MEETING OF FEBRUARY 6, 2003


By Wyatt Allen
Editor:  Dick Blanding

UNUSUAL, YET VERY APPROPRIATE, BEGINNINGS

After our Pledge and Song, MARLENE COWAN initiated our Thought for the Day with help from several fellow Rotarians.  While dealing with the threat of terrorism, the possibility of war and multinational bipartisan response around the world, we try to keep Pres. MARY’S theme in mind, “Imagine a Peaceful World.”  What followed were quotes, in many different languages, from several sources over two centuries.  Since it seemed so appropriate for the situation our country faces at this time, it is provided verbatim for those who were unable to attend our meeting today:

    From Thomas Paine, publisher of Common Sense in 1776, expressing the pain of declaring war:
            ALAN LAMBERT (in French)
“These are the times that try men’s souls…”

MARGO BRUNO (in Italian)
“Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered;”

            CRES McFALL (in Russian)
“…yet we have this consolation with us,’

            FIROOZ GHAFFARI (in Farsi)
“that the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph

    From George Washington, first United States president, 1789:

            KAILAS CHIDAMBARUM (in Malay/Indonesian)
“To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.”

    From the constitution of UNESCO:

            Ellen Yamane (in Japanese)
“Since wars begin in the minds of men,

            DICK DUHRING (in Spanish)
“it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.”

AL TRAFICANTI welcomed ED SCHLEY, a visiting from Palo Alto, and recognized KRIS CASTO, SHELLY SUTTON and STEVE ANDERSON who introduced their respective guests to the club. 

MEMBER NEWS –

SAM PESNER provided his (second since joining in 1994) five-minute talk.  SAM has lived almost a quarter century in Los Angeles and another quarter century in Northern California, with a six-month homeless wandering in between.  He has wanted to be an optometrist since early high school, having been influenced by association with a likeable professional who worked with his eyes.  After graduation, SAM began a practice in Irvine where he was an active member of the Lions Club, traveling to Ensenada to examine and deliver eyeglasses to youth there.  Sam was also the lead guitarist for a rock and roll band until age 30.  He and Lou were married in 1978; he sold his practice, and they traveled around the country for six months living out of a Volkswagen bus.  They settled in Mountain View, settled down to a less nomadic lifestyle, and raised three children.  SAM later joined Steve Anderson to form Los Altos Optometric Group and joined Rotary.  He has been of great service to our club in nine years having served as Sergeant-at-arms, Club Secretary, three years as Art Show Director, and now as LAREF President.  We are certainly glad you asked STEVE ANDERSON if you could join Rotary!

AL LIGTENBERG was presented his blue badge by his sponsor BOB ADAMS.  AL was invited to join only last November 14th…less than three months to achieve a blue badge is one of, if not the, fastest periods for this accomplishment.  Congratulations, AL!  AL was in a hurry since he will be heading to Nepal to promote solar cooking in the remote regions.

AL brings yet another international perspective to our club.  He was born in Indonesia, schooled in the Netherlands, then came to the USA in 1967.  He is retired from Hewlett-Packard after over twenty years in the high technology sector. 

Pres. MARY announced that the 2002-03 handbook is now available to all members.  She thanked BEN SIAVOSHY for the professional printing job and reminded all members that the club directory is not to be used to promote your business or special interests.  For many of us, receipt of the directory is confirmation that we are not growing older (at least for those of us whose photograph hasn’t been updated in recent years…or decades!).

MARY went on to say that we are now considered one of the “big” clubs in District #5170 and incoming District Governor DON ALLEN believes the mission of Rotary to achieve worldwide peace where everyone benefits from sufficient food, good health, and reasonable opportunity.

JOHN SINES, using gender struggle for golf time as a theme, asked only female Rotarians how they would respond to a golf course manager who asked them to give up more of the pitifully few hours available for women to play golf.  Responders included HELEN PRESTI (already a member of the President’s Club), SANDY WHIPPLE, MARION TAVENNER, MEG SOLARA, JOAN ROSSELLE and PAT MILLAR.  JOAN was the only one with a strong enough answer for JOHN to give her a reprieve.

Pres. MARY asked if next week’s finemaster would provide equal time and focus on questions from the male members of our club.  Since it will be very close to Valentine’s Day, I wonder what the theme of that questioning might be?

BUD OLIVER provided an opportunity for members of our club to help the Children of the Andes.  BUD was recently in Ecuador and was introduced to a program that provides day care centers for families who toil in the Andes Mountains.  A child in one of three day care centers would receive a hot meal and other nutritional substance, clothing, books, and learning tools that would greatly enhance its ability to survive and become  a contributing member of their society.   As you can see, a modest amount of money will go a long way to providing a safe haven and good learning environment for these kids.  If you can help, contact BUD OLIVER, (650) 968-0379

EVENTS THAT SHOULD BE ON YOUR CALENDAR

March 7th is our “Cioppino Night” at the Garden House, 6:00-10:00 p.m. Bring your appetite, thirst and conversation for a fun night with fellow Rotarians and guests. 

Thanks to CINDY and DAVE LUEDTKE and JOE RENATI and all their helpers for their efforts in making this event possible.

May 17th and 18th are the days of our annual Fine Art In The Park, our only fundraiser for our endowment fund.  A reminder from 2003 Art Show Chair JERRY MOISON of the initial planning meeting for this year’s show to be held on Wednesday, February 12th at Los Altos Sub-Acute & Rehab Center, 809 Fremont Avenue, starting at 8:00 a.m.

SETH MANNING introduced ROBERT FISH, Ph.D. as our speaker.  His talk, entitled, “The Camel Has His head Under the Tent,” was on the topic of dealing with daily life events and managing to reduce stress in our lives. 

Stress management is an attitude according to DR. FISH.  Rather than fight against elements in life, ask yourself how you can cope.  He used the example of am talk radio as our inner-voice that is the cause and catalyst of stress.  It is not the event or situation, but how we deal with it that creates stress.  It is from within, not external stimuli, that stress derives.  Once you realize stress is internally generated, you can use one or more methods to control or reduce stress in your life.

 

Methods of dealing with stress include:

DR. FISH offered his book, a relaxation tape, and / or a free coaching session to anyone interested.  He can be reached at his web site: robert@robertfish.com

Programs and Events

February

February 13:  Robert Frager, Ph.D. "What is new in Psychology Today"
February 20:  Walter Hays "Polio Plus Project"
February 27:  Silvia Hines "About the YWCA" and David Dye "About the Boy Scouts"

March

March 7:  Cioppino Feed
OTHER ROTARY CLUB MEETING PLACES
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.
THURSDAY
Palo Alto Sunrise: Scott's, Town & Country, Palo Alto, 7:15 a.m.
Yosemite:  The Ahwahnee Hotel, Noon
FRIDAY
Palo Alto University: Sheraton, El Camino, Palo Alto, 7:30 a.m.
Lake Tahoe:  Harvey's Hotel, 12:15 p.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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