THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Have any horses in the family Dan?

Dan Herbert spoke briefly about wise sayings and kind words before launching into the actual thought, which was directed at parents with young daughters who longed to have a horse. It might have come from Grandpa, but here it is: "Never invest in anything that eats!"

VISITING ROTARIANS

John Sherry - Noon club and The Rez stage major domo, announcing completion!

Tom Henry - Noon club and supervisor of John

Alicia Cragholm - Noon club and guardian of our Kevin's new membership

Polly Bernson - Currently a free agent but about to take the pledge (plunge) here?

Tay Wheeler - Checking in to make sure the emeritus label still applies

GUESTS

Agatha Sue Lee - Ever popular spouse of Cal

Glenda Fillinger - Equally popular spouse of Paul

Mary Lou Blummer - Guest of John Fazel

Susan Captain - Speaker

Sal Captain - Susan's other half

Joseph Captain - Son of Susan and Sal and newly minted U.C. Davis grad

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

Say what about Singapore Al?

Al Sevilla - Let us count the ways: 1) club Anniversary. 2) Wedding anniversary 3) Birthday. Plus a banner from the Singapore Club that only meets when they feel like it.

Skip McCowan - 20 year club anniversary

John Fazel - Mary Lou's birthday

John Linneman - Connie's birthday

Ray Welles - Club anniversary and birthday

Mark Roberts - Claire's birthday

Alex Arnold - Mary Jane's birthday

Tom Black - Club anniversary celebrated with a big check which Tom attributed to Gary Fulcher's enterprising sale of a "worthless" wood planer Tom had tried to pawn off on him. If you want all the details Tom will be happy to provide them...again.

PAUL HARRIS WOULD BE PROUD

Those really are saphires guys

Our sterling Rotary Foundation representative Cal Lee summoned Thomas Raeth and Tay Wheeler front and center to award each, yet again, sapphire loaded Paul Harris pins. Thomas and Tay both have made major contributions to Rotary International and this club over many years. Thomas led a very successful GSE trip to Germany a few years ago. Agatha Sue still remembers, with great glee, the motorcycle ride she bid on and won with former president Tay at one of the many club auction fundraisers. And then there was the $1,500 raised for the shaving of Tay's head as a topper. Some guys will do anything for Rotary! We'll stand up and cheer with Paul too (he must be up there somewhere).

HOME Team MARKS SECOND ANNIVERSARY

Hayes hits HOME Team homerun

Hays and Joe Bettencourt dreamed up HOME Team two years ago and it is rapidly gaining traction locally and internationally. So they have come up with a marketing plan to get the word out within various communities for more seniors to take advantage of this great home maintenance service available from Lamorinda Sunrise and six other clubs. Leaky faucet? Running toilet? Smoke detector batteries need changing? Screen door won't close? HOME Team has you covered.

The marketing plan is multi-faceted, utilizing personal effort and brochure distribution in a variety of venues, e.g., information to all Three-Quarter Century recipients, monthly articles in local papers, training for Meals On Wheels volunteers, brochures distributed through local churches, libraries, community centers, and stores.

A portion of the proceeds from the successful canoe raffle has been designated to support this effort. HOME Team is a classic Rotary type project destined for greatness. Grass roots Rotarian efforts by Hays and Joe paying off big-time!

PROGRAM

Susan's happy in the job

Susan Captain is President of the Lamorinda Wine Growers Association which is now 95 members strong. These members are growing a variety of grapes on 19,000 vines in the   community. The mission of the Association is to get Lamorinda recognized as a wine growing region. The Association is applying to become an American Viticultural Area (AVA) which is a designated wine grape-growing region in the U.S. distinguishable by geographic features, with boundaries defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), U.S. Department of Treasury. All three Lamorinda cities need to approve this application.

In the meantime the members have created a community of growers/makers who share, learn, socialize and abide by code-best practices. The majority of the growers make their own wine at home. There are six commercial growers in the group; three in Moraga, two in Lafayette and one in Orinda. Captain's award winning winery is the largest in the commercial category. Their delightful setting is located in the hills above St. Mary's College in Moraga, where, for seven years, they have planted and cultivated two and one-half acres of hillside with over 3,000 vines of five different varietals.

Susan noted that the Wine Growers Association is a Lamorinda based group as is our Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary group. As president of the Association she would like to see if Rotary could be of assistance with support of their AVA effort, and in general with helping to create awareness of the burgeoning new wine growing enterprise in the community. No doubt there will be follow-up on this issue. Stay tuned.