MEETING OF JANUARY 17, 2002
By Cindy Luedtke
Editor - Dick Blanding
Webmaster - Steve GruberThe meeting began with the playing of at least the major portion of the National Anthem of Sweden. In reminiscence of the days of Sammy Kahn, SETH MANNING led us in singing Smile. Following was SAM PESNER, who enlightened us with some of Benjamin Franklin's quotes, my personal favorite being "Eat to live, not live to eat".
Today, Los Altos Rotary welcomed our special guest, Barbro Osher of the Swedish Consulate. Sweden is a country slightly larger than California and located at about the same latitude as Alaska. It is a constitutional monarchy with a ruling government that is heavy to the Social Democratic side of politics. In return for its population of 9 million people being highly taxed, the country enjoys free medical care, dental care and free education at its universities. Barbro has observed because of the high dependence on the government, volunteerism is nothing like in this country. Sweden is taking a "wait and see" attitude before going onto the Euro. In the meantime, the kroner is taking a beating these days.
Barbro didn't want to leave untouched the thought that crosses too many foreigners' minds when they think of Sweden; the land of Sin, Sex, and Suicide. As for that distinction, she only explained that unlike in America, in Sweden, they "don't talk about it as much as we (in America) do and are just much better at keeping account of their behavior".
Barbro closed by inviting us all to come and enjoy the midnight sun in Sweden. You don't have to be blonde to go there, but you "become blonde" once you do.
STEVE ANDERSON filled in as the finemaster for MEL KAHN. JEFF SUNDQUIST deservingly became a diplomat for buying his first home, in addition to his announcement that he is expecting his first child. As any expectant father, he jumped at the chance of snatching up tickets to the Stanford basketball game to start to get excursions like this out of his system.
WALT SCHOLEY and JON MCALISTER paid $25.00 for having too much in common. Birthday boys LARRY MADSEN and SAM PESNER were fined. ROLAND PAYNE took $50.00-worth of responsibility for the technical difficulties with the sound system. DENNIS YOUNG and PHIL ROSE showed how easy it was to become a diplomat. MIKE SPENCE did not go untouched either. MIKE SCHNEIDER paid a fine for JOHN CORDOZA, while BECKY MILLER paid her own way for her announcement of accepting a new partner position in nearby Palo Alto law firm.
CHRIS LEWIS, the Director of Development for the Wheelchair Foundation, was our featured speaker today. Prior to his introduction, DICK HENNING presented to the Club, our challenge to provide 240 wheelchairs to be delivered to the Rotary Club of Sandown, South Africa, scheduled to arrive on May 13, 2002. Why 240? Because that's how many chairs will fit in a 40-foot container. Thanks to the Red Badgers efforts in their successful auction fundraiser, the Club has gotten a head start, but we have much farther to go to get to the 240 goal.
Chris is the son of Jerry Lewis, the famous comedian who has devoted a tremendous amount of his time to better the lives of people who are physically challenged. Since Chris had been helping his dad with the famous Labor Day Telethons from as far back as 1972, he was a natural choice for Director to be named by Wheelchair Foundation's founder, Ken Behring, a good friend and neighbor of the Lewis's. Since June 13,2000 when the Foundation began, a total of 34,000 wheelchairs have been delivered to 80 different countries. Rotary has been instrumental in sponsoring a major number of wheelchairs worldwide.
It is estimated that as many as 130 million people in the world are in need of a wheelchair, but lack the funds to afford one. In the war-torn country of Angola, as much as 20% of the population is disabled due to lack of good health habits or injuries from landmines. It is estimated that there are as many as 60 million people in China, and as high as 2½% of the population of India that is in need of wheelchairs.
Chris' presentation to the Club included a 12-minute video that showed the Wheelchair Foundation at work, delivering their wheelchairs to the recipients. It was a powerful film depicting how something as simple as a wheelchair can change a person's life forever, giving them Hope, Mobility and Freedom. Each Rotarian present received a copy of the video to take with them and pass on to others.
The cost of each wheelchair is $150.00. The Foundation will match each contribution of $75.00 to buy one wheelchair. So a donation from you of $150.00 buys two wheelchairs. If you decide to donate $150.00, you will receive a certificate of appreciation that includes a picture of your wheelchair recipient. By now you have received a special mailing for our Club project. Please give generously. Only $75.00 can go such a long way! For more information, contact Dick Henning, Dr. Jon Grant of Rotary at 650-574-0520, or visit the web site at wheelchairfoundation.org for complete information.Webmaster's Notes: RON INCERPI has been a member of this club for 28 years, but most of the new members have never seen him. RON is confined to his home in Los Altos Hills due to physical incapacity, but he takes part in Rotary every Thursday through the kindness of his Rotary friends. Starting at around 10:30 a.m. each Thursday, a small parade of cars heads up the hill to Ron's house, and between 7 to 9 members drop in before the Rotary meeting starts at 12:15 p.m. RON sends his thanks to all who visit, and would welcome other visitors also. Please call him before you show up.
A Report From the Director of Community Service By Seth Manning
PUBLIC RELATIONS: WE ARE PLANNING TO "GET THE WORD OUT" on our club's financial and other service to our local community and internationally. If you have any suggestions, please contact Firooz or Seth.. Some ideas so far are to run ads in the Town Crier etc., post signs at the Art Show and at our meetings listing where we give money and time.
ALPHA OMEGA SHELTER: Our club continues to feed the homeless and evening meal on the 14th of each month at various churches.
ROTOCARE MEDICAL CLINIC; Our club is supporting a free medical clinic to the needy in Mountain View. If you have any suggestions or ideas on other projects, please contact Firooz or Seth Manning.
From Firooz:
Chris Lewis's program on wheelchair was a moving one!
Many thanks to our program Chair/President-Elect Mary Prochnow for arranging it. And thanks to Dick Henning for following up with his letter inviting our participation in this program. The Wheelchair program is indeed a great one. If we think about the impact of this donation to the life of the individual in need, we can only imagine the expression on his/her face receiving and using a wheelchair for the first time, after years of confinement. If you choose to do so, by donating $75 to this cause, you free an individual from confinement and you allow him/her to see and experience a new world.
-Firooz
ProgramsJanuary
January 24 - Club Assembly
January 31 - Robert Baker of Symphonix Devices, "A new approach to hearing devices"
"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