Greetings 5170 Century Builders,
This morning we did not have breakfast but we remembered back a few
days when we saw the Sisk’s enjoying their breakfast.
We do so many good things in our District and Jon and his brother-in-law
Ken Whiting put on an annual bike ride (the pedaling kind) called Ken
and Jon’s Excellent Adventure. This started as just a fun bike
ride for the Santa Cruz Sunrise members.
It has grown into a major fund raiser for Club which benefits the kids
of Santa Cruz County. The cause is tremendous but as is in the true
Rotary fashion the fellowship and fun is a major key component of this
event. There is fun, joking, camaraderie of accomplishment, and just
great fun.
Ken and Jon are going to be putting together our warm up for the festivities
of the District Conference next year. We are going to have on Saturday
the 14th of May 2005 starting early in the morning a 10K run (a 100K
relay with no baton, a team of 10 runners running at the same time,
details to follow).
This event will be followed by the largest ever gathering of surfing
Rotarians with a commemorative ceremony to recognize the event. Some
of the Rotarians may be using kayaks. This event will be followed with
a large BBQ and fellowship on the deck of the Boardwalk which is right
at the beach in Santa Cruz.
As Cindy and I were riding over to the Osaka dome on the bus we were
reflecting on the events of the night before at the District 5170 Fellowship
Event which Brad and Jolene had done such a marvelous job in organizing.
I welcomed everyone on behalf of Don Allen and we thanked him for his
efforts in the Lend a Hand Year.
The
pictures help our reflections on the enjoyable evening. Carolyn Schuetz,
who will be our Centennial District Foundation Chair and her husband
Lloyd Baysdorfer we voted as the most photogenic lovebirds at the event.
Let us know if you agree.
The picture that Cindy got of 3 different families, the Angius’,
the Luedtkes, and the Hennings, of the Los Altos Rotary Club at the
District Fellowship Event gave us the vision that there are many Los
Altos stories. 
The
importance of the Los Altos Story in raising our awareness about an
important issue is never to be forgotten yet there are so many stories
in the Los Altos Rotary Club and in every club. This picture was a great
reminder of the bridge building that we all do as we see not only 3
families but possibly 3 generations including future Rotarians.
The picture of the Pleasanton North Rotary Club contingency was great
in that Herb Ritter our Club Service Chair for the District brought
his Father to the Convention. How great to see the Family of Rotary
in our midst. 
Welcome
to the Rotary District 5170 Mr. Senior Ritter. I never did a chance
to ask why Herb and his Dad are so different, his dad is such a nice
guy (joke, joke, this is only a joke). It was real pleasure to see them
both together and enjoying each other.
Bill Wheeler and his wife were also appearing to be enjoying themselves.
They own a Limousine Service and I was wondering if when Brad ordered
around 30 taxis to take everybody home, 
whether
Bill was wondering if he could ever respond that quickly with enough
Limos to take everybody home from a party (there is absolutely no proof
that this was on his mind, ….. totally conjecture on my part).
The Plenary session was over at 12 noon and then we took a bus back
to the Hotel and Cindy and tow of my classmate DGE’s and a spouse
went for a walk to see what we could see while exploring. We saw a very
famous street in Osaka, Japan Fukushima Street. We found a small restaurant
and enjoyed fellowship and eats as we relaxed during our free time.
Saying goodbye from Osaka, Japan.
See you on the website tomorrow.
Ron and Cindy
