MORAGA ROTARY
NEWSLETTER
August 15, 2017
Next Celebration: August 22, 2017
Noon Meeting
NOTE THIS MEETING WILL START
WITH A PICNIC IN THE QUAD at Saint
Marys College
Program: Edy Schwartz: California
Film Festival Preview
Greeter: Debbie Koo
August 29 Dan OMalley - Criminal Law
September 5 - Georganne Benesh Yoga
September 12 Sal Captain Lamorinda Winegrowers*
September 19 - Dr Charles Vella
September 26 Dr, Joe Serra
* Dinner meeting - August 8 and September 12
~BUSINESS MEETING~
President, Dianne Wilson, called the
meeting to order. Ron Mucovich offered
an invocation calling for common sense.
Guests at our meeting today included
Renee Lee, our speaker,
Vasch Gerber, our outgoing exchange
student,
Nick Gerber, Vaschs father,
Valeria Yu, our incoming exchange
student from Taiwan
and Honorary Member, Jody Parker.
~BIRTHDAYS, TRIPS AND
ANNIVERSARIES AND HAPPY
BUCKS~
Doug and Ann Damaschino celebrated
their 56th Wedding Anniversary with an
elegant dinner at Esin restaurant.
Jody Parker travelled to Charleston WV
to watch some baseball and to help with a
family move to Orlando, FL.
Michele Robbins offered a Happy Buck
for her grandson turning four and a
successful peace vigil this weekend in
Walnut Creek.
Rich Render offered a High $5 for our
exchange students, Valeria Yu, Vasch
Gerber and her father, Nick Gerber.
John Erickson was happy about the
sunflowers on the tables today.
Peter Metzger spun the wheel for a trip to
Trieste in Northern Italy and to the Black
Forest region of Germany to see his
mother.
Other Notices
Dan OMalley to Speak on August 29th
Angelo Costanza announced that his
friend Dan OMalley, a former prosecutor
and judge, will speak on August 29th about
criminal law.
Barbecue at Next Weeks Meeting
Our meeting next week will begin with a
barbecue in the quad area of the campus
(right by the theatre) followed by our
speaker, Edy Schwartz, in the St. Marys
theatre. Please try to come early to this
special event as the students are returning
to campus and things may be a bit hectic,
Exchange Students
Valeria Yu and Vasch Gerber talked to
the group about Taiwan. They began with
a brief history of the country including the
interactions with the Japanese in World
War II and the China recently.

Valeria Yu and Vasch Gerber Address the Club
They reviewed the Taiwanese customs of
removing shoes; the greeting of oldest
first; and the presentation of small gifts
when visiting the homes of others. They
talked about the importance of respect and
kindness to the culture.
Welcome Valeria and good luck Vasch on
your adventures this year!
OMPA
Thank you, Jody Parker for your
generous contribution to our OMPA event.
Lad Lynch reports that the revenue from
the event is around $10,000. Preliminary
numbers indicate that the club will make
around $4600 from the event. Thanks for
everyone who helped out.
Saklan School Science Lab Opening
Saklan School is celebrating the opening
of their new Science Lab on August 18th
from 6PM to 7:30PM. RSVP to Dianne if
you plan on attending. Lets put a group
together to support Peter Metzger and
Saklan School.
Moraga Rotary Endowment at St.
Marys College
An interesting note from Rich Render:
Back many years ago, Moraga Rotary
started a scholarship endowment at St.
Marys College to award an annual
scholarship to a deserving student. We
called it the Brother U. Albert Rahill
Moraga Rotary Endowment in honor of
long time member Brother Albert. Each
year, the club donates $3,000 to that
endowment. The funds go into St. Marys
College Endowment Fund, and is invested
with all the St. Marys funds. Scholarships
are given yearly based upon the growth of
the funds value on an annual basis.
As of December 31, 2016, the St. Marys
endowment was valued at a total of
$172,758,053. They gave out $6.4 million
in scholarships to 468 students last year.
Through the years, Moraga Rotary has
donated $47,500, and today our Brother
U. Albert Rahill Moraga Rotary
Endowment is valued at $93,887. This
year the school awarded a $4,600
scholarship from our fund to Jack Carso
from Arlington Heights, IL, who graduated
in Environmental Sciences and Biology.
Thanks, -Rich
Our Program Today
Kevin Reneau introduced our speaker
today, Rene Lee the President of the
Rossmoor Medical Marijuana Club.
Renee is a former resident of Moraga
having graduated from Campolindo.
Renee is a psychologist who works with
both troubled youth and adults.
 Editors Corner
I recently had a chance to sit down with
several members of our new Membership
Committee. Many ideas were discussed
along with activities that hopefully will
attract new folks to our club. It is exciting
and refreshing to get some new ideas
presented for discussion.

With such energy and enthusiasm maybe

we will make it for another 50 years!
Thanks to Mike McCluer and Debbie Koo
Renee Lee Presenting to the Club Today,
for getting the new Membership
Rene began her talk discussing how she
Committee going!
first encountered medical marijuana for
!
treatment of serious personal medical
Current Greeter/ Invocator Schedule
issues that did not respond to traditional
medicine. For her, the medical marijuana
was taken just like any other medicine. 8/22 = Debbie Koo
She stopped taking it when her health got 8/29 = Frank May
better. 9/05 = Doug Damaschino
9/12 = Kevin Reneau
Rene described the beginnings of the
9/19 = Mike McClure
Medial Marijuana Club at Rossmoor where
it has grown from a few members to over 9/26 = John Erickson
700 people expressing interest in the club. 10/03 = Tony Schoemehl
She then went on to describe the different 10/10 = Roger Gregory
components of marijuana including THC 10/17 = Alka Mulakaluri
(which has a psychotic effect) and CBD (
10/24 = Al Simosen
which does not).
10/31 = Roger Gregory
Marijuana is legal in California but may not 11/07 = Michele Robbins
be legally distributed in Contra Costa 11/14 = Debbie Roessler
County. Currently legal dispensaries in 11/21 = Angelo Costanza
Oakland, Berkeley and San Francisco
11/28 = Evie Michon
provide home delivery to local patients.

Most patients today do not smoke

marijuana but rather utilize oils, sprays or
creams to take the drug. It is packaged
and smoked as a vape, eaten in
chocolate covered candy or even granola.
MORAGA ROTARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President Dianne Wilson

President-elect Ron Mucovich
Past President Kevin Reneau
Co-Secretary Vickie Devlin
Co-Secretary Evie Michon
Treasurer Lad Lynch
Foundation Chair John Erickson
Youth Service Chair Rich Render
Public Relations Gary Irwin
Newsletter Editor Frank May
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 MarySue
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

Calendar of Future Events

December 14th Holiday Party at Moraga CC

March 10, 2018 A Nite at the Races