"2003/2004"

Rota-Monica

www.RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org

MADAME WU WOOS THEM

In the second to last regular meeting of the year of the woman, local celebrity and restaurateur MADAME SYLVIA WU came to regale the membership with stories of yore.  Noting her fondness for the late President Ronald Regan, Madame Wu, began with a few Ronnie moments, and then went on to provide a history lesson for those of us not in the know, of how Santa Monica used to operate. 

The four time author told stories of how she managed to get the third and most famous of her restaurant locations built.  Being on  a budget was not constraint for this lady of direction, she worked with a contractor on a handshake deal, and built a landmark, and in the process became a local celebrity.  She is a shining example of what integrity, hard work and focus can produce.   She was a fitting antepenultimate speaker for the year of the woman.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THIS WEEK IS THE FINAL REGLAR MEETING OF THE 42^ND YEAR

AND BOY ARE DEE’S ARMS TIRED.

This year the PresiDEEnt has led us, through speeches by celebrities of now and then, with government officials explaining the workings ( or not ) of the city, county and state, we have had lectures by doctors, and a presentation by a developer.  This year has been a year of great loss for our club.  We have lost powerful links to the past with the passing of ELEANOR JOHNSON, who perhaps felt that Rotary was now in good hands with a woman at the helm, and SCHILLER COLBERG left our ranks, but his legacy continues and he will not be soon forgotten. 

This has been a year of great growth also for the club.  We have grown to over 170 members.  Just a sampling of the new members, are DON MCDANIEL and  DAVID POTTER who  were inducted last week.

We’ve led the District in the money we’ve given away at $19,000.

It’s been a great year, and I’ve enjoyed being the editor of the Rotamonica.  I’ll be back next year, so Lionel you’d better shape up!

This week is the last official regular meeting at the Riviera Country Club of this year, and I’d like to invite everyone to come out and give Dee a great shove off into the annals of history as the First Female Immediate Past President of the Rotary club of Santa Monica.  She’s in the home stretch and we should help push her over the finish line.

Remember the June 25^th meeting has been changed to an evening meeting as we DEEThrone the PresiDEEnt and welcome the next victim.

Dinner is at the Casa Del Mar, 6 p.m. and your reservations cards have been sent to you, so please get them to June so that she can forward a count to Klaus and his many minions of magnificence.

GET OUT YOUR WALKING SHOES !

Yep, you can count on being tagged to spend an evening, or early morning, with that lady of the track, JUDY NEVEAU.  She’s at it again, she’s team building for the ROTARY ROCKET, the club’s entry into the RELAY FOR LIFE.  This is a great event to meet and get to know other Rotary members as the relay goes throughout the night at SMC.

FINE TIMES WITH THE PRESIDEENT

The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce held its annual changing of the guard this month, and our own NAT TRIVES          was installed as the Chairman of the Board over there. In true Santa Monica fashion, the bigger the title, the bigger the fine, and Chairman Nat was fined a whopping $500.  Not to be outdone though, TOM LARMORE joined in the festivities and he too has to pony up the $500 in greens fees.

Everyone else who was in attendance is fined a mere $100. 

AWARDING AWARDS TO WARDS OF THE COMMUNITY

We also had a visit from the District Governor JOHN COLVILLE who provided the Presidential Citation to President Dee Menzies for her commitment to alleviate community poverty and community service on behalf of the club.

And on behalf of the Rotary Foundation, MARV LEVIN was awarded he District Service Award for his tireless efforts at fundraising.  Congratulations for hard work recognized.

UPCOMING DATES

June 18, 2004 - William J. Rehder is a former 33-year veteran Special Agent of the FBI. He currently is in private practice as managing partner of The Security Management Resource Group, a security management and litigation consulting firm.

Mr. Rehder is nationally acknowledged as the most experienced bank robbery investigator in the United States. Most recently, he has co-authored a non-fiction book entitled “WHERE THE MONEY IS – True Tales From The Bank Robbery Capital Of The World.”  Mr. Rehder was FBI Technical Advisor for the Steven Speilberg film “Catch Me If You Can” starring Tom Hanks, Leonardo Di Caprio

June 25, 2004 -  Dethroning Party  “Done with Class” -NO LUNCH MEETING – THIS IS A DINNER MEETING at the CASA DEL MAR where Pico meets the beach.  Valet Parking is provided.

DAVID’S DOODLINGS

Somewhere along the line of development we discover who we really are, and then we make our real decision for which we are responsible. Make that decision primarily for yourself because you can never really live anyone else’s life not even your child’s. The influence you exert is through your own life and what you become yourself.

Thank you Dee, for your great leadership this past year.

David T. Pisarra, Esq.