SIERRA BRANCH #77 February Newsletter
Check out our website at www.sierrasir77.com
REMINDER: Our next Regular Monthly Membership Meeting
(2nd Thursday each month) is February 12, 2026 at Sonora Elks Lodge:
10:00 am Board Meeting, 11:00am Social Hour, Noon Luncheon $25.00
What’s in this edition
Message from the Big Sir p1
Our February Speaker p2
Calendar of Events p3
Looking for fun? P3
Happy Birthday to You p4
Quick contact reference for Branch 77 contacts p4
Dues reminder p5
Just to be clear for lunch p5
We really need you p6
Special Recognition p7
Weekly and Monthly Sir Activities p8
Message from the Big Sir
It has been my distinct honor to be a member of Sierra SIR Branch 77 since 2017.
I have had the privilege of being nominated, approved, and to serve you as: 10
Years Membership Chair, 10 Years of Aendance Chair, 6 Years Bulletin Editor, 3
Years Little Sir, and 6 Years Big Sir. Sorry gents, but I need a break please.
We need to identfy a Little Sir for this year to be Big Sir next year. In August we
report to SIR Inc (our CA SOS Agent) the names of our 2026 Branch 501c4
Corporate Officers so they can file form SI-100 for us. By August we need to
minimally identfy our Branch CEO (Big Sir), CFO, and Secretary. SIR Branch 77
Corporation will no longer exist without those requirements.
I am not leaving the branch and will assist the next Big Sir in any way, and in all
ways that I can. We need your help, and if you are not available at this Rme,
please convince someone else. 🙂
2
Membership Update: News, Branch 77 currently has 137 members and the two
gents that visited in January are in the process of submiting their application. We
typically add about 12 new members each year, which is a great testimony to all of
you for sponsoring our new members and Thank You.
Doing My Part Pin: Two years ago, SIR State created the new Doing My Part Award
(pin). This was lec to branches to qualify members for the awards. Our Branch
Policy allows multiple awards but only one pin is issued. Congratz 133 pins have
been earned and awarded over the last 3 years. We have easy qualifications:
sponsoring 1 or more new members, annual branch execuRves, annual branch
directors, annual branch committee chairs, annual branch activity chairs,
contributing to the 9 monthly membership meetings, contributing to the 3 special
events, and others as approved by the BEC.
Our February Speaker
We are pleased to announce that our next luncheon speaker is Jenna Kelly the
general manager of JS West, Inc.’s Sonora’s operations. JS West provides a very
special propane discount program for all active SIRs members. To qualify for the
program, you must be a member in good standing (dues paid in full) and attend a
minimum of three lunches during the year. Enrollment in the program is only
available in April of each year. If you are already participating in the program no
further action is required from you. If you want to either enroll in the program or
have questions about the program, please contact our Program Chair, Craig
Hempler at 209-588-1096.
Beyond our next speaker…
March – District 1 Supervisor – Michael Holland
April – Sheriff David Vasquez
May – Lady’s Day Event
June – CA Dept of Insurance (FAIR Plan) Outreach Analyst Durriya Syed
Quote
“It’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.”
Abraham Lincoln
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Calendar of Events for February 2026
February 12 – BEC Directors and officers meeting, Elks Lodge at 10am
All members Luncheon Meeting, Elks Lodge at 12 noon
Bowling Every Monday at Black Oak Casino, 12:30pm to 3:30pm
Pinocle Every Monday at the Sonora Senior Center, 12 Noon
Hiking Every Friday, date and place to be determined see Weekly & Monthly
Activities
Golf Once a month, see Weekly & Monthly Activities or contact the golf chairman for further details.
Please refer to the Weekly & Monthly Activities section for more events and
details.
Looking for fun?
Sirs was created for one specific purpose…”to enhance the lives of our members
through fun activities, luncheons, and events while making “Friends for Life”. We
have three Sirs branches in the Mother Lode and each branch shares in activities
with the other. From going to the theater to bowling, we have activities for you.
The end of this newsletter contains a comprehensive list of regular weekly or
monthly activities for you to enjoy. Please check them out.
Were you aware that our branch has three events that promotes activities with
your spouse or significant other? They are the upcoming Ladies Tea in May; our
picnic in September; and our Christmas Party in December. These are truly unique
events you won’t want to miss and we are sure you will enjoy very much. Please
plan on attending.
As you are aware, you only get out of something what you put into it. Make 2026
a year in which you seek out more fun and enjoyment in your Sirs branch.
Quote
“Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.”
Charles Swindoll
4
Happy Birthday to You
Please join the BEC in wishing the following SIRS a very happy February birthday.
William Burr, 66 Hal Channel, 81
Tim Compton, 67 Brad Crawford, 71
Wendell Cushman, 86 Gene Mendenhall, 69
Jeff Phillips, 78 Tony Pedroncelli, 71
Gene (Tab) White 67
Quote
“You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.”
George Burns
Quick Contact Reference for Sirs Branch 77
Big Sir, Donald Ronalter, 209-984-9383
Treasurer & Newsletter, John White, 408-355-5991
Secretary, Mike Coe, 209-769-3413
Propane Chair, Craig Hempler, 209-588-1096
Golf Chair, David Siudzenski, 925-915-9877
Bowling Chair, Rick Bronner, 408-318-4826
Branch Relations Chair*, Derle Davis, 925-234-5742 & email goldcoin3@aol.com
Postal address: 222 Barretta St., #14, Sonora, CA 95370
Sirs email: Sierrasir77@gmail.com
- The Branch Relations Chair is responsible for reaching out to our Sir members
who are experiencing something unfortunate in their life and upon request will
send a sympathy notice or get-well card.
Quote
“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”
Jack Benny
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Dues Reminder
Thank you for the nearly 60 members who renewed their annual dues in January,
either through mail or attendance at our January luncheon. The February 28 will
be the cut-off date for collection the 2026 annual dues of $30.00. So please keep
your dues current and renew at the luncheon or through mail to: Sirs 77, 222
Barretta St. #14, Sonora, CA 95370.
Just to be Clear About Lunch
As we discussed at the January luncheon meeting, it is critical that you
either call or email your attendance for the upcoming lunch meeting (in
the case February) no later than the Friday before the lunch. We are
required to notify the caterer of the number of meals for the upcoming
luncheon by that date and we are charged accordingly for that count.
This puts us in an awkward dilemma of guessing how many meals to
order when you don’t contact us but attend the luncheon. Now we
want everyone to attend the luncheon and we want everyone to have a
lunch. Lunch dues will remain at $25 per person for 2026.
Should you call in your attendance and then fail to show up for lunch,
then we expect you to reimburse the Branch for your ordered lunch.
We have no margin at all for absorbing an ordered but non-attended
lunch. Last year we had multiple occasions where we actually lost
money on lunches due to non-attendance. We hope you understand
this.
Please note that speakers and new members that have joined the
branch receive a free lunch after BEC approval. Guests do not receive a
free lunch unless they join the branch and are approved by the BEC.
They will receive their free lunch certificate to be used at any regular
meeting when they are installed. Should a sponsor invite a guest and a
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meal is ordered for them, but they do not attend, then the sponsor will
be responsible for the guest’s ordered meal.
Quote
“No man is perfect, but a trying man is everything.”
Unknown
We Really Need You
My mother always said, “Many hands make work light.” She was right. Our branch
has been understaffed for years and its Rme we spread out the work, train new
leaders for service, and allow other giced men to serve. If you can give us a few
hours of your Rme and talent you could make a big difference in our branch. We
have the following open posiRons that need to be quickly filled:
- Little Sir- Support the Big Sir
- Assistant Treasurer – Support the Treasurer
- Assistant Secretary – Support the Secretary
- Nominating Chair – Identify candidates for Branch vacancies and new
positions - Google Workspace Tech – Help manage Gmail, Google Storage, Google
Forms - Webmaster – Update our existing website. Our current website is severely
out of date. And it can be extensively simplified with mostly just posting
the branch application form, and documents (pdf, xlsx, docx) like the latest
bulleRn, current activities list, branch calendar, special event pics, and BEC
notices.
We also need help in areas that work with other branch leaders. From taking
attendance to greeting members, are you available. Please contact Donald
Ronalter for further information.
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Special Recognition
The numbers are in for the year, and we are pleased to announce that Steve
Campbell, Craig Hempler, Monte Lindquist, Bob Nath, Steve Novak, and Steve
Shaw had perfect attendance during 2025. Well done fellow Sirs!
SIR Sonora Branch 77 