Half the Year Gone!

Here it is mid December and you are wondering about the title to this post. "Obviously, the year is almost over, what the heck is he talking about?" Well, I'm talking "Rotary year" here. July 1 through June 30.

Last July I assumed my duties as District Governor for Rotary International District 5190. So, on January 1, 2013 I will be half way through my year. From my view point today, the first half is the busiest and most challenging. The biggest task, and the most visible one, is making the "Official Club Visits." This is a hard requirement. The DG must personally visit each club at least once during the year. It may be a "hard" requirement, but it is probably the most rewarding part of the job. Visiting each club and getting a first hand look at the great things they are doing for their communities, and for the world. In addition, without exception Rotarians treat the Governor with incredible kindness and courtesy.

With 58 clubs to visit, it truly is a task that takes quite a bit of planning and preparation. Kim pulled the heavy load in August of LAST year when she drafted our first schedule. Scheduling was not straightforward, as each visit included a two hour "nuts and bolts" meeting with club leadership prior to the regular club meeting. For noon clubs, this "board meeting" typically occurred  the morning of the meeting. For evening clubs, we met with the leadership in the afternoon before the meeting, and for clubs with breakfast meetings, we would meet the evening before. After many months of refinement and adjustment of the schedule, our journey began on July 10th of 2012.

A key focus of each visit, is "the speech". Much time, training, and energy is put into this duty of the Governor. The point is to educate, and hopefully inspire the club membership with a meaningful and well delivered talk. I spent many hours researching and writing my speech. At the time it seemed that it would be difficult to speak for an entire half hour (the traditional time allotted). My first two visits were to smaller, less formal evening clubs. This was an incredible stroke of luck.  The main reason being that I way "over wrote" my speech! Both clubs were very considerate and patient with me. I ran over 50 minutes the first time, and nearly 45 the second! Since they were evening clubs, I didn't have anyone who had to leave precisely on time get up and walk out before I was finished. I managed to get the timing under control soon enough for my first mid day club visit. However, for the entire journey, I was always right up against the clock with each club. Most Presidents managed to get me up to the podium with a few minutes to spare.

Greenville, my first "Club Visit".

My speech went way long the first time at
Greenville. You can see my handwritten notes.

I cut around 10 minutes off the speech for the
 second visit at Carson City Sunset.

Nobody left when I went long, nice crew!

My most memorable experience was down in Auburn. I was struggling with a back spasm between visiting the Rotary Club of Auburn, and Auburn Daybreak the next morning. I was in a lot of pain for the Auburn noon meeting and it was getting worse. I returned to the hotel to freshen up afterwards, and before the board meeting for the Daybreak Club. My back was hurting so badly I could hardly walk. In desperation I took two 5 mg anti-inflammatory pills (or so I thought!). Then I discovered that by mistake I had actually taken two 10 mg sleeping pills! I thought I would be a little drowsy, and still complete my board meeting obligation. However, after arriving and the opening pleasantries with the club president, I fell asleep right there at the table! Luckily the full board hadn't arrived there and the President, Assistant Governor, and Kim helped me sleep walk back to the car. I don't know how Kim got me to the room, but I didn't wake up until around 11:00 pm! I rolled over and went back to sleep until 6:00 am when Kim woke me up for the breakfast meeting! The meeting went well, and the president was very gracious and forgiving.

As I am being introduced at the Auburn meeting,
I am wondering if I will be able to stand up.

President of Auburn Daybreak, Steven Lease
was very nice to me after I slept through his
board meeting the evening before!

My most distant visit was to the Rotary Club of Ely Nevada. Over 400 miles away, Ely sits pretty close to the Utah border! It is a very nice city, and the club is one of the oldest in the district. We had a great visit, as the club held their meeting in the evening (they normally meet at noon) at the historic old post office building in town. It was all decorated for Christmas, and the dinner was a delicious prime rib. I felt good about this meeting. The club is pretty isolated from other clubs in the district, and I felt I connected with them. They are a strong club that provides a tremendous amount of service to their community. Truly an honor to spend some time with them.

The road to Ely was the longest, but it was a beautiful drive.

We had several weeks where we visited four clubs, and a few days where we visited two clubs (four meetings in all). However, we did a good job of spreading this wonderful duty out until our final visit last week (December 13th) at my own club of Loyalton.

My final visit was great. We met with club leadership at the President's (Mr Clean's) beautiful home at 10:00 am. We had a great productive discussion, and the nice thing was that I get to join in and continue these discussions later. We drove the 5 minutes to the Loyalton Community Church where the club meets, and got there in time to meet and greet my fellow club members. After lunch, I got to give a club award to one of the most wonderful people I have ever known. Elia "Nana" Miles. She is over ninety, and still makes every single meeting, and is always the first to volunteer to help in any club activity. She was very moved by the recognition, and I know the club was moved as well. A great choice by our president, Mr. Clean! Then, I was privileged to induct a new member into our club, Kim! The club recognized her continued service to the club and Rotary by making her an Honorary Member. She was very touched, and it was wonderful to see.

We had a great meeting at Mr. Clean's house!

Food and fun with my Club!!

Then I gave my speech for the last time. Kim said that I did a better job than I had at any other club. It was a very emotional moment for me, and I know that it showed. At the end, the club gave me a standing ovation. What a wonderful feeling.

Now it is on to Mid-Term visits, and the District Conference. It seems unbelievable that my official visits have come to an end. bittersweet!

That's All!

New Driveway

Well, a quick one to update y'all on happenings here at the Wilbanks homestead.

A few weeks ago I was home alone (always dangerous) and heard a horn honk outside. I went out to investigate and it was a man representing a paving company.

He said he had just finished a job, and had some material left over. He wanted to "use it up" and would make me a deal for cost. Well, our place does get a little muddy even with the gravel I have put down over the years. I dickered with him and we settled on a price (a little over $2.00 per square foot). I told him I had to leave the house in three hours, but he said he could finish by then. What happened next was pretty awesome.

Now Kim will have a clean place to wash her horse!

I took 1/2 load of hot pavement.

Very cool little paving machine.

They came in with a bobcat tractor and started grading. The guy was good, but not good enough to immediately knock over one of my standpipes and bust a geyser at the side of the house. I quickly turned off the water, and they got on the phone to get parts. Meanwhile the fellow kept grading, as they unloaded the paving machine, roller, and other equipment.

It wasn't long before they had the pipe fixed, the grading done, and were ready to start paving. They were a well coordinated crew. All I did was stay out of the way, and take a few pictures.

Scene of the crime. This is where they busted my hose bib!

The machine barely fit!!

When they were done, I had quite a large piece of my driveway area paved. Now I have quite a large buffer to prevent mud and dirt from being tracked into the house. It also adds a lot to the appearance of the place. I am not at all certain I got that great of a deal...it was all so spur of the moment. But after thinking and stewing about it for a while, I don't think I got skinned. Never would have done this any other way that's for sure.

That's All!

Fast Forward!

Well, it seems like a blur since I last posted on September 3rd. Another month and a half of Rotary Club visits, and Rotary Seminars and Rotary leadership meetings and functions. All of this and a few bumps in the road to punctuate the wonderful (and I really mean it) life of a District Governor.

On Monday we will visit our 40th club! It is the Rotary Club of Reno, the largest and oldest club in our District (no pressure!). Then that evening we will attend the first of about 10 Area Foundation Dinners that will celebrate The Rotary Foundation. The dinner is in Quincy, and should be very enjoyable.

So, thought a few highlights of the last month and a half would be good (Rotary and not).

My "project that never ends"...painting the barn continued during spare moments and days this summer. I got the eves on the east side prepped and primed in early August, while Maggie worked on preparing a portion of the fence for painting. All sorts of things held up this project. I had an old airless sprayer that I had gotten but never used. In going through it to get it ready to use (I was way over confident) I found several parts deteriorated and rotted away inside the mechanism. I made orders over the internet, and after several delays due to shipping errors, I spent an entire day overhauling the unit. Then, the moment of truth....it didn't work!

My painting uniform

I used my neighbor's lift on the west side eves. So much
better than the ladder method I used on the east side!

Plan B: went to Home Depot and bought a new sprayer! Then after a week or two of conflicts, went to put it together and go to work. Oops! A couple of key parts were missing! So, it was another week or two before I had exchanged the unit, and got the chance to fire it up. It worked great and I finished painting Maggie's fence and the eastern barn eves! Another several days (weeks) of Rotary conflicts, and I managed to prep, prime and paint the eves on the west side of the barn. Finally, we had our first frost and painting season is over. I will get the red painted next year!

Putting the finishing touches on the fascia board. The horse
was good company. He kept nibbling on my legs and
sniffing my feet!

Beau and Emily Barkley had a baby shower for their expected baby boy. It was very fun, lots of young families there. It brought back many great memories. I won a prize for a sculpture of the coming baby. It was  an infants figure, laying on its stomach, naked, and anatomically correct (for a boy that is!). It got lots of laughs. Beau and Emily are being pretty close to the vest on names. Sooooo, I think that if they name the boy Fenn (it would be the fourth generation with that name: Great Grandpa, Grandpa, and Daddy) they ought to call him "Biff"! Don't you think it goes well? Buck, Beau, and Biff Barkley!! I "yike" it!!

The anatomically correct sculpture of little "Biff"!
As you can see a real boy!!

Sweet Mother Em opening her presents.

Cousin Christie made this very cute fruit salad!

Emily and Christie. Doesn't Em look cute with a baby bulge?!

 We hit our highest Rotary mileage couple of weeks yet in late September. Up to Alturas were we visited three clubs and stayed in a beautifully restored hotel. Then home and then next week down to Tonopah where we stayed in another beautifully restored hotel. Had a blow out on the way there, and had to ride the last hour and 45 minutes on the spare. Bought a new tire the next morning in Tonopah, and had an excellent club meeting.

We stayed in the "Western Room" at the Niles Hotel in
Alturas. It was beautifully done.

Western bathroom and shower at the Niles Hotel. It is
being restored by an Alturas Rotarian.

Changing the tire in Hawthorne Nevada. Needless to say
we were late for the meeting in Tonopah!

The sitting area in the lobby of the beautifully restored
Mizpah Hotel in  Tonopah!

Our hotel on Mainstreet Tonopah.

Then it was over the hill to Bishop and Mammoth Lakes. Finally, we made it home late Sunday afternoon. Total mileage for the two weeks was over 1,000! It was lots of fun though. We camped out in Bishop that weekend at a Rotary weekend event. I won the pistol shooting contest, and Kim took a trek to Manzanar, the WWII era relocation camp for Japanese Americans that is near by. It was a fun weekend.

Our range master has just set up the diabolical "Texas Star"
target for us. Five targets at the tips of the arms come off when
hit. This puts the wheel into motion through imbalance after
the first hit. On my last try, I hit 5 for 5 with my 45 ACP! 

Monument to the Japanese Americans so unjustly treated
 at the internment camp Manzanar.

Me and PDG Larry from Lancaster at a dinner
during the Sierra Safari

The long hours in the car and truck took their toll however, and my back started to go into major lockup and spasm on Monday night before leaving to Auburn to visit the three Rotary clubs there. It got so bad that in the wee hours of Tuesday morning in desperation I took 15 mg of prednisone to calm it down. It worked! The meeting at lunch that day was fine, but afterwards, my back started going again, and by one hour before my next meeting I was unable to stand or walk normally and in great pain. I was heading out from the motel room to the meeting (a board meeting luckily) and grabbed another two 5 mg prednisone pills. Kim saw me, and checked the bottle. She told me I had taken two 10 mg pills! I examined the label, and realized that I had just mistakenly taken 20 mg of powerful sleeping pills. Well, to make a long story short, we got to the board meeting, and the Club President escorted us in. I was walking like Igor by now my back was so far gone. I took a seat at the table, and.......went to sleep! Kim tried to rouse me, but I could not maintain consciousness! The Club President decided that it would be best if the rest of the board din't see me in my catatonic state. So, he and Kim somehow loaded me into the car. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in my motel room. I had slept for about 13 hours!! The rest of the week was uneventful, with two more great visits to very strong and active Rotary clubs!!

This last week was a little bit of a respite. Just two clubs, with only two clubs next week! YES!!

Well, that's about all I have for now. Hopefully I will be able to post again soon (but I doubt it). Maybe over Thanksgiving, I get a whole week off then!!

That's All!

Labor Day!

Well Labor Day weekend is almost over. Had a great time, and several things of note to report on.

First of all, it was a welcome respite from Rotary duties, as I had almost 5 days off without an official function of some sort to attend, I of course had to keep up on administrative chores such as email and preparing for visits this week, but it was nice to sleep at home for 5 nights in a row. This week we have two Clubs in Reno to visit, both lunch clubs, and so we will be staying at home all of this week as well! Life is good,

Our Neighbors to the South, Mark and Toni Grieves had a big Labor Day Weekend blowout with friends from their motorcycle club at their ranch. It sounded like lots of fun as we listened to at least two different bands over the course of the weekend. Lots of Harleys too! We did not get the chance to go and visit, but we did spend some time with Mark and Toni's Grand Daughter Marissa. She is very much into horses, and Kim took little Hobo out and saddled her up for her and several other children. They all got rides with Kim in the lead. Marissa, however is a good rider and was on her own.

Kim and I pick hooves and put on boots while Marissa
looks on.

Two of our friends from way back, Craig and Debbie Schroeder, dropped in to spend the weekend with us as well. So on Sunday we loaded the horses up, and went to Lakes Basin with the Schroeders, and Marissa for a ride to Big Bear Lake. The weather was warm and beautiful. I took Remington along, as she is more easygoing than Delta, and I could not take both dogs. I was expecting lots of canine company on the trail, and I was right. Remi was very well behaved, and so were the twenty or so other dogs we encountered along the trail (all on leashes).

We let Marissa and Kim lead off and followed on foot. Soon, we lost sight of them. We decided to take the long way in to Big Bear, past Long Lake. It is a very steep trail, actually comprised of up to a foot tall granite steps in many places. With the elevation exceeding 6,000 feet, and being out of shape, it was a lot of work. However, we finally made it to the lake and met up with Kim and Marissa for a tuna fish sandwich lunch!

Such a pretty boy!

Marissa is mounted up, I am adjusting Kim's stirrup
(long legged Viola rode last), and Debbie keeps Remi in check
as we make final preparations. 

We made it after taking the looooong way!

Remi loved the water, but was also interested in a
back scratch!

Remi loved swimming in the lake, and I loved sitting down for a while to watch! Soon we were ready to head back by completing the shorter half of the loop trail (that is also almost all downhill). On the way out, Craig climbed onto Hobo, and Marissa walked with us commoners. Kim was the only one that sat in the saddle the whole day. Once again the horses led off and were soon out of sight. When we finally got back to the trailer, Kim discovered that Fuego had thrown off one of his walking boots. So, we back tracked to where we thought he might have lost it (luckily not more than 1/4 mile back) and went into search mode. Marissa earned her weekend ride by spotting the boot well off to the side of where the horses had been walking. So, it was a happy ending.

Kim had a great day on Fuego (she calls him Blue). He was "just a perfect gentleman" in her words. This was wonderful since she had predicted a tough day as he would be "stale and very sassy" in her words. But, she warmed him up well prior to mounting, and they had an awesome day together.

We finished off the day with an excellent barbecue, and good wine, with excellent company, and the biker band pounding in the distance.

Today I finished up my prep for next week, made a few phone calls of encouragement, and generally relaxed. All in all, a fantastic weekend!

That's All!

The Bros Are Back in Town!

Well, after three weeks of Rotary club visits, it was time to head to my Dad's place in Oakdale. We arranged to meet the first weekend in August since Kim and I would be finishing up a week of Governor's visits at the Rotary Club of Ione. The only down side was that we had to take two cars as Kim had to head back home on Friday, while I headed the opposite direction to Oakdale. I drove down in the old 1966 VW Bug (Maggie calls it Stalin). Primitive, but fun to drive!

It was a great early morning trip from Ione. Cruising along at 55 mph through the foothills, vineyards, and orchards in the valley, with the windows and wind wings open. I made it to Dad's place in a little over an hour and a half. Everyone was out in the garage repairing the door since Don had gotten distracted and back his car into it. No permanent damage, and we quickly got it squared away. After visiting for a while, John, Mike and I took off for a walk around the subdivision. I took along a little 10 pound "kettle bell" weight and did arm exercises as we walked and talked. It was hot, and we worked up a good sweat, as we walked for about a half an hour.

Took this with my timer.

We came in and woke Dad up after the walk. He spends most of his time in bed now, so we climbed in with him and visited for a while.

Dinner time was special, as Don and I went to the store, and selected some good looking rib eye steaks, and Big John was the grill-master, with Mike as grill adviser. I sauteed up a vegetable medley, and Don whipped up a salad. It was a great meal with better company!

After Dinner Shelly came over to stay with Dad, and the four boys headed out for a movie. We saw the latest Batman movie "The Dark Prince Rises". It was entertaining, but a little long, and I think over hyped. Don't get me wrong, I very much enjoyed it, but I would rate it a 7 out of 10.

The grill masters!!

Today, I made some spanish tostada y tomata para mi hermanos. They loved it! Shelly came by again, and off we went to Calaveras Big Trees State Park. It was a little bit of a drive, but well worth it. We took some sandwiches and had a picnic lunch in the shade of the giant redwoods. After lunch, we headed out on a trail through the park. Walking through the forest brought back may good memories.

Don and Mike

Up the trail.

Ancient Giant!

John had the trail brochure!

Ancient root wad!

Tomorrow, Mike and I will head back north and join Teri near Sacramento. We plan on an In and Out burger lunch (animal style of course). After lunch Mike and Teri will be heading to the airport, and I will head back up the hill to home. It is always so much fun to get together with my Bros!

That's All!

Independence Day!!

Happy new year! Well, Rotary new year that is. I have now officially assumed my duties the District Governor of Rotary International District 5190. My good friends from the Portola Club invited me to kick it all off in the Graeagle Independence Day parade (on July 1st this year) last Sunday.

Kim and I met Ralph and Ann Taylor at around 10:30 in the morning and headed to parade registration. We arrived at the Graeagle Chevron to get connected with my "Ride" Bill Tantau in his 1949 MG TC. Bill is a Portola Rotarian who acquired the car in the mid sixties. It is a very cool set of wheels.

Bill and his sweet 1949 MG TC

MG is a British make, and the letters stand for "Morris Garage". Several years ago the brand and license were sold to an outfit in Malaysia. The TC indicates the model. The "T" series was produced from 1936 to 1955, and the TC was the third version. The one Bill owns is a 1949 model that was imported to the US. Interesting that it still had the steering wheel on the Right hand side. Pretty cool!


The Portola Rotary Club had several cool car entries, including a Model A Ford pick up truck, and a 1935 Ford sedan. Their Youth Exchange Student (Rachael Wehrman who is going to Sicily) rode in a beautiful 2008 Corvette! Kim rode in the Taylor's convertible "New Beetle". She was dressed up as Betsy Ross, and got many compliments!!

Model A Pickup on the left, and 1935 Ford on the right.

Gloria LaPlant, Portola's Club President, me, and Betsy Ross!

Ralph and Ann's VW with flag wavers in the back!

So, we had a few days to recover from the Graeagle Parade, before the Actual July 4th Parade and Picnic/Auction in Loyalton. This was a good thing, because this is a long and exhausting (but fun) day. It starts with a parade through Loyalton that includes an "instant replay". The entries move down main street, circle out through some residential streets, then come back onto main street and return for a second pass in the opposite direction. After the parade, there is a big celebration out at the Rotary Picnic Grounds that includes craft vendors, games for the kids, soda, beer, and hot dogs, a live auction (flea market type items), and a barbecue lunch. This year we also had live music after the auction.


My day started early as I had to pull the local high school band on our flatbed trailer in the parade. They are called the Room 10 band, and they are really very good. Musicians include drums, lead guitar, bass guitar, rhythm guitar, keyboard, and a couple of female vocalists. They decorated the trailer the day before and we were ready to roll at 9:00. They were very well received by the crowd, and won "Best of Parade"! My favorite number was "Wipeout" by the Surfaris! The lead guitar's version of Jimmi Hendrix' Star Spangled Banner was nicely done, but got mixed reviews (I loved it). 

Decorating the "Float"!

The "Room 10 Band"

Best of Parade Trophy

Then it was off to the park to cook Tri-Tip roast, and sell junk at the auction. The Tri-Tip was a new deal this year, as we had done a deep pit brisket buried in 7 to 8 cords of flaming cord wood for near 30 years. The Tri-Tip was a hit, and I think we actually made more money than ever before!  Maggie and Lucy came to help serve food. They were a huge help, and slapped out potato salad and beef for about an hour and a half in the blazing July sun with the hot barbecue to their backs and no shade! They deserve a medal!

Mini-Coop wraps meat (left) and
"Upchuck" throws some roasts onto the grill.

Maggie slings potato salad, and Lu slaps on the beef!
Notice the tan on Lucy's arm?

Finally it was over, and I assessed the damage Kim had done at the auction. She purchased one ton of Hay (good), and several furniture items (not so good). However, she played a great role in driving bids up for many of the auction items. My guess is she netted the club several hundred additional bucks that will be used on community service projects and scholarships! She deserves a medal too!

"Betsy" sits at a retro computer desk she purchased.

When I got home I crashed in my recliner in the shade with a jug of ice cold lemonade. Happy birthday America!!


That's All!