Stardate 2009.233 - California JCI Senate/Jaycees meeting

Friday, August 21, 2009

I drove down to Oxnard with Herb and Joe A as passengers (see what respect the president has in his/her home state). We checked into the hotel then we were off to the hospitality room until time to head out to dinner at an al fresco pizzeria. The Senate Board meeting began as soon as everyone returned from dinner and there was a lively discussion of a copyright infringement claim charged to the Senate. The Tiger Corp. meeting followed and was quite well attended by some folks that we have not seen in many moons. Probably because one of our long time Jaycee members and current Terrible Tiger, Brian Omatsu, was to receive his Senatorship that evening at the corps meeting. Back to the hospitality room for a while before retiring for the night.



Saturday, August 22, 2009











The morning began with the CA Senate breakfast meeting where Region X VP Carolyn Smith was in attendance and spoke to the group. I had the opportunity to speak as well and present president Karen Talamantes with her pips, pin and flag set. She presented me with one of the California Senate shirts for this year.

The highlight of the morning was the attendance of longtime friend and past president of the California Jaycees, Drew and Sondra Frohlick.

After the meeting the Foundation officers that needed to be on the check signature card assembled and went down to the local bank so we could all be together to verify our signatures (hooray Patriot Act). We thought that we could get this done quickly and get back in time for a Foundation meeting. This was not to be and it took about three hours go get everything completed. Many of the trustees that had driven in for the meeting had to leave before we completed our business at the bank so an informal meeting was held in the lounge area. Following the foundation meeting we had a meeting of the Concord 2010 committee then a short time in the hospitality room before driving to "The Greek at the Harbor" for dinner. Some wine, good food and some entertainment by the staff at the restaurant. I had to leave early as I was requested by the Jaycees to count votes during the elections - Kevin Alson drove me back while the others stayed for more entertainment. I left so fast that I did not pay my share of the wine but took care of that later.

The Jaycee elections were twofold, First was the issue of replacing the president for the current year. It seems that president Matt Bromand had to resign and per bylaws the COB takes over until an election can be held to select a new president for the remainder of the term. Claudia Sheridan was elected to fill in for the remainder of 2009 while Paul Farmer from Salinas was elected as the new president to take over the reins on January 1.

The theme for the weekend was the 70's and you should have seen the hippies that showed up. VP CJ Jorif had a special version of the 70's trivia game modeled after the Jeopardy TV show which became quite rowdy. As president KT said, "there was peace and love everywhere" make up your own story.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Attended the Jaycee business meeting until it was time to pack the car and head for home. It was great to be back with the California Senate although this may very well be my last and only chance to visit California this year as president.

Stardate 2009.225 - North Dakota Jaycees 75th Anniversary

Thursday, August 13, 2009

I was up at 3:00 AM to catch BART to the airport as I was traveling alone this trip. I arrived at the airport with little time to spare. A layover in Minneapolis gave me a chance to grab some lunch before boarding my flight to Minot, SD. I arrived about 10 minutes late and Treasurer Bruce Geddes was there to pick me up and get me to the hotel which was only 5 minutes away. I and Bruce enjoyed a couple of Scotches until Angie and Marilyn arrived and took us to a Chinese buffet for dinner. Afterward we helped put pins on the registration lanyards and mingled until around 11Pm when I sauntered off to bed.

Friday, August 14, 2009











Up at 8Am and met the group to go out to the Golf course. After all the Golfers T'd off I helped put up the tents, moved tables and arranged the site for the meting and lunch. Most of the Golfers were in by the time the steaks were grilled and the meeting started. Denise arrived just before lunch and during the meeting gave an update on the 2010 meeting in Concord. I had the chance to speak to the group and was presented with a Crib board, Tie and some additional gifts. I presented ND president Jim VanEckhout with his pips, pin and flag set.












After the meeting we returned to the hotel where each past ND JCC president hosted a hospitality table which had displays of memorabilia and scrapbooks from their year. There was lots of food and drink. I had more than I needed and was soon off to bed.

Saturday, August 15, 2009












Up on Saturday morning and Michelle led Denise,Randy and I off on an adventure with Bruce doing the driving.. Our first stop was the North Dakota "pile of rocks" in Rugby- actually an obelisk marking the geographical center of the North American continent. Our second stop was the "Turtle". this is a very large image of a turtle constructed with wheel rims welded together. Randy and I clambered up on the structure for a photo or two. Stop number three was at the International Peace Gardens on the border between Canada and the US. Needless to say we needed our passports to get back to the US of A. We all took a stroll through the gardens and had a box lunch that the hotel had prepared for us along with soft drinks.












Upon returning to the border crossing we were instructed to drive the vehicle inside of the inspection building. We were then led into a waiting room while the vehicle was searched. We were also required to surrender our passports (good thing we all had one) and fill out an immigration form. Nothing of interest was found so we were released. I'm not sure but perhaps the fact that we had two from California, one from North Dakota, One from Ohio, and one person from Minnesota in a vehicle with Montana plates might have led them to question our motives.

We arrived back at the hotel in time to dress in all our formal finery and get to the reception preceding the Banquet. The majority of the banquet focused on the Senate. Ten Senatorships were presented and it was quite a big deal. All the Senators lined up around the room (almost halfway around) and as each new Senatorship was presented they walked the line and were congratulated by every Senator in attendance. They each took their place in line as the next Senatorship was presented. The new ND Jaycee president was sworn in, US JCC President John Weber spoke as well as past US JCC president Mike Faller. I had the opportunity to speak and presented president John Weber with my communicator pin. The evening continued with dancing and socializing until around midnight.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Arose, packed, printed boarding passes and checked emails. Attended part of the ND JCC Meeting and were treated to lunch by Michelle and Angie before being dropped off at the airport for the trip home.

Another great visit with our Senate Family.

Stardate 2009.218 - West Virginia Steak Fry

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Up Early (again) for our flight to Pittsburgh where John & Debbie Price picked Wendy and me up at the airport. We stopped on the way to Wheeling WV. for a photo Opportunity with the Veterans Bridge spanning the Ohio River between Weirton, WV and Steubenville, Ohio. The bridge carries six lanes of US Rte 22. It is what is known as a cable-stayed girder design, and was opened to traffic in 1990. The single inverted "Y" tower that supports the span rises 360 feet above the river. The span is nearly 2,000 feet long. We then had dinner on the deck of Uncle Pete's restaurant with an overview of the river. John took us on a tour through some of the town of Wheeling with it's many old Victorian homes. That evening at the Price's home we shared some wine and a video of an old MAI meeting with many familiar faces. John Price and Larry Richmond in drag was the highlight. It was a spoof on a beauty queen pageant the queen was appropriate but the beauty was questionable. John did a recitation of Casey at the Bat, in a queenie dialog of course, which had me rolling on the floor. What a great act..

Friday, August 7, 2009

We had breakfast at the Price diner. Debbie was not feeling quite well so she stayed home while John gave us the royal tour of Wheeling including a park with wonderful displays of flowers, all nurtured on site in a large greenhouse. We then beamed down to the waterfront for a photo of a the Wheeling Suspension Bridge spanning the main channel of the Ohio River between downtown Wheeling, West Virginia and Wheeling Island. Completed in 1849, it is the first bridge to span the Ohio River, and the oldest suspension bridge in the world that is still operating.

John phoned Debbie and she was feeling much better so we returned to pick her up and proceeded to the next stop which was the Grave Creek Indian Mound complex. John and I climbed to the top while the "girls" watched our prowess from below. Our next stop was the retired West Virginia State Penitentiary where we joined a tour of the facility. Sure not a place I would like to spend any time. There was a surprise in the old visitation room - A large painting of the Jaycee Shield on the wall from the former prison chapter. Our next stop was at the Landing Restaurant for a beer and small lunch. On the way back to the Price home we passed a Dairy Queen and the urge to stop for some cool refreshment was overwhelming and we gave in to our desires. Back at the house we decided that none of us were very hungry so we packed the car and headed to Bridgeport and our hotel for the night.

We met up with WV president Rick Rutter and we were off to a chinese buffet for dinner. As we arrived at the restaurant I received a call from past US JCC president Denise O'Neil with concerns about Senator interference with the Wyoming Jaycees. I will look into what the problem might be through Region 9 VP Angie Struttmann. Back to the hotel and we met in Rick's room for a few cocktails before retiring for the night.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Wendy and I met Rick for breakfast and then he took us to Prickets fort where we met some very knowledgeable folks dressed in period costumes and demonstrating how folks went about their daily chores. We visited Morgan Cabin as well which was the home of the first settler in West Virginia. We returned to the hotel to pick up our luggage as well as the bar, stored in Rick's room, for transport to Melkaus Manor and the WV Senate Steak Fry.

The food was good, the friends were jovial and the hospitality wonderful. I met Senator 3151 named KC he is 85 years young and a great guy. I had the opportunity to speak to the assemblage during the meeting an presented Rick with his Pips, Pin and Flag set. Rick presented me with a WVU Jersey and Cap which I am to wear while in Pittsburgh. Conrad presented me with a bottle of wine.

We transferred our bags to EJ and Linda Miller's car and they took us to the Hampton Inn in Pittsburgh for Saturday night. The Inn is near the Airport for tomorrows travel.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

EJ and Linda picked us up at the hotel at 9 Am and treated us to breakfast then delivered Wendy and me to the airport in plenty of time to make our flight home.

Thanks to the great hospitality of the West Virginia Senate.