1. law, govt and politics
2. government

THE ROTARY CLUB OF SEBASTOPOL SUNRISE
Brandt’s Briefs
For the meeting held on Wednesday, October 15, 2014
President
Ken Brandt
Secretary
Michael Fels
Treasurer
Jerry Meshulam
Immediate Past President
Vickie Johnston
Club Service
Debbie Klein
Vocational Service
Bob Keyser
Youth Service
Wayne Britton
Community Service
Charlie Judson
International Service
Jeff Dunbar
Membership
Al Lustig
Rotary Foundation
Diana Curtis
President Elect
Mike Cook
And so it began...
Exploring the underbelly of
the Rotary Club of Sebastopol
Sunrise, your crack reporting
team has uncovered the nasty
truth...people start showing
up around 6:15 to get this
show on the road. Debbie is
setting President Ken up for
a successful meeting, Jerry
is here early to dust off his
abacus; Gus is here to get the
room set up; of course Larry
and his team are here earlier
than everyone working their
magic with our breakfast.
We were all greeted by greeters Melodie Jackson, Jim
Bertoli and, at least in theory,
PP Vickie, with PPPDG Helaine filling in. Roving microphones were PP Rod McAulay and Summer Morris.
The pledge to the flag was
led by Bruce Campbell, who
pointed out a few stitches
dropped by Betsy Ross.
Bill Sauber, returning from
his 10-year, self-imposed
exile east of the Rockies,
showed up and it was like
he never left. Wearing garb
that represented his three
Rotary Clubs, he joined Joe
in leading us in the first line
of “Califorina Here I Come”.
After that we all just moved
our lips.
President Elect Mike Cook
introduced our visiting
Rotarians, who are noted on
page 2.
Anyone ever notice that
Gus Ament is doing a great
job collecting recognitions,
happy bucks and money in
general. My arm still hurts.
October 22 Program
Mimi Enright, Sonoma County Master Gardeners
Say, Did you Hear?
Caption
Contest Winner Mark
Olson-”Seriously Ken...Bring
Back Bunnies...Bunnies Bring
Excitement...Bring Back
Bunnies”
Mark
Reece will celebrate a
birthday this week. He refuses
to tell us which one, but he seems to
be spending more and more time
around Mark Olson lately.
Martha
Lindt will also have a
birthday this week. Martha is off
exploring the wilds of Spain, and we
anticipate that she will be allowed
back in this country soon.
Terry
and Sue Kelley
are celebrating their
anniversary today! 38 years!!
Someone gets the “Most
Patient” award!!!
Rod
McAulay
bravely (or foolishly), (or he has a
good relationship with
a higher power) let us
know that Mary was
celebrating her
70th.
John
Balletto...
excuse me,
Sweepstakes Red Wine
Winner at the Sonoma
County Harvest Fair John
Balletto contributed
$100.00 towards Fatherin-Law Phil Kane’s
Paul Harris.
A
little story about
Curt and Diane. (Curtis)..14
years as members of the Rotary Club of Sebastopol Sunrise.
Couldn’t have done it without them!
Caption Contest
Submit your Caption Contest
entries to:
rcsscaption@sonic.net
Hyperlink probably won’t work, so you may
have to do it the old fashioned way!
Cutoff is sometime on Tuesday, but we
really can’t commit to a time...because
we’re feeling “Really out there, in sort of a
tubular way” right now.
Rotary in Action
Reprinted from www.rotary.org
Political Strife, Protecting U.S. Diplomats are Part of the
Job for this Former Rotary Peace Fellow
As an agent for the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service, Justin Peele
applies the education he received in conflict resolution as a Rotary
Peace Fellow to a job that puts him in some dicey situations – including one in 2013 in which his actions won him State DSepartment recognition for his courage and decisiveness.
Peele is one of 2,000 DS agents who protect U.S. diplomats and embassies around the world. The Diplomatic Security Service, the law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. State Department, is the most
extensive global security agency in the government, operating in more than 160 countries.
"This is my dream job," says Peele, who was in the 2011-12 class of Rotary Peace Fellows at the Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires, Argentina. "I'm in a unique position where I must face conflict
head-on."
This proved true when Peele served as the assistant regional security officer in Mali. It was a period
when the country was torn by political strife and violence as several Islamic insurgent groups fought
the government for greater autonomy in the northern part of the country. The crisis led factions of the
military who were displeased with the government's response to overthrow President Amadou Toumani Touré in 2012. Because of the conflict, the State Department sent extra security to protect the U.S.
Embassy in Bamako, Mali's capital.
One day in 2013, violent clashes between students and the police trapped an embassy worker and
See Peace Fellow page 5
Visiting Rotarians
Ron Puccinelli
Rotary Club of Sebastopol
Retired City Administration
Bill Sauber
Rotary Club of Carlisle (PA)
Retired Tractor Sales
Laura Shaffer
Guest of
Pam Davis
Guests
Student of the Month
The Club
Student of the Month Parent
The Club
Kent Cromwell
Board of Directors
Club Service
Vocational
Youth Service
Community Service
International Service
Membership
October 25th
November 7th
November 8th
December 5
December 25
Laguna HS Principal
The Club
Club Committee Meetings
2nd Monday of each month
3rd Wednesday of each month
4th Wednesday of each month
3rd Wednesday of each month
1st Thursday of each month
1st Wednesday of each month
4th Tuesday of each month
10:00 am
5:30 pm
Evening
5:30 pm
1:00
5:30 pm
8:30 am
8:30 am
8:30 am
6:30 pm
5:30 pm
5:30 pm
Mark Your Calendars
Bocce Ball @ Julliard Park
First Friday hosted by PP Vickie
Foundation Dinner South
First Friday Holiday Party
Community Holiday Dinner
October 22
Sebastopol Area Senior Center
Masonic Hall after Regular Meeting
Masonic Hall after Regular Meeting
Masonic Hall after Regular Meeting
Sebastopol Area Senior Center
Sebastopol Area Senior Center
Sebastopol Area Senior Center
See President Ken
Sebastopol Area Senior Center
See Diana Curtis for information
Bruce & Helaine’s Home
Sebastopol Community Church
Upcoming Programs
Mimi Enright
Sonoma County Master Gardners
October 29
Omar Gallardo
Dia de los Muertos
November 5
Matt Stevens/Stephanie Coop
SMART Train
November 12***Veterans Day
Program
Professor Peter Phillips
Gulf of Tonkin, 50 Years Later
November 19***Homecoming
Meeting
PDG Jim Flamson
Joining Rotary
No Meeting***We are Dark
Happy Thanksgiving
Dan Needham
Earle Baum Center
December 10
Martha Lundt & Gabrielle Desario
Adventures in Espana
December 17
Program TBA
We are being kept in the Dark
December 24*** Happy Holidays!
No Meeting***We are Dark
***We are Happpy***
December 31 ***Happy New Year!
No Meeting***We are Dark
***We are Happpy***
November 26
December 3***Away Game
January 7
It’s a Brand New Year111
Laura Shaffer, West County Museum
Wesnesday’s program presented by Laura Shaffer was a very interesting about the history Native American Pomos. The area’s first
known inhabitants were the native Miwok and Pomo Indians. For
many years, the Miwok and Pomo Indians lived peacefully in the
coastal mountains and valleys of what we now call Sonoma County. The Coast Miwok lived on the shores of Bodega Bay. The Native Americans’ lifestyle revolved around the seasons, hunting and
gathering from the land, and harvesting the sea and rivers.
Peace Fellow, continued from page 3
four Malian colleagues in the National Institute
of Health offices in downtown Bamako. When
the fighting spun out of control, embassy officials
called on Peele to safely extract the workers.
One of Peele's other assignments was a six-month
stint as part of the security detail for U.S. Secretary
of State John Kerry, as he crisscrossed the world on
diplomatic missions, with stops in China, Israel, Europe, and the Middle East.
As he and a driver navigated through the war-torn
streets, "I could see the smoke and tear
"I get a front-row seat for observing
gas from a long distance," recalls Peele. "I'm in a unique position U.S. foreign policy, and help represent
He now admits to having been a little where I must face conflict the U.S. all over the world," says Peele.
nervous, but says he knew that his
"It's a great lesson in government, dihead-on."---Justin Peele
training would enable him to carry out
plomacy, and humanity."
the mission. "We found them, hurried
them into the vehicle and were able to
Although many DS agents have milget out of there safely and bring them back to the
itary or law enforcement backgrounds, others are
embassy without harm."
lawyers, scientists, linguists, and yes, even peace
scholars. Peele, who served for three years as a Peace
For his response that day, the State Department
Corps volunteer in Paraguay, says his experience
gave Peele its Meritorious Honor Award for "couthere and as a Rotary Peace Fellow helped him get
rageous, efficient, and decisive action taken."
his foot in the door at the security agency.
"During a time of crisis is the best time to shine,"
he says. "There is a lot of trust with my job -- to be
able to look someone in the eye and say, 'If you're
in trouble, I will be the person to come get you.' "
In addition to moving diplomats safely from
place-to-place, members of the Diplomatic Security Service work with host nation law enforcement
representatives to investigate crimes against U.S.
citizens, coordinate protection details with the security teams of foreign dignitaries, and maintain
frequent contact with local community members.
He recalls that the State Department officials who interviewed him were impressed with his global education in peace and conflict resolution. "With Rotary
and the Peace Corps I was able to work closely with
the local populace. I think that went a long way in
getting this job," he says.
"I learned a lot from my peace fellowship. The bottom line is that everything we do is to ease the suffering of others," says Peele. "Not only are the Peace
Centers a good example of that, but everything Rotary does is an example of how to reach that goal."
Our
newest
group of Paul
Harris Fellowship
recipients
October
Laguna HS
Student of the
Month
My
name is Teray.
How may I help
you?
If
this isn’t
Caption Contest
material, we don’t
know what is!
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