Rotary Meeting Rotary Youth Exchange

Rotary Meeting

Last Meeting...

It was a dark and stormy night. Well, in full disclosure: it wasn't night, it wasn't stormy, it wasn't dark, but the lights were low at our last weekly meeting in this scary season. It was a scary theme at the Radisson, as the club marked the coming of Halloween.

President Top-Gun Tim opened the meeting with a Halloween thought- one that would make your hair stand on end- or at least frighten your wig. President Tim announced the sick bay log, noting that Brian Kidney is in the hospital, and that Past President Jon Snyder is recovering from his "first" hip replacement. Given President Top-Gun's medical history with this same procedure, the crowd of concerned Rotarians was left to wonder if being club president required that you be "hip", or at least donate one. (Here's wishing a speedy recovery to both Brian and Jon!).

Pat Pathipati presented the "Rotary Minute", where he talked about the history of Rotary Interact clubs. Despite working in near darkness on the stage, and having to wear a wig that only Lucille Ball could love, Pat managed to educate the club about Interact.in just one minute!

After conversation time, and the introduction of guests and Ghosts of Rotarians Past (a big shout-out to Michael Dourgarian, there) President Tim introduced the notables at the head table.

President Tim then apologized for not bringing in a large pumpkin, which he had planned to finish carving at the wine reception. Apparently the pumpkin he had been given was rotten, and he didn't want to subject the membership to the smell of rancid pumpkin while they enjoyed their medallions of pork, accompanied by that old familiar vegetable medley.

New member David Chavez was introduced to the Club and was warmly greeted. The fine folks at Merchant's National Bank, our meeting sponsor, talked about these "Frightening Financial Times", but then. it is Halloween.

We had committee announcements, including Grant Deary talking about the next Happy Hour, on 11/19 at the Air Traffic Control Center near Mather Field. The prospect of an alcohol mixer at an Air Traffic Control center brought up frightening thoughts of a potentially tragic afternoon, but then again, it is Halloween.

Tom Gilbert welcomed and introduced our district's RYE exchange students and in the area of community service, Doug "I'm just nuts about almonds" Youngdahl generously donated his 10th Paul Harris.

Chair of the Day Kathleen Smith was then summoned to the podium to conjure up our speaker for the day, Dr. Bob LaPierre. Dr. Bob spoke in character, as "Dr Thomas Logan." Ol' Doc Logan arrived in these parts from New Orleans, around 1850, at the time of a cholera epidemic. In that epidemic, 1 of 2 died from the virus - over 1,000 Sacramentans perished, including 17 physicians. With a marketing slogan only a lobbyist could love, our beloved town, "one of the most healthful territories" soon was renowned as a "cesspool of disease found nowhere else." - and one suddenly understands why the legislature relocated here. Doc Logan thrived, and became an expert in epidemics, later becoming president of the AMA in 1872.

Doc Logan eventually expired, and is buried beneath what was once 10 acres of land donated to the city by John Sutter, to establish a cemetery. The Old Sacramento City Cemetery is the oldest remaining cemetery in the city. In addition to 3,000 more or less permanent residents, the cemetery boasts 100-year-old trees, antique roses and landscaped plots, all tended to by volunteers.

Dr. Bob LaPierre returned, and introduced docent Susan Hickland, who literally brought to life one Ms. Agnes Jacycocks, a schoolteacher, educator, and the Assistant Principal of Sacramento High School in 1876. But this being Halloween, poor Agnes came to an untimely end, when she was swept out to sea while standing on a rocky bluff at Cypress Point near Monterey. With an unsinkable demeanor, Agnes calmly floated with the current, over the horizon, where she sank out of sight. Her passing was reported by a simple telegraph message- "saw schoolteacher, sunk same".

Our final docent, Frances Pendleton regaled the group with an exciting evening in old town, when on a November night of 1876 we marked the opening- and subsequent closing- of "Moore's Opera House", located on 2nd Street between K&L. This one-penny opera was sold out, although no ladies were present due to the disreputable nature of the advertised program. Alas, while the show was in progress, the audience made a hasty retreat to the stables below- some 16 feet below the floor of the theater- when the building collapsed. Eight people died, although in an un-vaudeville like fashion, none of the cast died on stage. This bit of tragedy led the City of Sacramento to establish a building department, requiring permits and inspections for all structures. A very scary story, with a scary outcome but then again, it IS Halloween.

Dr. Bob wrapped up the meeting by noting that brochures were on the tables for the Historic Cemetery and The Sacramento County Cemetery District. At long last- some Real Estate information that appeals to our demographic! If you elected to hide under the bed instead of attending today's scare-fest, you missed some entertaining stories, good fellowship, and the candlelight beacon that is Rotary. Until next time. BOOO!- BDM

Radisson Hotel Nov 3, 2008 - Chip Conley by Staff, RCS

Peter Dannenfelser Chair of the Day

Pre-Meeting Music Jim Lucas

Chip Conley is the founder, President and CEO of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, California's largest boutique hotel company consisting of 40 award-winning hotels, spas and restaurants. Also an author, in his latest book PEAK: How Great Companies Get Their Mojo From Maslow, Chip tells his story of survival in turbulent times and illustrates the theory that transformed his business. Recently honored by the San Francisco Business Times as the "Most Innovative CEO" in the entire Bay Area, Chip is the founder of San Francisco's annual "Celebrity Pool Toss" fundraiser, which has raised more than $3 million dollars for families in the Tenderloin District. Chip received his BA and MBA from Stanford University.