In lieu of our regular meeting, the Rotary Club of Carmichael held a special Paul Harris Fellow Dinner at the North Ridge Country Club. The evening’s festivities began with no host cocktails at 6 P.M. and dinner served at 7 P.M. Club Rotary Foundation Chair Chuck McBride served as MC and called upon Katha Danz to lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and to provide the Thought for the Day. "Success is the sum of several small efforts repeated often day in and day out" Chuck began by introducing the District luminaries in attendance who included District Governor Ray Ward and his guest, Stacy Graham; Past District Governor Glenn Fong; Assistant Governor Area 5 and District Governor Elect Nominee Desiree Wilson; District End Polio Now Chair Bob Mutchler and his wife, Patty; Past District Governor Jim Thompson and President Vicky Boatwright and her “buddy” Jay. Chuck then asked all Rotarians to introduce themselves and their respective guests who included George, Julie and Tara Abraham; Hamid and Paris Ahmadi; Dick and Kari Bauer; Mark Beil; Ed Bunting; President Vicky and Jay Boatwright; Katha and Phil Danz; Troy and Erin Drennon; Greg Herrera and wife, Sarah Stoltz; Vince Iosso, daughter, Tracey Iosso, Vince’s co-workers Michelle Miller and her husband, Dennis and Norma Ramirez; Walt Malhoski and neighbor, Frank Pease; Tim Marquess; Chuck and Maureen McBride; Karen Munsterman; Richard and Margaret Olebe; Rich and Debbie Plath; Stan and Nan Roe; Jay Sedlak; Jeff Thompson, his sister, Jennifer McMillan and dad, Tom Thompson; Jim Thompson’s daughter, Barbara Berry and son-in-law, Tim; Dave Thorman and Dana Newell and Don Wangberg Once introductions were completed, we paused for dinner and some good “old-fashion” fellowship. Following dinner, Chuck thanked Jenny and Ed Bunting for arranging to have the dinner at the country club—a beautiful venue, indeed. Helping Chuck with the first presentations was AG Desiree Wilson. Chuck invited Vince Iosso to come forward. Vince wanted to honor three co-workers with Paul Harris Fellows. The three women (Michelle Miller, Norma Ramirez and Shaunda Valenzuela) have worked with Vince for many years and he wanted to recognize them for their support and making his job a lot easier. The following Rotarians honored family members with Paul Harris Fellows: George Abraham honored his daughter, Tara; President Vicky and Jay Boatwright honored their daughters, Sarah and Corrine; Greg Herrera honored his wife, Sarah Stoltz; Walt Malhoski honored his daughter and son, Sonja and Ryan; Stan Roe honored his daughter, Kirstin; Jeff Thompson honored his sister, Jennifer McMillan and Jim Thompson honored his daughter, Barbara Berry. District Polio Chair Bob Mutchler assisted with the next group of honorees who are already PHFs and went to the next level of recognition. They included: Bill Donnoe PHF+1, Mark Beil PHF+2, Vince Iosso PHF+4, Jim Thompson PHF+6, Dick Bauer PHF+7 and Chuck McBride PHF+8. Next, PDG Glenn Fong assisted in recognizing the club’s newest first-time Paul Harris Fellows who either contributed $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation or who had $1,000 contributed in their name by someone else. These included Dr. Hamid Ahmadi, Troy Drennon, Tim Marquess and Mark Urban. District Governor Ray Ward was on hand to make a presentation and recognized President Vicky and Jay Boatwright and Chuck and Maureen McBride for their belief in and commitment to the Rotary Foundation by becoming members of the Bequest Society. They were each given a special pin. Chuck then invited President Vicky to the podium. Before announcing her choice for the Presidential Paul Harris Fellow, President Vicky wanted to recognize two Rotarians for their ongoing commitment to Rotary and their work on behalf of the club—those Rotarians were Dick Bauer and Chuck McBride. Both Dick Bauer and Chuck McBride are now PHF+8. At the beginning of the year, Chuck asked President Vicky to budget $2,000 for two Paul Harris Fellows—one to be chosen by the club’s Paul Harris Fellows and one by President Vicky herself. The club’s Paul Harris Fellows were asked to choose someone they felt epitomized the core values of Rotary. Their selection was Vince Iosso. For the Presidential Paul Harris Fellow, President Vicky chose Dave Thorman who was recognized for his commitment to the club. For the final presentation, Chuck asked the District luminaries to join him at the podium. He then turned the microphone over to Past District Governor Glenn Fong who announced the club was receiving a special recognition of being in the top 2% of clubs worldwide to achieve the status of 100% Paul Harris Fellows meaning every member of the club was a Paul Harris Fellow. He thanked President Vicky, Club Rotary Foundation Chair Chuck McBride and all Carmichael Rotarians for their generous support of The Rotary Foundation. The club will receive the official banner at the end of the Rotary year. Chuck came back to the podium; and in his closing remarks, reminded everyone that Rotary is in the home stretch to eradicating polio throughout the world which we’ve been working on since 1979 in the Philippines when there were 350,000 cases reported worldwide in 125 countries. Today we have immunized more than 2.5 billion children in 123 countries and contributed more than $1.8 billion in those efforts. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only countries where polio remains endemic with 22 cases reported in 2017. Before ending the meeting, Chuck raffled off the lovely floral centerpieces to the person at each table whose birthday was closest to that of our Founder Paul Harris – April 19th, two of the winners were Phil Danz, and Greg Herrera, both were born on April 20th. He then asked everyone to stand and join him in a toast “To Rotary Around the World.” He thanked everyone for coming, wished them a Happy Thanksgiving and to be safe going home. It was a special evening, indeed. (your Bulletin Editor wishes to give "special thanks" to Mo Browning-McBride for providing the notes for this meeting) pictures below....... | 
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