We started this evening’s presidential demotion festivities with really great appetizers and with music provided by our Past President Barry Stigers who is now a member of the South Placer Rotary Club in Rocklin. He was at the electronic keyboard and microphone with his golden voice. We had an extended Happy Hour which ended at 7:30 sharp with the official start of President geof's demotion in a beautifully decorated meeting room for this hallmark occasion..

As far as anyone to whom this reporter talked to about this evening’s demotion’s location, this was the first time we have ever held the demotion on a regular meeting night or at our regular meeting site and/or that a female member of the Fair Oaks Rotary Club would be installed, after the demotion, as our new Club President! WOW! A LOT OF FAIR OAKS ROTARY CLUB FIRSTS TONIGHT!

President geof asked incoming new member Dr. Fred Rowe to lead us in the pledge of allegiance to the flag and Past President Russ Monroe to honor us with tonight’s benediction. We were all very happy to have him back with us after a prolong recovery from a very nasty illness. Past President Barry was next to honor us with his rendition of our patriotic song, “God Bless America”. Thanks. It was nice to have you back for this special event !

Our fabulous kitchen crew created a great feast for us all tonight consisting of a great mixed green salad followed with a very generous helping of prime rib, with mushrooms mixed vegetables and carrot cake for dessert. Those at this reporter’s table missed out on the carrot cake but were finally served ice cream sandwiches when it was pointed out that our table was missed. The ice cream was very good.

Evidently some members and/or guests made the mistake of parking in the wrong places tonight and the Parking Enforcement Patrol left them tickets as a memento of the evening.

Immediate Past President Jim Purcell next personally introduced each of our visiting Rotarians: this included Richard Kowaleski of the Sacramento Club, Barry Stigers of the South Placer Club, Dean Hendricks of the Citrus Heights Club.

Jim next introduced each and every guest of Rotarians, which included Bob Walter’s significant other, Cleatta Simpson; plus the following wives of Rotarians: Pat Hinkelman; Lillian Crockett, Naona Monroe, Pat Vogel, Janet McWilliams, Rosemary Lamb, and husbands Joe Maloney, Steve Ritchie, Joe Hoy, and Dave Pickett. Cynthia Larson-Schwartz’s daughter Lia, Bud Hauser’s sons Martin and Norm, our next new member Fred Rowe, M.D., and Susan Lockington and John Swanson who really is a new member and John's son. Jack. Jim did a great job of making everyone feel special!

Jim then apologized to geof and our members and guests for failing to procure the customary Certificates of Appreciation for geof’s year of service as our president from our local government agencies but promised they were on their way from the California State Senate and Assembly in addition to one from our County Supervisor and possibly Governor Arnold?

Jim then listed all the outstanding accomplishments of President geof lambert’s year: this included the largest crab feed and the most money from a crab feed; a huge international project helping with the Rotaplast trip to India which included Ted Golshanara’s wife Doctor Neilu going on the trip to assist the team in delivering over $900,000 of medical benefits from $20,000 in funds raised in District 5180! Congratulations geoff! Dr. Steve Hoverman was saluted for his annual eye clinic in Mexico and Dr. Rick Chang for his Dental Clinic for the needy; as well as Beth Wilcoxen and Inner Wheel members, Pat Vogel, Bev Purcell and Neilu for their successful Senior Luau and Ted Darrow’s leadership in our RYLA Program and the Webster’s Dictionaries for needy third graders in our district, and our High School Scholarship Program which is where we donate the greatest amount of money in all of our community projects. Jim also congratulated Bill Wagner for his Successful Christmas Basket Program and congratulated President geof in his leadership as the District Committee Chair for the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship Program and Dr. Peter Romines, for all his work with our Scholars and Duane Day for his Fair Oaks Fiesta Success. He included Ted Golshanara for the Wine Tasting Event and the Handicapped Garden work at Phoenix Field. What A Year For President geof and this club’s action packed people who made things happen with spectacular results, including President Elect Bobbi Pickett and her programs!

However, after all the glory, president geof was introduced to the WHEEL created by Bob Vogel to extract dollars for the club with major fines from geof to become the Immediate Past President and pin the President’s Pin on Roberta. Outgoing Past President Jim showed no mercy with one big fine after another! However, some of it will come back in the form of a Fry’s Electronic Store Gift Certificate from the club for geof. He then honored each of this year’s officers and board members with a very special and deluxe Rotary Travel Tote Bag telling them that they made a difference not only for the Fair Oaks Rotary, but our District, Our State and Country as well as the International Community. What a Night…..It was great! Finally, be sure and cast your vote for our Fair Oaks Honorary Mayor. Our own Past President Ralph Carhart is running and needs your support to raise funds to recognize those who funded the purchase of the Fair Oaks Bluff by building a Donor Recognition Plaza where pedestrians and cyclists can rest along Bridge Street at the north end of our old Fair Oaks Bridge with a drinking fountain and increased lighting with a $10.00 Spaghetti Dinner Saturday July 8th from 6:00 to 8:30 PM at the Fair Oaks Community Club House and a BBQ Chicken Dinner , Saturday, August 19th from 4:00 to 8:00 at Bob and Pat Vogel’s residence at 4933 St. Thomas Drive for $12.00. Call 961-9703 for ticket information and 966-9703 for any other questions.