2009 THE YEAR IN REVIEW SIR BRANCH 150
ORANGEVALE, CA.
Our installation of newly elected officers
for the year 2010 was held at the Rancho Cordova Elks Lodge on December 16,
2009 during our annual Christmas Party meeting. Big Sir Chuck Reed opened the
meeting and Sir Jim Dodge led the pledge to the flag. Chaplain Sir Joe Ramay
gave the invocation. Big Sir Chuck Reed introduced our new Area Governor. Our
own Sir Bob Carlstroem, member of Branch 150 of Orangevale.
Big Sir Chuck Reed introduced Sir Jim
Rae. Sir Rae told us a Christmas story, the Night Before Christmas which was a
web site joke. Sir Rae also had a riddle for Christmas - very humorous.
Big Sir Reed recognized and thanked the
officers, committee members, and directors for a good year and a job well done.
Special recognition went to Little Sir Jim Dodge for his hard work and for
arranging for all of our interesting speakers for the year. Also recognized
were Secretary Doug Hilton and his assistant Sir Bruce Kennedy, Treasurer Sir
Ralph Samson and his assistant Sir Ray Avila. Sir Reed then introduced the
officers for 2010. Big Sir Jim Dodge, Little Sir John Duffy, Secretary Sir John
Yosgott and his assistant Sir Bruce Kennedy, Treasurer Sir Ralph Tomson and his
assistant Sir Tinker Qualls. The 2010 Directors are; Sir Chuck Reed, Sir Stan
Wirth, Sir Jerry Courter, Sir Bob Carlstroem, Sir Don Severance, and Sir Len
Bloom. Sir Bob Carlstroem was again introduced as our Area Governor and he
installed the new officers. At this time Sir Reed said a special thanks to Sir
Jim Rae for his service as a director for the past six years. He also thanked
Barbara Carlstroem for making the special wreaths for each of the Sir’s ladies.
Sir Reed then presented Big Sir elect Jim Dodge with his new Big Sir pin. Area
Governor Sir Bob Carlstroem presented outgoing Big Sir Chuck Reed with a
certificate of appreciation from the State SIR office. Sir Reed thanked all for
their help and for the experience of being Big Sir. Sir Reed then turned the
meeting over to Big Sir Jim Dodge. Sir Dodge thanked Sirs Severance, Courter
and others for helping to set up and put on the Christmas luncheon. Sir Dodge
then wished a God Bless to all, and America, and then said he would have more comments
at a later date.
Prior to the installation and as we
entered the Elks Lodge, each lady was given a single red rose in a small vase
and a special wreath which was made by Barbara Carlstroem. The rose and wreath
were very much appreciated and well received by our ladies.
Our lunch was served by the Elks Club
crew. We had a choice of pork tenderloin, talapia or chicken. The food was very
good and it was enjoyable being served as opposed to going through a buffet
line.
This year our entertainment was provided
by the “Swing Scene.” The Swing Scene is a six piece band with a vocalist. The
group was recommended by Sir Len Bloom and they played old favorites - right up
our alley. They were very enjoyable and well received by all.
2009 Committee Chairmen
The Committee Chairmen that put in many
hours in support of the branch officers and directors are as follows: attendance,
Norm Green; booster, Charlie Martin; bowling, Tom Bittner; bridge, John Mahony;
chaplain, Joe Ramay; communications, Bob Neubacher; comm. asst, Ralph Tomson; fishing,
Bob Bonner; golf, Harold Dopplemayr; golf asst., Brent Soulis; greeter/pub relations,
Bill Ferreirae; historian, Dick Clausen; membership, Jim Rae; newsleter editor
& web master, Bob Carlstroem; quartermaster, Walt Nauer; social affairs,
Jerry Courter & Don Severance; nominating, Jerry Courter; nom. assts., Bob
Carlstroem and Don Severance.
Our Speakers
Speakers for the past year have been:
January - Jon French, “Guaranteed
Income Without Risk;” February - Captain Jim Dodge, “Closing Alameda Naval Air
Station and its Effect;” March - Jim Marta, Cordova golf pro – “You Can Teach
an Old Dog New Tricks;” April - Tim Cotter of the Sacramento Sheriffs Tactical
Airborne, “The Helicoptor, a Valuable Tool;” May - Ladies Day Picnic, Jim Rae,
Jerry Courter, Don Severance and more, “Bingo, Golf Competition, Bean Count, Raffles
andMore;” June - John Marchel, “The World of Casino Gambling;” July - Eddie Le
Baron, “The NFL’s Shortest Player, His Careers - NFL, Military and Attorney;”
August- Jerry Reynolds- Kings Director- “The Kings;” September- Bill Roughton, “Aero
Space Meuseum;” October - Steve Phillips, “Acupuncture and Preventive Medicine;”
November- Wayne Turrell, “Winter Gardening A No Show;” December- Christmas
2009, “Ladies Day and Installation of Officers for 2010.”
Membership
As our new year begins our membership
chairman Sir Jim Rae lists 102 active members and 22 inactive for a total of
124. Last year we ended with 103 active and 21 inactive members for a total of
124. 13 new members were added in 2009 and 13 members were lost. Net loss for
2009 was zero.
Activities
Bowling Chairman, Sir Tom Bittner, reports
that the SIRS bowling league is made up of members of several different SIR Branches.
The league has 20 - 4 man teams and they bowl at the Fireside Lanes in Citrus
Heights. As of January, the league is near the completion of the first half of
their competition. After the completion of the second half, the winners of the
two halves meet to determine the champion. At the end of the season an awards
ceremony is held at the Strikes Lanes Restaurant in Rocklin. At this ceremony a
number of individual and team awards are presented in a number of different
categories. The league is always looking for new bowlers so if you are
interested contact Branch 150’s Tom Bittner at 916/723-1497.
Golf Chairman, Sir Harold Dopplemayr,
reported that 2009 started with 77 active and 14 inactive golfers. 2009 ended
with 71 active and 4 inactive golfers. The home course is Rancho Cordova and we
play every Friday, weather permitting. We also have two away tournaments each
month from February to November. Player of the year was Sir Jim Dodge beating
out Sir John Sigl in a close race to finish. Mike Rumsey is the most improved
golfer for improving his index from 35.6 to 23.9. That lowered his handicap at
Cordova by 10 strokes. Congratulations to both of you gentlemen.
Fishing Chairman, Sir Bob Bonner, reports
the “Jolly Hookers” had another great year of fishing, comradeship,
competition, fish story telling and enjoying the beautiful outdoors. Ron Madsen
won the fisherman of the year award for 2009. The club fished the Sierra Lakes,
the Sacramento River, Alaska, the Pacific Ocean and Mexico. Contact Sir Bonner
if you would like to join in the fun. His number is 916/961-5403.
Our Bridge Chairman, Sir John Mahony, had
the following comments about the club, “Our SIR Branch members discovered (more
years ago than I can remember) that there were many who enjoyed playing bridge
and that this was an activity in which wives could participate. We have made
many close relationships and have enjoyed each other’s company, if maybe not
always the bridge skills. The group has appealed to some who have gone to
classes to learn the game. There have been well seasoned players, like Tom
Bittner, who until recently was the big winner at many of the monthly meetings.
Together with Sir John Mahony and their wives, they have made the arrangements
at various restaurants over the years. Right now the group meets on the second
Monday of all but the summer months at the IHOP on Sunrise in Rancho Cordova
where the accommodations and food please our members. The site can accommodate
any number of tables from 1 to 5, however, the usual compliment is 4 tables.
The Whites, the Martins, the Overmyers, the Petersons, the Conyers and single
SIR play regularly. We welcome new players and their wives whether they are
novice or just beginning. We have lost some regular players. To name a few:
Jerry Courter, Art and Leona White, Bob Miller, and Jiggs Watney. This year Jim
and Shirlee Wasson; and Bob Odehnal are the newest members to join us.”
Keeping in Touch
SIR 150 has a Website: www.sir150.com.
Each month, a newsletter is distributed to keep our members informed of
upcoming events and other pertinent information. Also, members are spotlighted
with resumes of their lives and work. This is a great way to get to know one
another and is well received by the membership. Sir Bruce Kennedy is
responsible for the interviews and putting them in the newsletter. He does a
great job!
In Memoriam
Robert Fox, Gerald Campbell, Richard
Belford, Charles Hollmer, Alfred Gomez, Ross Ellington, William “Mac”
Macpherson.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dick Clausen
SIR 150 Historian