MEETING OF NOVEMBER 14, 2002
By Matt Cabot
Editor : Dick Blanding
Webmaster: Steve GruberPLEDGE: Our weekly infusion of Service above Self began on time as usual at 12:30 with the Pledge of Allegiance lead by smiling Jean Newton, who later in the program confessed that she "finally" got married.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Then, our usually highly professional President Mary searched for someone to give an impromptu "Thought for the Day" because the designated-one had not confirmed that he would do it. Well, that brought on Walt Scholey, who said, "If I said I'll do it, then I will do it." I don't remember what his Thought for the Day was, but I think his original words, "If I said I'll do it, then I will do it." makes a fine Thought for the Day and something that we should all take to heart.
The club expressed condolences to Joe Renati on the passing of his mother. Many of us share the sorrow of the passing of one or more our parents, or other loved ones. The fact that death is part of life just doesn't help. The loss that we experience the inability to "reach out" just one more time puts a hole in our daily life that isn't easily filled. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, Joe.
FRESH BLOOD: You wondered why they call them "Red Badgers." Now you know. The club welcomed two new Red Badgers: Brenda Niedert, sponsored by Dick Hasenpflug, and Allart Ligtenberg, sponsored by Bob Adams. Both new members hit the ground running, it seems. Brenda, by joining the mentoring program even before she was a member, and Allart by bringing awareness of the solar cooking projects goings on to the World Community Services team.
STAND UP SIT DOWN, FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT: President Elect Al Traficanti has brought order to the usual chaotic greeting of Visiting Rotarians, and Rotarians with Guests segment of the program. He reminded us that Visiting Rotarians are greeted by "HI ...{insert first name here}" and Guests of Rotarians are greeted by applause. Simple.
FIVE MINUTE TALK: Red Badger Karen Owen introduced herself today. She is a California native with two grown children, and three grandchildren. She also dares anyone to ask her for pictures. Apparently she is well prepared, so be forewarned.
Her business career included a 10-year stint with the telephone company, treasurer of Computerland, an enrolled agent, and is (or at least was) a Certified Financial Planner. She joined Los Altos Rotary to give back to the community.
DISTRICT GOVERNER, ELECT, ELECT Ron Sekkel had a bottle of wine to auction off. Selling point of the wine was it had the 4-Way Test on the label. That gives a new meaning to "Truth in Labeling." But there was a catch. You had to sign up today, last Thursday to those of you who don't have a sense of time, for a Rotary International License Plate.
Here's the deal. Buy a personalized license plate for $75 (sequential) or $115 (personalized) or $65 (conversion of existing personalized plate) and Los Altos Rotary will receive some portion of that fee, and every year subsequently to add to the monies that we can put to work. I think this is a great thing. This is an opportunity to get that personalized plate you have always wanted. You also promote Rotary locally.
We don't have a lot of time. All of this has to be done before the end of the year. And, if we don't do it now, it may never be available again.
FINE FINE MASTER: Dick Duhring snuck his hand into a number of people's pockets. He had the temerity to fine a couple of email holdouts because the Rotator had to be snail mailed to them. What he didn't tell you is he is the one who has to print out the email, and walk them to the post office. I mentioned Jean Newton's confession, which cost her. Also your humble Rotator writer gave up a few bucks for the pleasure of announcing the engagement of his son (Michael Cabot) to the lovely Emily Spates.
SPEAKER OF THE DAY: TRACIE MURRY introduced fellow Rotarian (San Jose club) Sandy Ellenberg, Plastic Surgeon and RotaPlast member, for his talk: "Assisting Third World Countries With Surgery, Cleft Palate"
Sandy talked a bit about RotaPlast, the Rotary District 5170 (that's us) sponsored group that performs plastic surgery around the world. They provide a visible sign of help that is provided by
Rotary. They operate on thousands of people throughout the world. They work in conjunction with existing local Rotary clubs to coordinate the local response. They will have between 300 and 400 people show up for prescreening, but can only handle one to two hundred people. Each year, RotaPlast operates on about 4,000 patients per year.
They operate mostly on babies. The pictures were absolutely dramatic in the changes they can accomplish to make these children's lives better. Sandy said that these children quite often are hidden away at home or even abandoned because of shame and misunderstanding. He said that the incident of cleft palate is five times that of the US. They are not quite sure why, but the evidence points to nutrition, and inability to metabolize certain vitamins such as folic acid.
Dr Ellenberg also explained the difference between RotaPlast (an all volunteer, free, Rotary Club to Rotary Club based program) and Interplast, which is a teaching experience program out of Stanford. Operation Smiles is a commercial based program that accepts donations and gives money to local doctors to perform the operations. Countries such as Argentina only use programs such as Operation Smiles. Dr. Ellenberg was skeptical of that approach.
I thought it was interesting about the presence of what we would call unsanitary conditions, and how local people seemed to be immune to those unsanitary conditions. I have always felt that we "over-sanitized" ourselves to our own detriment. Nature has a way of striking a good balance, if we don't interfere. But that's a soap box I'll climb another day.
One question that was not asked during the program and inquiring minds want to know was, "Why are you here? What do you expect to accomplish?" Well interestingly, it was a pitch for money. RotaPlast is a charity that needs money to operate (no pun intended). It cost about $200 to perform the life restoring plastic surgery on a single child. That's with 100% volunteer doctors, hospitals, medical supplies and transportation. So, a $200 donation would fund the operation for one child. That $200 would benefit a child for that child's whole life. I can't think of any investment that would create that sort of dividend for so little for so long.
If you want further information about RotaPlast, take a look at this url: http://209.172.113.141/ave_int/rotoplast.asp
HEY, BUD, GOT A SPARE COMPUTER? Jack Heidmiller asked that I include the following in this Rotator:
Janice and I will be going to Chile to spend Christmas with our new grandchild. Leaving DEC 10. We will bring some extra things for the school kids, so if anyone has a Laptop Computer they would like to donate to a high school student we will bring it along. Laptops are best for packing and any OS is OK. PC or Mac. They will load it with the Spanish software. We would like to know by DEC 6, so we can check and package. Call me at home, I'll pick it up.
News from Karen Fox:
1. This Wednesday, November 20, all four of the Rotary Clubs in St. Petersburg are meeting jointly at the House of Friendship at 6 pm to greet and listen to the President of Rotary International! I was sorry to miss the reception for him in Monterey on January 3--and here I get to meet him before his trip to the US.
2. The House of Friendship is on the same block at Alexei Krylov's apartment--just a few doors down. Rotarians who've been at Alexei's can imagine it along the canal embankment. Alexei is fine--I just spent Sunday evening at their home.
3. Alexei's Los Altos connections continue. In addition to visits from Los Altos Rotarians on their way to Syktyvkar in October, Alexei just got word that one of his LAHS buddies from the Robotics Team will be coming to St. Petersburg with his mother in December, and they will stay with Alexei and his family.
BONUS ITEM: President Bush arrives here on November 22 to meet with Putin. The fancy hotels will be full and the US Consulate is busy with plans and arrangements.
Best wishes,
KarenMessage from Sam Pesner, LAREF president:
In the mid-1980's, the Club had lapel pins made to honor those who donated directly to LAREF: $1,000 earned a Guy Shoup Fellowship and $5,000 earned a Los Altos Fellowship. Unfortunately, those pins are now nowhere to be found. They were put in the trust of a LARC member - is it you? Do you know who it is? Please respond to Sam Pesner, LAREF Poobah by email <pesner@aol.com> or telephone <650-964-5619>. Thank you!
And Jerry Tomanek sent us the following message:
Susan and I just returned from two weeks in Japan. Lovely Kyoto with the Fall colors showing, a tour of a sake brewery with tasting notes, a tea ceremony school, a visit to a third generation ceramic artist, all due to Rotary contacts. Kyushu, the southern island was half the trip, beautiful countryside from sea to volcanic mountains, lots of geothermal hot springs to relax in. The visit to the Atomic Bomb Museum in Nagasaki made quite an impression – I will remember it whenever I hear the phrase Weapons of Mass Destruction. Pray God we never see that kind of horror visited on humankind again. It occurred to me that the world will not be more peaceful if we only wish it, nor if we only pray for it, but perhaps if we work for it. Rotary is one of the great avenues for that work.
If anyone wants my trip notes (name of our excellent guide, food and restaurant finds, hotel notes) have them send email: jerry@tomanekfamily.com
Programs and Events
November
November 21: Don Allen: District Governor Elect 2003 / 2004 "Polio Plus Program"
November 28: Happy Thanksgiving: No MeetingDecember
December 5: Gary Cavalli, Executive Director of the San Francisco Bowl, “The Building of a Bowl Game”
December 12: John Elman, Humorist, “Looking for Laughter in All the Right Places”
December 18: Holiday Party
December 19: Main Street Singers, Los Altos High School, “Holiday Music” Choral Music: Mark Shaull Director
December: 26: No Meeting, Happy Holidays
NEARBY ROTARY CLUB MEETING PLACES
TUESDAY
Los Altos Sunset: The Echo Restaurant, Los Altos, 7:15 p.m.
Mountain View: Adobe House, Moffett & Central, Mountain View, 12:15 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Menlo Park: Menlo Park Recreation Center, Menlo Park, noon.
Woodside/Portola: Woodside Village Church, Woodside, 7:30 a.m.
THURSDAY
Palo Alto Sunrise: Scott's, Town & Country, Palo Alto, 7:15 a.m.
FRIDAY
Palo Alto University: Sheraton, El Camino, Palo Alto, 7:30 a.m.
"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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