Rotary
Club of Santa Monica
"2001/2002 - A Rotary
Odyssey"
Rota-Monica
ISSUE NO. 35 April
5, 2002 OUR 80th
YEAR
www.RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org
CHARITIES PAY FOR HIS ADVICE
It used to be unheard-of to give any sizable
sum of money to charitable organizations. In fact, there were hardly any
charitable organizations. Most of those that existed had been founded in other
parts of the world. Poorhouses, orphanages, and child labor were common. But
in 1889 the steel magnate, Andrew Carnegie, published a magazine article
asserting that men of wealth would die disgraced if they didn’t use most of
their money for the public good. John D. Rockefeller and Henry Ford agreed, and
plunged into massive philanthropy.
Carnegie followed his own advice. He built
hundreds of public libraries, established the Carnegie Institute of Technology,
and pushed other worthy causes. His gifts totaled about $350 million.
Community Chests (which later became today’s United Way) sprang up in every
town. Eventually at least 37,000 organizations subsisted on charitable
donations.
Today hundreds of philanthropic foundations
are mostly hidden away in obscure offices. They don’t advertise their
locations, because they dislike being besieged by alms-seekers. They don’t want
advice from outsiders. Most of them hire a full-time expert to tell them where
to bestow money, and to make sure their gifts are well- spent.
One of the most respected of these experts is
our speaker this Friday – James Allen Smith, now the senior adviser to the J.
Paul Getty Trust, and previously resident sage at the Howard Gilman Foundation
for eight years. He also serves on the board of the Clark Foundation and of
CCNY’s Center for the Study of Philanthropy. He is writing a book on American
foundations. This year he is a visiting professor at UCLA’s School of Public
Policy and Social Research. He’ll tell us about “Changing Trends in
Philanthropy”
MARCH 15 WAS A VERY FINE DAY WITH KIWANIS
HELP: $520
Gary Clezek, SM Kiwanian and friend of Rotary,
was taxed $20 for straying into Rotary territory with an autographed picture of
Hal Fishman, our speaker. After close examination it was found to be
authentic. Come again, Gary, and bring your friends. We need all the money we
can get, especially Kiwanian Kash. Thank you.
In future our president-elect, Bill Crookston,
will be known as the “Big Kahuna”, a Hawaiian term for leader or the great one.
Our future district governor, a Hawaiian, bestowed this honor, which cost Bill
$100.
Our junior past president, John Lehne, was
elected by District 5280 to assistant district governor. They made a very wise
decision. John, you bring our club honor and distinction. Congratulations and
thanks for the $100, “your honor.”
Again our esteemed volleyball team won the
state tournament, played in Sacramento March 8th. The following champions,
under the leadership of “the Great One” – Mike O’Hara - brought honor to
themselves and our club: Paul Gaulke, Erik Jorgensborg, Monty McCormick, Glenn
Ricard, and Hank Walther. Nice going, gents. Your club is proud of you. The
$300 prize money and the $300 fine money are greatly appreciated.
Lionel G. Ruhman
WE WELCOME NON-ROTARY GUESTS MARCH 15TH
Professor T. H. Lin, Don Cash, Jeanne Wells,
Elizabeth Schwab, Ruben Reynaga, Raddie Zlatka, Loren Coleman, Gary Klezek,
Desiree Carr, Mike Mayer, Gail Aspinwall, Ruth Levin.
WE INDUCTED NEW MEMBERS MARCH 22ND
Past president, Bill Fritzsche, was in charge
of the induction ceremony for Kathryn Dobson, John Deasy, Kristine Andresen,
Joey Perlmutter, Blair Brandenburg, Oded Wolf, and Donald Wilkes.
It’s Their Day
April 12th will be our annual
Secretaries/Administrative Assistance Day. This will be your chance to honor
your “right hand” person and thank them for all their hard work.
Reservations are important! If you plan on
bringing a guest, please call Barbara Hopper at (310) 434-9992.
UPCOMING FRIDAY MEETINGS
