Just Last Week: August 6

Posted by Barry Hogan 
 

 

Issue No. 5 - August 6     Barry K. Hogan, Newsletter Editor

 
Our keynote speakers were Christie Goodfellow and Dawn Dunlap from the Sacramento Food Co-op.  The co-op began as a food-buying club in 1972 and opened a storefront of primarily bulk foods at 16th and P Streets in downtown Sacramento.  In 1973, this buying club was incorporated as the Sacramento Natural Foods Cooperative, a Board of Directors was elected and the first paid employee was hired.
 
The vision of the Co-op is “to provide the benefits of natural foods and products, economic cooperation, and sustainable practices to as many people as possible in the communities that we serve.”  The Co-op was recently certified as a fully organic store.  It has been such a successful operation that it is expanding into a new facility in April 2016.  The new facility will be much larger, 22,000 square feet versus 16,000 square feet now, with a second story of 16,000 square feet for the cooking school.  And there will be much more parking, expanding to 198 parking spaces instead of the current 62 spaces.
 
The Co-op is locally owned by over 11,000 owners who buy shares in the operation.  The owners are not required, like in some co-ops, to work at the facility, but there are a number of owners who do volunteer to work.  There are 162 full and part-time employees.
 
 

The Prez Says. . .

It was a pleasure to induct two new members into the Club at the last meeting.  Welcome to Erin Ravenscraft and Justin Hernandez.  If you haven’t had the opportunity to sit down and talk each of them, please take the time to make them feel a welcomed part of our club.
 
I got an invite from Joe Ariniello a marketing coordinator who is helping with “The FroYo Run on Saturday, August 22nd at River Walk Park at 651 2nd Street in West Sacramento, CA.  He needs some volunteers to help run the event.  The volunteer shifts range from 3 to 4 hours and you can help with check-ins from 6 am to 10 am, the course from 7:30 am to 11 am, the party area from 8 am to noon, course watch from 5:30 am to 9 am, breakdown from 11 am to 2 pm, and goodie bag packing on Friday, August 21 from 5 pm to 8 pm.  If you are interested please sign up at the following link, http://www.eventbrite.com/e/froyo-run-sacramento-volunteer-sign-up tickets-16729519443?aff=ROTSAC Their goal is to raise $10,000 for the ALS Association.  For your efforts at this worthwhile event, you will receive a t-shirt and a cup of frozen yogurt.  But it’s not about the gifts, it’s about the service!
 
On August 15 is the Rotary Zone Membership New Focus Training for which I have registered, as well as Anne Hasbrook, JR and Michael.  On August 24 is the District Golf Tournament.   Although it is still some time from now, you get a discount the earlier you sign up for the Rotary Foundation Dinner!  I would like to fill at least one table, if not two.  Sign up now.  Contact Leigh-Ann Reinero at lreinero@yahoo.com or 916-803-6895 for registration information.  The cost, through the end of August is $55/person, which goes to $65 through October 23rd and $75/person after that!  The event is at the Double Tree Hotel on November7th starting at 6 p.m.
 
There will be the 2nd Annual Walk4Literacy on October 17.  This fundraiser was promoted by a visiting Rotarian from the Sacramento Downtown Club.  Check it out at www.walk4literacy.org .
 
Only one more meetings before the Parade of Presidents take over for me while I am on vacation.  The Parade is as follows:
 
8/20               Dave Lambros
8/27               Anne Hasbrook
9/3                 JR Springer
9/10               Jim Tracy
9/17               Craig Stevenson
9/24               Barbara Tracy
10/1               Krysia Falltrick
10/8               Michael DiGrazia
 
Our August 13th meeting is at Iron Grill.  Our keynote speaker will be our RYLA students.   See you there.