Last week brought us the annual Club Music Contest, with three fine young ladies from NU and Bear River high schools – three pianists and a flautist. Tom Coleman got the piano keys repaired and Gayle Denney, our music contest chair, got the piano tuned. The young ladies were impressive musicians; the over-all winner was a sophomore from Bear River who played the piano with a poise and musicality that belies her years. Our top two finishers will continue on to the Area 4 Competition at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Highway 174 across from Union Hill School on Sunday, March 7th at 2:00 p.m. Attend if you can – it's a great way to encourage talented young people in our community and to network with Rotarians from all five Area 4 Clubs. Thanks to Tom, Gayle, Don Williams (our timekeeper) and Judges George Rebane, Nicole Dillard and Austin Farrar.
We also noted the 105th Anniversary of the first Rotary Club meeting in Chicago on February 23, 1905. We had an abbreviated fines and recognition portion of the meeting to save time for the musicians, but we did get to congratulate pP John Hensley for his smiling face (and prominent Rotary pin) on the cover of last Sunday’s "Express" version of The Union (no fewer than two Club members brought this to my attention!). Congrats, John! We also got to wish a happy birthday to Carolyn Inglis. It was anniversary time for Allan & Betty Rogers, so congratulate them when you see them.
Today (March 4th) is the cut-off for donations to our annual Radio Auction – the Club’s primary fundraiser that is budgeted to raise $25k of our $60k annual budget. How are you doing in collecting donations? Today is the day! Your goal is to renew donations from your contacts last year (if you are a new Club member, we have assigned you donors recruited by former club members), and to land at least one new donor this year (or become one yourself). Please do your share so we can restore our scholarship budget to $15k. If you have questions, talk to Auction Co-Chair / pP Nancy Kemp or Auction Co-Chair Gary Gustafson. Thanks!
Breaking news! The Auction is March 20th this year and – due to the cost of phone lines – will be at the Citizen’s Bank Building on Railroad Avenue (at Sacramento Street) rather than at the Stonehouse. We will still use the Stonehouse for the walk-in portion of the event, but the work of the Club to run the Auction will be at the bank. The dry run the evening before will also be at the bank.
Community Service Chair Cathy Wilcox-Barnes updated us on plans for our Rotarians at Work Day effort on Saturday, April 24th. We will be continuing our work at Nevada City’s Penzance Park (at Sacramento and Adams Streets) by building a retaining wall, installing a sign (fabricated by Club member Ed Townsend) , and enhancing the landscaping. We need enthusiastic Rotarians with tools, work gloves, and a desire to get hands on in service to our community. Sign up with Cathy and let her know your shirt size. See you there!
Our program this Thursday will be presented by the California Preservation Foundation, which is bringing their large and well-regarded annual conference to the new Holiday Inn Express in Grass Valley in May. Should be an interesting program. See you Thursday!
