ISSUE
NO. 33
MARCH 16, 2001
OUR 80th YEAR
http://RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org
PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL
At
one Friday meeting each year we honor our Past Presidents, 19 of whom
currently come to meetings. We don’t always honor them in the same way. The
program hinges on inclinations or preparation time of whoever happens to be in
charge of plans.
Sometimes,
to celebrate the occasion, we ask all active PP’s to speak. Now and then we
go further, sending invitations to retired PP’s to come and be honored. As
many as a dozen have sometimes done so. However, inasmuch as a total of only
about a half-hour is available for speakers, a certain haste is discernible if
two dozen or more PP’s are on the schedule.
Occasionally
we vary from pass-in-review procedure by arranging for a few honorees to speak
for the whole group. This year we’re scheduling a single speaker. He is
known for memorable talks but is seldom available because he can’t take time
from professional duties. Since he happens to be free March 16th
– and since Rotary is close to his heart – he agreed to be featured.
(Indeed, on his original Rotary roster sheet he listed “public speaking”
as a hobby.)
Edward
Rafeedie is probably the most widely known of the 80 presidents in our
history. He is supervising judge of the superior court, which puts him in the
public eye now and then. His earlier life would seem to have been colorful,
since it included time as barker for a carnival.
He
finished his formal education with a master’s degree from USC in 1959,
became a judge ten years later, and joined our club in 1970. He was president
in 1977-78. He is still widely acquainted in the club because he drops in at a
meeting occasionally, and often attends one of our banquets or dinner-dances.
He is something of a dual personality – magisterial on the bench, jovial
elsewhere. All those who know him will be looking forward to his talk.
(For more about our Past Presidents, see page 3)
FINE HAT TRICKS PLUS SPYROS
Rotarians
should keep their hats straight, or it will cost them. Our Hugh Travis
(Scout executive) was mindful of the Scout pledge to “help other people at all
times” by trying to return a hat to John Lehne. This cost him a $100
fine because the hat wasn’t John’s. Miguel Flores confessed
ownership, so he was fined $100 too. Thus $200 was spent chasing a $10 hat. We
ask you: was this transaction necessary? For the club, yes. For our two Rotary
friends, hardly.
The
other fine moment of our March 2nd meeting was the $50 honor to Spyros
Dellaportas just because he provides a fine facility and service. Only at
the Palms resort can one (or maybe two) fined such wonderful fast room service.
Keep up the fine ministrations, Spyros, and don’t change a thing except maybe
the sheets periodically.
--
Lionel Ruhman
ARE
WE SLIPPING?
In
the Rotarian for March, RI President Frank Devlyn writes:
“Today’s
service organizations are facing greater challenges and declining membership.
Rotary has not been immune. Membership in Rotary clubs worldwide declined just
slightly more than 1 percent in the year ending June 2000. This marked the third
year in a row for small but continuing net membership losses.
“Rotarians
have introduced me to many leaders in their communities – yet in many
instances, these leaders have never been invited to join Rotary! This is a
missed opportunity for all involved.
“I
met a Rotarian with 49 years of perfect attendance … who had never invited a
single person to join his Rotary club during all those years.
“Often
I’ll ask a person why they haven’t joined Rotary, and I’m surprised by the
answer: ‘Because I’ve never been asked.’ Now is the time to ask. Your
greatest contribution to Rotary may be the person you just asked to join.”
Current
membership figures: Rotarians 1,176,169. Clubs 29,968. Last year’s totals:
Rotarians 1,180,550. Clubs 29,626. During the year, worldwide membership in new
clubs grew by 14,855 but membership in existing clubs dropped by 27,766.
WHO
PICKS OUR PRESIDENT?
(One
of a series on lesser-known aspects of our club operations)
Something
slightly mysterious happens at one of our mid-December meetings each year.
Without much warning, each member is handed a ballot, and is asked to cast votes
for the coming year’s officers.
The
ballot lists two nominees apiece for each of the ten positions on the board of
directors – and just one nominee for club president. Little is said, usually,
about who chose these candidates. There has been no public procedure to nominate
them, no electioneering by or for candidates. Did the board of directors draw up
a list? Did some unseen nominating committee do so? Or were candidates
self-nominated?
This
puzzle seldom stirs much wonderment among us. Rotarians apparently feel
comfortable with our semi-invisible system whereby positions seek officers. The
absence of campaigning oratory isn’t noticeably bothersome. Choosing between
two commended candidates is evidently just enough democracy. As for the club
presidency, most of us presumably wouldn’t want a politico in the position.
Still
the procedure isn’t deliberately secret. An unnamed committee, meeting
privately, does choose the club’s candidates for office. The committee is
composed of the club’s active Past Presidents. They make choices after study
and discussion. In fact, throughout the year they scan the reports of each of
the club’s 43 operating committees. They look for energetic and effective
chairmen. They listen to talk around the community. They compare notes.
Consequently,
each P.P. is ready with suggestions when they convene at 5 p.m. on a given day
each fall. Their biggest task, of course, is to settle on a choice for the
“president-elect designate” 18 months in advance. By rule, our president
must be someone who has previously served as a vice-president. But the
committee’s choice isn’t final. A delegation of P.P.’s must visit the
prospect, somewhat by surprise if possible, and offer the nomination. Sometimes
a chosen candidate needs time to think over the idea and to discuss it with
others. If the answer is no, the committee must find someone else.
Meanwhile
the P.P. meeting is also picking two prospective candidates for each of the two
vice-presidential positions. This action may be the most crucial, since it will
probably bring forth a future president. Again, a private talk must precede
announcement of any nomination.
The
dozen nominees for the six directors’ spots may be the hardest to line up,
because anyone who is nominated must agree to recruit about a half-dozen
committee chairmen if elected.
So
it takes long effort and judgment for our P.P.’s to put together the ballot
handed to each of us in December. Who else could do the job?