league status in the eternal orbit of the Paul Harris Club. Don's is the gift that keeps on giving, with know signs of letting down. Way to go, Don.
Becky Ware is back from a two months' training cruise "with a bunch of sailors" in the South Pacific, hitting ports in Australia,
 | | Sailing, over the ocean blue |
New Zealand and America Samoa. She is now on to a second two-month Maritime School gig, this time in Connecticut. Tough life, Becky, but we reckon someone has to do it.
Jim Newport received his red badge in another sparkling induction this morning by Alex Arnold. He is the third recruit coming by way of Motorama. Welcome aboard,
Jim. (Quick quiz: Who was the first? Answer below.)
 | | What the heck is papale? |
Michael Edwards was featured in the latest Lamorinda Weekly. This multi-talented "Firedog" weaves expensive Lauhala hats in his spare time. Mike claims this keeps him connected to Hawaii, where he and Kathleen maintain a recently purchased condo. Read all about it in the excellent article titled "Making Papale", Aug. 17 edition of Lamorinda Weekly. You can read it online at www.lamorindaweekly.com.
CAN YOU CANOE? Update
The canoe made its public debut at the July 29th club meeting in what was termed a "dry launch"by reporter Kathy Dausman in the self-same newspaper. At that meeting Pat Flaharty, Spike Speicher and Ron Brown discussed the purpose, process and raffle fundraiser plan, expected to fetch $10,000 to $20,000 to help us support such worthy causes as the HOME Team (senior assistance), literacy, Lafayette Reservoir concert stage (in partnership with Lafayette rotary), LN4Hand (prosthesis) and ongoing polio eradication through the auspices of Rotary International.
Pat spoke about hatching the idea, along with key leader Gary Fulcher, to use Gary's amazing Man Cave (a.k.a. woodshop) to entice enough members to sign up. Each committing $150 and four hours of time per week over a span of six months. But for Gary this never would have happened. He had the know-how, the skill (built 10 canoes on his own) and the facility to pull it all together. (Aside: If you haven't visited said Man Cave, you should. Many professional woodworkers would kill for it. We understand that private tours are available by contacting its owner and principal practitioner, Mr. Fulcher.)
 | | Dry Launch very successful |
Spike described the process used to build the canoe from scratch, with a "plug" (form) upon which the component pieces were assembled. The finished product contains more than 200 strips of African rosewood veneer, with maple for the gunnels and thwarts and two hand-woven, caned seats. The canoe weighs about 55 pounds. Epoxy was liberally applied before and after every layer of sandwiched materials; veneer, fiberglass, foam core, fiberglass, Kevlar, fiberglass, wood veneer and fiberglass. A final coat of high-gloss Marine varnish will be professionally applied to ensure a smooth, bubble-free seal.
Ron discussed the marketing plan to achieve maximum financial results. The raffle tickets are $20 each or six tickets for $100. The canoe will be raffled off at conclusion of the Lafayette Reservoir Run on Oct. 30. The winner has the choice of owning the canoe or accepting a $2,000 cash prize. We are hoping the winner takes the cash, so that we can raffle it again ... and perhaps again. Just kidding.
Stating the obvious, the physical canoe is far and away the most potent sales tool. It needs to be seen as often and in as many venues as possible. In addition to partnering with the Lafayette Club, other neighboring clubs have invited the canoe for a visit and a program presentation. Twenty percent of ticket sales by other clubs and/or non-profit organizations will be retained by them to be used for their own charitable purposes. Without a doubt the upcoming Lafayette Arts & Wine Festival, Sept. 17-18, will be a watershed (so to speak) raffle ticket sales test. The canoe, LSR and the noon club will share a booth at this event, which, according to the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, attracts more than 100,000 visitors annually. A thousand tickets have been printed and donated by Rotarian great supporters, Diablo Rapid Print.
 | | second try is perfect! |
Last week the canoe underwent its "wet launch" at the San Pablo Reservoir. Without much fanfare, it proved without a shadow of a doubt that it could float in either a straight-up or upside-down position. After an initial "operator error" (we prefer to call it a mulligan) by Flaharty and Fazel, resulting in an unplanned man-overboard drill, they "climbed back on the horse," so to speak, and executed a perfect maiden voyage of perhaps 60 yards. Photographic evidence exists to prove the veracity of this claim.
The canoe program was well received by the Orinda and Moraga Rotary clubs last week. It has now entered temporary dry-dock status in order to receive a final sanding and sealer finish so it can hit the road again in an all-out "paddle to the medal" effort. The raffle will be held at the conclusion of the Lafayette Reservoir Run on Sunday, Oct. 30.
PROGRAM
 | | Bonnie |
Bonnie Peacock, director of development and Claude Garbarino, board member, of Las Trampas, Inc., graced our meeting this morning with an update on this remarkable non-profit institution. Started in 1938 as government program for retarded children and taken private in 1958 with the purchase of three acres, by 1965 it had evolved into a campus with dormitories.
 | | & Claude (couldn't resist it) |
Las Trampas has come a long way since, transforming into what is now a program with a $3.9-million annual budget and providing independent living capability in four group homes for 106 adults, 22 years of age and older, with development disabilities. The goal of this program is to provide an atmosphere in which their clients can fully discover their capabilities, blend better into the community and lead fuller lives.
Besides living independently, they learn budgeting and are given opportunities to earn a real paycheck. As a group the provide vocation training and services to include document shredding, janitorial services and bulk mailing. They take gardening and cooking classes with a qualified chef. There is a sensory room where the clients with autism or wheel chair bound can relax in a pleasantly stimulating environment.
There is a computer lab and an Entrepreneurs Club where such skills as jewelry making are learned. Fitness is addressed by an exercise room and walking tours on the trail alongside the campus.
Las Trampas is feeling the economic pinch along with every other worthwhile program these days. Historically, 85 percent of funding has derived from state government; the remainder comes from private donations., However, because of the draconian cutbacks in Sacramento, the state support this year is reduced by $250,000, not exactly pocket change.
 | | Gillett understands Service! |
LSR has maintained a relationship with Las Trampas for many years. Gillett Johnson is a member of the board of directors. Last weekend our HOME Team painted the exterior of one of the group homes. Still on the need list: furniture for the living room, dining room and kitchen and a new fence. Bonnie and Claude (not Clyde) thanked us for our continued support, We, in turn, tip our collective cap to Las Trampas for the wonderful services it continues to provide. There is no place like it we know of.
Quiz answer: Dennis Kuramai, for those of you who staggered through to the very end.
CALENDAR
Friday, 8/26 - Postino, 7 a.m., Gillett Johnson, Vietnam Library
TGITLFOTM - Ware home, 5:30 p.m., BYO refreshments and snacks
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