The meeting of December 4 was opened by President Scott at 7 pm. President Scott led the Pledge of Allegiance and Bob Mange gave the Invocation.

 

Secretary Jim Padgett introduced guests.

 

President Scott announced December birthdays, anniversaries, and dates that members joined the club. He also started a new tradition that birthday members will wear a birthday hat for the evening. Jim Padgett was the first to wear the birthday hat.

 

 

President Scott invited members and their guests to the Scottish Holiday Party. 

 

 

President Scott thanked the Rotarians who worked on the Mount Olive shade structure and Folsom's Hope classroom.

 

 

 

President Scott also talked about the holiday service project of wrapping gifts on Sutter Street for the next 3 Saturdays. Connie Thompson said that they raised $300+ through donations on November 29. Donations will go to Twin Lakes Food Bank. If you want to help wrap gifts, go to Grain at 705 Sutter Street from 11 am to 4 pm.

 

 

Olga Garton said that the Wishing Tree Project helping the neediest students at FCUSD is going well. The wrapping party will be on Saturday, December 13 from 9 am to 12 noon (or until everything is wrapped). Location is 620 Coolidge Drive, #180, where the balloons are in the parking lot. Bring extra wrapping paper and/or ribbons. Olga said she would have mimosas, Christmas music, and snacks.

 

Jim Ortega levied fines.

 

Bill Hutto introduced our speaker, Rotarian Alex Prime. Alex told us about his wife's, son's, and his escape from Russia just after Russia invaded Ukraine. His presentation was both fascinating and moving as they had to sell everything and say goodbye to family members. They traveled from St. Petersburg to Moscow to Istanbul to Mexico City to Tijuana to Sacramento with interesting stories in each place. Alex, thanks for sharing your amazing journey with us.

 

President Scott presented a gift card to Alex to use at Handley's Western Wear for a cowboy hat. Scott told Alex they are going shopping on Friday for the cowboy hat.