MEETING OF OCTOBER 4, 2001 By Clyde Noel
Editor - Dick Blanding
Webmaster - Steve GruberSinging at Los Altos Rotary Club meetings is a capricious event where you usually hear a constant mumbling of words. Today, JOHN SYLVESTER asked the Rotarian body to sing "God Bless America" and everybody put their heart in the words. Patriotism is still embedded in our psyche and the words flowed effortlessly.
TRACIE MURRAY offered an inspirational theme on gerontology where a woman affirms you don't see the dreams a person has without looking inside the person. "Throughout the cruise of life, a grown-up person can still feel like a young romantic teenager, because that's what you are in your heart." Because of a long scheduled program, FIROOZ asked that Rotarians who want to speak should make it short and to the point.
Nancy Traficanti asked for volunteers for Partners for New Generations at Santa Rita School. They need help in a three month volunteer program in the Science Department.
In a fatherly disposition, BOB ADAMS introduced Alexei Krylov from Russia. We are his host club and both he and Bob have the same birth date, yet neither were fined.
ROY LAVE reminded everyone that the miniature U.S. lapel flag at each place setting was a complimentary gesture of the Los Altos Community Foundation. Roy also asked Rotarians to attend the fund-raiser for families affected by the World Tower Center terrorist attack. The idea of the fund-raiser started with Jamie and Meredith Carpenter, owners of Jocco's restaurant. It costs $50 and is tax deductible, because you make the check to the Los Altos Community Foundation.
BEN McGANN is offering Rotarians a flu shot at the Nov. 1 meeting. Vaccination will start at 11:30 a.m. and a donation of $20 is requested. A check made out to Rotacare can be tax deductible, but a cash donation is not. Frankly, the flu shot is more important this year.
Traveling JACK HEIDMILLER attended a Rotary meeting in Aberdare, Wales on Sept. 4. Jack commented about the irony of the prayer offered on Sept. 4, which had a reference to the events of Sept. 11. "So let us acknowledge before our god that International understanding and goodwill begins when our differences of custom, belief and religion are acknowledged and understood."
CINDY LUEDTKE is the fine master for the month of October and relied on the consummate approach to birthdays. MEL KAHN, JOANNA MEDIN, and JOHN SINES paid up because they were one year older. BOO BUE had the misfortune to complete a hole-in-one while golfing at the Olympic Club. He also will celebrate his 50th anniversary this coming Wednesday with Gretchen, his life long partner who we presume did not attend the golfing excursion.
In Firooz's salute to the nations of the world, SHIV SHASTRI provided a profound and intellectual comment on India. A Mountain View native, Shiv said his parents were born in India and came here 45 years ago.
"India is an important country that we don't know much about." he said. "I want to focus on what India means to the United States and to the Rotary. The impact has been a quiet one, but long lasting." Shiv said India has the second largest Islamic population. Eighteen languages are spoken with countless dialects. To be an Indian is not defined by one dimension. In giving relevance, he suggested three areas that contributed to India's progress. Diversity, democracy and development.
"To accommodate diversity, you need democracy," Shivadev said. "India wasn't swept by the tide of Communism and democracy prevailed. Freedom is necessary for technology because it needs free minds and India has shown the world what democracy means."
In a long line of awards in a Rotary Friendship Exchange, Nash Narasihman spoke about the Friendship Exchange Team that visited
the district on a previous mission. He was helped in the friendship gesture by R. Patel, Sam Sambavadas and Raj Rajendran. As a token of friendship, Firooz received a beautiful yellow Indian shawl.
In another segment of a busy Rotarian program, Rotarian RICH FISCHER spoke glowingly about the Mountain View/Los Altos High School District commitment. Local high schools provide a rigorous scholarly experience with a strong focus on academics, Fisher said. He noted that the district sends students to the best colleges and many go to Foothill College and then on to other California schools. In every category the district rates in the top 10 percent in the state, he said.
The last fifteen minutes of the busy meeting featured the singing of several arias from "Faust." The West Bay Opera will open its 2001-2002 season with Gounod's "Faust" Oct. 12 and 19. David Shloss, director of West Bay Opera, explained that Faust turns to the devil in order to win the heart of a young girl Marguerite. Debra Mahan stunned the Rotarians with her singing a vibrant aria as Marguerite.
The opera was inspired by Goethe's poetic setting of the Faust legend. It has an abundance of lustrous melodies and brilliant arias and duets. The songs of Mephistopheles in his sardonic way will keep you from snoring at the opera.
This special note from Dick Henning, our GSE coordinator:
Our Rotary Club is looking for people who would like a FREE trip to Europe in May 2002 The program is the Rotary International - Group Study Exchange Program.
When: May 14TH to June 12th, 2002 (4 weeks)
Who: U.S. citizen 25 to 40 years old. Currently employed at least two years in a recognized business or profession. Live or work in
District 5170 Neither a Rotarian nor child, grandchild, husband, or wife of a Rotarian, nor married to a child or grandchild of a Rotarian.
What: Participate in a team immersion program in Iceland for a month. Live with Rotary families, interact with the local people in your
same occupation, visit Rotary projects, attend Rotary meetings, make presentations at meetings and a conference, learn about the
Rotary world and Icelandic culture, keep a log, submit a report.Where: Iceland is a flat country (avg. elev. 500'), the size of Kentucky, official language is Icelandic but most everyone speaks English; they love Americans.
How: Contact Dick Henning: 949-7723
Why: To promote international understanding. Learn about another culture and your profession in another country. Enhance your
career. Share the experience when you return.
Costs: All travel and housing provided. Personal expenses only.
Interested: Contact: Dick Henning 650/949-7723 e-mail henningdick@fhda.eduNote from Bud Oliver in Michigan:
As many of you know Ann and I are spending 10 weeks at our cottage in Michigan. We are both from a small town named Cadillac, which is in then northern part of the Lower Peninsula. Our cottage is on Lake Mitchell, located a few miles from Cadillac. We have relatives and friends living here, plus several visiting us from California. We enjoy coming here because of our 'roots', beauty and diversity of the area, and change of pace from living in California!
Example of the change of pace include:
· No traffic jams.
· Taking our grandkids fishing and helping our youngest catch his first fish.
· Traveling in our boat across Lake Mitchell, through a canal, and across Lake Cadillac to attend outdoor concerts at the Rotary Pavillian.
· Playing golf at any one of a dozen courses in the area without making advanced reservations.
· Attending a Rotary meeting in Cadillac to learn they have contributed over $350K toward a new youth outdoor sports complex (75 members!).However, we do miss our family, friends, and home and in Los Altos!! We shall return!!
See you in mid-October!
Programs
October
October 11 - Dr. Malini Alles - "Helping women in developing countries"
October 14 - Rotary Picnic, Heritage Oaks Park, 12:30 p.m.
October 18 - Candidates Forum, Moderator: Roy Lave
October 25 - Dr. Reuben Granich - HIV: Health and Your Community - The Ugandan Experience
November
November 4 - Bob Brownstein - Healthy Kids
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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