MORAGA

ROTARY
NEWSLETTER
May 31, 2022

Next Meeting:
Tuesday, June 7 , Noon at La
Finestra Restaurante
Program: Frank Stambaugh,
White Pony Express
Greeter & Invocator:
Frank May
Zoom connection information for next week’s
meeting will be distributed early next week
Upcoming Speakers:
.
June 14 – Mike Metcalf – Moraga
Together Community Service Day
June 21 - tbd
Calendar of Future Events:
June 28 – Moraga Rotary Club Demotion
Party at the Serbian Church
October 28-30 – Monterey, District 5160
Annual Conference
TBD - TGIF at Bill Eames’ home in Rossmoor
Today the Club members and guests met
at La Finestra Restaurante, and our
favorite Chef/Owner/Rotarian Jeff
Assadi served delicious Jumbo Prawns
with Mushroom, Sage Butter, Cheese
Raviolis; Chicken Marsala with Olives &
Peas with light cream sauce; Caprese
and Caesar salads, Carrots & Broccoli,
with Chocolate Cake and Tiramisu for
desert.
Our guests today included our speaker,
Nathan To (via Zoom) of the San Jose
Earthquakes organization, Bill Eames,
Mary Caburi, Ann Damaschino and
Nicky Melik (Doug Damaschino’s care-
giver), and on Zoom - Lillian Roodveldt.
Past President Debbie Roessler rang
the bell and opened the meeting.
Herb Wehmeyer today’s Greeter and
Invocator, told us about his love of auto
racing. Herb explained how as a “kid” he
was glued to the radio throughout the
Indianapolis 500. In 1956 he visited the
race track and he still has the ticket stub
to prove it. Top speed was then 128 mph.
When he visited again in1957 the top
speed was up to 134 mph. And again in
1992 the top speed had risen to 228 mph
– all on the same 21/2 mile track. In 1992
the attendance was about 300,000 and
most recntly the attendance was
estimated at about 400,000 to 450,000.
Herb has also attended the 24 Hours of
LeMans race in France.
Herb gave us a history of the
International distress call “May Day.” It
seems that in 1923 there were concerns
about air collisions between England and
France and the traditional distress call
“SOS“ was difficult to ennunciate. The
French word “maidze” was quicker/
easier to pronounce. “maidze” meant
“Help me” and it was expressed as “May
Day.”
~Program~
Because of the timing needs of the
speaker, the “Program” portion of the
meeting was moved to be first.
Hubert Ma introduced todays speaker,
Nathan To.
Nathan has been with the San Jose Earthquakes
since October of 2021. He started out in inside sales
before transitioning to the community relations
department in the beginning of 2022. Nathan’s
passion includes using the platform of professional
sports to make the community a better place to live.
His work at the Quakes involves planning and
executing fundraisers and programs that advance
the Quakes Foundation’s mission of promoting unity
through sport with special emphasis on combating
food insecurity, as well as bringing positive impacts
on youth and families in the bay area. Nathan
graduated from the University of California, Riverside
and is currently pursuing a Masters in Sports
Management at the University of San Francisco.
Nathan spoke about the various
community focused initiatives of the San
Jose Earthquakes. The Quakes
Foundation puts approximately $300,000
back into the community every year.
Their mission statement reads: “The
Quakes Foundation promotes unity
through sport. We strive to improve
health and fitness outcomes for youth
and combat food insecurity in our
community. Through the cultivation of the
game of soccer, we create and facilitate
programs that produce positive impact for
children and families in these areas of
focus throughout the Bay Area.”
Foundation giving consists of in-kind and
monetary gifts. Avenues of giving are
billboards, school programs and soccer
clinics. Elements of the program are:
• Pledge 74 – launched in 2020 as a
response to food insecurity.
$740,000 from 7.4% of team
advertising spending and 740 hours
of voluntary service. This effort
grew out of the Covid pandemic.
• Pledges from the Pitch – supports
our team members passions by
focusing on charitable causes dear
to the players. The Quakes make
every effort to support the causes
with monetary help, social media
graphics and volunter support. This
allows fans at home and abroad to
 support our player’s causes.
Examples:
o “Black Players for Change”
o “Martha’s Kitchen”
o “Copper’s Dream” (animal
rescue)
• Get EarthQuakes Fit – A 5 week
program for elementary school
students teaching the importance of
healthy living through education
and games with a player visit at the
end. This program is designed to
be turn-key for teachers/schools.
Check out the website to learn more:
San Jose Earthquakes (sjearthquakes.com)
(Incidently, Nathan mentioned that his
uncle in Hong Kong is a Rotarian.)
~~Birthdays/Anniversaries~~
Ron Mucovich had a birthday on May
26th. The club members sang Happy
Birthday for Ron.
Alka and Bhaskar Mulakaluri
celebrated their 37th anniversary on May
29th.
~~Happy Bucks~~
Debbie Roessler had $10 Happy Bucks
for the Warriors who begin the NBA
Final Series against the Boston Celtics
on Thursday, June 2nd at the San
Francisco Chase Center. Catch the
game at 6:00 pm on ABC.
Angelo Costanza had a stellar $50
Happy Bucks for his granddaughter’s
graduation from the Oakland School of
the Arts. She was a straight A student
and got a 4-year full ride scholarship to
Washington College.
Alka Mulakluri had $5 HB’s for
Draymond Green & the Warriors, and
her daughter at medical school in
Seattle. Alka also spun the Wheel of
Misfortune for a $5 fine for her trip
outside the state of California to visit her
daughter in Seattle.
Roger Gregory gave $5 HB’s to launch
his favorite Warrior, Kevon Looney, into
the NBA Final Series. Go Warriors!
Frank May had $5 HB’s for a pleasant
evening at the Campolindo High School
theater watching the CAPA performers
in a gala end of year show. Frank said
the show went for 2 hours and there
must have been a 100 dancers. They all
performed very, very well.
Gary Irwin had $5 HB’s for the Warriors
and a recent golf match play tournament
which he won.
Ann Damaschino gave $5 HB’s
because her granddaughter graduated
from UC San Diego.
~~Announcements~~
Rich Render reports that our last Youth
Exchange Student in 2017, Valeria Yu
from Taiwan has just turned 21 and
graduated from college.
Debbie Roessler urges all of us to
consider going to the Rotary District 5160
Fall Conference in Monterey, October 28-
30, 2022. Learn more at:
Home - Rotary District 5160 (rotary5160.org) June 14 – MarySue Erickson
June 21 – Jim Campbell
June 28 – Hubert Ma

~Encore Game~

Playing for $30 was Gary Irwin and he

guessed the winning ace correctly – the
Ace of Diamonds.
Next week the Encore jackpot drops back
to $10. Who will the lucky player be?

Debbie Roessler rang the Rotary Bell to

adjourn the meeting. See you all again
next week!

~Future Greeter/Invocators~
June 7 – Frank May
For this Rotary Year our leaders are:

President Brian South

Presidents Elect Igor Kipnis &

Roger Gregory
Secretary Jennifer Brophy
Executive Secretary Evie Michon

Treasurer Debbie Koo

Program Chair Debbie Roessler

Community Tony Schoemehl
Service Chair
International Debbie Koo &
Service Chairs Dianne Wilson
Foundation Chair John Erickson

Youth Services Rich Render

Chair
Public Relations Gary Irwin
Chair
Fund Raising Chair Frank May

Membership Chairs Roger Gregory

& Hubert Ma
Directors at Large Mary Sue Erickson &
Linda May
Eternal Director Cliff Dochterman

Advisor to the Board Jim Campbell

District Governor 5160 Kathy Suvia

International Shekhar Mehta

President

May newsletter editor – Roger Gregory