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MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2003


Rotator Writer:  Matt Cabot 
Editor:  Dick Blanding

With us today:  We had four visitors, and one visiting Rotarian.  One of the visitors was ex-Los Altos Rotarian Hardy Jones, who is in the process of rejoining us.  Great.  The visiting Rotarian was none other than ex-Los Altos Rotarian BOB BRATMAN who moved to Wales a number of years ago.  Good to see you too, Bob. 

 

9/11 Memorial: Dick Hasenpflug read a memorial to 9/11.  Very impressive. 

 

Announcements:   President Al had all of the people making announcements queue up “behind-the-bar” (that’s attorney talk).  That procedure that Al has instigated has sped up the announcements considerably.  No need to wait for each individual to be called.  I imagine that will continue well beyond Al’s presidency. 

 

President Al started off the announcements with a comment about the up coming “Taste of Los Altos”, sponsored by the Los Altos Village Association.  Actually as you read this Rotator, you will have missed it because it was last Sunday, September 14th.   JULIE ROSE said it was a wonderful event.

 

One of the things that President Al said that surprised me was that he posted information about the event “on the Bulletin Board.”  I didn’t know we used a bulletin board any more.  I thought that is what our website was, an electronic bulletin board.   I’ll have to pay more attention to it. 

 

President Al also mentioned the “Avenue of Service” conference to be held this year in Hayward on October 16th.  He suggested that it is pretty much mandatory for all directors (and would-be directors), plus a good opportunity for Red Badgers to learn about Rotary  as well.  See the Bulletin board, or call Vickie at 510-586-2697 or email her at Vrombs@AOL.com for further information. 

 

He also mentioned that the Bayshore club in East Palo Alto is struggling a bit, and would love to have some visitors.  See below for their day and time of meeting.  Making up there would kill two birds with one stone:  improve your attendance, and expand your world of Rotary, right here at home. 

 

MONA ARMISTEAD mentioned that WE need additional team members to act as club liaison to the Mountain View High School INTERACT club.  Talk to Mona about the particulars. 

 

Dr. BEN MCGANN announced that October 16th would be Flu Vaccine distribution day before the meeting.  Time to be announced.  At least a $20 donation would be appreciated.  Make Checks payable to “Rotacare Free Clinic”.   It may even be deductible.  Check with your tax advisor. 

 

CRES MCFALL offered an invitation to the Aquamaids performance.  He mailed details to everyone earlier.  There is a flyer posted on the bulletin board as well.

 

JOANNE BYRNE (Fellowship) detailed a number of Fellowship events coming up.  Look for the clipboard at the next meeting. 

 

JOE CORRAL visited Guatemala and returned with a flag. 


KAILAS CHIDABARAM told us about Coaniquem, a project that has rehabilitated over 60,000 (THOUSAND!) burn victim children from South America. It is in the process of building a second burn rehabilitation center in Chile, doubling their capacity to help. Every year 7,000,000 children suffer serious burn. Of these, 500,000 need rehabilitation. Rotary International is a major sponsor of this activity. See the Bulletin board for a flyer. They are looking for donations to further this project, and bring additional relief to the children of South America. Also, you might look at http://www.burnedchildren.com

 

While not in the announcement, queue, MEL KAHN mentioned that our softball team won it first game.  We are now 1and 0.  Way to go, team.  Notice I didn’t mention we won because the other team didn’t show up.  Did I?

 

RE-INTRODUCE 5 MINUTE TALK  JULIE ROSE reintroduced herself to us today with a repeat of what she said seven years ago when she first joined.  In case you didn’t hear it the first time, (or even the 2nd time) here is roughly what she said:

 

Born in Washington DC in 1945; lived in Pennsylvania as a child, and was the youngest of three children.  Spent summers at camp and on the shores of Nantucket Island.   She went to Penn State about the same time that Joe Paterno came there to run the football program.  He’s still there, she’s not. 

 

She flipped a coin which dictated where they would go to seek employment.  NYC won.  Julie spent many years in the advertising business, working on the now defunct Pan Am account.  She married, and moved to Oregon, Los Angles, Los Altos, back to Oregon, back to Los Altos (I think, in that order) where she raised her children, through Santa Rita, Egan, and Los Altos High.  

 

She said she shed 180 pounds of dead weight, but I can’t tell you how.  For that you will have to ask her.  She worked for the Tech Museum, and is now head of the Chamber of Commerce in Los Altos.

 

RED BADGE PRESENTATION  Steve Yarbrough presented Hinda Weber with her Red Badge, and an introduction to the club.  Sponsor BOB ADAMS was beside her for the presentation and standing ovation.

 

FINEMASTER  MARGE BRUNO extracted some big bucks from JACK HEIDMILLER, JULIE ROSE, MARLENE COWEN, DAVID DYE, MEL KAHN  (Happy Birthday, David and Mel), and KAREN FOX who was fined for not going back to work - go figure.

 

SPEAKER OF THE DAY BOB ADAMS introduced Cindy Wilber, a Palo Alto resident (half the year) and a resident of Chicxulub Puerto, Yucatan Mexico (the other half).  Cindy is also the Program Coordinator for the Stanford Jasper Ridge Biological preserve, and author of several books.  One of which is “For the Love of the Game” which details the life of early professional baseball players, of which her father was one.  The other book was “Medical Spanish - The Instant Survival Guide”

 

Cindy spoke of a project called Proyecto Itzaes which translates to “the Project of the People”.  They have a website, but when I followed the URL, it did not work.  Not sure if it is wrong, or if the site is temporarily down:  http://www.proyectoitzaes.org   While the website does not seem to work, here is a reference to her project, in PDF format:  http://www.ncte.org/pdfs/subscribers-only/tp/0121-octnov00/TP0121Learning.pdf

 

Cindy said she started this program to help the Yucatec Maya help preserve their language, and to help the children of Chicxulub to learn skills that will allow them to become more competitive in the commercial world and less dependent on fishing which has been the main occupation of the village for thousands of years. 

 

The area has pretty much been fished out by commercial fishermen, and the natives can’t afford the fuel it takes to go deeper in the ocean. 

 

She is also involved the “Raising a Reader” program, where children line up to get books from the local lending library, and stuff their book bags. 

 

Cindy shared a number of digital pictures, taken by children with cameras donated in part by our Rotary Club through the World Community Service committee. 

 

BOB ADAMS, Chairman of the World Community Services committee, would like to remind fellow Rotarians that there will be a joint trip along with Palo Alto Rotary to go to Chicxulub Puerto early next year to have some hands on experience, building library bookshelves, painting trash containers, cleaning up the beaches. and generally helping the program progress.  It is a wonderful time to see our Rotary Club donations at work.  Talk to Bob (961-9329) if you have an interest.  There are some wonderful Mayan temples in the area.  Why not learn about them from the decedents?

 

Message from Herb Marshall: 

I will be needing to fill the back up position for the Sergeant at Arms duties immediately. There is also a good possibility that I will need to replace myself as the lead for that position within the next few months. If you could write something in the Rotator to that effect, that would be great. Anyone can contact me if they are interested.

Thank you,

Herb Marshall

 

Message from Bert Raphael, District 5170:

This coming January District 5170 is co-sponsoring the eleventh annual Uniendo América Project Fair, in Costa Rica, where we will exchange project ideas as well as socialize in an informal setting with Rotarians from throughout Central America.  You and your guests are invited to join us for exciting touring in a foreign culture, a personal look at what Rotary does in the world, and fun-filled Rotary fellowship.

Our Central America trip has several options during the period from January 18 to February 1, 2004:

The cost of the trip, including air, will be between $975 and $2975 (per person double occupancy), depending upon which options you choose. Full details are available on the internet at <www.rotary5170.org/foundation/downloads/Brochure3.pdf>, or contact me if you want an e-mail or faxed copy of the brochure, or have other questions.  Space is limited and prices are expected to rise after mid-October, so register or call soon-- a trip application is on the back of the brochure.

Yours in Rotary,
 --Bert Raphael

From Jack Heidmiller:

A special thanks to Marlis McAllister, proposed member, for donating a Gateway Laptop for use in Chile.  Our son, Scott, has returned to Chile and will configure it with Spanish operating system for giving to young persons. Thanks to all who have given in the past.

Programs and Events

September

Sept. 18:  Terry Kieble, President of Wildlife Rescue
Sept. 19:  Fellowship Night
Sept. 25:  Sandie Zander and Jim Walker, latest developments with the Wheelchair Foundation
Sept. 27:  Wine Tasting Tour at Byington Winery

October

October 2: Jim Mealey- Rotary Foundation
October 9: Jennifer Kuiper- Israeli/Palestinian Conflict
October 16: Candidates for the Los Altos School Board, Foothill-DeAnza Board, and discussion of the El Camino Hospital bond issue
October 16:  Flu shots at the weekly meeting
October 23: Roy Lave-Candidate Forum
Oct. 24:  Fellowship Night
Oct. 30:  Karen Fox, St. Petersburg/Leningrad

November

Nov. 21:  Fellowship Night

December

Dec. 4:  San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales
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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