Santa's Evil Elf

Boy, they all turn out at the holidays, don't they? At today's Rotary meeting we had Heather Dugdale in attendance, and she and fine master Jim Roth were going at it hammer and tongs. Both were in incredibly rare form, and Heather forever earned (at least in my heart) the moniker "Santa's Evil Elf". Given her outfit, I'm not particularly surprised.

Take the lamp out of the window

Jerry Hetherington - our wandering minstrel - has returned to the club (well, at least for today's meeting!). Seems he can't sell that house and move to Colorado QUITE as quickly as he had anticipated. I'd say I'm sorry that it's taking you a while to blow town, Jerry, but my heart would really be in it. Besides, it doesn't meet the first rule of Rotary - it's not the truth.

I'm Sleeping In!

The Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club is dark this week.
I, for one, am sleeping in! HOO HA!

We proudly provide the newest tile in Poway's Veteran's Park.

'Nuff said.

Will the real Elmer Getz please stand up?

Longtime Rotarian Elmer Getz did the "Who Am I?" at this week's meeting of the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary breakfast. A man who is truly committed to the community he moved to in 1985, Elmer is active at the Maranatha Church. He is the very definition of a gentleman - something I proved to myself by finding his picture next to the word gentleman in the dictionary.

Pam Russell and the Rotary Foundation

Did I mention that Pam Russell of the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary club came to visit with us yesterday morning? She told us everything there is to know about the Rotary Foundation, and let me tell you - this lady REALLY knows her stuff!

I liked the part where she explained about us receiving $4,000 to use on a clean water project in Africa. Talk about putting your money where your mouth is!

Demerie Hill Picks Up The Magic Pen

After six years as the Publicity Chair for the RB Sunrise Rotary, I have finally handed over my pen to Demerie Hill. Demerie, who joined the club just two months ago, has jumped right into the fray, introducing herself to area columnists and editors, and getting the word out about our club and all the great events we're doing. I, on the other hand, will now have more time to focus on this blog and other forms of electronic media, like our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=247469753192) First up on her agenda - announcing the Distinguished Citizen Dinner for President-Elect Rick Coburn and our annual dictionary project, where we give away about 1,000 dictionaries to third graders at nine area schools.

Sorry, Demerie - didn't mean to scoop you! Looks like putting down the pen may be a little more challenging than I realized.

How we get so many good things done

Congratulations to the Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary for surpassing the goal of raising $25,000 during our recent fundraising campaign. Especially when times are tough, it's great to see everyone putting themselves into the process and helping raise money so we can help others. Our fundraising committee chairs - Nasrin Barbee, Larry Campitiello, Rex Teets and Dan Krall. Not pictured is Mark Berdan. Sorry Mark - you ran off JUST as the others showed up. Hopefully we'll get you all in one place next time.

separated at birth?

Fernando Favela, PDG from District 4100 joined us at RB Sunrise Rotary and discovered his twin (seriously - check this out!). Turns out Fernando and Rod Weiss were discovered on the same doorstep and hadn't seen each other in 45 years. Okay...maybe not.

Hail to the Chief

Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary is a club I'm proud to call mine. Today we learned that our own Carl Kruse - former club president, Poway city council member, former Poway mayor, retired banker, and all around good guy (his license plate says SERVIZ - kind of says it all) - has secured his place in line to be Governor of Rotary District 5340 in 2013-2014. However, since Rotary has a trial period (during which he'll have training wheels on his shoes), it is (for the moment) a provisional appointment. This means Carl is now officially (get this) the District Governor Elect Designate Nominee, Provisional.

I want to know how he's going to fit all that onto his business card.

In addition to a standing ovation from the club he calls home, all the stars came out for Carl as District Governor Dave Breeding was joined by a host of other celebrities to honor the next guy to wear the maroon sports coat.

Well done, Carl. We all kid you about ... well, just about everything, actually. But we're VERY proud of you. Ya done good!

Mike Moffat, Iron Man

Mike Moffat just returned from Washington DC where he spent a gorgeous Sunday running (and finishing!) the Marine Corps. 26k marathon. Mike finished around #11,000 - roughly halfway through the crowd. WHEW! - I got tired just hearing about it! Nicely done, Mike.