Scribe Notes, October 31, 2019
By: Hermann Welm
Our President, Colette “Lady Grizzly” Lay, opened the meeting by reminding us that the new R.I. President is Mark Daniel Maloney, of Decatur, Alabama, and his theme for the year is “Rotary Connects the World!” Our Greeter, Karen McNamara, led us in the Salute to the Flag. Dressed in a very colorful Witch costume, she presented her Thought for the Day: You should always wear a costume that is the opposite of your real personality! (Only those who do NOT know her believed this!)
Mike Thelen was called upon to lead the group in the singing of the Patriotic Song, “God Bless America!”
Visiting Rotarians: Pamela Jones, of the Richmond club and Tina Atkins of the Concord club.
Other Visitors: Sandee Wiedemann, our speaker, Suzanne Eikel, who is about ready to join our club and former Rotarian, Linda Brewer.
Announcements:
Some real ugly dude, who identified himself as “Walter,” after being challenged from the floor, got up and started reciting the “stuff” that
Ray Giles is noted for: The Rotary Foundation and it’s slogan “Every Rotarian, Every Year,” referring to individual donations. Terry Koehne turned to this Scribe and suspected that the speaker may in fact be the aforementioned Mr. Giles, and I admitted that there WAS a strong resemblance. The mystery was never solved since Walter disappeared soon thereafter!
Ray Giles invited Tina Atkins up and they jointly bestowed a Paul Harris Society pin to Dennis Harvey.
Lady Grizzly put up a slide noting upcoming events:
November 2 – SRR Hike in Oakland Hills
November 7 – Veteran’s Lunch @ SRRMC
November 12 – 6 Club Social @ EJ Phair in Alamo
December 12 – Senior Center Lunch meeting
December 21 – SRR Christmas Party
February 8 – Rise Against Hunger @ Cal High; 6-Club Service Project
Guy Greco announced that there will be a Golf Outing, Thursday, November 21, at CCCC, starting at 2:00 pm. Please contact him if you would like to participate.
Chris Gallagher reported that the Alzheimers Walk this past Saturday was very successful. There were 4,000 participants and the total amount raised was in excess of $600,000. He also recognized Don Jones’ daughter, DawnL, for the effort she has expended over the years!
Lucky Sandhu reminded all that the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce will be holding its Awards Night, from 5:30 to 9:00 pm, December 4, at Bridges. He promised to buy the First Round for all San Ramon Rotarians attending! What a Mensh!
Lady Grizzly noted that the Online Auction for Education goes “live” on Friday, November 1st. You can access it on the San Ramon Rotary website. She also noted that the Wine Bus is really not a bidding item; 59 tickets can be purchased at $75.00. The trip will be to the Livermore wineries and it is bound to be a lot of fun!
Recognitions: None.
Good News/Fine Free: None.
Program:
Sandee Wiedemann, a lifetime resident of the San Ramon Valley and a descendent of the Pioneer family that started with Christian Wiedemann who arrived in San Francisco in 1853 aboard a sailing ship. He, like so many other crewmembers in those days, jumped ship in order to head for the Gold Fields. However, he ended up staying in San Francisco, probably because he was a “city boy;” he moved into the San Ramon Valley in 1865.
Christian, and the successive Wiedemann generations became landowners and ranchers in the valley. The “PS” cattle brand they continue to use today was purchased in 1865 from a “fellow named Plovis;” it is the oldest brand in continuous use in California.
Sandee brought with her copies of a 17-page compilation of recollections of various “old-timers” that she produced in 1991 to recognize the 100th Birthday of the permanent naming of “San Ramon.” Each member of the club has been sent an electronic copy and this Scribe heartily recommends your reading it. Stories by Pat Boom, Lois Cataldo (1974), Loyde Foster (1963), Irma Dotson, The Contra Costa Gazette (1896 and 1911), Beverly Lane, Virgie Jones (1977), Friederiche Humburg (1914), Bob Livermore and others are found in this document. Fascinating reading!
There’s even mention of that Harlan family! We know, from accounts by Dr. Bill, that they avoided the fate of the Donner Party during the winter of 1846/47 by choosing to use the “safe route” rather than the “shortcut” to California. Joel Harlan settled in the San Ramon Valley in 1852. By all accounts they were a respectable clan, at least until Dr. Bill came along!
Not mentioned in Sandee’s Recollections is the fact that the Wiedemann family is possession of one of the “San Ramon; Population 100” signs that was to be found in the Valley prior to the 680 Freeway being built. Sooo, bad conduct is NOT confined to Harlan offspring! This Scribe wonders what the Statute of Limitations is on this theft!
Prizes for Best Costumes:
Best Costume: John Milich
Best Timeliness: Lady Grizzly, as “Top-of-Her-Dining-Room-Table”
Best Drunk: Melanie Emig, as “Mini-Bar”
Best Hair: Don Jones
Cutest Hair: Dennis Harvey
Raffle: The Greeter’s Gift of $20.00 was won by Terry Koehne; the chance of drawing the gold marble was also won by Terry. Unfortunately, he failed to pull out the gold marble and had to settle for $10.00 in cash! Next week’s prize will be $150.
Next Week’s Program: Veterans Day at San Ramon Regional Medical Center (if you show up at the Country Club, you will be the very lonely, John!) There will be no Greeter.
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