ISSUE
NO. 42
MAY 25, 2001
OUR 80th YEAR
http://RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org
HE REBUILDS KIDS’ SMILES
Most
of the nation’s 6,000 certified plastic surgeons struggle daily to pull in
patients. Many buy listings on Web sites. Dozens pay marketing managers $2,500
or more a month to publicize them. They realize that few people allow
face-carving by a doctor they don’t know.
Dr.
Anthony B. Sokol, our speaker this Friday, has been a Beverly Hills plastic
surgeon for thirty years. He has a Web site, and a small illustrated leaflet
that is mailed on request. Perhaps these have helped build his comfortable
practice among show-business people and other local luminaries. But mostly he
maintains prestige by periodically performing three difficult procedures: (1)
he lectures to medical associations; (2) he contributes reports to medical
journals; (3) he travels to impoverished places in the Third World and remakes
scarred children’s faces.
He
goes to the Third World once or twice a year. He began in 1994 with journeys
to El Fuerte, Mexico. Since 1996 he has gone by pre-arrangement to towns in
Kenya, Venezuela, China, the Philippines, Colombia, Siberia and Ecuador. He
calls these trips Operation Smile.
Presumably
he’s encountered some memorable experiences and will describe them to us
Friday.
Dr.
Sokol graduated first in his class from the Chicago Medical School in 1964. He
later became chief of plastic surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, then
served on the faculty at UCLA. As we might guess, he says that his journeys to
desolate parts of the world are “the most rewarding aspects of my career.”
MORE
IDEAS FOR OUR HIGHER-UPS
One
reason Rotary Clubs are strong: they get a steady flow of ideas, suggestions and
information from Rotary’s district organization. Once a year the district
holds an assembly during which time the new officers and new directors are given
training in their respective areas for their respective responsibilities. This
information is then disseminated to the membership of each club.
The
2001 assembly took place Saturday morning, May 19. It was attended by Santa
Monica Rotarians led by President-elect Hal Quigley with Vice Presidents Hugh
Travis and George Collins. Also in attendance were Bill Crookston,
President-designate for 2002-03; directors Tom Loo and Jim Haljun; President
John Lehne; Past President John McIntire; Barbara Hopper and Lionel Ruhman.
After
a fine breakfast the group heard from our incoming District Governor Len
Wasserstein, and then from Ronald L. Beaubien, PDG of the Coronado district. He
echoed the theme of our incoming Rotary International President, Richard D.
King, “Mankind Is Our Business.” There was discussion of plans for
membership gain, inter-club projects, the Paul Harris Fellowship drive, and
other goals. Future Rota-Monica issues will tell more about these plans.
For
the rest of the morning, the group divided for seminars concentrating on each
attendee’s major role in Rotary.
WASN’T
IT A GREAT PARTY?
On
Friday evening, May 18, about a hundred friends of our Santa Monica Rotary
family gathered at Connolly and Michelle Oyler’s beautiful home to honor and
praise Esther and Ole Johnson.
It
was an evening of fun and affection. President John was his charming self, aided
by “The Judge” Ed Rafeedie, Msgr. Lloyd Torgerson, Rev. Don Shelby and Dr.
Richard Rice. Each glorified Esther in his own unique style, and also paid
tribute to Ole, without whom she couldn’t have been nearly as effective.
Our
District Governor “Vicki” Radel was also present, bringing congratulations
and praise from Rotary District 5280. Esther was also congratulated in letters
from former President Bush, the Governor of California, the county supervisor
and the Mayor of Santa Monica.
On
behalf of the club I want to thank Con and Michelle for opening their home and
arranging this beautiful party. We are all grateful, and congratulate the
committee who worked hard to make the evening a success. It reminded us, once
again, how fortunate we are to be Santa Monica Rotarians.
-- Lionel Ruhman
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Governor Vicki Radel thanked Esther for paving the way for women in Rotary and remarked that "Esther is an inspiration for us all." |
| President John Lehne presented written commendations from former president George Bush and his wife Barbara, California Governor Gray Davis, the Cities of Santa Monica and Los Angeles, and Rotary International President Frank Devlyn. | |
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Past president Dick Rice made an emotional presentation to the teary eyed Esther. |
LOOKING
BACK
“It
hardly seems possible that it has been ten years,” said Bill Cummings. We were
talking about women in Rotary, and remembering that there were none prior to
Esther Johnson’s initiation. Instead many clubs, including ours, had a
separate organization of Rotarians’ wives called Rotaryannes.
Santa
Monica had a vibrant Rotaryanne Club. As historian I have minutes from meetings
back to April 1935. Many of you will remember some of the family names noted
there: Michel, Noonan, Funk, Henshey, Fogel, Redman.
The
club (sometimes Rotariannes or Rotary Annes) held monthly luncheon meetings at
places as varied as the Swiss Chalet, Bess Eiler’s, Miramar Hotel, Santa
Monica Athletic Club, the Swimming Club, the Beach Club and various members’
homes. The meetings were a way for Rotary wives to get to know one another just
as their husbands did. They had programs appropriate to their interests. Some
members enjoyed playing bridge together.
Each
year at Valentine’s Day the Rotaryannes hosted Rotarians at a Sweetheart
luncheon, and named one Rotarian “Sweetheart of the Year.”
Money
raised at these affairs was used for two scholarships at Santa Monica College
named to honor Esther English and Robert Briesch. The scholarships still exist
as part of the SMC Foundation, overseen by our Santa Monica Rotary Foundation
Board.
With
the admittance of women in Rotary, the Santa Monica Rotaryanne club disbanded in
1991. It does seem only yesterday.
--
Bill Fritzsche,
Club Historian
WHAT’S
AHEAD?
 |
June
8th -- The History of Santa Monica – Sid Reyes |
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June 15th --Craft talks |
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