MEETING OF AUGUST 14, 2003

Rotator Writer:  Cindy Luedtke
Editor:  Dick Blanding
Webmaster:   Steve Gruber

Feeling Lucky?

Feeling lucky today, JOHN SYLVESTER led the group in a rather snappy version of “Four-Leaf Clover”. 

 

Once in a Lifetime…

Thanks to DAVID DYE’S wise words in his thought for the day about “What’s new under the sun”, I remembered to take out a few moments last night to gaze at Mars for awhile. 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Is that Wining I hear?

President Al reminded all to consider attending one of the mini-socials to be held at a different Rotarian’s residence each month.   Non-wine drinkers and singles are invited to come as much as are wine-drinking non-singles.  Why, even a non-wine-drinking single is welcome to come and have a great time, but only if they mingle.   

 

Sweet Prospects

GINNY LEAR is looking for a few good Rotarians.  Mission:  Make and sell cotton candy at the “Life in Los Altos” annual picnic celebration.  Take a short shift with other Rotarian friends.  The picnic is held on Sunday, August 24th, from 11:00 to 3:00 PM.  

 

Wining again?

JOANNE BYRNE continued on Al’s message about the mini-socials.  They are scheduled through November.  Sign up clipboards are being passed around at each meeting.  If you happen to miss the clipboard, like my table did, just give Shelly Potvin a call and she’ll advise you of availability. 

 

More wining and bocce ball…

There will be a tour of Byington Winery on September 17th.    There is limited space, so be sure to sign up.  The bocce ball is optional.  

 

Enough wining for all of us…

Ted Garrett from Los Altos Village Association announced an event called “Taste of Los Altos” that is to be held on Sunday, September 14th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM in Down town Los Altos.  So far, there are 25 restaurants and 10 local wineries that will be featured at the event.  The cost of one ticket is $20.00 which includes your collectible glass.   For tickets, call 949-LAVA.

 

Another sweet prospect… 

Additionally Ted announced that the last week of the Farmers Market will be October 2nd.  On that date, any local non-profit group interested can set up a booth to get more exposure for their group or possibly use it for a fund raising opportunity. 

 

Thanks for Lending a Hand, Dick

President Al presented his second “Service above Self” award to Dick Duhring.  Dick is a past president who, during his presidency, tried to raise the intellectual level of the club.   He got an “A” for effort, but unfortunately, he only had one year to do it in and had mixed success.  Dick has been quietly lending a hand over the years in many capacities, most notably in his promotion of the Rotary Foundation.  Dick received a well-deserved standing ovation from those present.

 

Chu finally goes Blue

There was another standing ovation as Membership Chair  STEVE YARBROUGH presented Larry Chu, Jr. with his blue badge.   Steve had good words for Larry, recognizing how difficult it can be sometimes to walk in your fathers footsteps.  But Larry seems to do so and quite gracefully at that.  Congratulations, Larry.  

 

Five minutes with Cindy Wemyss

Today’s five-minute talk was by CINDY WEMYSS.  Cindy is the fourth of five girls in her family.  Being Scotch, Irish and Italian in addition to all those female hormones gave the household its special flair.  Cindy’s father worked for IBM, so they moved around quite a bit, but then finally settled in Kentucky and got a dog.  Cindy attended the University of Kentucky in 1981.   She carried on a long distance relationship with her husband who was living in California.  She moved to California in 1989 when they were married.  When living in Kentucky, Cindy became involved in International Horse Sales.  When she moved, she was convinced by others that being in sales in the petrochemicals to Middle Eastern countries was not unlike horses, really.  So Cindy proceeded to work as if that were the case for ten years.  After having three children of her own, Cindy decided it was time to stop traveling and be home.  In 1999, she opened the Edward Jones office on First Street.  Cindy still has dreams of having a horse in the Kentucky Derby and assured each one of us that we would be invited when that happens. 

 

Cindy concluded her talk by sharing with the group that her sister was currently in an intensive care unit waiting for a lung transplant.  She asked that we keep her sister and family in our prayers. 

 

Notoriety has its Price

Next STEVE ANDERSON did his best to catch those in the audience who were in the press this past week. He didn’t get them all, but succeeded in collecting a check from the SR. LAWRENCE CHU, through special delivery from son, Larry.    The check qualified him for the President’s club and rightfully so, since he was featured in more than one paper this week.  The only paper he didn’t manage to make it in was the Town Crier. 

 

One who did make the Crier this week was IRENE PRESTON.  Since she expected to be fined for it, Irene got the most mileage possible for her fine by explaining that even though she no longer has her store in Los Altos, she still continues to make candy.  Not only does she have her store in Burlingame, she supplies 19 other stores with candy. 

 

DON HULL was present and Steve wasted no time in collecting a $50.00 fine for an August birthday, and for a small plug for the dozen new condos Don’s wife Annette has listed for sale.   LARRY MADSEN did not escape a fine for winning the two-man best ball low net score in this week’s Chamber of Commerce golf tournament, even though he was willing to pay just for having a wedding anniversary and surviving in a household of females for so many years.    LARRY then implicated the other LARRY (CHU) because he took 2nd Place in the tournament.  DR. ANDERSON was on a roll, but unfortunately, ran out of time before he could hit all of the week’s luminaries.  Oh well. He’ll be back.

 

Featured Speaker

MARGE BRUNO introduced David Mitchell, a current board member of the Peninsula Open Space Trust, aka POST, and a San Jose Rotarian.   POST is a private land trust with a mission to give permanent protection to the beauty, character, and diversity of the San Francisco Peninsula landscape for people here now and for future generations.  POST encourages the use of these lands for natural resource protection, wildlife habitat, low intensity public recreation, and agriculture.  POST has bought over 50,000 acres of land since its inception. 

 

POST is currently in the middle of a $200M campaign to raise money for future direct land purchase expenses.   They are focusing on acquiring strategic lands and conservation easements through gifts and purchases that are large, undeveloped properties that will create wide corridors for wildlife, low intensity recreation, scenic enjoyment and the continuation of field agriculture. Recent acquisitions to this end are Whaler’s Cove, Bolsa Point Ranches, an addition to Johnston Ranch, and Rancho Coral de Tierra.  All told, these projects account for 6,199 acres at a cost of $74.45M. With the boost of major donations from the Packard Foundation and the Moore Foundation, POST has been able to raise $156M of the $200M campaign target thus far.

Programs and Events

August

August 21:  Robbie Smith, Eldercare consultant
August 22:  Fellowship Night
August 28:  Martha Kanter, Chancellor of Foothill-DeAnza District

September

Sept. 4:  John Hennessey, President of Stanford University
Sept. 11:  Cindy Wilber, Stanford University- Proyecto Itzaes
Sept. 18:  Terry Kieble, President of Wildlife Rescue
Sept. 19:  Fellowship Night
Sept. 25:  To be announced
Sept. 27:  Wine Tasting Tour at Byington Winery

October

October 2: Jim Mealey- Rotary Foundation
October 9: Jennifer Kuiper- Israeli/Palestinian Conflict
October 16: To be Announced
October 23: Roy Lave-Candidate Forum
Oct. 24:  Fellowship Night

November

Nov. 21:  Fellowship Night

December

Dec. 17: Holiday Party, Jesuit Retreat House

January

Jan. 16:  Fellowship Night
Jan. 31:  Progressive Dinner

February

Feb. 20:  Fellowship Night
Feb. 27: Cioppino Feed, Garden House

March

March 26:  Fellowship Night

April

April 7: Celebrate Spring at Chef Chu's
May

May 7: Golf Tournament
May 21:  Fellowship Night

June

June 25: Kickout Dinner
OTHER ROTARY CLUB MEETING PLACES

On-line Meeting:  www.rotaryeclubone.org

MONDAY
Palo Alto:  Rickey's Hyatt House, 12:15 p.m.
TUESDAY
Los Altos Sunset: The Echo Restaurant, Los Altos, 7:15 p.m.
Sunnyvale:  Ramada Inn, 12:15 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.
Sunnyvale Sunrise:  Wild Woodys Grill, Sunken Gardens Golf Course, 7 a.m.
Cupertino:  Quinlan Community Center, 12:15 p.m.
East Palo Alto Bayshore: Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula, 2031 Pulgas Avenue, East Palo Alto, 12:15 p.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 2003 The Los Altos Rotary Club

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