“Baer Bones” - Meeting Notes – October 19 2006

President Kevin called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. Jim Frye, attending a second week in a row, led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Roger’s tenor started a rousing “God Bless America”. Baxter led us in the prayer.

Hilding did the honors of introducing our most regular “guest”, Bridgitte Kramer. Pila’s son Ethan was her guest (unfortunately he wasn’t feeling well).

Members were reminded of several upcoming dates. Feed The Homeless is November 5. President Kevin polled Board members about changing the meeting day and time. A decision will be made and announced next week.

Shane reported on Circle K activities and reminded members that they are welcome to attend their weekly meetings at 8 p.m. on Mondays in Building 52, Room E45.

Hilding reported on the workday last Saturday at Dallidet Adobe. Due to the inclement weather, the volunteers did not tear off siding but rather removed an invasive morning glory vine from fence that will be replaced. Only Hilding, Doc Steele and two Circle K members showed up. Another workday is scheduled for October 28 from 9 a.m. to noon. Helpers will be installing and wiring old lampposts.

Sue was Secret Greeter and several members were remiss and had to pay a buck each. Joke of the Week was Roger and he shared with us a multiple choice “Man Quiz” that went over like a lead balloon much to his dismay. Doc saved the day with a couple of funnies.

Soap Box was Stew. He is running for commissioner of the Port San Luis Harbor District and told us he was motivated by the ongoing renovation of the lighthouse. It was built by the Coast Guard in 1894 and is a fine Victorian-style structure.

The ranch was originally owned by a Mr. Moray (spelling?) and he granted an easement for construction of the lighthouse and a dirt road to the point. The dirt road is still there but cannot be traversed by automobile so visitors have to hike in. Stew is proposing two mule teams to transport people.

Fine Master Bart proceeded to extract $$$ from members. Rich contributed $10 happy for his recent fishing trip to Clearwater River, Idaho with a friend. They caught fish every day, some trout weighing in at 15 pounds or so (really!).

Baxter was two bucks happy that Jim F and Stew were both in attendance for a second week in a row. Jim, F gave $11, the sum of the digits for his birthday. Gary coughed up $10 for his 44^th wedding anniversary to his “10-cow wife”.

Pila put five bucks in the box because she was happy that our speaker, deputy coroner Steve Harris was able to be here but sad that her son Ethan is sick. Fitz contributed a total of $10, three for the three members who visited Anne’s studio during Open Studio Tour last weekend and the rest for his recent comments at public hearings regarding downtown building heights as well as media attention.

Bart attempted to extract bucks from Roger as he was insulted by Roger’s reference to Sue as a “dairy queen” because of her strong hand grip but Jump somehow weaseled his way out of paying.

Deputy Coroner Steve Harris spoke to us about the organization and role of the county’s sheriff’s department. He has been in law enforcement since 1980 when he joined the Arroyo Grande Police Department. He joined the County Sheriff’s Department in 1988 and became a Detective in 1998. In 1999 he became a Deputy Coroner.

He told us that 46 of the 58 California counties have the sheriff-coroner model. Only three counties in California have a pathologist as Coroner and there are only 400 forensic pathologists in the country. Deputy Coroners primarily investigate homicides, suicides and occupational accidental deaths. They determine both the manner and cause of death.

Harris has participated in at least 800 autopsies over the years. Since there is no central morgue in San Luis Obispo County, the Coroner’s office relies on local funeral homes to store bodies.

The Coroner’s office is responsible for safeguarding the personal property of the deceased. They also locate next of kin, particularly difficult with the homeless. In addition, they have the unpleasant responsibility of notifying next of kin. Commonly, he uses fingerprints and dental records to identify corpses and in the case of drug overdoses he relies on a toxicologist

Harris said that whereas they pathologist determines cause pf death; he gets his satisfaction from investigating and learning what the manner of death was. Coroner’s hearings are rare as the last one in San Luis Obispo County was in 1979.

Winners:

$4 – Pila

$6 - Cathy Corell

$10 - Gary Simas

Membership: Cathy drew the 4 of clubs to miss. Next week’s kitty is $117.50.

Soap Box – Rich Carsel

Joke of the Week - Hildy Gal

Fine Free – Don V

See you Thursday!