MEETING OF MAY 16, 2002
By Steve Yarbrough
Editor: Dick Blanding
Webmaster - Steve GruberPresident Firooz opened this meeting of the Rotary club - our last before the big Art Show Weekend - precisely on time as is his usual propensity.
Marlene Cowan led us with the pledge, then we were treated to the thought for the day from Len McBirney - if you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody. Harmonymaster Cres McFall was assisted by Allen Lambert to lead us in a sunshine tune.
Ed Sox announced that Samir, who presented a very interesting program on Muslim religion, will lead a discussion at the Hillview Community Center on May 29 at 7:30 p.m. Email Ed if you are interested in attending.
Dan O'Donnell expressed his thanks for the response to last week's Rotacare presentation. Dan noted that several significant contribution had come in and that several volunteers had stepped forward.
President elect, elect, Al Traficante introduced visiting Rotarians from Palo Alto and Mountain View
as well as Rotarians with guests. Sam Pesner announced that all was in readiness for the Art Show.
Chuck Hess, president of LAREF, announced the elections for two positions on the LAREF board. Nominees are Paul Conard, Becky Miller, Julie Rose, Jan Schroeder, Shiv Shastri and Cindy Leudtke. The election will be held June 6.
John Krogman presented his 5-minute talk. John was chasing bootleggers in Detroit for the ATF, a job he was well suited for since he grew up in Milwaukee next door to the Schlitz, Blatz and Miller High Life breweries. He served in the Army and spent his career in law enforcement before retiring to the insurance business. He now works with GE Long Term Care Insurance, lives in Cupertino and was sponsored into Rotary by his son-in-law Ross Bridges. Welcome to John!
Finemaster John Sines tricked Jan Schroeder out of $30 for the $1 per second club. He then nailed Cres McFall with an $80 fine for advertising his daughter's synchronized swim event next weekend at the Santa Clara International Swim Center. Jerry Moison paid his way with a $45 fine. Alan Lambert told John how much he hates lawyers for a mere $20. Wyatt Allen got off easy for $20, as did Bruce Cann and Sam Harding, Sam Pesner and Steve Yarbrough. John kicked in $5 to round out the session. Somehow Mel Kahn didn't have to pay.
Hardy Jones introduced speaker Dr. Avis Began. Dr. Began discussed patterns of conflict in marital behavior. She is a psychologist in private practice in Menlo Park.
The touchstones of a couple's ability to adapt are 1) being receptive to change, 2) being responsive to the other partner's problems, and 3) being flexible in problem solving. Easier said than done!
She discussed the universal patterns of conflict and their unique aspects for each problem situation,
noting that most problems are solvable if the couple can break the cycle of entrenchment and inflexibility.
Dr. Began described several scenarios of conflict, dissected the elements of the conflict and applied her touchstone principles to reach a resolution of the conflict.
She noted that most of our behavior is ingrained in us from our early years and watching how our parents interacted with their peers. She advised that often the problem is more about ourselves than about our partner. It's how we react to our partner that determines how the conflict develops or resolves. She said we must learn new patterns of behavior in order to break the cycle of dysfunction.
Following her speech, Dr Began responded to many questions from Rotarians.
In conclusion, or wonderful sound system responded with a loud burp of feedback. Someone asked, "Can we send this system back?" President Firooz quipped, "That's a bigger problem than divorce." Meeting adjourned.
Message from Bud Oliver-We have an opportunity for you! Due to the weather, we have 9 cases (x36) of wine and 11 cases (x24) of beer glasses remaining. The design on this year's glasses, created by Jean Newton's Public Relations firm, are especially nice and has special significance to our Rotary Club. The 'Rotary Wheel' becomes a painters palette with paint brushes symbolizing the beautiful art created and displayed at our Fine Art Show.
We will be selling these glasses, along with the wine, after Rotary this Thursday! The cost is $1.00 each, approximately one half of our cost. Buy a dozen or case for that special event. This is a great buy!
Bud
Programs and EventsMay
May 23 - Rotary Scholarships
May 30 - Rotary Aids Project
June
June 6 - LAREF - Annual meeting and election
June 13 - To be announced
June 20 - To be announced
June 27 - Kickout luncheon
June 28 - Kickout Dinner at the University Club in Palo Alto, with the theme "A World Class Kickout"
July
July 4 - No Meeting
July 18 - World Community Service
July 25 - Jay Manley, Drama Instructor, Foothill College, who will speak on "American Musical Theatre"
August
August 1 - John Hopkins, "The Rise and Fall of the Estate Tax"
"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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