MEETING OF FEBRUARY 14, 2002
By Wyatt Allen
Editor - Dick Blanding
Webmaster - Steve GruberThis day brought together a strange combination of themes - we were celebrating both Valentines Day as well as holding an Election Day for our Board of Directors (I guess we would be excused on such a day for voting with our hearts!).
JOAN ROSELLE shared a reading on the meaning and importance of love. I couldn't think of a more appropriate topic for Valentines Day (even though it may not apply to an Election Day!).
We were treated today to the voice of JASON DETWEILER, a magnificent baritone voice from the West Bay Opera. It was a promotional serenade to announce the opening of "The Marriage of Figaro" by the West Bay Opera at the Lucie Stern Theater in Palo Alto on February 15-17 and 22-24, 2002.
CONGRATULATIONS to MONA ARMISTEAD, VICTORIA EMMONS and ED SOX for being elected for a two-year term to our Board of Directors beginning July 1, 2002.
Thanks to all six candidates who were willing to be on the ballot and to accept a leadership role if elected. From the quality of candidates we had to choose from, we simply couldn't go wrong.MARY MARLEY announced that at next week's meeting (Feb. 21st) Los Altos Interact members will be selling hand-made badges made by individuals of South Africa. The badges are being sold for $10 (you are certainly allowed to offer more) as a fundraiser. Please support the efforts of our Interact Club members and purchase a unique badge.
MARY'S husband, ARLEY, announced Sunnyvale Rotary Club's annual fundraising event. They will hold a crab feed on March 23rd. We are all invited to participate.
STEVE SHEPHERD reminded our members of two upcoming special events:
February 26th is the Area 10 dinner at the Los Altos Golf & Country Club to hear Abraham Sofaer, Stanford University Law Professor, discuss "Terrorism and How the U.S. Can Defeat It." $40 per person. Should be an interesting presentation. Checks should be made payable to Rotary Club of Los Altos and sent to Steve Shepherd for reservations. Deadline for payment is February 21, 2002.
March 8th is the "quasi-annual" Cioppino Night to be held at the Garden House, 6:30-10:00 p.m. to be presented by CINDY LUEDTKE, two notable Norwegians and the fabled Italian, JOE RENATI. $35 per person (Warning: Don't wear white!)
If interested, let STEVE know and get your money into him A.S.A.P. to reserve seats.
DICK HENNING shared with us his recent trip with other members of Rotary International to distribute wheelchairs to deserving individuals in Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. He thanked all those that have contributed to the Wheelchair Foundation and reminded us that our donations will pay for wheelchairs to be distributed in South Africa in May. He added that because extra monies have been raised, there will be another distribution in Ghana in November. It is not too late to contribute, so let DICK know if you are still interested.
MARGE BRUNO managed to extract revenues from the following members:
STEVE GRUBER who announced his anniversary and a desire to become a Diplomat Cigar (for those who may not know, "Diplomat" is the title that we gain by paying $100 during the year and the name of a very expensive cigar)
LARRY CHU, JR. who confessed to getting married (reportedly on his birthday, no less) and honeymooning the past week or so (Did he confess to being in Hawaii?)
MARLENE COWAN who is heading for a Spanish lesson in Costa Rica (some of us will go to great lengths to learn another language!)
ROY LAVE for an erroneous caption in the Town Crier? (Thought he represented the victim of the error, not the perpetrator!)
JOE RENATI for dancing with SANDY at the Community Foundation's Valentine affair (next time not in front of a camera!)
GUY FARTHING for a birthday (we learned he met Virginia while playing tennis)
BRIAN WARD also for a birthday (and a 37th anniversary as well)GINNY LEAR introduced our relatively new police chief, DON JOHNSON. After 23 years in the Public Safety Division for the City of Sunnyvale, DON joined the Los Altos Police Department as Chief in August 2001, replacing the retiring LUCY CARLTON. Despite living in Sunnyvale and having what he thought was a good understanding of the nature of Los Altos, DON has been amazed at the public support and strong sense of community present in much of in Los Altos. He feels very lucky to be working here (wouldn't that go for all of us lucky enough to work here!).
We are fortunate that we have low incidence of assaults, robberies and burglaries, and domestic violence. Teen parties have become less of an issue than in previous years. This leaves more time for traffic management, with a much greater frequency of citation issuance.
Although he took over a well run department that was getting back up to full strength (30 officers and 16 support personnel), DON has been spending his time analyzing what hasn't been finished within the department, what needs to be fixed, and what should be done in the future. He was pleased to announce the force is at full strength, having been able to fill the positions of traffic officers (motorcycle patrolmen), school resource officer, and crime prevention officer slots once again.The relatively short term strategic plans for the department includes the following:
1. Crime prevention - Rod Sayer assigned, implementing crime tracking software
2. Disaster preparedness - streamline existing plan and have schools self-sufficient
3. Improve technology - improve communication, reduce paperwork, work smarter
4. Officer fitness - need time and facilities to keep in top physical shape
5. Traffic management - proactive approach to controlling traffic flowDON provided answers to various questions including how speed limits are assigned, why stop signs or signals are positioned where they are (and aren't), enhancements to bicycle and pedestrian safety (no, he didn't comment on the controversial roundabout!), as well as specific intersections, streets or incidence of U-turns downtown. It would certainly appear that DON JOHNSON has hit the ground running hard to make whatever improvements and enhancements are feasible and appropriate for our police department. The word from inside the department is that the officers feel very supported by their chief, respect his judgment and enjoy working with him. Los Altos and DON JOHNSON sound like a great fit to me.
For those members who do not receive e-mails, GINNY LEAR reports that BILLY RUSSELL is in El Camino Hospital diagnosed with a defective heart valve. Plans are for surgery in a week or two to replace the defective value with a pig valve. Despite his 88 years, BILLY's overall health is deemed strong enough for the operation. Greeting cards are encouraged and should be sent to his home 674 Teresi Lane, Los Altos, 94024. His daughter will take them to him if he remains hospitalized. Visits of short duration to BILLY at El Camino Hospital may be okay, but please call first.
BILLY, we all wish you a rapid and comfortable recovery and look forward to breaking bread with you soon!
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
We all wish our dear friend Billy Russell a very speedy recovery, and we hope he will be in the mood to come to Rotary on Feb. 28th. Marge Bruno and Joe Renati have been planning for the celebration of the nation of Italy on this day. With the Consul General of Italy as our guest speaker, this promises to be another memorable event in our Club.
Please plan on coming to the meetings often. As Boo used to say, make it fun, make it happen!
Programs and Events
February
February 21 - KLASS - Keep Los Altos Schools Strong
February 26 - Area 10 dinner, Los Altos Golf and Country Club
February 28 - Francesco Sciortino, Consul General of Italy, "Celebrating Italy"
March
March 7 - James E. Gross, "What the Hoover Institute is all about"
March 8 - Cioppino Night, 6:30 p.m., Garden House $35.00 per person
March 14 - The new San Francisco Presidio
March 21 - Anne Cribbs, Bay Area Olympic Committee
March 28 - Samir Laymour, "A Muslim speaks on Islam"
April
April 26 -28 - District 5170 Conference, Lake Tahoe
"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
Home Art Show Partners for New Generations Contact Us Links