UPCOMING SOCIALS & PROJECTS & EVENTS  

More socials, projects, & events coming soon!

Rotaract Fund Raiser
If anyone would like to donate money to GRA (Global Rotaract Alumni Club) they can donate the money on the GOSC site and include a note that it is for GRA. This would help us tremendously to continue growing as a club and be able to conduct larger scale projects. Here is the donation link: Donate Now – Global Offsite Care

Opening The Meeting:

President Julia welcomed us as always, “We are United for Good here in Santa Rosa and around the World.” Rick Allen led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four Way Test. His Reflection was a commentary on the chaos and angst in our world, but we should look for the positive in the world, “Behold the beautiful garden with trees and scrubs…” “our diversity of people should be the harmony we seek.”

Visiting Rotarians:

Jeff Walter from Sonoma Valley. He is their president elect and is visiting the different clubs in our area to get ideas for his upcoming term. Also, SRJC Rotaract President Edgar N. is also the new club liaison. He plans on attending meetings on a regular basis.

Guests:

Nate Zaft, Trisha Allen, Charles Hampton and Mary Fricker

Sunshine Report:

Kim Murphy has been tied down to her home for the last two months because Dewayne had a complete shoulder replacement. She is so happy to be back!

50/50 Drawing:

Matthew Henry said we had eleven marbles and $36.00 in the pot today. Future DG Jeff Kolin had the right ticket, but he pulled a yellow marble. Oh well!

Joke of the Week with Michael Moore:

Michael said he was “hurt” that Diane Moresi was not listening to his jokes, so this week he wanted to make sure she was paying attention:

Did you ever wonder why there are never any dead penguins in the Arctic? The other birds dig a hole to bury the dead. Once dug, they sing “Fr’eeze a jolly good fellow”

and kick him in the “ice hole.”  (Can you hear us groaning?)

The Far West District Conference:

President Julia is going to be a sergeant at arms, but the job is going to be a little different this year.  Each club is to recruit 10-15 people so that there are a lot of sergeants at arms. Therefore, everyone should only have to work one or two hours over the course of the weekend. Please let Julia know at your earliest convenience.

Birthdays:

We have a few celebrating their birthday this month:  Steve Olson, Jeff Gospe, Pete Lescure, Michael Moore, and Ted Wilmsen

Jeff Kolin on the International Assembly in Florida:

Jeff and Patty just returned from four whirlwind days in Florida for the International Assembly for incoming District Governors; all 500 of them.  He told us about our incoming international president for 2026-2027, Olayinka Hakeem Babalola. He started as a Rotaractor in 1984. He joined the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi 10 years later.  He has had many leadership roles in Rotary. He has an engineering degree and worked in the oil and gas industry for 25 years before he became an executive coach. He is a member of the Arch Klumph Society.  Jeff is handing out pins with next year’s Presidential message, “Create Lasting Impact.”

And it appears to be official; the International Convention will be in Dubai for 2027 due to Hawaii not being available due to major hotel renovations.  The dates for that convention will be May 22-26, 2027.

New Member Induction:

At long last, 35 years in the making, Nate Zaft is finally inducted into Rotary!

If I have it correct, a new member must:  Attend a Rotary social, conduct the raffle, be a greeter, provide the secretary with a photo for the Roster, join a committee, attend a board meeting, do a craft talk, bring a guest to Rotary…and there may be a few other requirements. Nate has probably done most of them over the years. I would imagine he will have his blue badge in no time. Welcome, Nate!

Announcements:

1. The Book of Why will be here next week. Make sure one of your team will be there to pick up the books for your school(s) and the instructions. Casey D’Angelo would like them to be all delivered in February. The East/West Club and Rohnert Park/ Cotati will be delivering books this year too!
2. Ray Giampaoli says we are up to 69 riders! Plus, the posters have arrived. Pick up a few and get them posted wherever you can. Scott Bartley and Patty Kolin are the sponsor chairs this year. Please make sure you get at least one sponsor for the event. The sooner they commit, the more publicity they will get!
3. Congratulation to Heather Thurber for being installed as President of NorBAR

Recognitions:

Ann and Jeff Gospe are just back from Italy and Morocco.  You can see it all on Facebook.  What a trip! They each donated $75.00 to the Club.

Mary Fricker, Part Two “The Roaring 2020’s Rising Wealth Inequality and Unstable Financial Markets.”

Over the last 50 years, Congress has deregulated the financial industry. The rich are getting richer and the rest of us are just stuck. Financialization needs to be unwound.  Mary has Nine steps that need to be taken to fix this mess:

1. Banking: Too Big to Fail. Banking needs to be separated from investing. Banks cannot have more than $100 billion in assets.

Suggestion? Bring back the Glass Steagall Act as written in 1933. Over 1000 savings and loans failed in the 1980s, but there was no crisis because of the Glass Steagall Act.

2. Banking: Deposits

Only banks and credit unions can take deposits. All deposits must be covered by FDIC or NCUA insurance.

Did you know that JP Morgan Chase has over 4 trillion in deposits? That is dangerous. Banks should have a cap of $100 billion in deposits.

3. Federal Income Taxes: All personal income is taxed at the same rates
4. Payroll Taxes: The wealthy pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on all their income.
5. Business Taxes: All U.S. businesses pay 15% annual taxes on all profits.
6. IRS: The IRS must spend 50% of its time auditing the wealthiest 10% of our people.
7. Buybacks: Stock buybacks should be made illegal.

Prior to 1982, this practice was illegal. Companies often do this to drive up their stock price.

8. Credit Cards: The annual interest on credit cards is capped at 10%
9. Bankruptcy Law:

Honorable people who work hard get a second chance.

A 2005 law made it harder to file bankruptcy. Did you know that student loans cannot be discharged in bankruptcy?

A few of Mary’s Slides

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