ISSUE NO. 1 July 7, 2003 OUR 82nd YEAR
www.RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org
2003 / 2004 INAUGURAL EDITION
It was a dark and stormy night, no no no, sorry, wrong introduction.
It was a warm and breezy jasmine scented evening, as we approached the gently sloping drive to the Riviera Country Club. Tonight would be the beginning of a new era. This would be the start of a whole new epoch in the annals of Rotary Club of Santa Monica history, soon to become Her Story.
Yes, it was the night that DEE MENZIES relieved the club of its’ anticipation and became the first woman President. A night of graceful gratitude to those who had served so well over the past twelve months and the dawning of a new hope, as the incoming president assembled her board and officers and presented them to the club. These are the members who will make this next year the year of friendship and fun.
Just to make sure that NO ONE could miss the new Entertainment Chair, and leading the charge into the new year of fun, was SPYROS DELLAPORTAS, in full regalia, with a cardinal jacket and spring yellow pants, blending in like no one else.
The evening began with an hour of cocktail chatter and the air of anticipation hung sweetly in the foyer of the RCC, as the gentle guitar strums of Michael Cladis echoed softly. Spotted that night looking particularly charming were ANN GREENSPUN and member spouse ANDI ROSS ( DAVE ROSS’wife). Beaming with the glow and anxiety of expectant parenthood was member extraordinaire JON KEMP and his lovely wife GINA. Practicing his well honed skills of charm and wit was the ever outgoing CONNOLLY OYLER with his charming wife beside him.
In a brilliant show of succinctness President Elect LIONEL RUHMAN welcomed the august crowd, and introduced the masterful PAUL GAULKE as the Master of Ceremonies. Following the stirring invocation by PATRICIA FARRIS, was the memorial of members gone but not forgotten.
The moment we had all been waiting for arrived with nary a dry eye in the house, as Past President BILL FRITZSCHE did the deed and relieved President BILL CROOKSTON of his duties. With obvious relief and exuding the satisfaction of a job well done, he stepped down. Of course, he still had a few words to say, many thank yous to the multitudinous hands that made this past year, one of glory and achievement, possible with his captainship. Thank you Bill for all you have done for the club. You may now relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Past President DON SHELBY passed the yoke of club stewardship, replete with flowers, on to our new President DEE MENZIES, and with charm, grace and humor she took up the reins of power and so began a new year.
Please join us on July 11th, when we have motivational speaker Tim O’Brien who will provide the inaugural message for Dee’s year.
Dr. Dick Rice, Lionel Ruhman and VP Nat Trives will follow on July 18, 2003 with a report on the Mazatlan, Mexico Wheel Chair Distribution efforts of the Wheel Chair Foundation and the Rotary Clubs of Foster City and Santa Monica.
July 25, 2003 we will be treated to our first craft talks for the year.
DAVID’S DOODLINGS
You know you're getting old when it takes too much effort to procrastinate.
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