MEETING OF AUGUST 30, 2001

By Wyatt Allen
Webmaster - Steve Gruber

Arriving a bit late for the meeting is not necessarily a good idea for the scribe. I think I know how the pledge went and I learned later that our thought for the day would be heard next week anyway.

INTERNATIONAL THEME:
Pres. FIROOZ continued our international education. Today it was Bolivia, a South American country the size of Texas and California combined. Our guest was DR. MANUEL HELGUERO, Counsel General. Bolivia has been independent for 176 years and is proud of the spirit of its people, the tremendous variety of landscapes, and much varied flora and fauna. He also thanked Rotarians for their humanitarian efforts that have benefited his countrymen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS (at least those I came in time to hear!)
=> STEVE SHEPHERD reminded us of the deadline to sign up for the fundraiser golf tournament sponsored by Warm Springs Rotary on Monday, Sept. 14th at Coyote Club (San Jose). There is an additional challenge from JACK (VICTORIA'S spouse) EMMONS that could result in an additional $200 to our (or their) endowment fund.
=> ASHLEY WRIGHT, president of Pinewood School Interact, asked for our help in
making a dinner/auction a success for their club in November. Contributions of cash or auction items are desperately need to raise money for an orphanage in Mexico. If you can help, contact Ashley at 999 Hayman Pl., Los Altos, CA 94024.

MEMBERS:
MATT CABOT was welcomed (back) to our club as a new red badger. MATT is a computer consultant and Los Altos resident who was more than willing to give up his old Art Show assignment. There are always plenty of opportunities. Welcome back, MATT!

KIRK MAHNCKE provided us with his 5-minute talk. KIRK was born and raised in Michigan. Since his father was a disabled WWII veteran, his family struggled at times. KIRK became the fix-it man around the house, which provided an early interest in houses and real estate. His family traveled throughout the United States by trailer and KIRK also studied overseas, developing an enjoyment for travel. KIRK re-located to the Bay Area in the mid-1970's and began a very successful career in real estate sales and real estate development. Thanks for sharing with us, KIRK.

HARRY KALSHIAN (Palo Alto Rotary) donated 49er tickets (vs. Atlanta), which raised some extra cash for our club. Thanks, HARRY.

JOHN SINES, in his last assignment as finemaster, extracted liquid assets from MARTY SPANGLER (did he release all those salmon or not?), SID HUBBARD (next time, pass the basketball to JOHN), MATT CABOT (what a welcome!), SAM PESNER (recent photo), PAT FARRELL (success in recent Chamber golf tournament) and BAIDRA PROCHNOW (who appealed for diplomatic immunity by joining the president's club).

MARY PROCHNOW introduced us to JIM SWEENEY, a professor at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute. He provided us with a thorough background on our state's energy situation. He explained how our prior state legislature and current governor have turned opportunity into risk, risk into challenge, challenge into crisis, and finally crisis possibly into blight for California.

JIM reviewed the 1996 legislative actions that began what is now referred to as energy "deregulation" and the basis for our current energy woes. This legislation created wholesale energy markets that resulted in independent system operators, isolated consumers by establishing retail price controls, and increased risk by having utilities sell off assets and through the avoidance of any long-term energy contracts.

Almost half our energy comes from natural gas, a commodity that experiences price volatility. Another 13 percent comes from hydroelectric plants, which are dependent upon rainfall for supply. Other sources are geothermal, nuclear, wind turbines, solar, fossil fuels, etc. Electric energy must be produced as we need it, it cannot be stored for future use. Our ability to produce additional energy has been stymied due to the regulatory process and environmental extremists that have greatly elongated the approval process for additional energy production plants. There have been ample permit applications, but only a few new plants have been approved and/or are under construction.

Late last year, prices skyrocketed for energy since we had to go to other sources as an emergency step to met California energy needs. When utilities began running out of cash, they began placing production plants offline creating our energy shortage. In a few years, we should be able to produce enough energy to greatly reduce the risk of rolling blackouts. Our state government recently entered into long-term contracts for energy, but at a time when prices were near their highest levels. That commits California to very high costs of energy for a very long time. The revenue bonds will create a very high interest cost for California and could create a financial strain on other programs in the future. About the only way we can do anything (short of impeaching our governor and recall our legislators in retaliation) is to conserve energy as much as possible. It seems our energy crisis will stay with us in one way or another for quite a while!


President's Message

Some sad news. Bill and Jerry Moison's mother from Fitchburg, MA and also Jean McFall's brother, King, died a few days ago. Of course it is always a shocking experience whenever we loose a loved one. Our most sincere sympathy to the Moisons and McFalls!

On a happier note, I'd like to say a few words about the Rotator. Every week we get to read the Rotator on the Internet. We have so many fellow Rotarians who are using their time and talents to produce the Rotator for your enjoyment. This year we hope the Rotator will be recognized at the District level for its quality. Here are the producers of the Rotator:

Steve Gruber, Webmaster
Dick Blanding, Editor

Rotator writers:
Wyatt Allen
Dick Blanding
Matt Cabot
Cindy Luedtke
Clyde Noel
Mary Prochnow
Steve Yarbrough

You noticed this week we tried a different seating arrangement at the meeting. We had the tables numbered, and standing near Lee Lynch, Bill Rewak was handing everyone their table number. At the Board we decided to call this arrangement "Lunch By Chance." I hope everyone enjoyed the change and maybe even found out something new about a fellow Rotarian. If you did learn something new, share it with the September Finemaster, Seth Manning. I highly recommend you to use this as an opportunity to apply for diplomatic immunity!

-Firooz

Programs

September
September 6 - Jean Hollands - "Same Game, Different Rules"
September 13 - Dave McKenzie - "Los Altos History"
September 15 - Persian Night
September 20 - Paul Alcantra - "Ironman"
September 27 - Dr. Richard Spaete - "New Approaches to Contol of Influenza"
October
October 4 - West Bay Opera
October 11 - Dr Malini Alles - "Helping women in developing countries"
October 18 - Candidates Forum
October 25 - Dr. Ruben Granich - AIDS Research
November
November 8 - Red Badge Auction
"Information in this newsletter is intended for the exclusive use of the members of the Rotary Club of Los Altos to facilitate the work of the club and to promote club fellowship. It is not to be used for any commercial or outside, unrelated, non-profit purposes. No publication of material in this newsletter should occur without the express permission of the club President or the Editor of the Rotator."
Copyright 2001 The Los Altos Rotary Club

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