[Rotary] Subject: Mendocino Rotary--Board Meeting of April 29, 2021

[Jeffry Stubbs]

Dear Mendocino Rotarians,
Mendocino Rotary met at 12:30 on Thursday April 29, 2021, out of doors, at the home of Dean Watson in Fort Bragg. Jeff convened the meeting, and confirmed that there was, just barely, a quorum six Board members. 
Persons present included Dean Watson, Jeff Stubbs, Toby Wade, Harold Hauck, John Innes (a long-time friend of Joe and Ruth), John Cottle, Joe Sparks, Ruth Sparks (a Fort Bragg Rotarian), Gary Hopper (by zoom), Brandt Stickel and Leona Walden (our photographer), a total of 11 persons. This was our successful first hybrid meeting, with Gary's participation by zoom.
We lunched together, celebrated the contributions to Rotary and our club made by Joe Sparks, conducted some normal business, and enjoyed each other's company. Joe joined our club in 1997, having moved to the Fort Bragg/Mendocino Area from the Bay Area. He became a Paul Harris Fellow in 1998 and served as President and New Member Mentor in 2,000. He was the main person behind the creation of the Mendocino High School Interact Club, which continues to thrive today. When he retired from active involvement in the club he was made an Honorary Member. Soon after they arrived in the area, Ruth joined the Fort Bragg Rotary Club, so together they had their bases covered. Ruth and Joe recounted how after working as a physicist at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory Joe wanted a change and found in Rotary something worthwhile he could do in our beautiful coastal area. Joe brought us two banners left over from his time as an active member of the club. Brandt and Harold recounted some of Joe's contributions to Rotary, Dean and John Innes told tales of their friendships with the Sparks, and we all had a good time.
 It is interesting to reflect on the similar experience of John Porter, who told us a few months ago how he and Janice had moved to Mendocino, and how he, like Joe,  had joined the club to meet people and be able to provide community service than he had not been able to do as an attorney. 
We presented John Cottle with his 7th Paul Harris pin, a wonderful achievement, congratulations to you John for that and your service to Rotary.
Harold presented our finances and budget, and noted that we had underspent in some areas, particularly youth. Jeff noted that we needed proposals from committee chairs, and said that the need was urgent if we were to use the funds this year. 
We talked about the high school scholarships. Jeff reported that applications had been received, a committee formed and evaluations beginning. Ruth urged us to get this done asap, as deadlines were approaching. We noted that none of the Youth Committee members were at our meeting, inexplicable in view of the need fo action and when we understand that a committee member could attend either in person or by zoom. 
Looking to the future, the deadline for Rotary grant applications of August 1 was fast approaching, another reason for committee chairs to become more active. This year, we had gotten proposals for pandemic relief and international service, but our outreach to traditional community and youth services areas had been slight or nonexistent. Ruth suggested we needed to do more for youth. We talked about that, and also about possible support for the Mendocino Community Center and the scoreboard at the Grammar School. Toby has proposed grants for out of pocket expenses of grammar school teachers. Another option would be for support for pre-school or child care service providers or for teaching materials for young people, along lines being done by the Children's Fund, the Botanical Gardens and perhaps the Bee Bold Alliance. We need to reach out to the schools, the PTAs, the clubs and the MUSD social services unit. But clearly much more needs to be done, immediately. 
Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs, John Cottle and John Porter for Community Services, Jody Stickel and Donna Schuler for youth, myself and Matthew for International, Jerry Karabensh for Vocational, please convene your committees and get on this. We want engagement and ownership of the ideas coming from the committees, first, and only second from the leadership.  
In addition to service activities we will need to begin thinking about fund raisers. Our traditional golf tournament cannot as of now be held because it involves a gathering which is not permitted by the County. When will this restriction be lifted? Similarly for Casino Night. In addition to these two activities, can we design something around the Park that we know we can do relatively soon? Perhaps a walk or bicycle ride around town? Will we do the dine out take out raffle again? Who will head this up?
We agreed we had to increase out membership, and engage those members who have drawn back due to the pandemic. Social activities in the Park and reaching out to youth seem to be the priorities here. John Innes suggested we reach out to new residents, which might be useful, but we also concluded that we need to bring youth into the club.  
We talked about the time, which we all look forward to, when we can convene regular meetings in person. Jeff noted that it seemed unlikely that we could do that in the Hotel, which had not opened its restaurant and had placed perhaps a dozen buckets in the garden dining room to catch water dripping from the unmaintained roof. John Innes suggested we consider using St Anthony's and we decided to pursue that as well as other options. If we did St Anthony's perhaps we could arrange a system of ordering from local restaurants and food outlets. Options will be explored. 
We talked about inducting Scott Roat and Roccie Hill, and agreed that we will do the normal "breakfast" with officers next week, after which they will be inducted.
Toby is contacting members to learn what they would like to do, and to form his Board. If you have ideas or would like to talk with him, please give him a call.
Brandt confirmed that he could serve as Treasurer, and is working with Harold on a scope of work for the bookkeeper. Many thanks, in advance, Brandt!!
Our next meeting will be on May 6th, by zoom. We will talk about what Rotary means to us, get updates on avenues of service, and talk about social events and fund raising we could do in the near future.  

Our thanks to Dean and Shirley Watson for hosting us, to Leslie their neighbor who prepared the salad, to Harold for bringing the pizza and to Toby, Dean and others who helped with setup and cleaning up afterwards.   
The meeting closed with a pledge to the flag at about 2:00.  
This e-mail will serve as the minutes of the meeting. 
Prepared by 
Jeff Stubbs, PresidentMendocino Rotary
P.O. Box 102,  Mendocino, CA 95460
Home phone 707-937-6026
I phone 707-536-6190
Skype phone 707-397-5620
Skype name jeffrystubbs
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