Posted by Chris Costlow

August 31, 2017

President Keenan Warner called The Club with the High Altitude and the Can-Do Attitude to order at 6:30.

Keenan offered the Invocation.

Keenan led the group in a rousing rendition of God Bless America and ROTARY.

Keenan led the 4-Way Test.
 
Keenan must think he runs things!

Guests were introduced.

Keenan announced the PAC closing forever sale.

Mike Chilcoat asked for two slots to be filled 9/23 and 4 for phone book delivery.
 
Dinner was served – Chicken, Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Vegetables, Salad, and Rolls.  Dessert was Carrot Cake and Lemon Bars.  Scrumptious.
 

program

The program was about OKTOBERFEST.  Monica (Hans’ Daughter) led the group in the first Chicken Dance of 2017.  Connection:  Way back in the 70s or so GIs were stationed in Germany and went to a festival.  They saw all these people running around flapping their arms.  The GIs brought it back to the states.  And it’s not the chicken dance; it’s "Der Ententanz" (The Duck Dance).
 
After the dance, Monica gave us a history of the Oktoberfest in Big Bear which started in 1971.  After moving around the valley to different places, it found a permanent home at the Big Bear Convention Center.  Four generations of valley residents have participated in what has been termed one of the “Ten Best Oktoberfests in the US”.  Approximately 30,000 people attended last year and consumed:
 
  • 5,000 lbs of sauerkraut.
  • 8,000 pretzels.
  • 1,000 kegs of BIER!
Locals night:  First Friday in Oktober.
 
New and exciting this year:  Another German bier company!  Ayinger Bier.  New stage.  New vendors!  More pour stations for bier.  20 taps this year!
 

recognition

  • Helen Walsh
  • Annette Karnes
  • John Friel
  • John Calahan
  • Darryl Mulvehill – recognized Ron Peavy for passing his Driver’s License Test.
Helen and Ron won the Grand Prize Drawing.  Prizes were a water bottle and a 7-day pill dispenser.
 
Keenan brought the meeting to a close with a moment of silence to commemorate the passing of our Good Friend Ryan Vasquez.