Kevin Reneau was $5 happy for his
MORAGA ROTARY
NEWSLETTER
May 15, 2018
Next Celebration: May 22nd, 2018
Moraga Country Club
Noon Meeting
Dennis Rein, Fire Department - CPR
Greeter/Invocator – David Kruegel
May 22nd – Dennis Rein, Fire Department, CPR
May 29th – Club Assembly – To Be Held at the Serbian Church
June 5th – Open
*June 12th – Dan Devore, Sportscaster
* Dinner Meeting @ 6:00 pm – Moraga Country Club – Come
watch the sunset with friends
President Dianne Wilson called the
meeting to order. The invocation and
Pledge of Allegiance was offered by
Barbara Bruner.
Our guests included honorary member Ann
Damaschino and Kathe Nelson the
Executive Director of the Moraga Chamber
of Commerce.
~RECOGNITIONS~
Happy Bucks
Gary Irwin offered a High $5 for the
volunteers who staffed the Community
Faire booth this Saturday.
Tony Schoemehl was happy that the field
day was over. He offered $20 for his
success, Best Foreign Car, at the car show
John Erickson also offered $20 for his
“People’s Choice” Award at the car show.
performance in a 5K run in Santa Barbara
this weekend.
Frank May offered a High $5 for his Mazda
Miata being allowed in the car show.
Debbie Roessler was happy that Lou
participated in the car show and that three
people offered to buy Lou’s Corvette.
Ron Mucovich offered a High $5 for the
success of the Field Day and the
Community Faire.
Debbie Koo spun the wheel for a recent
trip to Washington DC and New York City.
She enjoyed both the trip and visiting with
relatives.
Peter Metzger offered a High $5 for the
participation of Saklan School students in
the field day. He also announced that he
has accepted a new position at a school in
Chatsfield, CA beginning at the end of
June. We will miss you, Peter!
John Erickson was happy about the
graduation of his youngest granddaughter
from Chico State. She starts a new job at
Gallo Wine very soon.
~ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS~
Chair Tony Schoemehl announced that
the results from the Field Day are available.
The High Point School was Rheem
Elementary and Highest Participation
Camino Pablo. A complete list of the
individual and teacher winners may be
found at the end of this newsletter.
Moraga Community Faire
The Moraga Community Faire was held this
Saturday at the Rheem Shopping Center
from 11AM until 4 PM. The club’s booth
offered freshly popped popcorn and
Rotarian volunteers chatted with folks
throughout the day.
Thanks to Gary Irwin (chair), Tony
Schoemehl. John Erickson, Frank May,
Rich Render, Herb Wehmeyer, Evie
Michon, Al Simonsen, Roger Gregory,
Debbie Koo, Bob Fritzky and Debbie
Roessler for helping setup, run or
teardown the event.

Tony’s Karmann Ghia and John and MarySue’s Nash

Metropolitan with the Winners and Trophies

Herb Wehmeyer and Rich Render in Booth

Frank’s Miata and John’s Chevy

Gary and Debbie Popping Corn

Five club members entered cars in the car

show this year, Tony Schoemehl, John
and MarySue Erickson, Lou and Debbie
Roessler and Frank May.
Lou Roessler’s Corvette

Tony’s Karmann Ghia won the Best

Foreign Car award and John and
MarySue Erickson’s Nash Metropolitan
won the People’s Choice award.
Congratulations!
Bocce Ball
Angelo Costanza announced that we are
ready to go with four teams participating in
the Bocce Ball Tournament to be held in
Martinez on May 19th. The cost is $20 per
person payable to Angelo. Our team
captains are Angelo Costanza, John
Erickson, Debbie Roessler and Gary
Irwin. Plan to arrive around 9AM to secure
parking. The competition starts at 10:55
AM.
Angelo also announced that there will be a
practice session at the Martinez courts on
Wednesday morning May 16th starting at
9AM. Angelo will provide the donuts and
coffee. Everyone welcome!!
Sierra Leone Project
President Dianne announced that the
Moraga Lions Club had donated $900 to
the project. She also said that things are
going well and that our backpacks have
become a real status item in the school.
Board Meeting
Dianne also announced that there would be
a board meeting this evening at 5:30pm at
Moraga Royale. Items discussed at the
meeting included not doing the OMPA
swim meet this year, some possible fund-
raising ideas to replace OMPA and the
upcoming Club Assembly on May 29th.
A Twisted Tale - A Story of Immigration
Frank May recalled the time 60 years ago
when he and his family immigrated to the
US from the United Kingdom. He talked
about where he came from and the process
his family followed to come to this country.
The first version of his first 48 hours in the
US described his first two days in New York
City and the wonders to be found there.
The second ending, correctly guessed by
Marv Ellenberg, involved a quick trip down
Broadway to see the lights and a long,
grueling trip to Detroit in a 1956 Plymouth
with seven people on board.
~PROGRAM~
Dianne Wilson introduced our guest
speaker, Bob Fritzky, the current
President of the Moraga Chamber of
Commerce. She detailed the many roles
that Bob currently plays in supporting the
Town of Moraga. Bob was assisted by
Kathe Nelson who is the Executive
Director of the Chamber.
President Dianne and Chamber Board President, Bob Fritzky
Bob mentioned that he had received a
critique of his Steeplechase course at the
recent field day. A parent was concerned
that one of the children would impale
themselves on one of the hurdles used in
the event. Oh Boy!!
The Chamber is lead by a board of 14
residents (including Vice President, Larry
Tessler) and currently has 200 members.
They have an office in the Rheem
Shopping Center. Current chamber
events include the Community Faire, a golf
tournament and business symposiums.
Organizations they work with include the
MEF, Fire and EMT, St. Mary’s College
Make a Wish and Scouting BSA.
Bob discussed the current three pillar
activities of the chamber:
A Case Study Challenge where the
undergraduate Business Department
students at St. Mary’s College chooses a
key initiative of the town (for example, the
Rheem Theatre) and develops
recommendations for the town
A Grant Program where technology or
physical grants are made to small
businesses in the community. This
initiative is sponsored by DocuSign and
Orchard Supply Hardware.
~ Drawing ~
The raffle was won by Kevin Reneau,
who picked the right marble for the grand
prize of $357. Congratulations, Kevin!
Calendar of Future Events
Rotary Bocce Bash – Martinez, Saturday, May
19th..
FAB 5 Rotary Club Social, Orchard Nursery,
Friday May 25th, from 6PM until 8PM. (See flyer
attached).
Pan-Asian Arts Festival, Orinda Library and
Community Center, Saturday, May 26th from 10
AM until 4PM and Sunday May 27th from 1PM until
4PM. (See flyer attached).
Demotion Dinner – Tuesday evening, July 10th

A Policy Review initiative that included

meetings with town staff on business
related planning issues.

Bob provided updates on ongoing city

activities at the Rheem Center, Starbucks,
a possible Mexican Restaurant, Taco Bell.
town staffing, Canyon Brewery, Town
Bakery and Café, Chase Bank, Jack in the
Box and the proposed La Finestra
Restaurant at the Hacienda, For details
on these activities, talk to Bob.

Bob and Kathe also introduced the

Chamber Value Card that offers $300 of
value for $25 with offers from local
businesses.
.
Greeter/Invocators: MORAGA ROTARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
5/8 – Herb Wehmeyer President Dianne Wilson
President-elect Ron Mucovich
5/15 – Barbara Bruner Past President Kevin Reneau
5/22 – Dave Kruegel Co-Secretary Vickie Devlin
5/29 – TBD Co-Secretary Evie Michon
Treasurer Lad Lynch
6/5 – Kevin Reneau Foundation Chair John Erickson
6/12 – Evie Michon Youth Service Chair Rich Render
Public Relations Gary Irwin
6/19/18 = Rich Render
Newsletter Editor Frank May
6/26/18 = (Demotion Party week) Community Service Chair Tony Schoemehl
Co-Chair, International Services Barbara Bruner
Co-Chair, International Services Linda May
Co-Chair, Membership Mike McCluer
Co-Chair, Membership Debbie Koo
Director at Large Mary Sue
Erickson
Director at Large Roger Gregory
Director at Large Debbie Roessler
Advisor to the Board Jim Campbell
Advisor to the Board Cliff Dochterman

District Governor 5160 Gary Vilhauer

President, Rotary International Ian Riseley

Newsletter Editor for May – Frank May