"2004/2005"
ISSUE NO. 25 May 26, 2005 OUR 83rd YEAR
www.RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org
Remember that we are DARK this Friday.
Those that do drive over to the Riviera will not receive a make-up
But will enjoy a beautiful drive.
Holly Gustlin works for AmeriCorp Funding, a mortgage banking and brokerage firm located at the Water Garden in Santa Monica. Prior to that, she ran her ex-husband’s Pediatric practice and consulted for other doctors. Her experience calming parents whose children were sick obviously prepared her to calm nervous homebuyers. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and holds a Real Estate license. Ninety-eight percent of her business is generated by referrals from people who know and have worked with her. She helps people do what is in their best interests, whether or not it earns a commission. She says, “I am in this business for the long-haul, and want to be thought of as a trusted adviser.” She thanked us for allowing her to join Rotary. Holly, we are so pleased you are here … you do not need to thank us!
David Mortenson, was born in 1965 and grew up in Pacific Palisades. He graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1984 and enlisted in the Marine Corps, stationed at Cherry Point, North Carolina. He received his honorable discharge in 1988 almost immediately enrolled and graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Finance and English. Much of his professional career has been corporate banking. Currently David is working with PNC Business Credit and living in Santa Monica. (P.S. Many of us remember his father as a good friend and former Santa Monica Rotary Club member, Bill Mortenson, who incidentally, visited us today).
"Love cannot remain by itself - it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action and that action is service." -- Mother Teresa
Okay, I finally mailed our incoming drug dealer (AKA Dr. Paul) the form he has been harping on. I picked my committee choices and indicated my 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices as “RotaMonica Editor.” Thank you all for giving me the opportunity to have so much fun.
I moved on to the personal pledges and agree with Paul that it is OUR pledges that enable OUR CLUB to accomplish so much. The rest was easy (especially after Marv’s electrifying talk) whether to become a Paul Harris Fellow for the 1st, 2nd or 3rd plus, time. Please make sure you get your form in also. You can mail it in the envelope provided or fax it to June at 310.917.3316. If you cannot find your form, email June at RotaryClubofSantaMonica@Verizon.net and she will send one right away.
Ingo West – District Governor 2005-2006 has published a magazine. 360º is designed as a recruitment tool to be passed along by Rotarians to potential new members. It celebrates the richness and diversity of modern life and is dedicated to spreading the word about Rotary’s unsung good deeds and the rewarding satisfaction of Rotary Membership. Forms are available from June for your subscription -- four editions a year for only $20. See Paul if you want to take a look at one … he has a few left.
Friday was a special day, a day that the membership as a whole always seems to show up for: Craft Talks. Lionel knew it was going to be busy, especially when Marv Levin took the floor.
Our invocator was John Dravillas:
“Memorial Day is coming soon so I’d like to share a few thoughts in that regard. When I was a kid, Memorial Day was a day off from school, as a younger adult it was a day off of work. More recently, it became a day where I pay others to take the day off. Of course, Memorial Day is more than that – it is a day that is set aside to honor those that have served in our country’s battles.
In my early 20’s I was made aware of a very traumatic piece of my family’s history. It was so disturbing that my mother couldn’t talk about it without breaking down in tears. I am 42 now, and just about a month ago all the details were revealed. Although the particulars are ugly and traumatic, I’m at peace in my awareness.
I tell you this because it makes me think of Memorial Day as a time to remember those who have served, including the many who gave everything in their service. They may have been serving in wars that were not always popular, or about which there were very mixed feelings. But, if we take the time to reflect upon what went before, or maybe take a little time to learn something new, then we’ll be a little bit more whole, as individuals and as a nation. And, I think that is a good thing to remember this Memorial Day. ”
Thank you John … your message, though painful, is very beautiful. Please know that we are here for you all the time.
Joyce Stoops was cute and bubbly leading us in the pledge and national anthem with maestro Carol Jackson on the ivory keys. Tim Shannon (who is an excellent optometrist I am told) introduced our visiting Rotarians, Jim Downie (with 51 years perfect attendance) from Westwood Village and Jonathan Port from Westchester. We had several guests, including the aforementioned Bill Mortenson, The rest of the Alonzo Hill gang – September and their two very beautiful daughters; Jamie (it is always great to see you) Menzies; and a whole bunch of Ruhmans – Elza (our first lady), daughter, Martha and grand-daughter, Mia; Jim Hackney and Everett Maguire (the American Legionnaires here to receive a Rotary check for veteran’s families); and John M. Lehne introduced by John Lehne who stated one of them “produces beautiful grandchildren”. Which one do you think he meant?
Announcements were brief: Paul Leoni giving us one last week to get in our forms; and reminding all the Officers, Directors and Committee Chairs of this coming Saturday’s District Assembly and Club Assembly on Wednesday, May 25th; Monte Herring announced that our candidate James Cox, was selected at First Alternate Position for the scholarship and reminded him that this is where Annie Bird found herself six years ago. Speaking of Annie, Nat received a note and her graduation announcement from Berkley and gave it to Lionel to share with all of us:
“Dear Mr. Trives:
From the Archie M. Morrison Scholarships, which allowed me to work less and dedicate more fully to my studies at SMC, to the Ambassadorial Scholarship that transformed my personal, professional, and intellectual development – the Rotary experience has impacted my life profoundly.
Your warmth positive spirit and activism has inspired me deeply. Thank you for your constant support and confidence over the last six years. It has made all the difference.”
Warmly,
Annie Bird
Then came MARVIN LEVIN – who entertained us (a very unique concept) with a video about all that Rotary does and how your Paul Harris Fellow dollars are spent. After this truly wonderful video, Marv acknowledged/congratulated our new Paul Harris Fellows. Henry Alcantar (5x); Barry Boulet; David Doan (a gift from Lionel); Bill Frank; Bob Gabriel; Holly Gregory (a gift from Jack); Jack Gregory (2X); Monte Herring (2X); September Hill (a gift from Alonzo); Alonzo Hill (2X); Erik Jorgensborg; Bob Klein; Frank Lavac (bow wow, meow, meow {3X}); John Mathew Lehne (a gift from John); Michelle Oyler (a gift from Conn {2X}); Martha Ruhman (a gift from Lionel); Lionel Ruhman (5X); Brenda & Herb Katz; Phil Tirone (a number of times … but it is not going to fully count till he ends his leave … Having him lead us in song is just that much fun.
By the time Bill Aspinwall was ready to introduce our craft-talkers, we were running very late and Russ Warner graciously yielded his time to Sally Pai. Bill, in an aside to Marv said: “I hear next year you are directing the Academy Awards”. This comment brought loud hoots from the Crookston – Fritzsche table near the rear, setting a very poor example for our new, and still innocent, Rotarian Leonard Lanzi.
Finally the time we had been waiting for – our craft talker, Sally Pai. Sally was born in Taiwan and as a young child moved to Japan. Sally is fluent in 3 languages and spent time working in China as an interpreter. She has traveled the globe serving in 7 cities as an investment banker and a bond trader. Currently she is with Morgan Stanley as a financial advisor. Sally has always worked very hard and loves what she does. She and her dog Tiffany, who is not an American citizen, live and work in Santa Monica. In the business world she describes herself as "One Tough Cookie". Well, Sally we are glad you found your way to us.
Rotary’s Big Boots – by Tina Rosenberg (This article appeared in the NY Times, Opinion section - May 11, 2005).
Next month Rotary International turns 100. Rotary clubs, a staple of small-town life, are celebrating the construction of innumerable parks, the holding of myriad blood drives, the awarding of countless college scholarships – and the imminent eradication of polio.
Twenty years ago, there were a thousand new cases of polio every day. Now polio strikes only about a thousand children a year. By next year, that number should be zero. People who think of Rotary as a congregation of service-minded dentists and funeral directors may not have noticed, but the dentists and funeral directors have created the largest, most successful private health initiative ever.
When Rotary celebrated its 75th birthday, its leaders decided to find a project that all its clubs – now in 168 countries – could work on together. A Rotarian ophthalmologist in the Philippines, where polio was rampant, asked Rotary to vaccinate Filipino children. It vaccinated six million, then made similar efforts in five other nations. In 1985, Rotary decided to wipe out polio completely.
By the time polio is eradicated, Rotary clubs will have directly contributed at least $600 million, more than any other organization except the U.S. government. And they offer more than cash.
“We realized the task of getting vaccines to children, persuading mothers and fathers of the value of immunization, was a problem of distribution, logistics and social mobilization, said Herb Pigman, an American who was one of the campaign’s early leaders. “And here’s an organization with boots on the ground in hundreds of thousands of communities.”
Big boots, too. “Every polio meeting you go to, you see them,” said Rima Salah, deputy executive director of Unicef. “They have commitment, credibility and influence with leaders.” This is crucial, as the challenge today is political. In August 2003, Muslim clerics from the northern Nigerian state of Kano charged that America had laced the polio vaccine with drugs to render African girls infertile. Kano stopped vaccinating. Kano’s cases doubled, and Nigerian strains of polio have spread to 16 other nations that had beaten the virus.
Coincidentally, the president of Rotary International that year, Jonathan Majiyagbe, was from Kano. He helped broker a compromise: Kano would use vaccine made in Indonesia, a Muslim country. In August 2004, Kano’s governor publicly vaccinated his infant daughter.
Although the countries Kano infected will have to spend millions on emergency vaccination campaigns, they will probably be successful. The real challenge is to eliminate polio at its epicenter, Nigeria. If Kano does not bolt again, this will probably happen in a year. “We would not be here without Rotary International,” De. Salah said. “Rotary is the heart and soul of polio eradication.”
Wed. May 25 Club Assembly 5:00pm @ Rand -- 2005-2006 Officers, Directors
and Committee Chairs,
Fri. May 27 DARK
Fri. June 3 Dr. Jayson Hymes Conservative case specialist Medical Groups
Sun. June 5 Bon Voyage Dick and Ruth Rice
Fri. June 8 Double Board Meeting 4:30pm @ Bill Werner’s Home - 453 Surfview Dr.
Pacific Palisades
Fri. June 10 Ms. Billie Greer Director, Los Angeles Office of Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger
Fri. June 17 through June 23 International Convention, Chicago
Fri. June 17 Father Warren Four Way Test
Fri. June 24 Dethroning End of the Line for Lionel @ Riviera Country Club
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How
did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no
second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades
and certificates are buried with their owners.
See how you do on this one:
1.
List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.
Easier? The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the
ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are
the ones that care.
Respectively Submitted,
RoseMary Regalbuto -- "Knowledge is power, but enthusiasm pulls the switch."