MEETING OF OCTOBER 17, 2002 By Dick Blanding
Editor Dick Blanding
Webmaster Steve GruberWhat a lovely way to begin another grand meeting of the Los Altos Rotary Club: A perfectly gorgeous fall day outside, and the mellow strains of Bruce Cann on the piano, playing old favorites like "My Dreams are Getting Better all the Time", "God Bless America", and "Always", as we gathered. We later learned that "Dr." Cann will soon be travelling to Ghana, to administer polio vaccine to some of the few kids left in the world who haven't yet received it, and delivering some much-needed wheelchairs as well. What a guy!
Choirmaster Alan Lambert celebrated the all-California World Series coming up, with the singing of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", which wound up in three part harmony, no less.
Joanna Medin introduced once again her young pals from the CHUMS group. That stands for "Children United Morally and Spiritually", in case you don't remember from last year. These bright and shiny youngsters gave a presentation with poise far beyond their years, explaining that they include Jewish, Christian, and Muslim families, who meet monthly to discuss parts of the Bible, the Torah, and the Koran, to look for how the same stories are different or alike. These amazing kids earned $5,000 last year selling greeting cards; it was split between the Afghan Childrens Fund and another charity I can't recall. For more info, contact them on CHUMSgroup.org.
Marge Shively presented a slide show which introduced most of us for the first time to the ailment called Spinal Muscular Atrophy, or SMA. It's the #1 genetic killer of kids under two; one in 6,000 babies have it; and one in forty of us have the recessive gene causing it. If both parents have the gene, the baby has SMA. The disease can take one of five types, from #1, where the baby will die by age two, all the way to #5, which is adult onset, sometimes not diagnosed until age sixty. Doctors can now do a DNA test for the gene. For more information, try www.CureSMA.com, or call 800 886-1762.
Baidra Prochnow writes that she attended a meeting of the Rotary Club in Washington, D.C. recently.
Dick Hasenpflug revealed more of his rich history, describing a boy on a small Ohio farm, with his own tractor at age 12, and a thriving egg business at age 16. He graduated from Ohio State, took a Master's in International Management in Phoenix, and went to work for Del Monte Company in CA. Then to Monsanto, who sent him to Singapore in '79, for a job with lots of travel in the region. Back to Los Altos in '83, and he went on his own to consult in 1989. Dick has been an active volunteer in a variety of local organizations in recent years.
Remember to come at 11:30 next week, if you would like to have a flu shot.
Our speaker today was Gloria Hom, returning for the XXXth time (she looks so young, to have given all those talks!), to enlighten us regarding the upcoming ballot propositions. Here is the essence of her remarks:
Prop. #46
Housing Bond for $2.1 billion + $2.6 billion more for interest. Purpose is to subsidize housing and build new for low income and needy folks in several categories. Though the motivation is good, Dr.Hom points out that the state treasury has gone from a $12 billion surplus four years ago to a $28 billion deficit now, so she feels we can't afford to do this now, with the huge deficit. It would swell an already sizeable bureaucracy in the state government, and only 15% of the money would actually go to helping low income families.
Prop. #47
Public Education Facilities Bond for $13.05 billion, plus another 13 billion in interest payments. Purpose is for school construction and renovation for many lower income schools. Same argument against, that the money isn't there right now in the budget. Also, 29% of the money raised would go to service 12% of the state's students, being those in the L.A. Unified School District.
Prop. #48
A "no-brainer!" This would authorize deletion of references to "municipal courts" in the state constitution. Those courts were consolidated into the unified superior courts in 1998, and no longer exist as municipal courts. No cost to state or local governments.
Prop. #49
A referendum placed on the ballot by petition containing five to six hundred thousand signatures of state citizens. (Ballot-qualifying effort paid for by private contributions.) It would authorize adding $440 million each year to fund more "before/after school" programs, such as tutoring, homework assistance, and educational enrichment. Priority would go to low income schools. Advocates say it would save $3 for each $1 spent, by reducing crime. Opponents say it's a good idea, just not with this measure.
Prop. #50
An initiative qualified for the ballot by conservation groups, this would authorize a bond of $3.4 billion plus another $3.5 billion in interest, to be used for water and wetlands projects, including acquisition of coastal wetland property. It would be the largest water bond in California history, and would negatively affect revenues from property taxes in the amount of around $10 million per year as well.
Prop. #51
An initiative statute to redistribute money from the general fund to a special fund for "transportation (rail and buses - 50%), environmental, highway (25%) and school bus programs (8%)". Funds transferred would be $910 million in '03-'04, and amount would increase annually. Pro: money directed toward projects everyone wants. Con: this would fund a bevy of special interest projects, such as a railroad across the reservation to an Indian casino, and construction of golf cart paths at the Orange County Country Club.
Prop #52
An initiative statute to allow for same-day registration and voting. Currently, enough time exists between registration and election day for the county to verify information. This would allow for confirmation by a variety of questionable means. Penalty for election fraud would increase, but it would be difficult to verify eligibility of person who just showed up at the polls. Cost: around $6 million per year, to fund the registration activity.
Programs and Events
October
October 24 - Dr. Zimbelman: Smithsonian Scholar, "Voices of Discovery" Exploration of the Solar System.
October 31 - Rosalind Bivings: President: Fore Women Golfers, "Real Men Golf With Women"November
November 7: Valerie Faillace: "Working With Indigenous Indians of Peru & Bolivia"
November 14: Sandy Ellenberg: Plastic Surgeon , Rotarian & RotoPlast "Assisting Third World Countries With Surgery, Cleft Palate"
November 21: Don Allen: District Governor Elect 2003 / 2004 "Polio Plus Program"
November 28: Happy Thanksgiving: No MeetingNEARBY 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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