Niles Rotary Club of Fremont
Official website of the Niles Rotary Club of Fremont, California
Last month ended with a Roll and Stroll in Niles Canyon, and an encounter with Mill’s Mini Museum of amazing collections reflecting Niles History set in the Old Niles Firehouse. It was a PRICELESS Day! We began our day with coffee, donuts, and bicycles. Off we went into Niles Canyon with the goal of biking to Sunol and back (or, as in my case, as far as you could and back) – a 14 mile ride. The Rollers, just to name a few, were Sandi & Dick Pantages, Randy & I, Angus Cochran, Tim Gavin, Mary & Ray Pedersen, and Sandi & Don Cole. The Strollers included Amy & Steve Cho, Gary Raver, Scott Chambers, and Mary Lynn Pelican.
It was a beautiful morning and ride or walk. Lots of families and friendly folks taking advantage of a rare opportunity to really take your time and bask in the beauty of Mother Nature and our Niles Canyon, a very special place. Upon beginning our ride we ran into a few Niles Rotarians that volunteered as greeters and directors of the crowd – thank you to Steve Springer, Maggie Guilbeaux-Chambers, Sherry Higgs, Rich Godfrey, and Paul Andrus. You all looked like you were having as much fun as the Rollers and Strollers. Following the ride all that could joined together at the Old Niles Fire House currently owned and refurbished by Wendy and Gary Mills. They have done an amazing job of collecting, displaying, and sharing the past. It was a rare treat as we dined on a delicious lunch prepared by Gael Stewart. GREAT SOCIAL, PAST PRESIDENT ANGUS!
Our first meeting of the month was a very special meeting as we inducted our third Rotarian of our year into the club: Chiral Desai. Chiral was joined by her parents and her husband. Her Mentor Geeta was on hand to stand in for her sponsor Tony Boudames. Welcome Chiral; we are so glad you have joined us and look forward to getting to know you and your family better. Chiral then jumped right behind the podium to follow in her mentor’s footsteps and do her Ice Breaker seconds after induction. Steve Landon was asked to give a big Thank You to all the club members that stepped up and gave of their time and hospitality to host, welcome, and include the Alaskans in our exchange raffle item. Mike & Sunny Morrison from Alaska arrived on Tuesday Sept 26, 2017 to be welcomed into the home of Harry Avila. During the time they were here they were wined and dined by Niles Rotarians. They began their visit with a hosted dinner at Papillon with Tony Boudames and his lovely wife Heather. They came to the club on the 28th and then were whisked off to beautiful Monterey with Harry Avilla for golfing and shopping, ultimately joined by PP Steve & Terri Landon for a day. They returned to hospitality of the Joan & John Kimber’s home, wine tasting with Bruce Prescott, Fellowship evening at Steven Lloyd’s, lunch with PRIP Richard King and Paella Dinner, prepared by the Landons, at Chuck Canada’s, to cap off their visit. They flew home on the 3rd of Oct. This effort takes a team. Thank you to all that extended your kindness and friendship at all group events. I think they really understood when leaving why Niles Rotarians are Family by Choice. Our speaker was Robert Garfinkle, he discussed all things MOON! He gave a very interesting presentation on the moon and our evolution of understanding.
Avenues of Service – Our club showed up BIG time as 17 Niles Rotarians attended and we hosted two Rotaractors to the Dinner. It was a great evening of Rotary Fun, great information, good dinner, and a great Keynote speaker, RI Director John Mathews 2017-2019 Zones 25 & 26, “Leaders keep learning”.
The second meeting of the month started out with a big hug, hand shake, and smiling hello as I named the Rotarian of the Month for September: our beloved Greeter, A’s fan extraordinaire, Jeff Falk. Congratulations Jeff you are a real asset and blessing to our Club. Thank you for all you do! Paul Iannacconi presented Larry Bowen and Kathy Laidlaw with their framed Paul Harris Awards. The spotlight moved to Mary Lynn as she received her pin, necklace, and crystal award for becoming a Major Donor to The Rotary Foundation. Our speakers for the day were Eva-Marie Tisdale and Herbert Chiu talking about 300 years of time travel from Bach to Pop. They gave a background to the upcoming November 18 concert TOCCATA featuring Falk & Sons – this concert is a fundraiser for the Fremont Symphony. Towards the end of the speakers’ presentation, I glanced across the room to see both Manuel and Daren on fire with RED faces after tasting one of the hottttteeeessssstttt Chili peppers on the planet presented to them by Paul Andrus. At the beginning of the meeting it was agreed that this pepper was too hot for consumption. However, Boys will be Boys! Somehow about 1:15, common sense evaded them and they could not resist. Let’s just say it was a VERY HOT ending to a FUN meeting. See FACEBOOK for the video!
October 19th Diwali! Our club came together in an amazing way this day as we celebrated Diwali with our Rotary Family for the first time – The Festival of Light. Geeta, Padma, Chiral, Savita, Rav, and Manohar put together a beautiful program of celebration, information, dance, food and sweets. The room was decorated with LED candles, beautiful scarves, and gems, and most were in festive brightly colored traditional clothing. Walking into the room made one smile. We opened our meeting with our own Sophia Ahmad doing her Ice Breaker and exchanging her Red Badge for BLUE – her parents were in proud attendance. Geeta then took the stage and got the party started. All told of their Diwali Traditions, and Padma did a beautiful dance. Check our Facebook page for pictures. Because I was worried about time, I began the program early without fining or Happy Cup. Because I had some extra time at the end, I announced the Happy Cup and had the Happiest Cup donations ever. Everyone was happy-happy-happy! Thank you Niles Rotarians Family members for a wonderful meeting and one that I will never forget.
That evening Niles Rotarians gathered at La Pinata for our first Social Change meeting lead by Sophia Ahmad and Aziz Akbari. We invited Rotarians, Rotaractors and young professionals under 40 to an evening of Margaritas, great food, Ice Breaker games, and just a time of getting to know each other. Aziz and Sophia gave the group some basic information about Rotary and why they became Rotarians. It was a great evening; about 30 attended. OH and not to be forgotten, yes, we took time for the HOT HOT Chili Pepper Challenge. The waiter thought Jeff and Colin were crazy. I know the younger participants had a wonderful time; we can expect that they will bring their friends in November. Congratulations on an evening well done to Team Leaders Sophia and Aziz with the team of Maggie Guilbeaux-Chambers, Don Cole, Tammi Souza, Chuck Canada, Lisa Lorenz, Mary Lynn Pelican, and Jeff Schinkel.
Our last official social of the month was the annual bocce party at the Prescott Casa. It was a beautiful day of socializing, vineyards, and bocce. Thank you Bruce for hosting this fun event every year. Thank you to the Social Chair, Angus, for organizing along with Steve Landon, Chuck Canada, Dana Jones, Lisa Lorenz, and Tammi Souza for putting all the details together for a wonderful afternoon. Someone had the influence to get our own Bubba back on the grill. We miss you Bubba. It is always great to see you and EAT your BBQ. THE Bocce Winners ARE — Rose and Randy, Orlando, and Steven Lloyd.
Our last meeting of October (can you believe it?) began especially great as we inducted our 4th Rotarian of the year Larry Day, sponsored by Nader Ayad. Larry will be mentored by Steve Landon. Larry introduced the club to his wife Kathy and gave a little overview about kids, travel, and sports. Welcome to the Club, Larry and Kathy.
Paul Iannaccone was present once again to honor Rosemary Ashley’s daughter Christine as a Paul Harris Fellow. Rosemary’s daughter flew down from Seattle for the presentation. This is the last child of Rosemary’s to receive their Paul Harris Fellow; she will begin to work on her grandkids next.
TODAY was the DAY Rav and Maggie finally get to say they have exchanged their Red badges for Blue. Congratulations. The HOT HOT Chili Pepper challenge is about at an end. Today the twist was from Padma who brought HOT Indian prepared chilis and challenged everyone to come forward for $10.00. We had a line!! Niles Rotarians are the BEST and step up for any challenge. John Dutra introduced our Speaker Suzanne Wolf from Fremont Parks and Rec. She gave an interesting presentation about our City – current happenings and plans for the future. Parks are very important to the City and I was very proud as she outlined Niles Rotary’s involvement in assisting the City in maintaining our parks and supporting wonderful programs.
Niles Rotary Club member Beth Booth passed on Sunday morning, May 28, 2017. Beth had joined Niles Rotary in 2007 with the classification “Art, Dealer” (Beth’s late husband Hal was a well known artist in the area). Hal was known for doing art reflecting local scenery and many of his art pieces included the famous Mission Peak. Beth was a Rotary pioneer, having been the first woman admitted as a member by the Rotary Club of Hayward where she had worked as an adult education teacher.
We want to thank Mary Lynn Pelican, who went out of her way month after month to bring Beth to the club in her final years when she felt well enough to attend.
The following message was presented by Mary Lynn Pelican at Beth’s memorial service on June 24, 2017:
“I, Mary Lynn Pelican, had the delightful pleasure of getting to know Beth in 2006 when she joined American Association of University Women during my presidency and we became best friends forever immediately! In 2007 Beth helped me get hostesses for our AAUW’s First Friday Socials.
Both of us had previously been invited to be Rick Hood’s guests for lunch at the Rotary Club of Niles (Fremont). She told me that she was the first women to join the Rotary Club of Hayward in 1987 (a men’s service organization) and was so proud to be a Rotarian. Beth always enjoyed sharing they story that when she joined Hayward Rotary, there were several men that were not on board with allowing women to join – even after the big lawsuit with Rotary International that allowed it. Then the local sheriff, literally took to the stage and told the membership that if anyone had a problem with her joining Hayward Rotary, they would need to deal with him personally. And that was that – Beth was the first woman member of Hayward Rotary.
At one of AAUW’s First Friday Socials, Membership Chair Rick Hood gave her a membership application to join Niles Rotary, and she told me she knew all the answers on the application. I told her that if she knew all the answers, then I’m sure I would know all the answers, so I asked the hostess to make me a copy of the Membership Application; as a result we joined Niles Rotary on August 8, 2007.
I also had the pleasure of getting to know her better by being her roommate at two International Conventions.
Beth & I for the past 5 years attended the Annual Senior Night Out dinner at the Doubletree Hilton sponsored by the Tri-City Health Organization, and I have enjoyed being her advocate and support in driving her to the weekly Rotary meetings when she had stopped driving.
Beth & I enjoyed each others company and our shared positive energy, enthusiasm, helpfulness, service above self, friendship, and capturing our weekly meetings by taking photographs and posting them on Facebook.
She wanted so much to do something to thank me for the rides. I told her that her best gift to me was knowing her and being her friend. I know she’s at peace living out her final performance with her Heavenly Father, her loving husband Hal, son-in-law, and other loved ones. Beth, I loved your positive spirit and for being so transparent. Thank you for being my favorite cheerleader!
With my deepest sympathy to family and friends,
Mary Lynn Pelican
The Ambassador of FUN “
Niles Rotary Club Member
WOW – September began with a BANG! On September 7, we inducted our second member of the year Padma Magadala. Padma attended the meeting with her mother and daughter – three generations of Magadala women. It was a great induction and very moving for me as Padma thanked her mother for the years and time spent preparing Padma to dance in India for Rotary Project Celebrations; it brought an awareness of Rotary to Padma at a very young age. Welcome Padma – as Padma said, she has come full circle, and we look forward to your Rotary journey. Today is the DAY – The HOT, HOT, HOT Chili Pepper Challenge. Our own Daren Young challenged all in the club to GET to the web site and donate or a Hot Chili could be in your future. That could come in the form of a Hot vodka shot or a chili pepper filled with Tequila following Sophia Ahmad’s Tequila Kick Off. Following the fining of PP Tony and his beautiful wife PFL Heather Boudames for 25 years of marriage, Harry took over the Podium. Harry prepared an historical look at Niles Rotary by involving several Rotarians asking the question “What does Rotary mean to me?” This will be a 4 part series meant to look at Niles Rotary’s history, purpose, and character. Thank you Rick King, Sam Forbes, Sandi Pantages, Craig Steckler, and Gary Basrai for sharing not only why they joined Rotary but why they stay. I had to smile, with Family by Choice being my motto this year, most everyone mentioned that Niles Rotary has become their extended family. Thank you Harry – it was a GREAT program with heartfelt passionate speakers, and we really look forward to part 2.
IT’s that time of year again –My favorite thing about this time of year is it’s time for all things Pumpkin!!! My second favorite thing about this time of year is it’s time to bust out the Ghost House. Niles Rotarians partnered with the Candle Lighters again to begin the 49th year of the Candle Lighters Ghost house in Fremont. Great Ghost House memories back 49 years ago as I got to be one of the witches riding on the float with a really scary play house that looked haunted and huge papier-mâché vultures that I helped my mom and Joan Massey construct. Thirteen Rotarians added to the energetic group of volunteers from our community to throw open the doors, unpack the big trucks, construct the kitchen, put up fencing and took the beginning props into the house as the Ghost House imaginators shift into high gear. Thank you to our own Jeff Schinkel for inviting us yet again to assist with his project. A BIG shout out to Dana and Rick Jones, Audrey Kearns and grandsons, PP Sandi and Dick Pantages, PP Lisa and Dirk Lorenz, Steven Springer and his son Nick, Margo Hood, PP Chuck Canada, and Gael Stewart. Not only did we get a lot done we had fun doing it! Some needed more Advil than others but the TO DO List was all checked off. See you all on November 4 for tear down!
On to the 2nd meeting of September – I must admit I was very excited about our speaker. He was Mitty Chang. The meeting began with a couple of recognitions. First the Rotarian of the Month for August was named. Chuck Canada got the pin for his tireless work on the Membership Development Committee, and keeping our Mentoring Committee happy, personal, focused, relational, and so relevant! Chuck – your commitment to the committee is one reason we are growing, and is a HUGE part of club family member retention. It’s all about how you make people feel, and Chuck your leadership exemplifies that! Thank you from the whole club! Next our own Aziz Akbari asked to buy back an article recognizing him for the Alameda County Water District Transparency Certificate of Excellence. Transparency in Government is a passion of Aziz – congratulations on making your passion a reality for the ACWD. We are excited about your accomplishments and what the future holds for you.
Some fining began with anniversaries. Angus and Annie for 19 years of happiness and Paul Parhiala for his Birthday and Anniversary; Paul reported that next year will be a big year for him as he celebrates his 50th Anniversary and his 75th Birthday – take notes PE Brian Cha Ching! Although both men are very happily married, Angus never did remember what he did for his anniversary, and it took Paul about 5 minutes to remember – a sign of the times I am afraid.
Our own RIPP Rick King introduced Mitty Chang. Mitty gave a very passionate talk about the future of Rotary encouraging inclusion, embracing change, and calling everyone to be Dragon Slayers!! Mitty, you are an amazing young man with a very relevant message that should be heard and embraced by all clubs. I am happy to report that Niles Rotary is on the move and investigating some changes that will make our club stronger with millennials as our target.
If you were not at the club meeting, Daren’s Chili Pepper Challenge video with Audrey Kearns is a must see on Facebook.
This year the Area 3 Presidents are attending each other’s meetings together. August 30 we attended the Fremont Club at Spin a Yarn and on the 21st of Sept we all attended the FUN club at the Crowne Plaza. It is really fun to see other Rotarians and see the personality of each club. I am really enjoying these meetings – great idea Jim Bell.
THE DISTRICT GOVENOR’S Visit – District 5170 Governor Orrin Mahoney attended our club on September 21, 2017. We met for an hour and a half before the club meeting discussing the many successes of Niles Rotary. Our membership is on the rise with active outreach to young professionals, with a solid membership team and mentoring program; our RI giving is up; and we were proud to review the outcome of the 2017 Reverse Raffle. We have a Niles Rotarian sponsored Area 3 Global grant, along with several idea for International Service including reaching out to the Peace Corps. We covered Community Service projects as well as the necessity to keep our social media presence current and relevant, which we do so well. We had 5 Rotarians at the Membership Seminar, and we have a minimum of 20 Rotarians attending the Avenues of Service meeting on October 5. Our club meeting began with Richard King introducing Orrin to the club. Orrin and Rick King both handed out our Paul Harris pins and certificates. Congratulations Brad Louie, Kathy Laidlaw, Richard Lucero, Larry Bowen, and Raj Salwan (our 12th Paul Harris Society Member, which is a $1000 contribution to the Rotary Foundation every year).
Oh MY, it’s the last meeting of the 1st quarter – time flies! We began by introducing our visiting Rotarians who included Mike and Sunny from the Rotary Club of Anchorage South, Alaska who had bid and won our Rotary Exchange at their fundraiser. Welcome to Sunny California. Paul Iannacconi took the mike and honored Mary Florio as our newest Paul Harris Fellow. Congratulations Mary and thank you for your generosity. Next Raj Salwan was honored for becoming a Grand Donor to the RI Foundation. Thank you Raj! Our program for the day was the PRASAD Project, with board member Thomas Korula and executive director Dr. Cecilia Escarra. They are a nonprofit organization committed to improving the quality of life of economically disadvantaged people around the world. This includes India, several other countries and dental care in New York. It was a fascinating presentation.
This month also began the planning for our Millennial Outreach with Sophia Ahmad leading the charge with Aziz Akbari, Maggie Chambers, Chuck Canada, and assorted Membership Committee members. I cannot wait to attend the first get together. I was also honored to be included in the Bet Paying off of PP Angus as he threw the Haggispalooza Dinner. It was a great evening, and I must say a very special thank you to Annie, Angus, Tobey, and Cosmos for including Randy and me even though we weren’t a part of the bet. ONE of the perks of being President! The Haggis was GREAT – never thought I’d say that but it was! Color me very happy!!!
Roll and Stroll this weekend – detail on that next month.