Rotary Club of Sacramento Weekly Meeting

Meeting Recap Feb 11 2008 by RCS Staff Last Meeting...

Our pre-meeting buzz was interrupted by a drum accompanied Lion Dance (on the silver screen) to celebrate the Chinese New Year. An appropriately clad Emperor Wes opened the meeting after a musical interlude taken from "The King and I". There was no doubt that the Rotary Club of Sacramento was in session, led by our questionable monarch. A thoughtful Invocation by Peter Dannenfelser brought our attention to the business at hand, however, the inimitable Michael Burman left us all questioning the nature of this non Sweetheart's Day event as he presented a brief Eulogy to 50 year member Hal Schluter. Remembrance of the good Doctor included a politically correct (?) joke in honor of the less correct, but well remembered Schluter tradition of years gone by.

Conversation time was enjoyed by all in attendance at the Doubletree where we had space aplenty to wander within the Grand Ballroom. A "feeling better" Royal Payne introduced the Guests and Prospective Members ending with the introduction of President Phil Sherwood from the Pocket Greenhaven club. President Phil appropriately honored the Emperor with the gift of an antique Rotary Club of Sacramento ashtray turned candy dish, found where else but on E-Bay. Not to be out-shone, our estimable emperor gifted pickled chicken beak and feet to food and wine connoisseur Bob Biko after a witty repartee.

Our eclectic, yet Chinese themed day continued with Past Pres. Jon Snyder announcing that 32 club members have the decidedly interesting honor of giving away a Paul Harris Fellow, due to their generous giving in the past. If you are one of the fortunate few, watch for a telephone call from PP Jon or PP Fred Teichert. To bring home the benefits of giving, Doug Youngdahl was presented his 8th Paul Harris.

In case your thoughts were headed in the direction of all things spring, Jan Stohr reminded us that Bids for Kids is just around the corner, so expect your annual call for an item for the on-line auction. Surprise your caller with a ready answer or cash donation, and make their day! District Chair Doug Kraft announced the search is on for a worthy "Court of Dreams" beneficiary. Call in your erstwhile nominations.

Program Co-Chair and Chair of the Day Bruce Meissner was then called to the podium to introduce the speaker, Andrew Hargadon. We were educated, enticed and challenged by the subject of Innovation, creatively presented by this speaker. This was truly a thought provoking presentation, and led us to re-think the concept of invention. Innovation, takes a variety of pre-existing discoveries and finds new ways to group them and/or apply them to produce a useful or marketable product. Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and other well known "inventors" could perhaps be better described as "innovators". Bill Gates garnered software developed by others to bring together products that were then marketed effectively by Microsoft. It is a wave of Innovation that will lead us into the future, and for those attentive Rotarians in the audience, will provide new ventures for investment and financial opportunity. STF Featured Rotarian Feb 11, 2008 by RCS Staff Hal Bartholomew Law - Family

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