Dear Friends of Neal,
It is with deep sadness that I inform you that Neal Hoffman left us last evening, Monday, September 24. He finally lost the battle with the complications from his horrific August 31 accident. Our memories should be of a strong, brilliant friend and Rotary leader. Our hearts should be with Jayne, Alex, and other family members at this time.
Services are pending. We will communicate the details when we know more.
With a heavy heart,
Carolyn Schuetz
MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 20, 2001 By Wyatt Allen
Editor - Dick Blanding
Webmaster - Steve GruberLOS ALTOS ROTARY CLUB MEETING of SEPTEMBER 20, 2001 - Scribe, Wyatt Allen
Beginnings…
BELLA BERLLY led us in the pledge that seems so much more meaningful the past two weeks.
DICK HENNING shares Truman Capote's definition of time, "It is a crook!"
BRUCE CANN, playing the ivories, led is in "America The Beautiful." Boy, is it ever!Announcements…
=> Pres. FIROOZ offered recognition from the Persian dinner he and GITI so graciously hosted:
DAN O'DONNELL received a "bartender-wanna-be" award and DICK HASENPFLUG and WYATT ALLEN received the first ever BIPD awards (best improved Persian dancers)=> SAM HARDING, who wasn't complaining of his delay in returning from France since he was "forced" to hold up in a French chateau (with all the local wine he could drink!) completed some unfinished business from GINNY LEAR'S kickout dinner. It now must be official that GINNY successfully competed her year as our pres. SAM gave her with a plaque to prove it.
=> SAM PESNER is peddling cases of 24 beer glasses left over from the art show ($24/case).
International theme continues…
MARION TAVENNER provided us with an historical background of Turkey as well as an overview of it people and culture as it has been influenced by a great number of other civilizations and cultural influences. About twice the size and population of California, this mostly agricultural country situated between southeastern Europe and the Middle East has a motto we would all like to share right now, "Peace at home and throughout the world."Recognition…
SETH MANNING used anniversaries as his theme to extract fines from members O'TOOLE (54), REED (39), HIGGINS, (3), GRATIOT (37), HARDING, and RAYL. He continued by gaining donations from members DEMATTEIS, COWAN and FOUQUET (the last for boasting about his first grandchild). JOE O'TOOLE and MARLKENE COWAN are new "diplomats."DAVID DYE, fulfilling the 5-minute talk requirement on his way to being a blue badge wearer, related that he was originally from the Midwest. To assure that he didn't come all the way from our nation's midsection not to see the ocean, DAVID lives in Pacifica with his wife DORA and two sons. DAVID came to lead our local Boy Scout Council through some unusual circumstances. At age eleven, he crushed two vertebrae (six years in a full back brace!) and discovered he suffered from a seizure disorder that prevented him from an active youth. He had to petition repeatedly to gain a substitution of merit badges to gain his Eagle Scout rank due to his back condition…but through determination and perseverance, DAVID earned his Eagle.
After some twenty years as a college professor in Missouri, David tried his hand at managing a group of doctors that he referred toss, "like herding worms." (I hadn't heard that term before…. must be a Missouri phrase). DAVID is currently the scout Executive for the Pacific Skyline Council that includes Los Altos and Mountain View.
Legislative update from our speaker…
Pres.-elect MARY PROCHNOW introduced our speaker, JOE SIMITIAN, who not only has spoken to our club previously, but alsowas a Palo Alto councilman and mayor as well as Santa Clara County Supervisor before being elected to the State Assembly last November. JOE related a very challenging eight plus months is Sacramento in his first year serving on our Assembly. The legislative year began with a suicide trucker ramming into the state capital building and ended with terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D.C.
California legislature was literally consumed by the energy crisis, taking 200 times the amount of legislature time than all other topics combined. SIMITIAN found the state legislature a totally different culture that local government. While in Palo Alto and Santa Clara County, JOE experienced cooperation and joint efforts to gain end results. In Sacramento, not only does everything get done on LST (Legislature Standard Time), but everything is totally partisan.
Term limits have eliminated a great deal of experience in key positions and committees. So much of the debate and discussions take place not on the floor of our Assembly or Senate, but behind closed doors.Relatively inexperienced politicians without the connections of years past now run our state government. It certainly means that there is more pressure on the voters to elect capable individuals who have excellent backgrounds to manage the issues that will face them in the legislature. The learning curve is very, very steep.
SIMITIAN appreciates the opportunity to represent us in the Assembly. However, he feels that if he had gone to Sacramento without experience in running a local utility and many other committee assignments in city and county government, he certainly would have been ill prepared for what awaited him in our state capitol this year.
In response to questions, SIMITIAN (1) felt the consumer privacy bill wold be reintroduced after revisions next Spring, (2) the energy crisis will get worse before it gets better (oh joy!), and (3) the state will experience decreased income due to the likelihood of lower income and capital gain revenues for 2001 than prior years.
Thanks, JOE, for your legislative leadership and representing us in Sacramento.
Programs
September
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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