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Announcements DISTRICT 5160 FOUNDATION DAY   9AM-3PM SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2020   PIONEER HIGH SCHOOL WOODLAND   SEE SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR FOR MORE INFORMATION WOODLAND ROTARY'S 2020 DINNER AUCTION IS SCHEDULED FOR   SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29   CALIFORNIA AG HISTORY MUSEUM     TAILGATE PARTY THEME   MORE DETAILS TO COME   ROTARY DISTRICT 5160   2020 CONVENTION REDDING     May 1-3, 2020   Click for more information ROTARY INTERNATIONAL 2020 CONVENTION   HAWAII June 6-10     See Special Events Calendar for details WHAT'S FOR LUNCH??   VIEW ENTREES  BY CRACCHIOLOS PLANNED FOR FUTURE CLUB MEETINGS     Help us make this the 'go to place' for all your Rotary information.  Email comments or suggestions to Kris Kristensen, or call 530 304-5641.

ROTARY CLUB

OF WOODLAND

Rotary Theme 2019-20

Rotary Holiday Party

About 60 Rotarians from Woodland's Sunrise, Luna Vista and Noon clubs, and their guests,enjoyed the Rotary Holiday Party at the Fairgrounds on December 6.  Donations of teddy bears were made to BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse) which will be distributed to local children who have suffered from abuse. The Delta Rhythm Quartet entertained with a medly of holiday tunes. 

December 3rd Meeting

Our guest speaker today was Art Pimentel, President of Woodland Community College who gave us an update on services and plans at the 5,500 student campus. This includes planning efforts to build a new Performing Arts building on campus starting in late 2020 or early 2021. Thank you Lori Ross for arranging and introducing the program. Past President Mark Ullrich presided today, filling in for President Tony Delevati who was ill. 

Immediate Past President Mike Chandler conducted a voice vote election for 2020-21 Club Officers and Board of Directors positions effective July 1, 2020. Elected were:

President-elect - Dan Stroski

(will serve as President 2021-22)

Secretary - Alan Flory

Treasurer - Marcus Ullrich

Assistant Treasurer - Tom Schwarzgruber

Club Board of Directors (July 2020-June 2022) -

Gary Bunch, Carl Rodegerdts, Blair Voelz

(Based on the election last year, Tabb Randolph will serve as Club President for 2020-21, and Jason Smith, Jim McGibbon and Jim Nolan will also serve on the Board of Directors.)

During David Janes' Recognition today Ken Nordgren learned that the Wamponoag tribe of native Americans gave food to the Pilgrims after their first harvest in 1621. Don Huff III was happy to survive 60 mph winds and single digit temperatures on a recent trip with friends to Lubbock TX to hunt sand hill cranes (Later, Chuck Maltese wondered why anyone would do that???). Jim Nolan was happy he had 34 people at his house this Thanksgiving, the 36th consecutive year of hosting the holiday at his home. Tom LaBrie learned that the first football game played on Thanksgiving took place in 1876 between Yale & Princeton. John Ketelesen found out a running turkey was 'fast food'. Mark Werum learned the difference between election day and Thanksgiving was on Thanksgiving you get turkey for the day, while on election day you get a turkey for four years! 

Two December 2nd birthdays were celebrated this week: Aniek Ramsay (50 years ago in Fresno), and Karl Diekman (1949 in Ohio). 

 With just 9 cards left, Peter Holmes managed to draw the joker and ran away with $744!

Meet our Newest Member -

Wendy Casas-Raviotta

Wendy Casas-Raviotta was inducted as a new Club member on November 12, 2019. Wendy, who was sponsored by Mark Ullrich, provided us with the following bio at our request. Please take a moment soon to welcome Wendy to the Club.

Wendy is a native Woodland resident.  She graduated from Woodland High School in 1996.  After graduating high school, she followed in her older sister’s footsteps by attending  UC Davis where she majored in History and Spanish.  During her third year of college, Wendy studied abroad in Mexico City.  She also interned in Washington DC her last year of college.  She graduated UC Davis in 2000 and enrolled at UC Davis School of Law King Hall the following year.  While in law school, she interned at the Yolo County Public Defender’s Office where she developed an interest in criminal defense work.  Wendy graduated law school in 2004 and passed the bar that same year.  She began her legal career as a deputy public defender in Kern County.  After a couple of years, she moved back to Northern California where she accepted a position with the Solano County Public Defender’s Office and worked as a defense attorney for over ten years. In May 2018, Wendy opened her solo practice in Woodland where she continues to focus on criminal defense and family law matters.   Wendy is married to Joseph Raviotta, who is a tower crane operator in San Francisco. They’ve been married for ten years and have two children, Max who is in fourth grade and Maya who is in second grade. 

Wendy is fluent in Spanish.  She is an active board member on the La Raza Lawyers Association of Solano County.

November 19th Meeting

Italian chef, instructor and television personality Lucia Oliverio was our guest speaker today, giving us a 'Guide to a Healthy Thanksgiving Dinner'. She was joined by her partner at GreenOlive Cooking Cindy Green. Lucia even provided us with a sample of her Roasted Root Vegetables in a Sweet Glaze, a side dish she recommmended for the holiday.

Thank you Lori Ross for arranging and introducing this program! https://www.youtube.com/c/greenolivecookingchannel

In today's Why Rotary spotlight, Christian Sherrill shared that he moved to his wife Holidae's hometown of Woodland in 2004 when she knew everyone in town age 18-45. After he joined Rotary because it was 'more his style', Christian instantly knew everyone in town 45 years of age and older. So, together they had the whole town covered! Christian also enjoys the programs offered at Rotary meetings. 

Nick Roncoroni 'rang the bell' for his daughter Elisabeth's second place performance in a recent cheerleading competition.

On behalf of the Club's past presidents, Immediate Past President Mike Chandler placed in nomination the following slate of new Club officers and directors for 2020-21

effective July 1, 2020:

President-elect - Dan Stroski

(will serve as President 2021-22)

Secretary - Alan Flory

Treasurer - Marcus Ullrich

Assistant Treasurer - Tom Schwarzgruber

Club Board of Directors (July 2020-June 2022) -

Gary Bunch, Carl Rodegerdts, Blair Voelz

 The Club will be asked to vote for election of

Club officers and directors at its

December 3, 2019 meeting.

(Based on the election last year, Tabb Randolph will serve as Club President for 2020-21, and Jason Smith, Jim McGibbon and Jim Nolan will also serve on the Board of Directors.)

Under Kris Kristensen's Recognition questions regarding the Club's website Jane O'Meara knew that new member Lisa Martinez's bio was on the website; Kevin Haarberg learned that Gary Wegener was seeking new members for the WHS Interact Club last week; Blair Voelz knew that Wendy Casas-Raviotta became our newest member last week; Chuck Moore found out that David Pinto came to the United States after growing up in India; Steve Venables knew that Daniel Jones ('that tall guy') works at Tri Counties Bank; Tabb Randolph celebrated his 62nd birthday on Nov 17; George Burger found out the website is currently highlighting the Club's support of the FFA Auction and United Way's Imagination Library; and Tim Pettit knew that Ernie Hodges was previously a member of the West Sacramento Rotary Club. 

Visiting Rotarians Don Sharp & Vicki Faye (Woodland Sunrise) joined us today. Jim Taylor introduced his guest, wife Ann Taylor. Lori Ross introduced guests Jason Brett (left) and Bill Greenwood, our guest speaker's husband.

Meet our New Member -

Ernie Hodges

Ernie Hodges was inducted as a new Club member on October 8, 2019. Ernie, who was sponsored by Roger Kohlmeier, provided us with the following bio at our request. Please take a moment soon to welcome Ernie to the Club.

Ernest Hodges was born in same hospital as Dolly Parton in Sevierville, Tennessee.  He grew up in East Tennessee and rural Western North Carolina until going to University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  He subsequently obtained a BS degree in Accounting from George Washington University.  He passed the CPA exam on his first try.  Ernie joined the National Farm Credit System at the regulatory agency in 1973 and with the exception of a 2 year tour on a USAID funded project in Tanzania, East Africa worked for Farm Credit in various executive positions until he retired on June 1, 2015.  During his Farm Credit career Ernie traveled to all 50 states  and had several exotic trips to destinations such as Delano and Dinuba, California.

Ernie married Kay on June 27,1981 in Washington D.C. and they moved to Sacramento in June 1982.  Kay and Ernie moved to Woodland in 1983 when he was named as CEO of Sacramento Valley Farm Credit.

Ernie joined West Sacramento Rotary Club in early 1992 until extremely heavy travel schedule led him to resign from Rotary in 2009.  The Hodges hosted 5 Rotary Youth Exchange students Eddy from Brazil, Emilie France, Aurelie Belgium, Charlotte Sweden and Jenny Germany.  They are blessed to have 10 Rotary Grandchildren (ages 2 months to 11 years) and are very excited they will be able to visit with all of them during 2020.  Kay and Ernie have visited each of the students homes several times and attended each of their weddings.

Both Ernie and Kay hold multiple Paul Harris Fellow certificates and they are RI benefactors.

Ernie and Kay enjoy at least 2 and sometimes 4 international trips annually.  Their next international adventure will be Antarctica in January.  He also can occasionally be found working on his woeful golf game at Yolo Fliers Club.  Once while playing with Gary Wirth, Gary advised Ernie there are at least 15 critical things that need to be done to have a successful golf swing and I was doing every one of them wrong!  Regrettably, he was correct in his brutal assessment.  His current broken left shoulder has at least kept him off the folly of attempting to hit a golf ball since early June and probably at least 6 more months.

Meet our New Member -

Daniel Jones

Daniel Jones of Tri Counties Bank was inducted as a new Club member of the Club on October 1, 2019. Daniel, who was sponsored by Mark Ullrich, provided us with the following bio at our request. Please take a moment soon to welcome Daniel to the Club.

Daniel grew up in Orland, CA.  He graduated from Hamilton Union High School in 2010 and went on to Oregon State University.  There he studied Agricultural Business Management and played on the OSU Basketball Team. 

Upon graduating in 2014, Daniel returned home and began working for his parents on their diversified family farms and ranches.  He also worked as an Agronomist for Syngenta in the Sunflower Production areas of the Sutter Basin and Yolo County. 

Currently, Daniel resides in Dixon at one of the family ranches and started working for Tri Counties Bank just over a year ago, training in the Loan Officer/Relationship Manager role.  He continues to manage the farms and ranches outside of banking.

His father also works for Tri Counties Bank in the Willows branch as a loan officer.  His mother works in Chico at Enloe Medical Center as the Director of Rehabilitation Services and Home Medical Physical Rehabilitation Services.  He has two Sisters; Andrea works in Orland at the Orland-Artois Water District, and Audra- she is a second-year Veterinary Student at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.

Since Tri Counties Bank here in Woodland is the first “Corporate Member”, other team members from the bank that may attend meetings and events from time to time are: Cyndi Blickle, Connie Holland, Baron Chen, and Dean Baldwin.

Rotary & 2019 FFA Auction

The 2019 FFA Livestock Auction at the Yolo County Fair was another success with 180 animals being sold raising $305,000! Rotary plans, promotes and conducts the Auction. Under the leadership of Don Huff III and Chuck Moore our club is in charge of managing all financial obligations in connection with the Auction. This includes oversight of the collection and disbursement of auction proceeds with the assistance of Farm Credit West throughout the process.

 Imagination Library

Signup for the Imagination Library

Woodland United Way's Imagination Library is one of the projects

our Club funded with proceeds from the 2019 Dinner Auction.

 Click to view Rotary International news