MEETING OF MAY 15, 2003 By Clyde Noel
Editor: Dick Blanding
When you recite the allegiance to the flag, remember, “It is one nation under God.” ……… “I pledge allegiance to,” ……and so the meeting started with STEVE ANDERSON and his request to remember that important phrase. There were only a few misdemeanors.When BILL REWAK provides the thought for the day it makes sense to most of us. His allegorical approach to two competing wolves was first-rate.
SAM HARDING introduced his group of non-Rotarians going on a Rotarian trip to Africa to visit several bush locations containing animals. It will be hot because it is August down there.
SAM PESNER said all the jobs were in place for the weekend at Art in the Park. He encouraged Rotarians to bring friends and spend money. Since this report is written previous to the show, it is hoped everything went super fine.
HUGH RIDDELL became a red badger today. He is an educational consultant who works for the Mountain View-Los Altos High School District and his sponsor is SAM HARDING.
President MARY PROCHNOW announced MARY MARLEY wishes to be included in the election for three vacant positions on the Los Altos Rotary Endowment Fund. (LARF).
WYATT ALLEN recognized membership to the Paul Harris Fellowship with pins being awarded to fellows JOE CORRAL and MARY MARLEY. Reaching higher levels of Paul Harris membership are SAM PESNER and NELS BURDETT, receiving sapphire pins.
Downsizing caught up to 16-year member WALT SCHOLEY. He is moving to the central part of California and Rotarians wish him luck in the future.
JOHN O’CONNELL offered his five-minute talk as his perquisite to becoming a
blue badger. The addition of another attorney in the Rotary is always well received, but in this case the classification is tax lawyer. The San Francisco native from the outer mission district Saint Ignatius Prep said he caroused within the Haight-Ashberry District when it was in its heyday.
He started life correctly by joining a musical unit that consisted of 55 girls and 5 guys. While doing a ‘Song and Dance,’ routine, eagle-eye John noticed Joanne and eight years later he married her.
Recognizing his responsibility to put food on the table and clothes on the persona, John worked as a night clerk in a Castro Street liquor store. After being held up twice, he left to wait on tables. When his first daughter arrived on the scene he recognized his life had changed. He definitely knew it after more children arrived.
“Coaching and raising the kids was a full time process, but now that I am free from those family responsibilities I am joining the Los Altos Rotary,” said O’Connell.
Jerry Moison reminded us he will be the chair again for the Art in the Park and for the umpteenth time during the meeting we were told to “BRING MONEY.”
JOE CORRAL and ELLEN FLANAGAN are happy because the Polio Plus program went over the achieved goal. Next week will be the final report, but presently $46,450 has been donated and the goal was $45,000. Ten more Rotarians were announced they received their pin for donating $300.
“A superlative job for their work,” said Pres. Prochnow, “These two spend a lot of time on this program, they did it cheerfully and they did a tremendous job,”
Still on the subject of giving, JOAN ROSSELLE announced Rotacare reached its goal of $220,000 and the Los Altos Rotary club was the lead donor.
SHIVADEV SHASTRI presented Cheryl Houts as the featured Rotary speaker.
When it comes to the Los Altos Public Library, “If you build it, they will come, is a realistic statement,” said Cheryl Houts, “The Los Altos main library item circulation reached 140,000 items in January and the Woodland Library circulated 25,000 items in April.
“A lot is due to the excellent collection of books and music items,” Houts said. “After the Vision 21 parcel tax was passed, it increased the collection of items and books
in many departments.”
Circulation has been on the increase since the passing of the parcel tax and today circulation per capita for Los Altos is 42.53. In contrast, county wide the percentage is 23.17, and statewide it is 6.35.
“We are a member the Santa Clara County Library System and of the existing nine libraries, we are number one in circulation.” Houts said. “Mountain View and Palo Alto are separate from the system but are part of the circulation system. The libraries provide an inter-library loan network to help make diverse materials available at the local level.”
The kinds of materials available at the Los Altos library are books, CD-ROMs, videos DVDs, magazines, music CDs and talking books. Houts said they are out of space and there is a gradual change from VHS videos to DVDs. As the library expands into DVDs and CDs there will be more space available.
“Remember, it took us 20 years to get rid of phonograph records,” Houts said. “We also discard used books. If we kept everything we would run out of space quickly.”
Houts spoke about the Internet and the online access that runs 24/7. With a library card and a PIN (personal identification number) you can access the system.
“Everyone in this room can use the library by accessing the area of interest. I’m sure you would like to see the Standard & Poor report that is available.” Houts said. “We negotiate with our vendors to use their products and the S& P is a net advantage for business interested people.”
Databases are a little known resource. Since January, new computer hardware is being installed and the employees are working out the glitches. In August additional program software will be added.
In the future, plans call for self-checkout, credit card and online payment and wireless.
A lot can be done because the library has a vast base of financial support, which has resulted in the addition of some useful and otherwise unavailable materials. Because of monetary commitment by many people, Los Altos has active Friends of the Library, Vision 21, and the newly incorporated Los Altos Library Endowment (LALE). The endowment has a 501(3) c from the IRS that will help individuals who donate.
Houts complemented the volunteers that work in the system. In a recent tally, 7,954 volunteer hours were spent doing work in the Los Altos library and compared to the entire system countywide, only 11,756 volunteer hours were recorded.
“We have many ways you can volunteer. Friends of the Library raises more than $100,000 each year in sales,” Houts said. “That’s a good place to start.”
Houts explained that when people give books to the Friends of the Library for resale, the library has first choice of those books before they go on sale. These donated books may be items not in circulation or duplicate items. Local schools also have an opportunity to select items before they are put on sale.
As the meeting came to a close, DICK HENNING became the fine master and he put a notch on Sam Harding’s wallet because Janet Harding graduated from college. After a “you take it, no, I’ll take it dance routine, MARTY SPANGLER had to fork over a buck or two for his family happiness.
The opportunity to see three Rotarians, receive awards on the same program is coming up at the Mayors Banquet June 6 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Palo Alto. Mayors KRIS CASTO and BOB FENWICK and JEAN NEWTON FRAGUGLIA are the featured Rotarians for the night. Jean is receiving the prestigious Walter and Marie Singer award.
Don’t forget the Rotary Club directors meeting in ROY JONES’ Office. Bring coffee because it starts at 7 a.m.
Programs and Events
May
May 17 and 18: Rotary Fine Art Show
May 22: George Koo, Director of Chinese Services Group, Deloitte & Touche - Topic: " Economic Integration of Greater China and Implications for California".
May 29: Scholarship Awards ProgramOTHER 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.
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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