Rotary Club of Santa Monica

"2001/2002 - A Rotary Odyssey"

Rota-Monica

WE’LL HEAR TWO CRAFTY SPEAKERS

             Among minor mysteries that may perplex new Rotarians are our “craft” talks.  These are listed on the schedule of meeting programs three or four Fridays a year.  Looking ahead to them, newcomers may or may not notice that scheduled craft talkers are members of our club.  How does the club select craft talkers?  What does it expect of them?

             Dictionaries define craft as “a skill, especially in handiwork” or alternatively as “skill in deception or cunning.”  Surely no speaker will coach us in deceptiveness. Therefore we might assume that craft talkers will demonstrate some kind of manual skill. 

            This is wrong.  If we delve into Rotary’s history we find that when Paul Harris and three other young businessmen started the first Rotary club in February 1905, meetings rotated among their offices (hence the name Rotary) and the speaker was usually a club member, telling about his own work.  These discourses came to be called craft talks, for

lack of a better term.  Members found them so interesting that Rotary clubs with this same kind of program sprang up in 17 cities within the first five years. 

            But as decades passed, business and professional people became able to learn a lot about various enterprises through trade journals, telephone chats, and correspondence.  Civic service and socializing came to be Rotary’s big attractions.  Still, the idea of occasional craft talks hung on, because they helped members get to know newcomers in the club. 

            Members of our own club can recall when almost every new member was scheduled for a craft talk during his first year or two.  If you are interested in giving your craft talk early contact this years committee chairman Jack Siegal. 

            This Friday’s scheduled speakers, Tulin Ozkarangoz and Karim Jaude, probably can talk about colorful recollections.  We’ll enjoy getting better acquainted.

A HIGHLY TAXINGDAY = $1,290

Total taxation through February 22 = $22,483

            Allan Young and Spyros Dellaportas were assessed $100 each for staying in the presidential suite at the Casa del Mar on the night of our 80th anniversary.  We hear it is to be compared with the Palm Motel.

             Con Oyler was taxed $100 as an alleged party-crasher.  Can this be true?  For missing the party, Joe Fitzsimons was likewise fined $100.  Bob Sullivan forgot his pictures, which cost him $100.  For being classed as the “cool ones” on a warm day, Dee and Jim Menzies along with Lorraine Jossel were jostled for $100 each. 

            Congratulations to Joe and Mary Ellen Gonzales for becoming grandparents again – this time of twin boys.  We look forward to meeting them, and we appreciate the $100 from the grandparents.  For being also a twin, Monica “Spoons” White was taxed $100 for bringing her little sister (5 minutes younger) to Friday’s meeting. 

            Bill Aspinwall recently celebrated the centenary of the Tegner-Miller Insurance Brokers partnership.  He was taxed $100 for the anniversary and $40 for his age.  Also noteworthy is the fact that our Rotarian Ken Miller has been a partner in the company for 26 years.

             The Grand Unlucky winners at Friday’s meeting were Nat Trives and Sam Muslin for obstructing the roadway of an 18-wheeler truck.  Their inadequacy cost them $100 each.  Too bad young lads.

                                                                                     --Lionel Ruhman

WE HOPE THEY’LL COME AGAIN

             Guest of members at the February 22 meeting were Blair Brandenburg, Charles Follette, Gitta Martin and Bruce Rauler.

YOU CAN MAKE A PERPETUAL GIFT

             At our March 15 meeting we will hear a brief presentation about the Benefactor program of the Rotary Foundation.   

            To become a Benefactor, all you need to do is to designate in your will, trust, or life insurance policy an amount or portion as your donation to the Permanent Fund of The Rotary Foundation.

             Right now or any time, you can also make a permanent gift of $1,000 or more to the Permanent Fund, which is an endowment fund.  Only the income from this fund is spent for the many wonderful programs funded by The Rotary Foundation.  Your gift will continue in perpetuity.

             The Permanent Fund is very different from the funds raised by the Paul Harris Fellowship program.  When we donate funds for recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow, those funds, both principal and interest, are distributed by the trustees of The Rotary Foundation within 18 months.  For further information, contact Marv Levin, Chair; Ken Mirch, Vice-Chair; or Bill Hunt, John Lehne or Jack Siegal.       

                                                                     -- Marvin E. Levin.

FRIDAY MEETINGS COMING