The afternoon sun was warm, but our annual Spring Barbecue Wednesday clearly was the coolest event around. That’s the only way to describe almost 400 Rotarians, spouses and guests – the movers and shakers of San Jose – dining al fresco at History Park on china plates with glass stemware and cloth napkins. Clearly not your ordinary barbecue.
     A striking Rotary Wheel ice sculpture set the tone for the hors d’oeuvre area. Cocktails, beer and wine from Bert George’s bar wagon accompanied the wide selection of munchies, including traditional Italian sausage, ribs, shrimp, assorted cheeses, poached salmon and freshly shucked oysters from Bill the Oysterman.
     Our automobile enthusiasts displayed a striking assortment of vintage vehicles – everything from a Lincoln Continental to an MG sedan and a classic Ford woody.
     Sam Wool and the Executive Chefs served up a sumptuous entrée selection, with thickly sliced tri-tip, grilled chicken, green and pasta salads, barbecue beans and garlic bread. Red and white wines matched perfectly.
     Haagen-Dazs bars and cookies finished off the meal, all accompanied by tunes spun by Mike Danberger from the KLIV-KRTY mobile truck.
     President Shirley Lewis kept the only speech of the night, as promised, to “under a half hour.” Greg Yoder’s Red Badge Committee provided flawless setup and cleanup operations.
     And even though it did get a little chilly after the sun had set, the year’s coolest barbecue still carried the day.

Respectfully submitted by Leigh Weimers, Rotary Summary Committee 
Photos by Paul Tumason