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2006 DEMOTION DINNER
HONORING OUTGOING
PRESIDENT jOHN LARSEN AND HIS WIFE nANCY |
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opening |
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 Although
this was our club's first meeting of the 2006-2007 Rotary year,
perhaps we could consider it a swap from last week's meeting and
consider last week's meeting the first of this Rotary year since
President Art presided over that meeting in the absence of now
Past President John. The membership in attendance for this
week's meeting gathered at approximately 6 PM at the McMinnville
Senior Center where they enjoyed some complimentary libation and
appetizers before enjoying a wonderful buffet dinner. Unlike our
regular club meetings, we did not have an inspirational moment, as
such, at the beginning of the meeting and a pledge to the flag.
However we did have Johannes Goddik and Bruce
Huffman along with Bruce's bride, Ester, acting as
greeters. |
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 The
meeting actually opened with Chuck Pattishall acting as
Master of Ceremonies. Chuck shared a couple of observations
about John. One such complimentary observation
was with respect to John's skills interviewing potential
employees to determine their qualifications for employment.
Following recognition of John's skills, all past presidents of
the club were asked to stand and be recognized. Then in the
tradition of the past several years, Chuck introduced Al
Hansen and Van Keck who would give us the
real scoop about John. |
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THE ROAST |
 Al
was the first at the podium. With several pages of prepared
remarks, he gave us a run down of John's life history. He
pointed out that John is a post war baby born in Portland,
Oregon "the son of chicken farmer". He attended grade school and high
school in Portland. Al shared with us that John
learned "quite a bit about living from his cousin Doug. They spent
summers days exploring beautiful downtown Hood River where boring
days were filled with rolling rocks above the railroad station
through a wall. He also learned self-help traffic control by pulling
a pretend rope across traffic causing cars to slow down - - ." Al
pointed out the 1969 was a big year in John's life
in that he graduated from Lewis and Clark with a degree in biology,
married Nancy and joined the Marine Corps. Al was not sure of
the exact order. He pointed out that John "read about the
evils of drinking so he gave up reading." He covered John's employment
history and what brought him to McMinnville in the fall of 2000 to
work for First Federal. He pointed out that John likes to
play with trains when he is not frustrating us with home loan
documents and being the best Rotary president between July 2005 and
July 2006. Al then thanked John for all he had done
for Rotary and that we would all rest comfortably knowing that he
soon will be out of harms way.
 Van
Keck then came to the podium to talk about John's year as club
president. Van worked from just a few scribbled notes. His
first observation was that John always led the flag salute at the
beginning of the meeting instead of letting one of the club members
fulfill that function. We later learned it was John's way of
taking pity on Maureen Chapman having to find someone to
fulfill that function each week. All she needed to do was find
someone to do the inspirational moment and be greeters. The next
thing that Van pointed out that was different about John's
year as president was that he quit "mugging" the speakers and
substituted giving books to the school district's early reader
program with the speaker's name appropriately placed on the inside
cover of the book in honor of their presentation to the club. Van
also pointed out that John always closed the meeting by
having everyone stand and recite Rotary's Four Way Test while
standing in front of the banner containing the words so the
membership couldn't read them. |
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The official demotion |
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Past Past President Brent Adams presented John with a
plaque recognizing his year of service as President of the club, his
Past President's button, and diamond Past President's pin. |
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RECOGNITIONS AND REVIEW |
 Now,
Past President John recognized members of the club who had
helped make his year successful. He recognized all of the members of
his board and called those present forward to receive a small
momento of their participation in this past year's club
administration. Those present were Art Bradley, Dan Gardner, Ryan
Arzner, Teresa Smith, Ron Benek, Maureen Chapman, Jack Crabtree,
Kelly Odegaard, and Brent Adams. He also recognized
absent board members, Doug Barlett, Jan Fyant and John Elliot,
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John then reviewed the past year pointing out that we ran
out of mugs for the speakers on January 13th - the last one being
personalized and presented to Jeb Bladine. Now- books are donated to
the Early Reader program in the McMinnville Public Schools. He then
listed the following achievements for the year. It was pointed out
that local attorney Dave Haugeberg - father of Dianne was presented
with the first book titled "Awesome Facts About Sharks".
- Reciting the Four Way Test at the end of each meeting
- Procured Auction Pay Software for the Wine and Art
Auction
- Moved the Wine and Art Committee to the Foundation from
the Club -
an important technical move and not easy to do.
- Adopted restated constitution and bylaws for the Club
- Entertained by the Twilighters
- Sponsored a young man to RYLA
- Adopted a Haitian Orphan through Amber Outreach Project
- Sponsored Summer Concert Series in the Oak Grove at
Linfield
- Got new McMinnville Rotary Shirts - thanks to Steve
Larson
- Continued an Outstanding Interact Program at McMinnville
High School
- Hosted an exchange student from the Czech Republic and
sponsored two outbound students, one to Germany and one to
Japan.
- Kris Olsen - Students of the Month
- Public Safety Awards -Thanks to Lee Vasquez
- Teacher Recognition - Thanks to Maryalice Russell
- Ongoing summaries of the Rotarian Magazine - Thanks to
Kristi Brill
- Weekly Bulletin online - Thanks to Ray Fields and
the rest of the Pacesetter team
- Four Way Test Speech Contest with Drew Bernheisel taking
1st place at both the
club
level and at the District Conference.
- 51 great meetings including Ryan Arzner's
trademark member recognitions.
 Finally
John Thanked Lee Vasquez for stepping up to over
see this year's Wine and Art Auction at mid-stream. He also
recognized Al Hansen for chairing the Rotary Club of
McMinnville Foundation and for chairing the Steering Committee.
"A bit disjointed - but always there working at some really
complex issues." by presenting him with a special gift.
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PASSING OF THE GAVEL |
 
Past President John presented the presidential pin to
President Art and also presented the club's gavel. |
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CLOSING |
  President
Art then called the new members of the club board to the front
to be recognized and be presented with directors pins. Pictured at
the right are President Art, Richard Weed, Bruce
Dickson, and Ryan Arzner. Following presentation of the
new board members, Art commented on his hopes for the future.
He reminded us that there will be a board meeting on Wednesday the
12th at 11:45 AM at the Tequilla Grill and to please try to
attend the regular meeting on Friday July 21st even though it is the
day before the Wine and Art Auction as this is the day District
Governor Tom Jenkins will making his official visit. With that
President Art gaveled the meeting to an end. |
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Photos by Ray Fields
Text by Ray Fields
Edited for the web by Ray Fields |
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Did
you miss this meeting and need a makeup? Here is
a list of places that you can makeup on the web.
-
District model eClubs
-
Zone model eClubs
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"When meeting
day comes around, I do not have to decide whether to attend or not,
for that has already been decided for me . . . it was one of the
obligations I accepted when I joined Rotary." -- A Rotarian |
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Copyright (c) 2006 * Rotary Club
of McMinnville * All Rights Reserve
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