ISSUE NO. 29 February 28, 2003 OUR 81st YEAR
www.RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org
February 28th was that magical day as promised. We were entertained, encouraged and exhorted to do greater and greater deeds by Rotary International Past President Richard King, speaking as the head of the Wheelchair Foundation. Pres. KING, displayed his tremendous range of speaking talent, by alternately being uproariously funny to beautifully poignant. He told tales of his experience as the President of Rotary International where his service work took him to 79 countries, meeting 40 heads of state, 28 of whom were themselves Rotarians.
Pres. KING led Rotary during a period of great expansion, and after seeing him in action, one can understand how this man accomplishes so much in one lifetime. He was a speaker who electrocharged the room with his self-deprecating humor, regaling us with a series tales from his legal exploits and gentle jokes about the legal profession in general.
Were all the lawyers in the room listening to him?
Pres KING gave us his challenge to every Rotarian, based on three things that every Rotarian can do to help Rotary: 1) Sponsor someone to join us, 2) Help with the Polio campaign, we are down to the last 8 countries and few hundred cases, when we started with over 150 countries and thousands of cases, 3) Contribute a wheelchair.
Not too difficult a set of challenges, and with BRING A GUEST day this FRIDAY, we can take up that challenge immediately.
And Finally, when it comes to spreading the message, President Elect Designate LIONEL RUHMAN, is the man to beat. He brought in contributions from the four men working for him, 2 from Mexico and 2 from El Salvador, to buy wheelchairs. Way to go Lionel!!!
Heads Up
At the august head table this week we had quite a selection of the communitys' finest, JACK SIEGAL stirred us with a moving Invocation, DAVE ROGERS was the new kid on the block, the ever charming MONIKA WHITE introduced our many guests and visiting Rotarians, and NAT TRIVES kept company with our main speaker, the Past President of Rotary, RICK KING. PHIL TIRONE was his usual boisterous, gregarious self as song leader, but dare we say it, he might have been outdone when RICK KING, came down from the head table to display some of the Vegas showstopping style that brought him to where he is, with a customized renditon of "What a Wonderful Day".
Of Significance
We had the following people as visiting Rotarians this week: JOHN "The Bill Crookston Clone" ELMAN and his lovely wife Lee Ann, and JACK CORRODI, both of Malibu.
Guests were David Mortue, Jeff Hahn, Debra Smalley Alan Lewis and Sue Hartenbaum, John and Nancy Nugent, len Waserstein, June Bohn, Jack Jones, Jim Hamai, John Helman, Carol Whiley, Luke Serrerieie, Mr. Clinton Scott, Dan Gagth, Peter Fleming, John Colville. IN HONOR OF OUR SPEAKER, we were fine free this week.
Cell Phone Announcement
We have been asked by a little bird to PLEASE SHUT THE PHONES OFF. We don't want to see other members fined, but a good solid nudge could do some of us some good.
On the Agenda
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3/7 Mark Morocco, MD: BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE TV SHOW "ER". It is also CON OYLERS DESIGNATED DAY TO "BRING A GUEST". |
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3/14 Joint Meeting the Jaycees |
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3/21 Stan Stahl, Computer Security, How to Keep Your Indentity to yourself. |
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3/28/03 Our Literacy Program will feature California First Lady Mrs. Sharon Davis |
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4/3/03 Rick Auerbach Los Angeles County Assessor |
Just Joey
as submitted by David Pisarra
Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air.
- John Quincy Adams, 6th US President