Concord Rotary Club, Elaine Platais,
ROTARY
NEWSLETTER
November 12, 2019
Next Celebration: November 19, 2019
Moraga Country Club
Noon Meeting
Program: Linda Campbell; Quilt
Project
Greeter/Invocation – Jennifer Brophy
Upcoming Programs:
Nov 26 – Susan Sperry: Moraga Historical Soc.
Dec 3 - - Toys for Tots
Dec 10 – Kristin Jones
Dec 17 - Christmas Party
Dec 24-31 – No Meeting
Jan 7 – Open
*Jan 14 – LAPD Homicide Detective
* Dinner Meeting at 6PM
Our meeting was opened, with vocal bell
tones, by Co-President, Evie Michon.
Thank you to everyone who scrambled
to put together the meeting at the
Serbian Church when the Country Club
space was not available. What a team!
Debbie Roessler, on this day after
Veteran’s Day, offered an invocation
remembering the sacrifices of the
veterans who have served our country.
Our guests today included our newest
members, Hubert Ma and Adarsh
Gupta. We also welcomed Dave and
Mary Kemnitz from the Clayton Valley
Page 1 of 9
Arlene Reese, and Sue and Paul
Lindquist, guests of Debbie Roessler
and Russ Aubrey, our speaker this
evening.
~Announcements~
New Member Induction
Co-President, Debbie called up
Membership Chair Brian South to
induct our two newest members into
Moraga Rotary, Hubert Ma and Adarsh
Gupta. Hubert and Adarsh were
presented with their new members
packet including a blue badge and a
copy of Cliff’s book, the ABC’s of
Rotary. Congratulations to the newest
members of Moraga Rotary!
Brian South With New Members Hubert and Adarsh.
Nite at the Races 2020 Update
Nite at the Race planning is well under
way. Tickets for the March 7 event are
available online. Go to this link to buy
your tickets or to make a donation to
Nite at the Races 2020. Flyers will be
available to mail in ticket requests,
All members have received a list of
invitees from last year in your email. Let
Frank May know of any additions or
deletions to the list.
We are having an envelop stuffing event
at Stephanie Dickerson’s home (12
Willow Springs Terrace in Moraga) on
Monday, November 18 at 10AM. Give
Steph a ring on 925-989-9838.
Cars2ndChance Visits Bearing Gifts
Dave and Mary Kemnitz, members of
the Clayton Valley/Concord Rotary Club
and representing the Cars2ndChance
program presented a check for $2250 to
Moraga Rotary and Roger Gregory for
his recent donation of a Toyota Prius to
Cars2ndchance.
May and Dave Kemnitz Presentiing the Check to Roger
Dave and Mary spent a few minutes
describing the success of this program
not only in raising funds for Rotary and
other charities but also making cars
available to victims of the Paradise Fire
Disaster.
Thank you, Dave, Mary and Roger, for
this significant donation.
Page 2 of 9
A New Honorary Club Member
Debbie Roessler surprised her friend,
Arlene Reese, with both a Paul Harris
Award as well as an Honorary
Membership to Moraga Rotary. Arlene
has been a strong supporter of Rotary
for many years allowing the club to use
her home for storage as well as
attending many of our events.
Congratulations, Arlene. Welcome to
Moraga Rotary!
Arlene and Debbie After the Presentaion
Holiday Party Date and Venue
Change
The Club Holiday Party will be held at
the Claeys Lounge at St. Mary’s College
on December 17th. Invitations will go out
this week for this very special event.
Please return your reservations and
payment as soon as possible.
Thanksgiving Food Drive
ShelterInc is holding a Thanksgiving
Food Drive this month, See the flyer
attached for details on how you can
help.
Business Collaboration Event
A Business Collaboration Event, open to
all, is on November 21st in Oakland.
The individual flyers for this events is
attached.
Junior League Hoedown
The Junior League Hoedown is being
held on Saturday, November 16th at the
Lafayette Community Center – See
below for more information. The Moraga
Rotary Club is a sponsor for this event.
Toys for Tots
Two Chances to Support
Our December 3rd program will center
around a Toys for Tots collection for the
Christmas holiday. There will also be a
program on December 13th at the
Hacienda that also offers a Toys for
Tots donation opportunity. The club will
donate a case of wine to this community
activity.
~ Happy Bucks & Recognitions~
Gary Irwin offered a High $5 for our
club’s support of the recent Chamber of
Commerce golf tournament.
Louise Schopke travelled to Colorado
to attend her son’s wedding.
Linda May is happy about the birthdays
of five of their ten grandchildren
occurring in the month of November.
Angelo Costanza offered a buck for
Cal’s performance against Washington
State this past weekend.
Page 3 of 9
Fran Rathjen passed around buckeye
candy in anticipation of Ohio State’s
performance against Michigan in a
couple of weeks.
Ron Mucovoch also offered a buck for
Cal’s performance against Washington
State this past weekend.
Jim Campbell was excited about his
and Linda’s recent trip to China and
especially the culinary event put on by
Martin Yan. Was it 29 courses, Jim?
Mary Caburi is celebrating the clarity
brought about by her recent eye
surgery.
Roger Gregory offered a buck for
completing five plumbing repairs earlier
today with only one remaining leak!!
Jennifer Brophy recently returned from
trips to both Portland and New York
City.
Debbie Koo had a wonderful time at the
Putnam Clubhouse Fundraiser this past
weekend. Supporting Lamorinda-
Sunrise club President, Tom Guyette.
Debbie, did you dance or just watch
Tom?
~Program~
Debbie Roessler introduced today’s
speaker, Russ Aubrey. Russ is a
Kiwanian who lives in Oakland. He
narrowly missed losing his home in the
Oakland Fire in 1989 and, because of
his own insurance claims, became an
activist and ombudsmen working with
other neighbors.

Russ Aubrey With Co-President, Debbie
Russ began his talk by stating how
much community service means to him.
He described the scholarships that his
local Kiwanis Club gave away last year.
He then described how the 89 fire
started and the neighborhood’s reaction
to the fire. At the end of his program he
played a video that really hit home as to
the severity and devastation caused by
the fire. Interviews with firefighters,
residents and community leaders
offered a broad view of the scope of the
disaster.
Russ named some of the problems that
were identified after the fire. These
included lack of firefighter training,
canvas hoses that burned, radio
frequency issues, hose connectivity
hardware problems, too few firefighters
and the lack of preemptive action taken
on weather reports,
Russ told us about a “Tree of Hope” that
was planted on his property as a
memorial to those who perished or were
injured fighting the fire. The tree acted
as a beacon of hope for rebuilding the
Page 4 of 9
community and neighborhood. Although
the memorial tree did not survive, a
lighting ceremony, in the shape of a
tree, occurs each year to commemorate
both the fire and rebuilding of the
community.
Russ described the many problems that
victims encountered interacting with
insurance companies. He explained
battles for claim resolution that involved
the State of California as well as the fie
victims and the insurance companies
themselves.
Russ also identified some of the issues
that were uncovered when it was found
that many of the homeowner’s were
underinsured. Coverage for code
upgrades, current costs of construction,
landscape and furnishings. He advised
all of us to review homeowners policies
with our insurance agents,
~ Raffle ~
The winning ticket worth $10 was held
by Jim Campbell. The elusive green
marble did not make an appearance.
Jim Tries for the Green Marble
 ~ Greeter/Invocator Schedule List ~ ~Upcoming Events~
November 14, Thursday 6-7:30 pm
11/19 – Jennifer Brophy Collaboration Mixer First Republic
11/26 – Angelo Costanza Bank, Orinda
November 21, Thursday 5:30 – 7:30 pm
12/03 – John Erickson Business Development Showcase
12/10 – Frank May December 17, Tuesday: Moraga Rotary
12/17 – Fran Rathjen Holiday Party & Dinner meeting at
St. Mary’s College.
March 7, Saturday: “A Nite at the
Races”, at the Serbian Trinity
Church Hall

MORAGA ROTARY DIRECTORS 2019-2022

Co-Presidents Evie Michon & Debbie Koo
President Elect Brian South
Past President Ron Mucovich
Secretary Jennifer Brophy
Treasurer Rich Render
Club Administrator Debbie Roessler
Foundation Chair John Erickson
Youth & Community Service Chair Tony Schoemehl
Public Relations Chair Gary Irwin
Fundraising Chair Frank May
International Service Chair Dianne Wilson
Membership Chair Brian South
Director at Large Mary Sue Erickson
Director at Large Linda May
Advisor to the Board John Erickson
Advisor to the Board Jim Campbell
Advisor to the Board Cliff Dochterman

District Governor 5160 Tina Akins

President, Rotary International Mark Maloney

Newsletter Editor for November – Frank May

Page 5 of 9
Page 6 of 9
Newly designed “Night At the Races” form – Thank you Jennifer Brophy

Page 7 of 9
Page 8 of 9
Page 9 of 9