Program for Friday December 26, 2003 No Meeting Happy Holidays Door Duty: * * * * * * * * * Program for Friday January 2,2004 Round Table Bring your favoirite joke Door Duty:                 * * * * * * * * * Program of December 19, 2003 Reminiscing This was Old Timer's Day, and long-time members Ralph Hill, John Nicol and Elof Granberg took center stage.  John talked first and ruminated about grammar school days and his antics with classmate Ralph Hill.  Richmond was a small town once upon a time, and everyone knew where everyone lived.  Parades were a big deal in those days, and John reminisced about being a drummer in the Veteran's of Foreign Wars Drum and Bugle Corps.  John was on the first Rotary Reno Train in 1961 and described how the organization of the event improved over the years.       Elof reminded us that he is the same age as Richmond Rotary and considers himself a Baby Boomer - from World War I.  His family emigrated from Sweden on the S.S. Stockholm in 1928.  Elof's father first tried homesteading on the plains of Canada, which Elof noted involved so much work that it abruptly ended his boyhood.  Elof told the story of his early frustrations sharpening logging saws in Vancouver.  His solution was to invent a chain saw sharpener and then to have it patented.  He rode the bus from Canada to Richmond on a marketing swing in 1955.  His first idea was to sell the patented device, but he received strong encouragement from Sears, and his entrepreneurial spirit soared.  He started his own manufacturing business in the basement of his house on Monterey Street in Richmond Annex, receiving an order for 1500 sharpeners from New Zealand.  The neighbors soon began to complain about noise and visitors so he relocated to Nevin Street, and later to the Garrard location.  When he sold the company in 1977, Elof had 52 employees and a $3M a year business.  Ralph began his comments with a warm and gracious welcome of Father Nick, that of course led to a joke about the Pope.  Ralph grew up on 17th Street in Richmond, though he was born a ferry ride across the Bay in San Rafael.  He noted that the Mira Vista area used to be known as hamburger hill - supposedly, the farther up the hill you lived the less steak and more hamburger in your diet(could this explain our Mira Vista menu?).  Ralph graduated from CAL in 1941, and after the war years, went to work in the family  lumber business.  Ralph's Dad had been a salesman for the Stege Lumber Co. when it went bankrupt, and took the opportunity to purchase it in 1920 and eventually pay off the $100K in creditor debt.  Hill Lumber was relocated to Brighton Avenue in Albany.  Ralph ran the business until 1990.  It is now the site of the new Albany Middle School.  Ralph joined Rotary in 1948 - a year after your scribe was born. Thank you John, Elof and Ralph for some fond reminiscences of early Richmond.  Who Am I? Father Nick Reina took the next step toward the coveted Blue Badge by presenting his Who Am I?  Nick is 55 years of age and was raised in Brooklyn, N.Y.  Though raised a Catholic he attended a synagogue as a boy and developed an early appreciation for religious and cultural diversities.  In 1959 his family moved to Redlands, CA where he entered a Catholic grammar school.  He worked a short time as a gardener for the school to help with tuition, but killed enough plants for both he and the school to realize his talents lay in other areas.  Nick later attended a Salesian Technical High School. He graduated from college in '71 with a degree in philosophy, and started teaching math.  He attended the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley were he earned a doctorate in theology and an M.S. in philosophy.  Nick enjoyed the opportunity to return to his old high school as school president.  In 2003 he was appointed President of the Salesian High School in Richmond.  The philosophy of his order is:  Help people through education.  This was an interesting presentation full of humor - Welcome to the Club Father Nick .       Where to Make Up San Rafael   Monday       12:15 Seafood Peddler Albany        Tuesday       12:30 Mira Vista G&CC El Sobrante Tuesday       12:15 Joe's of El Sobrante Berkeley     Wednesday  12:15 His Lordships Hercules     Wednesday   7:15 am Hercules Senior Center San Pablo   Wednesday  12:15 San Pablo Casino El Cerrito    Thursday       12:15 Mira Vista G&CC Pinole         Thursday      12:30 Outback Steak House Vallejo        Thursday      12:15 World Holiday Inn

` Last Week Prez Stoney started the meeting with a Silent Prayer for Freedom and Peace on Earth.  Josh Genser led the pledge.  Stoney gave the Thought for the Day - "The social progress, order, security and peace of each country are necessarily connected with the social progress, order, security and peace of all other countries".  Pope John XXIII, 1881-1963. Visiting Rotarians No visiting Rotarians this week.. Rotarians With Guests Joe Nusbaum with his better half Anne.  Recognitions The Prez recognized Dave Ninomiya,  first for being back with the group (applause), and then for a birthday.  Dave was unfortunately assaulted with a birthday song but took it in stride.  Secretary extraordinaire Joe Nusbaum, and his lovely bride Anne, were recognized for their 50th wedding anniversary.  Joe's remarks made it clear that he has enjoyed the 50 years  - Anne was less definitive.  Hank Covell will celebrate his anniversary with Doreen on Sunday.  Hank mentioned that they met in school, were married when Doreen was 16, and their life is getting better every day.   Hank had a check for the Perry's School fund.  With Hans, Dave, and Don off the Binnacle List(sick list for you landlubbers), David K had nothing to report.      Announcements Christmas Auction Fund Raiser - the Club raised $12,340 from the auction, a new Club record!  Plus the $50 in charity  Dan Ercolini paid for his weekend stay at the Concord Sheraton.  The Prez again thanked auctioneers Jim Beaver and  Don Lau, and the other volunteers who made this event so successful.  And thank you Rotarian Spendthrifts, one and all.  Prez Stoney announced that he intends to fine himself $5 for his television commercial appearances.  He will be on-air during the next 2 months in commercials for the Ronald McDonald Foundation.  Happy/Sad $$ Dave Ninomiya had a happy $20 for being back with the Club, and a check for Erle toward Janet's Paul Harris.  Entrepreneur George Egan was happy he passed the real-estate test.  David K. was overjoyed that he was right and Prez Stoney was wrong about the date the 49ers started playing at Candlestick.  Bart Wallace was happy he landed a new two year contract - and it doesn't involve isolated duty in Guam or Hokkaido.  Mike Winters recounted that he did not get a birthday phone call, and wondered if the guilty party would match his $150 donation to the Club.  A magnanimous President admitted responsibility and matched the amount.   Prez-Elect Herb Cole was happy that he and Past Prez Dave Brown spent quality holiday time in New York - at the same time if at different parts of the city.  Dave dittoed the happiness.  Leslie Levy had $10 to mark the first night of Hanukkah.  Flywheel Publisher Jon Lawlis was happy just because he is a Rotarian and a member of this fine Club. Raffle With $261 in the pot, Ralph Hill pulled his own ticket from the bucket, but only a white ball from the bag.   Semper Paratus Upcoming Speakers 01/09/04  The Malaria Project 01/16/04  The Richmond Main Street Project 01/23/04  Dana Rambo speaks on Prop 56 01/30/04  Don Hardison speaks on The Easter Hill Project. Important Dates 01/21/04  Joint Meeting with Berekely at His Lordship's 02/20/04  Help celebrate Rotary's 99th B'day 06/04/04  D-Day meeting on The Red Oak Victory Door Duty Reminder     01/09/04 Joseph Bagley Michael Winter 01/16/04 James Beaver Bart Wallace 01/23/04 Donna Bell Donna Uriyu 01/30/04 Joanne Blum Joseph W. Thomas 02/06/04 Erle Brown Stanley Teaderman 02/13/04 Tom Butt Daniel Tanita 02/20/04 Herbert Cole 02/27/04 Henry Covell Loren Straughn

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