The Wheel – April 21, 2021

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Due to the recent concerns about the COVID-19 virus and a desire to follow the suggestions of health care professionals, the club will be having virtual meetings until further notice.

“The Rotary Club of Stockton Begins the 2nd Century of Service to the Stockton Community”
(48)

Activities

• Call to Order and Welcome! President Gary called the meeting to order and rang the bell for the first time in over a year at the Stockton Country Club for the inaugural Hybrid meeting with a limited number of guests and to try out meeting in person!
• Pledge of Allegiance & Four Way Test – Ken Steele, International Service Chair for our club to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Four Way Test.
• 

  President-Elect Kevin Kauffman

  Thought for the Day – President-Elect Kevin Kauffman began his presentation with this quote: “Taking it with a grain of Salt”. He reminded us that Rotary has all sectors represented in its membership. It has changed since its inception and Rotarians all inherently trust one another. Rotarians are leaders and we can help gain trust back and bring communities back to trustworthiness. He encouraged us to stay positive and grow together.

• Special Thanks Today to – Secretary Matt Grizzle and Corie Stewart for the making this Hybrid meeting and getting all the technical stuff together for us. We want to thank Dudley Drake for his leadership in getting our speakers. Leena Mittal has been the notetaker but this time it is Colleen Stewart. Also to Eric Duran for putting all in the Wheel.
• Concern Reports – President Gary had a concern report for our current notetaker, Leena Mittal’s father is ill and lives in India. Please keep her in our thoughts and prayers.  Assistant District Governor Waqar Rizvi reported to the meeting from Pakistan where he is currently visiting his ailing Grandmother so our thoughts and prayers are with Waqar and family too.
• Visiting Rotarians – (none)
• Guests of Rotarians – Paul Kozlow’s guest, Kristianne Shaffer.
• Paul Kozlow for SRE – Kristianne Shaffer, Manager of Program “Without Walls” with United Cerebral Palsy of San Joaquin and UCP was granted funds from Stockton Rotary Endowment from Paul Kozlow. She thanked SRE and says that her program serves 200 clients in San Joaquin and surrounding areas. They were using the money to purchase equipment as they in need of devices, a such as tablets and laptops and this money was being used for that purpose as they have 55 people using them every day.
• Rotary News:  Rotary Direct – Latest sign up: Steve Luthy! Total members registered in Rotary Direct for Foundation giving are 18! Please consider signing up; it’s easy to do! Please call President Gary (209-601-3631) or Linda Guinn (209-639-1482) to sign up.  Goal is 150 members.
• Club Service & District Calendar for 2020-2021 – Click HERE for the latest list! Don’t miss out on some great activities that may or may not happen in the near future (due to the COVID-19 virus.)

Directions for members on how to make a payment to Rotary Club of Stockton: Click on “$ Online Payments” in the blue bar at the top (or click this blue box)

Club Announcements

• Hybrid Live Meetings @ Stockton Golf & Country Club – Today was the first time in over a year there was a meeting at the Stockton Country Club with a limited number of guests. The members can chose Zoom option as well.  I’m sure there will be more information to follow in future Wheel’s.

When we resume regular meetings..

• Use That Credit Card at The Meeting – You may now pay for lunch, raffle tickets (minimum Credit Card Purchase of $5.00) and other purchase at the Club meetings with a credit Card.
• Potential Members – To encourage Club members to bring a potential member to the Wednesday meetings the Rotary Club of Stockton will pay for the 1st meal of a potential member brought by a Club member. For the proper procedure when proposing a new member, read this document.

Meeting Note takers needed! Thank you Leena Mittal for volunteering to continue taking notes! Your help is much appreciated! Now it’s time for someone else to step up! PLEASE Consider volunteering (Like Leena has done) for a once a month (or more) opportunity to keep the Wheel rolling along. Our Wheel editor will appreciate you stepping up to assist! What’s a better way to know what’s going on in your club? -editor. Contact Corie Stewart at corie@gemcorp.com

Guest Speaker

Speakers: Pam Heaney, Mike Higgins, Dan Leavitt and Virginia Madueno
Introduced by: International Service Chair Ken Steele

Dan Leavitt, Manager

Dan Leavitt, Manager, Mike Higgins, Virginia Madueno and Pam Heaney.
They explained this major and largest rail project in the State. Apparently, we have currently the biggest bottleneck of locomotives and tracks that exists just South of downtown Stockton and at our local Railroad station. The project will be separating the railroads that run North and South and the ones that run East to West. This involves freight trains, ACE Train and Amtrak. It will involve many local streets from Weber, Main, Market, Lafayette, Church, Hazelton, Scotts and Charter. There will be an overpass and flyover installed and the track will run under the crosstown freeway. It will also enhance and develop much of this neighborhood by installing sidewalks and curbs where none are currently and upgrade the area. It will be a great improvement and is good for the environment, the community and our economy.

Next Meeting: April 28, 2021
Stuart Spencer – Executive Director of the Lodi Wine Commission

Stuart Spencer
Executive Director
Lodi Winegrape Commission

Stuart Spencer is the Executive Director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission, a trade association representing 750 winegrowers farming 100,000 acres of winegrapes and 85 wineries in the Lodi region of California. Stuart has been with the Commission since 1999 and is responsible for guiding many of the region’s successful marketing, research, and sustainable viticulture programs. Spencer is the principal spokesperson for region and travels across the country and world educating trade, media, and consumers on the distinctive wines coming from the Lodi appellation.

In addition, Spencer is the winemaker for his family’s winery in Lodi, and has extensive experience growing, crafting, and promoting exceptional wines from Lodi vineyards. Stuart’s parents founded St. Amant Winery in 1981 focusing on producing hand-crafted wines of superb quality. Stuart is one of the founding winemakers of the “Lodi Native” group that is dedicated to crafting distinctive wines from Lodi’s historic old Zinfandel vineyards. St. Amant is regarded as one of California’s leading experts on Portuguese and Spanish varieties in California soil.

Upcoming Speakers

(Virtual unless otherwise noted)

May 2021

• 05 – Chuck Myers, “The Hornet Carrier”
• 12 – Past District Governor Robert Deering, Jr., “Human Trafficking”
• 19 – Dr. Michael Sasevich, “Latest Technology for Heart and Lung Surgery”
• 26 – Jonni Redick, “Leadership in Turbulent Times”

June 2021

• 02 – Tim Viall, “Worthy Road Trip Destinations”
• 09 – TBA
• 16 – TBA
• 23 – District Governor-Elect Tim Madden, “What May Happen in the Next Rotary Year”
• 30 – Kick Out

Birthday Celebration Challenge!!!

July finals 14/15 or 93.3%
August Wrap up – 10/11 or 90.1%
September Birthday Celebrations: 15/15 for 100% participation!
October Finals 14 of 14 = 100%
Both September and October were 100 percent participation.
November birthday challenge was 87.5%.
December Challenge Wrap Up: 90% Participation

2020 Challenge Total:  76 of 81 for 93.8% – Thanks!

January Birthday Challenge: 10 of 10 for 100%!
Final Wrap for February – 10/10 participated = 100 %
Final Wrap for March – 13/13 participated = 100 %

YTD: Now 5 months @ 100% = September, October, January, February, March

April Birthday Challenge – 17 Members

Birthday Recognitions

Week 4: 

• $90 – Matthew Grizzle whose birthday was the 18th –  $45 to SRE and $45 to RI.

April 2021 Birthdays…

Photos…