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The FOGHORN
ROTARY CLUB OF HALF MOON BAY
February 8, 2018
SHOP TALKS - Susan Kealey and Dick Charnock
Article by Susan Kealey
Photos by EJ Dieterle
Susan Kealey - (Charles Deardorf was her sponsor.)
I’m writing my own Shoptalk! It was fabulous, the end, lol. Okay, I began at the beginning growing up in Lake County, CA., Native Californian, from a small isolated town, Dad was president of his Lions Club and a volunteer firefighter. Giving back to community and volunteerism was part of growing up.
Career notes included business college, Empire College of Commerce in Santa Rosa; working for the State of CA as staff support in MediCal Investigations and the Dept. Of Consumer Affairs, Medical Licensing Division. After determining I needed something more lucrative and challenging, I answered an ad in the paper and signed on with a brand new bank, Borel Private Bank and Trust Company. I eventually rose up through the ranks to become a VP and head the Trust Operations group.
On retirement—plan, plan, plan. Financial and personal. Plan for the worst financially and plan for what you will do with all that time. For the latter, Rotary is a great advantage providing camaraderie, social interaction and contacts.
Gardening is my passion. I grow organically, mostly veggies. My current favorite is Chayote squash (I have seeds to share). I have also been working on a pollinator garden. My new interest is Brugmansias, aka Angel Trumpet, just because they love this area. Every year I like to push the envelope and try something challenging— last year was corn. This year’s challenge is Amaranth. I got Heirloom seed from some farmers from Guatemala that I met at the Heirloom Expo
Dick Charnock - (Dave Cresson was his sponsor.)
Dick is a 39 year veteran of Coastside living. He was originally a member of the San Mateo Club until he moved here. He assured us that he still works even though he is a old guy and he doesn’t plan on retiring. When he came here 39 years ago, he opened a business which included a mortgage company, real estate partnerships, residential development, and residential mortgages. His son has run the office in San Diego for ten years now. Their company is approved with 29 vendors and is still going strong.
The story begins in Boston,1940. Dick was one of three boys. Dad was from England and Mom was from Ireland. They lived in Chicago during WWII and Dick remembers block wardens. The wardens checked for black curtains, if they saw light coming from your windows, they would use a bullhorn to let you know you were In violation. This was to foil the enemy if they happened to fly over the city at night. Rationing was part of life during this time. Dick’s Mom would buy lard and it was Dick’s job to break the bead (of dye) and stir it into the lard until the lard turned yellow. That was their butter. Most kids at that time made airplanes out of balsa wood. Their planes were always models of enemy planes, everything in life was focused toward the war.
After the war, his family moved to Texas. On the way, all their furniture burned up in the truck, they lost everything including his rocking horse made of real leather. Dick, being the first grandson, had been given this magnificent beast. They then went back to Massachusetts. Dick’s Grandfather was president of a shoe company and a gentleman farmer. He grew pine trees and they cut down their own tree at Christmas. His grandfather’s farm had an Indian burial ground and ant hills three feet high. At age 6-8 the family moved to Wooster. Their house had been a rest home and was huge. They needed a big house as they lived with extended family. He could sit on the bank and watch Bob Coozy practice basketball.
Another move, this time to New Rochelle. They had a boat house and Dick learned how to sail. Frank Costello was a neighbor, in a pink house. Dick and his brother got to be on the Howdy Doody Show, in the peanut gallery, with their broken arms.
Dick’s wife was a flight attendant which enabled them to take many trips overseas. During a trip to England Dick saw a sign “Charnock, Richard”. Well he had to follow that lead, who knows, perhaps there is a Charnock Castle. They got into town, and it turned out to be a drab coal mining town. At the rectory he announced himself, “My name is Richard Charnock”. As it turns out there had to be 15-20 guys in town with that name.
Dick's story is to be continued at another meeting since he ran out of time.
February 8 , 2018 Meeting Recap
Article by Dwight Wilson
Photos by EJ Dieterle
Greeters: Past President Dianne Bobko and Sergeant at Arms John Evans
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Pledge of Allegiance: Mitone Griffiths
Inspirational Thought was offered by John Evans celebrating the fact we live on the Coastside and ended with the Methodist approach to life which is to take care of yourself.
Guests and Visitors
Jason, who is representing Jane Yuster and CISD on a regular, active basis was welcomed. Jason has already taken on organizing the distribution of the dictionaries in collaboration with Charise McHugh.
Happy/Not So Happy News
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Paul Wrubel announced that Jerry McDonald died last week. He was a special person. He fought in Vietnam and received both the silver medical and purple heart. Paul gave his college presentation to Gate Program at San Mateo High School with a large audience. He got a great deal on two sturdy burn units from our ACE Hardware for the Pumpkin Festival for $170.
John Evans is judging again this weekend. Louise has a friend from France who is competing at this event, so it should be a fun weekend.
Renee Lewis has 20 tickets for the elephant seal walk at Ano Nuevo State Park at 9:30am on March 24th. It is first come first serve and ticket price is $15.
Robin Jeffs announced that he has moved most of our Investment funds into cash prior to the latest stock market activity, and we have $169K in the account.
Pres. Warren mentioned that Shana Reilly-Pond has three distinct types of breast cancer and is waiting for gene testing prior to deciding on treatment options.
Ginger Child-Minoletti is going to the play, “Sense & Sensibility” this Friday with dinner at 6 p.m. Asking anyone to come and join her.
Dictionaries Project
Pres. Warren began the discussion by asking for volunteers for the dictionary distributions to all the elementary schools the week of February 12th. By the end, many Rotarians volunteered to participate and Dave Andrews is driving the dictionaries to all the sites.
Big Lift Update
Liz Schuck began her presentation by talking about the School District Big Lift program. This program’s goal is to assure all children read by the 3rd grade. They are of need for volunteers to help with this effort.
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Announcements
Magic of the Coastside
Liz Schuck, Chair of Magic of the Coastside again this year, talked about the Magic of the Coastside event on June 2nd. There is no kitchen duty. She talked about all the committees which she will be sending out on email. Every Rotarian needs to volunteer for one committee, and she asked for members to consider which committee they would volunteer.
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Exchange Student Updates
Mary Rogren had a nice reception and dinner for Rafa's parents who were here for one week. RYLA camp is coming up in April and volunteers are needed.
Louise got to meet Rafa’s parents. She went shopping with his mother. The high school had a successful winter formal.
Marble Drawing
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OH, no luck this week for Louise!.
REMINDERS
Our Monthly Rotary Day at the Community Free Breakfast (held at the Lutheran Church every Wednesday and Thursday will be FEBRUARY 28. Please sign up for a shift for future days (last Wednesday of each month.)
Rainy Day Project for the Homeless - Rotary Assignment Shana Reilly-Pond and Liz Schuck are looking for volunteers to man the rainy day shelter for the homeless at a location next to the Lutheran Church. The Shelter will be open in the mornings on rainy days so the homeless can dry off, put on dry clothes, etc. Various charitable organizations on the Coastside will be manning the shelter.
OUR SPEAKERS and PROGRAMS for FEBRUARY
Feb. 15 Speaker: Stephen R. King, Ph.D., Hunting in Jungles for Medicine
Feb. 22 Speaker: Jennifer Williams Taylor, Every Students Roadmap to Higher Education
PHOTO GALLERY
