MEETING OF JANUARY 31, 2002
By Marge Bruno
Editor - Dick Blanding
Webmaster - Steve GruberToday's Standing Room Only crowd heard a thoughtful reading by Mike Menke on why forgiveness is good not only for the spirit, but for the body as well. John Sylvester then led the group in a rousing rendition of God Bless America.
In his never ending quest to improve the sound system, President Firooz called on an expert from Bose who offered the free advice that while there were some minor adjustments that might be made, the real problem is the lack of carpeting on the floor. Hmmm. Remember, this was free advice after all. Might Persian carpets do the trick?
Before Finemaster Mel Kahn could even get to him, Larry Chu volunteered many confessions - Chef Chu's Restaurant is celebrating its 32nd anniversary (Congratulations, Larry!), business is wonderful and his son, whom he is grooming to take his place in the business, was married recently. For all of this, he offered not only to become a Diplomat but to make a contribution of an additional $100 to the Rotary Foundation.
Steve Shepherd announced the Area 10 dinner on February 26th at the Los Altos Country Club. For $40 we will have a delicious dinner, an interesting speaker and the opportunity to socialize with members of the five other Rotary clubs in our area. Send checks to Steve Shepherd.
The six nominees for next year's Board of Directors are: Mona Armistead, Kailas Chidambaram, Victoria Emmons, Ed Sox, Jerry Tomanek and Steve Yarborough. Three will be elected.
Wyatt Allen and Mona Armistead recognized additional Double Sustainers to this year's Rotary Foundation Drive. The following members were added to a continually growing list: Tracie Murray, Dan O'Donnell, Phil Rose, Pat Millar, Rob Holden, Jack Higgins, Karen Fox, Ellen Flanagan, Dick Duhring, John Cardoza, Bella Berly, Matt Cabot, Cindy Luedtke, and Walt Scholey. There are now over 60 Double Sustainers - folks who have contributed $200 or more to the Rotary Foundation this year - in our club! This is a record of which we can be very proud. For those who have not yet contributed, it's not too late. We would really like to have 100% participation in the Foundation drive. Any contribution of any size will be happily accepted.
We then recognized new Paul Harris Fellows Matt Cabot, Sylvia Eng and Pat Millar as well as multiple Paul Harris Fellows Bud Oliver (1 sapphire), Wyatt Allen 2 (sapphires), Steve Anderson (2 Sapphires) and Lee Lynch (3 sapphires).
Today's meeting also brought us two new Blue Badgers - John Cardoza and Jeff Sundquist. Congratulations, John and Jeff!
Finemaster Mel Kahn, undaunted by Lawrence Chu's unprompted confessions and donations earlier in the meeting, nevertheless called on him again. The result - Father Chu donated another $200 to the Rotary Foundation so that Son Chu might be a Double Sustainer. Pretty impressive. Also "recognized" by Finemaster Mel were Steve Anderson and Sam Pesner who, on Wednesday evening, were named the Chamber of Commerce Members of the Year. A grand total of 10 fines were extracted from various members.
Our speaker for the day was an audiologist with Symphonics, a company which manufactures and markets implanted hearing devices. Since receiving FDA approval of its devices in August, 2000, Symphonics and its cooperating doctors have implanted 750 of these devices in patients around the country. For the price of $15,000 per ear (plus the required first step of already having bought and used hearing aids), patients gain a clearer, more natural sound without the background noise.
An Invitation
ROTARY CLUBS OF AREA 10, and the AREA 10 CLUB PRESIDENTS:
ROCKY CURBY, LOS ALTOS SUNSET
JIM DRAKE, PALO ALTO SUNRISE
FIROOZ GHAFFARI, LOS ALTOS
JUDY JOHNSON, PALO ALTO UNIVERSITY
SARA PANTIN, PALO ALTO
HAL TAYLOR, MOUNTAIN VIEWINVITE YOU TO A VERY SPECIAL ROTARY DINNER EVENT
Where: Los Altos Golf & Country Club
1560 Country Club Drive
Los Altos, CA 94024When: Tuesday, February 26, 2002
6:00 PM - Gathering and No-Host Bar
7:00 PM - DinnerProgram: Abraham Sofaer, Professor of Law, Stanford University, will speak on the current topic of "Terrorism and How the U.S. Can Defeat It." Mr. Sofaer, who served as legal adviser to the U.S. Department of State from 1985 to 1990, was appointed the first George P. Shultz Distinguished Scholar and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution in 1994. Abe is a member of the Palo Alto University Rotary Club.
BRING YOUR SPOUSE OR A GUEST TO MEET SOCIALLY WITH YOUR FELLOW ROTARIANS IN THE SIX CLUBS IN AREA 10.
Cost: $40 per person, payable in advance
RESERVATION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 21, 2002
Checks should be payable to Rotary Club of Los Altos and mailed or delivered to Steve Shepherd, c/o Bank of Los Altos, 369 South San Antonio Road, Los Altos, CA 94022. Telephone reservations at 650/917-5369 or email to Steven.Shepherd@bankoflosaltos.com.
Webmaster's Notes:
There is now a new link on the home page for the club website called "Member Services." Clicking on this link will take you to a page where you can use a link to go directly to the Clubmate website. Then you can enter your password and have access to your club financial information. The link on the club home page is on the left, located under the heading Rotary Club Information.
The easiest way for you to reach the Clubmate page is to list the page as a "Favorite" if you are using Internet Explorer or as a"Bookmark" if you are using Netscape. Then it will be available to you by opening your Favorites list. But if you don't want to do that, you can always reach the link through the Member Services link on our home page.
If you lose your password for the Clubmate website, you should contact Victoria Emmons.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
This coming Thursday, February 7th, in addition to our program, we are celebrating China and its heritage. As a part of this great celebration we are also celebrating the Chinese New Year. Thanks to Lawrence Chu, the owner of Chef Chu's Restaurant, on this special occasion we will be served the most distinctive cuisine of China. For the same price we pay for our regular meal every week, Lawrence Chu, a generous Rotarian, is providing us a 5- course meal.
In celebrating the Chinese New Year, the color of our tablecloths will be red - a symbol of good luck in the Chinese tradition. For bringing prosperity and good fortune during the coming year, one example of the goodies served will be tangerine. By participating in this event, not only you will enjoy the company of fellow Rotarians and have an exquisite Chinese meal, you will also hear Professor Chan's 10-minutetalk on the Chinese heritage. A great occasion to share with your spouse, your partner or a prospective Rotarian! If you are bringing a guest, help us in our planning by e-mailing Steve Shepherd, our Fellowship Director: steven.shepherd@bankoflosaltos.com.
Please plan to come! I promise you will find it enjoyable as well as educational. The more of you in the meeting room, the more festive will be the event-guaranteed.
Programs
February
February 7 - Gwen Jones, Los Altos Hills resident and fire truck manufacturer, on "And You Can Do It Too"
February 14 - Los Altos Police Chief Don Johnson
February 21 - Francesco Sciortino, Consul General of Italy, "Celebrating Italy"
February 28 - KLASS - Keep Los Altos Schools Strong
March
March 8 - Cioppino Night
"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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