MEETING OF AUGUST 29, 2002
By: Dick Blanding
Editor - Dick Blanding
Webmaster - Steve GruberMike Spence provided some timely food for thought with an excellent proposition: that each of us needs to demonstrate at least some part of a soldier's courage as we go about our business of being fine citizens of the good old USA.
President-elect Al started an avalanche of confessions and donations with his announcement of a 44th anniversary with his lovely wife Nancy. This was quickly followed by Dennis Young's astonishing revelation that his new grandchild is the most beautiful baby yet seen on the planet. Boo paid a $40 fine, which clearly indicates he has now just turned forty. Roland Paine joined the President's Club for $100; and Bruce Cann told about a three-week, 5000 mile trip around Australia with his five teenaged grandchildren.
Irene Preston became a new member today. Irene owns Preston's Candies and she was sponsored by Ellen Yamane Flanagan.
Not to be outdone by all this unsolicited giving, Finemaster John Sines arrived at the microphone midst thunderous applause. He went on to explain why we have fines: it's for the aesthetics of it all. Without fines, we'd all be meringue. Instead, we are all lemon curd, or something. Steve Shepard said he only played golf twenty times (big fine); Boo, Al and Walt were also fined for having recently bought new golf clubs, or not. Finally a whole table of would-be golfers were fined for lack of interest, and John retired to his seat.
Past President Firooz announced the big Los Altos Remembrance of 9/11, to be held at the soccer field on Hillview, next to the Bus Barn, from 6:20 to 7:20 on September 11th. Don't miss it!
The very next day, Sept. 12th, is our club's official Billy Russell Day. We'll celebrate with an old fashioned picnic at noon in Shoup Park ($15). Please call Julie Rose by September 5th at 948-1455 to let her know if you plan to bring a guest. Or, you can email her at julierose@losaltoschamber.org.
Past President Boo gave his 9-minute talk, covering his forty, fast-moving years, from being a skinny kid named Luvain, living in the tough "Frogtown" part of Saint Paul MN. He broke out by working in the local library enough to pay for going to college,
and soon accepted the irresistible offer of free flying lessons for a year. That led to Army Air Corps Cadet training in 1942, and earning his wings in Dec. of 1943. After a whirlwind tour of the world's most iniquitous night spots from Casablanca to Cairo to Singapore and Hong Kong, and flying "the Hump" over Burma, Boo left the service in 1946 to finish school in Minnesota. In June of '48 he once more escaped the Northlands, moving to California to work for Remington Rand. Later he moved to Honolulu, where he finally overcame a great fear of public speaking, by taking the Dale Carnegie course. Marrying Gretchen was the best thing he ever did; selling their new house in Hawaii to move to Minnesota to sell Dale Carnegie on a commission-only basis might have been the dumbest. But he did well, bought the California franchise, returned to the Golden State and joined the Los Altos Rotary Club. He feels blessed with his many longtime friends in our club.
Newly crowned Songmeister Alan Lambert announced he would like to have your ideas for some new songs for us to sing (or else you'll get your Row, Row, Row Your Boat again!)
Prez Mary said that next meeting is your very last chance to update the info about you for the forthcoming edition of the LARC Handbook. If Dennis can give up that old picture of himself sporting an Afro, then you can make a few changes too.
Our speaker, a former third grade teacher at the old Ford Country Day School, is now the CEO of the non-profit educational foundation called Bizworld. Joyce Fredericks
showed a short film, and told about a wonderful program which grew out of a parent's idea, to teach kids what it's like to run their own business. In four days, the class gets issued Kidbucks; designs and prototypes a product (friendship bracelet); sells stock; sells their product; and does all the books including income statement and balance sheet. This in two hours a day for four days. If you are interested in being trained to conduct this program in one of our local schools, contact Bizworld at 368-0777, or log on to www.bizworld.org. Lots of opportunities currently exist in Los Altos and Mountain View. Sure sounds like a lot of fun for the kids and adults, too.
Be sure to come to our next meeting, which features our very own District Governor, Brad Howard, with an important message for you!
Programs and Events
September
September 5 - Rotary District Governor Brad Howard
September 12 - Billy Russell Day Picnic
September 19 - Judy Johnson: "Unexpected Treasures" Antiques & CollectiblesSeptember 26 - Humberto Mayorga: Rotary District 5170 GSE Scholar
"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 2002 The Los Altos Rotary Club
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