ISSUE NO. 2 July 18, 2003 OUR 82nd YEAR
www.RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org
HEADING NORTH
This week at the head table with over a century of Rotary of service and dedication were KEITH MAGEE (14 years) invoking a gentle spirit, showing his true dedication with 25 years and two broken shoulders was LIONEL RUHMAN, the effervescent NAT TRIVES came in second in the duration awards with a 27 year entry, taking first place was DICK RICE with a stellar 32 years of Rotary service, and bringing up the rear was new member ROY ALMEIDA at 6 months of Rotary membership to welcome our guests and visitors. ( I know that only adds up to 98.5 years, but I assumed that our PresiDEEnt has over 2 years of service!)
HEADING SOUTH
Los Tres Caballeros, RICE, RUHMAN AND TRIVES, gave us a view into their traveling style as they recounted the tale of their trip south of the border to help deliver wheelchairs to the needy. Traveling with the Wheelchair Foundation and Rotaract volunteers the three charmers, helped distribute the over 158 wheelchairs that the Rotary Club of Santa Monica donated last year.
The purpose of the Wheelchair Foundation is to make affordable wheelchairs available to those in need throughout the world. The theme of the presentation from the Three Amigos was Serendipity. Or, a fortuitous happening. In this case it was the meeting of Rotary and the Wheelchair Foundation as a natural marriage given Rotarys’ Polio Eradication Efforts, and the debilitating effects polio has on its victims mobility.
From the first time that DICK RICE called the Wheelchair Foundation and got Rotary International President Rick King as the receptionist, to the parallel but unknown efforts of our own NAT TRIVES to find a way to provide Wheelchairs, serendipity has been a watchword of this effort.
As an example of the benefits of group efforts, to date there have been over 138,990 wheelchairs distributed worldwide with a goal of over 1,000,000 by 2005. The California Rotary clubs have donated a total of 560 statewide, of that number 161 have been donated by the Rotary Club of Santa Monica, with the last three being donated by the PresiDEEnt in honor of Los Tres Caballeros.
We have much to be proud of, not just our giving, but our members.
NAT TRIVES has challenged the club to return to Mazatlan in 2004 where he has obligated us to host a reception for our sister city and their Rotary clubs. Hmmm, Mazatlan, reception, party, drinks, tanning, dancing and the beach. Sounds like a hard sell to this editor.
AND NOW GOING BEHIND THE ORANGE CURTAIN
Expectant daddy JON KEMP and his wife GINA braved the wilds below the county line and their adventurousness cost a sporting $25 apiece to be returned to the land of the free and the sun-kissed.
This week’s homework took us to the Baltic Sea with SUSAN DAWSON AND NORMA BARNES each paying tourist tax of $50.00.
No tax was involved in the vote of confidence that was given to Dr. PIEDAD ROBERTSON, but it is costing her $140 for the faith of her fellows.
When it comes to peer review, lawyers are known for their ability to cut to the skinny, and the California Chamber of Commerce saw fit to award TOM LARMORE with its Small Business Advocate of the Year award for his efforts in this past election. Not wanting to hog the spotlight, ( and the fine !) TOM shared the limelight with Santa Monica Chamber President KATHY DODSON, for a $150 apiece.
And finally the President Elect LIONEL RUHMAN was dinged a $100 per broken shoulder for his celebration of 7 decades of service to humanity.
VISITORS AND GUESTS
This week we had no visiting Rotarians, but what a collection of great guests, RICHARD TAUSSIG (Guest of JACK SIEGAL), SCOTT DE RUYTER (Guest of DAVID PISARRA), JULIAN ALEXANDER(Guest of JACK SIEGAL , DAVID MOSES (Guest of the Club – Award Recipient), SUZY HERBERT(Guest of the Club – Award Recipient), DENA ANDERSON (Guest of the Club – Award Recipient), ELZA RUHMAN (Guest of LIONEL RUHMAN), LORALEE PARR (Guest of DAVID BOHN), JOE MEEHAN (Guest of BOB KLEIN), ALEX CARTER(Guest of JON KEMP)
UPCOMING CALENDAR:
August 1, 2003 we will have Jack Sanders, a critically acclaimed "Classical Guitarist", whose student, Dr. Dick Rice will be Program Chair.
August 8, 2003, we will our annual "State of the City" address by City Manager, Susan McCarthy and the Program Chair will be Chamber President & CEO, Kathy Dodson.
August 15, 2003 we will have a timely presentation on the "Historic Recall of California Governor, Gray Davis" by local attorney and nationally known election law expert, Colleen McAndrews and the Program Chair will be Tom Larmore.
DAVID’S DOODLINGS
Outside of a dog, a good book is man’s best friend.
Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.
- Groucho Marx