Next Week: The Interact Club will be visiting, and will run our meeting for us.  This is always a fun time!  Hope to see you there.

 

President John Cottle welcomed everyone to our meeting. He even included a song, God Bless America led by John Porter, in addition to the Pledge of Allegiance. Nice touch.

 

Travis Swithenbank introduces guest Michael Garrison.

Our guests today included:

– Judge Clayton Brennan, our speaker for the day hosted by Brandt Stickel

– Michael Garrison (attending his 2nd meeting!), guest of Travis Swithenbank and Wilma Tucker

 

Brandt Stickel shared two Thoughts for the Day (though I’m including only one here):  All women become like their mothers, and that is their tragedy.  No men do, and that is theirs.

Brandt Stickel shares a Thought for the Day.

Happy Dollars!

– Matt: happy to be home, and business is good. Welcome back, Matt!

– Gary: happy he didn’t lose at poker last week.  This is the reason that Pete only has $0.75 for his happy dollars!

– Susan K: forgot her Rotary pin today, but will be happy to learn how to buy one!

– Donna: daughter Erin will be graduating high school, and was recently honored as a scholar-athlete — oh, and she won like 8 more medals at her running events!

– Guenter: his trip to Carlsbad was great, despite the fires and one night’s evacuation…

– Brandt: happy that family is coming to visit this weekend.

 

 

Judge Clayton Brennan.

Today’s Program:

Judge Clayton Brennan was introduced by Brand Stickel.  Judge Brennan currently serves at Ten Mile Court in Fort Bragg, and he comes from a long line of lawyers in his family.  He went to law school in San Diego, and has been in Mendocino County since 1991, working in Ukiah, Willits and now Fort Bragg.  He is a “general practitioner” and therefore handles all types of court cases.  Some highlights from his talk:

– Community organizing kept the Ten Mile Courthouse open in Fort Bragg when deep budget cuts happened in recent years.

– The budget situation is improving, and Judge Brennan’s goal is to make Ten Mile a full-service courthouse, including family law, criminal law and mediation services.

– Poverty, substance abuse/addiction issues, and mental health are major challenges facing our community.  Judge Brennan is doing his part to educate local attorneys about the support services available locally for these populations.  His goal is to help these populations to better cope and manage their lives.  They affect all of us, and we have to treat them like members of our family and do what we can to help.

 

Announcements:

– The Music Festival is asking for volunteers to staff a booth on July 26.  Harold, Bonnie and Matt volunteered.

– The Film Festival is looking for volunteers as well.  Contact John C. if you are available.

Bonnie talks up the 4th of July events — all coming together beautifully! More volunteers are welcome!

– Bonnie gave an update on the 4th of July Fundraiser planning.  There will be three main areas of focus: food at the Firehouse, a float in the parade, and games at Rotary Park.  Donna, Susan and Ray volunteered to help John C. with the float. Jerry K. is leading the charge at Rotary Park (where there will be games, photo booth, a petting zoo, and Rotary shirts and American flags for the kids).  Contact Bonnie with more ideas or offers to help!

– The Foundation Board announced that there will be a by-invitation-only fundraising event for Rotary Park this Saturday afternoon, May 24, at Jerry K’s home. Sounds like a very nice event with food and wine — good luck, and thank you for putting this together to boost our fundraising for the Rotary Park project!

– The Taste of Wine, Chocolate and Ale event is also this weekend, on Saturday, May 24, from 1-4 pm at the Mendocino Art Center. Go to http://www.mendocinoartcenter.org/level2/Chocolate_Wine_Ale.html for more info!  Don’t miss it!

– Our club’s new Fundraising Committee will give a debut presentation at next week’s regular Rotary meeting.  Check it out!

 

Raffle winners this week: Michael Garrison, and Jerry K.  Neither pulled the Joker from the deck of cards to win the $42 pot.