NEXT MEETING: April 7, 2017

Demoting El Presidente

The dictionary definition must be wrong.

Demote: to reduce to a lower grade or rank, to relegate to a less important position. But hey! During past demotions, outgoing presidents have not appeared disappointed or diminished in the least. On the contrary, it’s been all grins and chuckles. In this president’s case, maybe we’ll even see some twirls and flourishes.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, incoming president Connie Tritt picks up the gavel and moves us forward!

Mark your calendars.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Local Rotary club members (BARSHEEP) will gather for TGIFF (Thank God it’s Final Friday) on June 30th, 5:30 pm at Picantepicante Restaurant, 1328 6th St, Berkeley. Hosted by the Berkeley Rotary Club.
• There will be no meeting on June 30. Stay home. Be cool. We meet again on July 7th.

MEETING OF June 22, 2017

Welcome

Past-president presided in the absence of El Presidente, Josho. Sid’s Thought for the Day: Before you give a piece of your mind, make sure you can get by with what is left.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Anthony Murphy, from Great Britain, was introduced by Jerry Feagley

Recognitions and Happy and Sad Dollars

No Recognitions on this day. We did enjoy tales of Happy and Sad thoughts at this meeting.

• Erle Brown was happy with the all beautiful flowers for sending off Phyllis Brown the way she should be sent off.
• Hank Covell is happy he has been a member for 70 years. He is sad about the light turnout today. Happy to be laying poker this afternoon at his place. The bar is open and everyone is invited. Alan indicated everyone enjoyed “Phyllis’s’ “exit”.
• Jim Findley was happy to announce a blood drive at Elks Lodge in El Sobrante. Big Flag outside to donate blood. Hank says it’s on the way to his home for poker.

PROGRAM

The Challenges of a Richmond Distiller

Farid Dormishian, is the founder/distiller for Falcon Spirits, located at 3701 Collins Ave. in Richmond, Ca, very close to the Country Club. www.botanicagin.com

He graduated from Cal Berkeley, paying for his education through bartending. He started making beer and then wine and it turned out so good, he got the idea to make liquor. He took time off to visit distilleries around the world from scotch in Scotland to brandy in Paris. He even paid to learn about the process in different places. He looked at places for where to open. Because funding is a challenge, he got his dad and friends to help out, along with 401K. He leased a place in Richmond. He got permits from City and County which took a long time while paying rent. His Dad was killed in a car accident, right before opening and so he had to work with one tenth of the finding because the other investors pulled out after that. Distilling takes a lot of compliance and product needs to be sold through a distributor. After many vicissitudes, he opened in 2011.

To run a distillery, it takes 7 days a week. Building a brand is very difficult. He operates with a small PR budget. Won a San Francisco Best of the Bay Distiller award in 2014. Overcoming Richmond’s image is a problem when he offers his product all over. He wishes he could get more local businesses to carry his products: Amaro Aplomado, and Botanico’s Spirit Gin. He sources herbs and flavors to provide just the right flavors. He lets it sit for a month and then flavors with cucumber juice to give it the essence and to create a brandy based gin. Rotarians in attendance got a chance to taste three of his gins and they were truly delectable!!!!!

- Darlene Drapkin, “Rotating Editor." Earned my blue badge last week, woo hoo!