We had two visiting Rotarians with us today, Nancy Campbell who is camping here this winter to stay out of the snow in Colorado and Andy Powers who just moved here from the Los Angeles area.  For guests we had the effervescent Nancy Wood, Dr. Janet McDaniels from CSUSM, and Cathy Cronin with the City of San Marcos.  Cathy was with us today to accept the “Real” check for our Club’s Sponsorship of the Summer Concert Series held each year.   Dr. Janet McDaniels is hoping to travel next year to Chile on a University Teaching Grant funded by Rotary International.  She will be going for 3 months to Valparaiso, Chile where she will work with that Government and the University to start a Middle School Teaching Program.

Joan announced the 2005-2006 slate of Club Officers that will go to RI on Dec.  28th if there are no objections.  George Burolla will be our President-Elect, Bill Wood will be Secretary, and Dan Stracka will be Treasurer.

Bill and Nancy thanked everyone for their help in getting gifts for the Haddow family.  Bill had lunch with Lawrence and was very impressed with him.  He announced his Dentist will do all the kid’s dentistry free and Nancy had been working extra hard and finally got the family a gift pass for three to Sea World.  Nancy also passed around a thank you card for the kind Home Depot employee who paid for the tools to give to Lawrence.

Chuck Linn reminded us of the “Every Rotarian, Every Year” campaign for the RI permanent fund.  Our goal of 100% Club participation is over half way there so if you have not given Chuck your money please consider it while it will still work as a tax deduction for this year!

It was finally recognition master Bill Schramm’s time to turn up the heat.  First letting Joan pass out a couple of Club anniversary cards to John Forst and Jim Kelley that were just a little late.  He then tried to see how far we could recite the “Night before Christmas” poem.  Not surprisingly we only got to the end of the first page but by then it was time to pick out specific words used which was not as hard for some people.  Ruth commented that she got the table leg again but when Bill offered to change seats she told him, “I’d rather Bitch then Switch”.  Darrell had his picture taken at his swearing in with a horse?

For happy dollars Luene was glad that Janet could come and was especially thankful her husband Norm went into the hospital for angioplasty and is recovering nicely.  Sam Hamod would like to make Nancy Wood an honorary member for all she does and Joan recognized our server Michael.  She also passed around a card for another employee of the County Club, David who we have met, and has a two year old son Dillon.  David’s father passed away recently and his brother is in Iraq so it was requested of us to put in a dollar to help him out.  Finally Sam Vakil cut an article out of the newspaper about organizations doing calendars as fund-raisers with one rotary Club doing a “nude” version of its male members.  All I can say is Luene took one look at the picture in the clipping and said “WOW”.

Reminders of Rotarian Opportunities

December 20 – Board Meeting at Joan’s house
February 4-5, 2005 – District Conference Mardi Gras
June 18-22, 2005 - The Centennial Convention in Chicago

December 20 December 27 January 3 January 10 January 17 January 24 January 31

Driver: George Burrola     Driver: Luene Corwin     Driver: Rob Eckert     Driver: John Forst     Driver: George Burolla     Driver: Charles Guderjahn     Driver: Luene Corwin

Rider: Bill Wood     Rider: Dan Stracka     Rider: Bill Wood     Rider: Chuck Linn     Rider: Jim Hitson     Rider: Ruth Dunlap     Rider: Jim Kelley

Our program for today was introduced by Ken Davidson.  They are the musical duo John and Jewel from the San Marcos Senior Center.   Jewel played the piano while John serenaded us with many Christmas songs.  

There were two wine drawings this week as Joan was feeling generous with a bottle of Champagne, which John Forst won, and the bottle of wine went to Nancy Wood.

Jim Hitson gave us the thought for the week from his heart, “May the fullness of hope, joy and comfort that God is with us be yours on this Holiday Season”.

Next week we will have a Club Assembly.  The greeter will be Juanita, Rob will sell wine raffle tickets, Jim Kelley will give the Invocation, Gary Koston will lead the Pledge, and Matilda will give her “Thought for the Week”.

As Joan says “Go out and make this world a better place”... Have a great Rotary Week... Rob.

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