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Executive Committee

Big Sir: John Noren Little Sir: Jim Waltz Secretary: John Zeiter Asst. Eckart Sellinger Treasurer: Ron Gurich Asst. Bill Risch Directors: Jack Friesen Les Church Joe Sauerland Ed Sabrack Ray Crawford Kent Dutrieux

CHINA CAMP/INDIAN VALLEY

SIR BRANCH 68 February 2016

Big Sir’s Message

John Noren

Pg.

Anniversaries 8

Activities 6

Area 6 Activities 9

Attendance Report 5

BEC Minutes 5

Birthdays 8

Luncheon News 2

Member News 3-4

Menu 2

Speaker 2

Speaker Review 5

Special Events 7

Sunshine & Clouds 8

Treasurer Report 5

What’s Inside

State level SIR officials are increasingly concerned that too many SIR branches are experiencing decreasing mem-bership. We at your BEC take these concerns seriously, knowing how important new members are to our fu-ture. Accordingly, we are reviewing our membership proce-dures to see where we can make improvements.

The membership process begins with a vigorous re-cruiting effort that brings in a guest, who then becomes a member, who then integrates into the branch, learning and accepting the responsibilities of membership while taking part in activities and leadership. That is the way it is sup-posed to work.

However the process can falter or fail at any step along the way. Herein lies the work ahead. There are branches that have successfully perfected the steps in the membership process and have the results to prove it. We will be consult-ing with these branches and incorporating into our branch the ideas and methods that have made others success-ful. We will also be making clear how you, the membership, can become willing partners in making all of this hap-pen. More on this later.

We are approaching the Valentines Party on February 13th. If you have not already signed up, please do so soon by contacting Jack Futoran by telephone or e-mail. Waiting until the next SIR luncheon on February 9th to sign up will be cutting it pretty close. Jason's Restaurant needs to have a head count days before the event. Jack, well known for his great jokes, is also developing a reputation for throwing ex-ceptional parties…you won't want to miss this one!

Big SIR John Noren

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Branch 68 February

2016 Newsletter

Luncheon

January Luncheon Photos

Lunch Menu for February:

Pork Chop

With mashed potatoes & Vegs

Low: Chicken Picatta

If you can’t make it to the February 9th Luncheon

Don’t forget to contact : Gene Gallagher (415) 472-7865 To report

your absence.

Luncheon Speakers

February 2016

Kent Dutrieux

Editor

For the February Luncheon we will have two

speakers from the Whistlestop Organization.

They will be Susan Stratman who is the Mo-

bility Services Program Manager at Whis-

tlestop. She enjoys promoting independence

and healthy aging for older adults. Before

working at Whistlestop, Susan worked 10

years for the Area 4 Agency on Aging in Grass

Valley. She’s here today to talk about Whis-

tlestop’s volunteer driver program

called CarePo. The other speaker will be

Meredith Ponder (Community Liaison) and

she will be speaking on the Mission Plaza Pro-

ject.

Jim Waltz

Little Sir

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Branch 68 February

2016 Newsletter

Member News

Gene Gallagher confirmed that Joe’s daughter had called and

told him her father had passed away two weeks ago, arrange-

ments were still being made for funeral services.

Joe had joined SIR in November 1999 and had been a very

loved member of the Bocce and Bowling Leagues. He always

liked to bring a small bag of chocolates to the Bocce Matches

thus earning him the nick name “The Candyman” from his

teammates.

As a young man he was a semi professional Baseball player and

spent most of his working life a San Francisco Police Officer. Joe

always enjoyed a trip to the casinos to play some slots. For

many years Gene and Joe worked to collect the lunch money

for our monthly meetings. Gene reports “I sat next to Joe many

years when he would collect the lunch money and I was always amazed by how he coped with keep-

ing the count, the different meal requests and collecting the tickets after, and with it all keeping his

sanity. He indeed was a good friend and SIR”

Joe Grasso told me that he and Joe were on the same Bocce Ball team and found out that they had

several common friends in San Francisco, hell he was even an Usher at Joe’s Wife’s Brother’s Wed-

ding. He also told me how he a had a small part in a movie called "Thieves' Highway" starring Rich-

ard Conte. Joe was the SF policeman in the final scene. Old time San Franciscan's will like the scenes

shot in 1949 in the Embarcadero.

Let’s not mourn his loss but celebrate in the knowledge that we were able to take a few steps along-

side him in that journey called life, I’m sure he’ll be missed by many.

A Trip Around The World

Joseph ‘Joe’ Cotla 1926—2016

Brian Johnson is going to be away from the branch for awhile.

You see he’ll be taking a year off to travel the world and we’re

going to get a chance to follow along. So far the trip is planned

up to July when he has to come back for a wedding and then

he’ll be off again. The first leg of the journey will be Costa Rica

where he’ll pick up a little Spanish to get him on his way

around South America . He has a Trans Atlantic Cruise sched-

uled prior to July and some other neat things along the way.

Brian will be posting in his travel log and giving me updates to

post in this newsletter. So let’s kick back wish him luck and

look forward to a very exciting journey . Many more updates

to follow, so keep an eye on this section.

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Branch 68 February

2016 Newsletter

Member News

Look who’s Partying!

Rich LeFrancois Bowling Birthday Party

On January 22nd at the Country Club Bowl Bill Bunderson thought that Rich should be put in the

lime light for his 94th Birthday. Bill brought in the cake and settings and Tina and Kathy from the

bowling alley provided the table, table cloth and balloons to make this a festive time for everyone.

Rich was pleasantly surprised when he came in and everyone was there to greet him with a song

and good cheer. Now try to imagine a bunch of old guys hyped up on a ton of sugar, man bowling

went fast that day. Have many more Rich, Happy Birthday!

Member Input

I would like to make member news the center piece of our newsletter, but I need your help. If your

traveling or doing something that you would like to share with the Branch, please contact me at

otrax@sbcglobal.net or mail it in to 781 McLaughlin St, Richmond CA 94805. There’s even a place at

our new website where you can submit an article on the contact page, just chose website suggestion

and it will make it to my mailbox. I would love to hear from you soon.

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Branch 68 February

2016 Newsletter

Business

BEC Minutes Recap

December, 2015

Treasurers Report

December 2015

Beginning Balance $7,463.33

Deposits $0.00

Expenses $4,828.42

Outstanding Checks $483.42

Cleared Previous Out-

standing Checks

$0.00

Ending Balance $3,117.83

Total Members 123

Total Active Members 116

Total Non-Active Members 7

Gains Or Losses This Month 1

Luncheon Stats

Active Members Attending 0

Not Attending 0

Guests & Speakers 0

% Of Active Members Attending 0%

MEMBERSHIP ATTENDANCE REPORT

December 2015

Branch 68 Honorary

Don Gregory

Jim Phelan

Eckart Sellinger

Hans Sommer

Speaker Report

January 2016

John Zeiter

Secretary

Ron Gurich

Treasurer

Ray Crawford

Membership Chairman

Jim Waltz

Little Sir

Dot Spaet was a very enthusiastic speaker, right away

she had all of us riveted to our chairs and paying

attention. She spoke about back pain and how a few

very simple exercises could alleviate some of that

pain. What she pointed out to us was that the pain

we felt in our backs was sometimes not even con-

nected with the back muscles. It was funny that

when she had us sitting on the edge of our seats and

bending over we could feel the pull in our legs and

not in our backs. She had almost the whole room

participating in these discoveries. Several of our

members filled out her handout for follow-up talks

and free gifts. Overall she was a very entertaining

and informative guest. Her rating was a 7 on a scale

of 1 to 10.

There was no BEC meeting in the month of

December so there are no minutes.

Branch 68 now has a new

website. See it at

http://sirinc2.org/Branch68/

Remember this is your web-

site, if you think it needs

something contact me at

otrax@sbcglobal.net

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Branch 68 February

2016 Newsletter

Activities

Bowling Update Bocce Ball Update

Roger Burstrem

Bowling Chairman

Jim Phelan

Bocce Chairman

Ray Kelleher

Golf Chairman

Russ Dreosch

Walking Chairman

Robert Chandler

Tennis Chairman

Golf Update

Poker Update

Tennis Update

Well, it's getting to be that time again after a long winter layoff. Bocce will begin again in March with an expanded schedule of 9 weeks instead of 7. Hopefully the rain will let up a bit so we can get some practice time on the courts. Our Weds. morning team, Al Dente, will continue if we can get 2 more players to round out a 6 man team. At pre-sent we have Ron Gurich, Bob Hiday, Frank Hemmert, and myself as the basic 4 but we need at least 2 more to make it work. Please let me know if you are interested since I have to make a team deposit on Feb.10th. On a sad note, I just learned that Sir Joe Cotla has passed on. Joe was a member of Br.68 for many years and will be remembered as the Sir who took your money at our lunch-eons. He was also a member of our 1st. Br.68 championship Bocce team and could roll with the best. He also was pretty good with the slots at the local casinos and would regale us each week with his gambling prow-ess. Rest in peace, Sir Joe

Sir Jim Phelan

Branch 68 Bowling Jackpot results

Jim Phelan led the three bowlers that earned recognition in week 16 with a nice 208 game, 513 three-game series, exceeding his average by 90 pins, to earn himself a $14 jackpot. Kent Dutrieux came in second with a 529 three-game set for a +58; Bob Hiday was next with a +32. Les Church had a 205 game for a 518 3-game set.

Jim Phelan returned to the podium in week 17 with +51 over his 3-game aver-age; Jim Sadasue was second +32; Bob Hiday hit the leader board for a 2nd week in a row with a +27; and Bob Sampson followed with a +23. Les Church had another good game of 202 for a 3-games set of 525. Charlie Salinas would have come in second with his +38, but he de-cided to save his dollar.

Our branch had a better week in #18, with 6 members breaking into the recog-nition lights and four of those get addi-tional accolades because they broke the 500 mark for the 3-game series. Bob Hiday wanted more than just be recog-nized for the previous two weeks and pushed himself to a nice +75 pins to walk with a $17 jackpot; John Noren was next with +67 while throwing a 200 game, 568 three game series; John Zeiter tossed a 203, 500 set for a + 44; Kent Dutrieux was +41 while rolling a 201, 515 3-game series; Don Gregory +39; and bringing up the rear, was my-self returning for the first time in four-teen weeks from my hernia operation to roll a 543 series for a +39.

Sir Roger Burstrem 234-6018

Golf will be starting up soon, so start cleaning off

your cleats and work on that swing.

Poker game in the Board Room located in the Pro

Shop after the luncheon.

9:00am every Wednesday at the McInnis Park

Walking

9:00am every Tuesday at the ponds behind the

McInnis Club House.

Jack Poland

Poker Chairman

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Branch 68 February

2016 Newsletter

Special Events

SIR Branch 68

Cordially invites you to Our annual

Sweetheart Luncheon & Dance Party

Tickets: $50 per person

February 13th 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.+

Jason’s Restaurant

300 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Greenbrae Western Attire is optional, there will be a Country Western Band for your listening and dancing pleasure.

Please R.S.V.P. by February 9th to Jack Futoran at Futoranjmd@gmail.com or Call (415) 435-1713 Menu:

Appetizer; Tiger Prawns & Bruschetta

Green Salad Main Course; Salmon, Steak or Brandy Chicken (Vegetarian meal on request) Dessert; Tiramisu

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Branch 68 February

2016 Newsletter

Members News

Pat & Jack Futoran 02/03/1957 59

Virginia & Don Perazzo 02/07/1965 51

Patricia & Cal Zippen 02/09/1964 52

Martina & David Bedar 02/13/1977 39

Olga & William Scharninghausen

02/14/1952 64

Patty & Dick Somers 02/14/1964 52

Patty & Ralph Schaber 02/20/1966 50

Akiko & Tom Miller 02/22/1993 23

RODNEY LONG 02/02/1925 91

JOE GRASSO 02/12/1945 71

TED COHEN 02/19/1925 91

PAUL THOMPSON 02/21/1925 91

ROBERT GLEASON 02/22/1942 74

JOHN WOY 02/22/1942 74

RONALD MARINOFF 02/27/1934 82

All the Best and a

Happy Anniversary

From Your friends at

Happy Birthday

From Everyone at

China Camp/Indian Valley SIR’s

Have Many More

Branch 68 Sunshine and Clouds Roster Updates

Editor’s Notes

Kent Dutrieux

Editor

Joe Sauerland

Sunshine Chairman

A Sympathy Card was sent to the family of Paul

Walline who had passed away. A Card will also

be sent later to the family of Joe Cotla.

I would like to take this time to remind everyone,

that if hear about a death or illness please for-

ward what information you have to me so that I

can follow up.

As I sit here working on the newsletter, it accrues to me while putting together the article on Joe Cotla that he

was a policeman for most of his life. I could imagine that for most of that time his friends and most of the peo-

ple around him were cops and what they talked about most of the day was police related. But when he joined

SIR he was now surrounded by guys who had never been cops, now he heard stories, never knowing what the

ending would be. He would need new terms explained to him. What a joy it must have been to be exposed to

new experiences. When we join SIR we are no longer cops, lawyers, accountants, truck drivers, construction,

computer, medical, government workers we are all men looking to enjoy new things with the only other people

that relate to us. I would like to take a moment and say when you’re out about town and you see that retired

guy with nothing to do or is bored, talk to him about SIR and try to show him what Joe saw in this origination.

New Rosters will be handed out at the February

Luncheon. Make sure you pick yours up.

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BRANCH 68 MEETING: Monthly Luncheons & Executive Committee Meetings are held on the SECOND Tuesday of the month. Branch Executive Committee (BEC) meets @ 10:30 AM; Social Hour starts @ 11: AM Member Luncheon at Noon at The Club at McInnis Park in San Rafael

ATTENDANCE NOTIFICATION As soon as you know that you will NOT be attending a month-ly luncheon and no later than the Thursday before the lunch-eon, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU CALL ATTENDANCE CHAIRMAN GENE GALLAGHER at 472-7865 So you will be excused and not AWOL, and we will know the

BRANCH 68 & AREA 6 ACTIVTIES

ATTENDANCE:

RULE 60; Members are obligated to attend all luncheon

Meetings unless prevented by illness or absence from the branch

locale.

RULE 100: A member may be notified in writing by his Branch

of the pending termination of his membership.

RULE 107 should he be responsible for any of the following:

(a) Miss "THREE" (3) consecutive regular luncheon meetings

without having been excused by contacting the designated

Branch Attendance person prior to the meeting date.

(b) Nonattendance at "SIX" (6) regular Luncheon meetings with-

in the previous "TWELVE" (12) consecutive months. "NOTE:"

Excused meetings may not be included to achieve the Six (6)

meeting minimum.

(c) Attendance at Ladies Day functions may be excluded by the

Branch Executive Committee.

NON RESPONSIBILITY DECLARATION: All activities arranged for or

by, or sponsored by, Sons in Retirement, Incorporated, and its

Branches, are for the convenience and pleasure of the members

and their guests who desire to participate. Sons In Retirement,

Incorporated, and its Branches do not assume any Responsibility

for the well-being or safety of the participants or their property,

In any matters pertaining to said activities. RULE 345

2016 Luncheon Schedules of SIR Branches in Area 6

Branch # 7 The Club Restaurant, McInnis Park, SR 1st Thursday

Branch # 22 The Club Restaurant, McInnis Park, SR 1st Tuesday

Branch # 47 The Club Restaurant, McInnis Park, SR 4th Tuesday

Branch # 68 The Club Restaurant, McInnis Park, SR 2nd Tuesday

Branch # 134 Embassy Suites, San Rafael 1st Tuesday

SIR, Inc. 2016 STATE OFFIERS

President:

Donald Dill (530) 885-6943

Vice President:

Jerry Strain (209) 551-8220

Secretary:

Derek Southern (925) 253-1646

Secretary Assistant:

Ron Flagel (209) 338-8109

Treasurer:

Karl Ryden

(916) 961-6137

Treasurer Assistant:

Jim Johnson (916) 961-8092

Region 10 Director:

Jim Filippo

(415) 892-2063

Area 6 Governor:

Frank

Sokolowski

(415) 892-5442

Get SIR Happeings

Sir Happenings is Published

Quarterly Every Winter,

Spring, Summer and Fall At

the Sir Website at http://

sirinc.org/sirhappenings and

download the latest issue.

Happy Reading!

Bicycling Bob Forsyth Br 134 883-6285 Bocce Ball Jim Phelan Br 68 472-2330 Bowling Roger Burstrem Br 68 234-6018 Computers Tom Egan Br 68 499-9079 Digital Cameras Art Costamagna Br 68 456-7031 Fly Fishing Larry Wade Br 134 883-7176 Genealogy Jeff Vailant Br 134 897-7808 Golf -18 Hole Ray Kellerher Br 68 479-8436 Golf - 9 Hole Jack Friesen Br 68 491-1086 Great Books Club Howard Bassett Br 134 892-0311 Investors Lunch Bunch Will Kaefer Br 47 927-1043 Men’s Bridge Bill Cline Br 134 892-0209 Poker Jack Poland Br 68 287-6645 Rolling Roamers (RV’s) Ray Canziani Br 22 453-4463 Tennis Robert Chandler Br 68 450-5237 Travel Henry Puccinelli Br 22 457-3990 Vintage Cars Joe Sauerland Br 68 479-8442 Walking/Hiking Russ Dreosch Br 68 892-5231 WWII Events/History Ted Cohen Br 68 479-7010

Branch 68 February

2016 Newsletter

Area 6