Clubnews

ARE YOU CRABBY YET?

No we’re not talking about being fed up with the holiday bustle but ‘fed’ is the word we are looking for as the new crab season has finally begun. If you aren’t in the mood yet don’t worry, you still have 71 days to get ready for the Valley of the Moon Rotary’s 2012 Crab Feed Dinner and Fundraiser. Mark your calendars for 5:00p.m., Saturday, February 25th at the Berger Center. This year’s event will be even more entertaining than last year’s with more silent and live auction items and of course those local crustaceans we can’t resist. You’ll want to plan ahead so here are a few things you can do to prepare for the big night.

1. Go bib shopping (it can get messy and you don’t really want to wear one of those embarrassing plastic things do you?)

2. Start watching episodes of Discovery Channel’s “The Deadliest Catch”.

3. Begin right or left arm exercises to increase your bidding and shell cracking stamina.

4. Eat mor’ Chikin’ (you’ll kill for a crab after that)

5. Call friends and tell them to save the date too so you’ll have back up in case of cramping.

As always, 100% of the net proceeds go to help your local Rotary’s good works here in Oakmont as well as the surrounding community. Your support is the key to our success, so stay tuned for ticket information and we look forward to seeing you on The Night of a Thousand Crabs.

John Brodey

…AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Well, 2011 ended on a major up note for Oakmont residents Michael and Linda Canar. As winners of the Valley of the Moon Rotary Raffle, the couple got up early to join us for our weekly Friday morning breakfast at the Quail Inn to pick up their check for $10,000. We don’t know how they got it home, but they did tell us that they were going to be donating $1,000 of their winnings to the Sierra Youth Center. After taking a two hour tour of the facility, conducted by director Maria Lopez and our own Caroline Keller, they were impressed by the Center’s impact on the lives of at risk young women. Maria mentioned that $500 of the check will go towards scholarships with the remainder going to fund Driver’s Education for two of the girls. Michael and Linda have been long time supporters of our Rotary’s fundraising efforts and we truly appreciate their generosity and unfailing commitment to helping others in need. It’s a great lesson for us all and a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday season.

So from all your neighbors at Rotary…Have a Great New Year!!!

John Brodey

And a Happy New Year…

We hope it was a great holiday season for all our neighbors. In case you were outside in the early evenings the weekend before Christmas and heard plaintiff wailing, it was in fact the Valley of the Moon Rotary Christmas Carolers in action. In coordination with the Community Friendship Alliance a stalwart group of vocalists from the club, led by John Derby (he, who will sing his dinner order in a restaurant) and Cynthia Macariola-Brooks, strolled Oakmont neighborhoods with some impressive vocal renditions of holiday classics. A five minute clip of their performance has found its’ way to YouTube for those with internet who may have missed the performance or perhaps long for a little holiday nostalgia. All of us at Rotary look forward to the coming year and working on the various new projects to benefit the Oakmont Community. We will also be sharing some of the highlights from our terrific speaker’s program as well. Happy New Year.

More Than Just Breakfast

If you are an early riser and walk past the Quail Inn any Friday morning at 7 a.m. you may wonder what all the cars are doing there. Well, that is where the Valley of the Moon Rotary Club holds its’ weekly meetings. But, we do more than just eat and schmooze. There is business to discuss as we receive updates from various members on the status of the different projects the club supports and is involved with.

One of the bonuses of getting up early is the opportunity to hear our weekly speaker give a 30 minute presentation on their particular area of concentration. We’ve had health professionals, memory experts, community leaders, elected officials and yes…even a clown.

In the weeks to come we will hear from a representative of the S.C. Office of Education, learn what the Wheelchair Foundation is doing, hear more about the new Sutter Hospital under construction as well as the Redwood Empire Foodbank and even see a short six man performance.

If you would like to be our guest one morning please call Paula Schnelle who can be found at Oakmont Travel and she will be happy to give you an invite to use at your convenience.

.SPRING AHEAD OR UP??

Yep, Daylight Savings Time, that harbinger of spring, is almost here.

And the Valley of the Moon Rotary’s Friendship Alliance team is ready to help its’ neighbors with a little seasonal assistance. There is nothing more annoying than that beep of a failing fire alarm detector battery nor is there anything more perilous than replacing them.

On Saturday March the 3rd and again on Saturday March the 10th, the Rotary ‘A’ team will take their supply of 9 volt batteries and make house calls to those Oakmont residents whose fire alarms need attention. They will also replace used furnace filters. This program is designed to save those who shouldn’t be upon a ladder from the risk of serious injury.

If you would like to participate in this program call Friendship Alliance Coordinator Cynthia Marciola-Brooks at We Care Home Assistants, 707-843-3838.