Great to see everyone after two dark weeks around the Foundation Dinner and the Thanksgiving holiday. Hope all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
I awarded all the club members as Rotarians of the Month for November for everyone's great support with the fundraising BBQ. With donations of almost everything we netted close to $1,500. For a three-hour event we made more money than the Draft Horse Classic did last year in four hard working days. Great job everyone. We need to do this more often.
Anna Dillavou is organizing our annual Christmas party this year, scheduled for Dec. 17th at Betty Cook's home. A sign-up sheet is being circulated for food items to bring. Anna along with Greg Marshall will help Betty set up on Dec. 10th. Debbie Corbett and Karen McDonald will assist on Dec. 16th, and Debbie Vander Plaats will help clean up on Dec. 18th. Debbie Corbett will be donating all paper goods, etc. Wine will be from leftovers from the Foundation dinner at a great price, and water will be from leftovers from the Rivercats game. There will be a gift exchange for those who want to participate. Should be another fun holiday social event.
Anna is also heading up our holiday basket event (with Holiday Market) to feed needy families for Christmas. We have points through Holiday Market as well as having collected $206 and 5900 points by passing the hat last week. Keep in mind that points are only good in increments of 1000 and person donating must be present to redeem. We will pass the hat again at our next meeting and the club will match what is donated up to $500. Packing of food items will take place on Dec. 17th at the market. We will need volunteers to help with this effort.
Barbara Ross, Bob Barbaro, Mike Heauser, Dave Walker and Hank Weston rang the bell for the Salvation Army at Holiday Market at Thanksgiving time, and collected $401. Great job!!!!!!! By the way, our program for the regular meeting this week will be Sid Salcido from the Salvation Army.
Barbara Ross, Greg Marshall and Lori Jayne 
worked the Cowboy Christmas event in downtown Penn Valley. 95 books were purchased for $25.53, although we had budgeted $100. 300 people were fed and 100-plus children spoke with Santa Claus.
Our Assistant District Governor Dennis Geare presented our club with a check for $1,250 last week, for a grant applied for by Bob Kline towards the bike park at Western Gateway Park. These are funds coming back to us from our support of the Rotary Foundation. Great job, Bob!!!!!!!!!
Nicole Van Vacas Gagnon was inducted as a
new member on Tuesday. Mike Dobbins was her sponsor. What a great asset Nicole will be to our club! Welcome!
Scott McFarland, CEO of Western Sierra Medical Clinic, 
spoke last week about the clinic coming to the Penn Valley, expecting to open sometime in March of 2016. Thanks, Scott.
There will be a board meeting on Tuesday, Dec 8th at 11:00am. Everyone is welcome.
In closing I want to say that I am very excited to see so many members volunteering for duties with all the events taking place around the holidays. Keep up the great work.
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