By : Dr. Bill Harlan
And so it began – with festivities, ceremonies, speeches and more helium balloon art than the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade – the dawn of the reign of Sandhu! Our Emcee Extraordinaire, Gary Sloan, did the honors prior to Lucky Sandhu’s official inauguration. Gary introduced the guests of Rotary which included McKenna Lay, Colette’s daughter, Judy Giles, Ray’s wife, and Barbara Sloan, Gary’s wife. We had three distinguished former members in attendance: Mark von Hoetzendorff, who arrived in shorts from Arizona just for the occasion, Robin (aka Spike, Trixie) Von, who seemed somewhat subdued after her move to Sedona and Bill Clarkson, who demanded a mayoral honor guard. We were also honored to have members of Lucky’s family: Kuldip Sandhu, his father, Nimmi Sandhu, his mother, Chaya Sandhu, his daughter, Sarabjit Sarkaria, his uncle, Vikram Sarkaria, his aunt and Ben Adhikari, his business partner. The Thought for the Day was delivered by Dr. Bill Harlan who advised Lucky that in honor of this new beginning and the warm respect which members had for him, we would give him a 15-minute head start before we came gunning for him. After the Flag Salute, Hermann Welm lip-synced a Patriotic Song.
We proceeded with the swearing-in. Mark von intoned that Lucky would represent us throughout the world, as long as there was cell-phone service, and we welcomed our new president. But alas, when it came time for Robin to induct the new Board members, they all decamped, led by Edgardo Carillo. Spike was reduced to calling them to find “Where are you at?”
Guy Greco, Director of International Service, declared he needed a substantial increase in his budget.
Colette Lay, Director of New Generations, was at the Kiwanis meeting; McKenna declined to take over.
John Milich, Incoming President, was at Castlewood, practicing his presidential swing.
Edgardo Carillo, Vocational Service, was at Men’s Warehouse, stocking up on saddle shoes.
Karen McNamara, Community Service, was trying to get her old job back at the Mayor’s Office.
Julie Fiedler, Secretary, demanded a new laptop and directed all future calls to her attorney, Jerry Marrs
Kathy Gailey, Past-President, confessed to having spent Greco’s budget “somewhere in Africa.”
Jeff Disch, Treasurer, declared no more audits or ethics investigations.
Gary Sloan, Rotary Foundation, explained that Barbara and Cindy Toby had spent all the Foundation money in France. Sorry!
Naim Katiby, Sergeant at Arms, requested recognition of his outfit as second spiffiest after Edgardo’s.
Dennis Harvey, Membership, as set goals for membership growth, which we will adhere to, or else!
Patty Hennigan, Club Administration, hinted darkly of tofu Thursdays to come.
Dennis Harvey led the induction of two new members: Don Bierman retired from business, teaches Business Law at Ohlone College and served as President of a Rotary Club in Fremont; he moved to San Ramon recently and has undergone the Two-Kleenex ordeal of former RI President, Rick King. Priya Jhingan, graduate of Stanford, a small trade school on the Peninsula, also worked in Fremont on product design; she sounds like a winner, having redesigned the membership application form, according to Dennis. The ceremonial pressing of flesh ensued.
Chris Gallagher awarded an Honorary Rotarian designation to Robin (Spike, Trixie) Von in the form of a tasteful purple hat. She should fit right in on the Main Street of Sedona on a Friday night.
Ray Giles led a serious awarding of two Paul Harris Fellowships to Lucky’s father, Kuldip Sandhu and his mother, Nimmi Sandhu. Lucky had donated the requisite amount to provide the honor, much to the members’ appreciation. Both Lucky’s parents are active in the Lions Club of Chandigarh, India.
Announcements:
Jerry Marrs has joined Julie Fiedler’s elder care law firm; Jerry’s father just had a stroke. Please remember him in your thoughts.
Marie Galbo supplied the decorations for the meeting and obviously owns stock in Helium United.
Lucky briefly described the avenues of service that he intends to focus on for our 34 year-old club, especially membership. He offered to come and meet with any potential members at their offices to encourage their joining us. He introduced us to Ian Riseley of Australia, the new RI President.
At this point Gary Sloan dubbed our new president with his handle, “Can-Do Sandhu.”
Naim Katiby held his first raffle. Edgardo Carillo won the Greeter’s gift of $20 and thought to thank this correspondent. John Milich, Watsonville’s finest, got the bag and to the cheers of his peers, drew blue.
e all sworn in by Mark von with varying degrees of seriousness.