MEETING OF December 2nd, 2004    

President Cindy chimed a very well attended meeting to order promptly at 12:30.  Cindy noted that we were honored to have District Governor RON SEIKEL and District Governor-Elect ARLENE GREENBERG joining us at today’s meeting devoted to the issue of Rotary and AIDS.

At President Cindy’s request, Governor Ron led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.  December songmeister SETH MANNING noted that Winter was fast upon us, and led us in “Jingle Bells.”

The thought for the day was given by Heinz BlennemanN, who related the 1894 poem of the Journey to Ithaca, and reminded us that it is not just the goal of our journey we gain (or perhaps miss), but we receive the much greater gain of the wealth of knowledge and experience gathered along the way.

President Elect Marlene Cowan introduced four visiting Rotarians, from Palo Alto, Sunnyvale and San Jose.  Several Rotarians introduced their guests.

President Cindy announced that due to the length of the meeting, there would be no time for fines.  Howls of protest erupted, but President Cindy moved on.

Several Rotarians had important ANNOUNCEMENTS. 

BRENDA NIEDERT announced that we were getting a late start on the signups for Christmas bell ringing, and everyone interested should sign up immediately or contact her directly so we can fill out the schedule.

TRACIE MURRAY announced that the drive for food and toys was underway, and thanked everyone who brought items to today’s Meeting.  THE DRIVE CONTINUES NEXT WEEK TOO, so bring non-perishable food and toys to next week’s meeting.

TRACIE also announced that BILLY RUSSELL had suffered an unfortunate fall, and was recuperating at CedarCrest, where he would appreciate any visits from his friends in Rotary.

A word of thanks and praise was given to Don Witt and Jack Kelly, who did a spectacular (and showy) job of pushing the Rotary Float in the annual Light Parade.

GERRY TOMANEK announced that we are collecting now for the annual gratuity for the workers who serve lunch each week.  The suggestion is a $20 or $30 tip to the envelope (this covers a year of helpful and cheerful service).

JOANNE BYRNE reminded us that the HOLIDAY PARTY is December 16 at the Jesuit Retreat House, and it is very important to get signed up so that we have a head count for the event.

DICK BLANDING announced that there is a wonderful holiday exhibit at the History Museum.  It has exhibits from seven cultures, but more importantly, it has a great model railroad Winter Wonderland, with three trains, and lots of buttons for kids to push to make things happen.

JACK HEIDMILLER announced that the first organizational meeting for the 2005 ART SHOW will be held Wednesday, January 12, 2005 at the Northern Trust Bank.  We all know this is a huge endeavor, so everyone interested in helping should contact Jack and plan to attend this early start meeting.

CHRIS OLSON and HERB WALKER announced that the club had successfully helped to set up the soccer team at Alta Vista.  CHRIS and HERB have the coaching covered, but still need some financial help for team supplies, etc.

DICK HENNING then recalled a ROTARY MOMENT for our 100 year celebration.  He related “the rest of the story” about how the Supreme Court forced Rotary to admit women in 1986.  True, the result of the dispute was a court order forcing the admission of women, but Dick advised us that case was a “setup” by Morning Rotary in Southern California.  For several years, U.S. Rotary members had been lobbying Rotary International to change the men-only rule.  However, they could not get the foreign clubs to go along, and Rotary International left the rule in place.  So, the SoCal club set up the lawsuit to force the rule change in the United States, so the U.S. clubs could do what they had wanted to do for years; open the clubs to women.

President Cindy announced that our club had recently been the focus of two articles in local newspapers, which covered Rotary and Polio.  President Cindy also recently accepted our club’s award from the Society of Fundraising Professionals, for our work in raising money for PolioPlus.  When she spoke at that dinner, President Cindy chose to tell the assembly about the Rotary Aids Project (RAP). 

This was a segue into the day’s presentation on Rotary, RAP, and the AIDS crisis in Africa.  DUDE ANGIUS opened by explaining that he would be the starting pitcher, MARY PROCHNOW would be the Opening pitcher, our speaker, Chellie Kew, would cover the middle innings, and Dude would return as closer.  DUDE relayed the staggering news that every day in Africa, there are 7000 funerals for AIDS victims, and half of those funerals are for children under the age of 15.  The world, and the Rotary AIDS Project in particular, are trying to combat the enormous tragedy of AIDS in Africa. 

Dude then introduced opening pitcher MARY PROCHNOW, and bestowed upon her the Spalding Medal, that had been given to Dude in 1998 by the United Nations in honor of his work in founding RAP.  But Mary pulled a fast one on Dude, and used her time to honor the 15 years of success for the Rotary AIDS Project, and to honor the guy who started it, Dude. 

JEAN NEWTON, the public relations lead for RAP, recalled the founding of RAP in 1989, and told us what it meant to be “Duded”; it meant to be motivated and inspired by a guy to accomplish great tasks.  She recalled the task of filming, producing and distributing “The Los Altos Story,” and how after it was shown uninterrupted on Fox News, thousands of inspired viewers wrote to express their reaction and their own inspiration.  The led to “America Responds to AIDS” a tribute the how Dude inspired millions. 

ROY LAVE then asked, “How did it happen?”  How did it happen that Dude was president of our club when his son Steve announced he had AIDS?  How did it happen that one man told his Rotary club that he “wanted to do something” about AIDS?  How did it happen that this club, and a core group of 10, responded with the Rotary AIDS Project?  How did it happen that they decided to do a film, and how did it happen that they hooked up with the right group to put it together?  How did it happen that the film moved throughout Rotary and the world?  Not all coincidence, says Roy; it shows how one person in Rotary can have an enormous impact. 

DICK HENNING then spoke of the Rotary Fellowship to Fight AIDS (RFFA) founded in October 2003, and joined by 100 members of our club.  The mission of RFFA is to reduce the stigma of AIDS and to focus on the victims of AIDS, particularly the orphans.  In Africa there are already 12 million children orphaned by AIDS, and it is anticipated there will be 50 million AIDS orphans by 2010.  Dick announced that through the efforts of Dude, RFFA had received a $7 million grant to implement programs to help AIDS orphans.  This is a huge accomplishment for a group in existence only about a year.  Dick reminded us all that without Dude, there would be no Rotary AIDS programs and no RFFA. 

JOE RENATI added his brief, heartfelt testimonial; simply that Dude and his wife were among the most wonderful people he has known. 

MARY PROCHNOW then read a message from ROBIN YOUNG, the filmmaker who had put together the Los Altos Story.  Robin recounted her memories of Dude and his family, and the making of the film.  She mentioned the many people she met in and out of Hollywood, who had seen The Los Altos Story, and had been inspired, including the maker of the film “Philadelphia,” who modeled the parents of the AIDS victim in that film on Dude and his wife. 

Mary closed the testimonial by noting the many people in Rotary who have worked on the AIDS project, and reminded us that this was a great example of the power of Rotary.

Mary then turned it back to a somewhat surprised and embarrassed Dude, who said this had not been planned (at least by him—Mary and the rest planned it well). 

Dude then introduced our guest speaker, CHELLIE KEW, founder of the Qfund for AIDS, who has devoted the last several years to recording the suffering of African AIDS orphans and working to help them.  She has traveled throughout sub-Saharan Africa, photographing the children and compiling a photo book, “African Journal.”  She sells the book through her charitable organization (Qfund) and uses the money to help the orphans.  She recently raised enough to complete a dormitory.  Chellie relayed several stories of travels in Africa, including visiting one village in Zimbabwe that was entirely run by children, because all the adults had died of AIDS.  She told of a harrowing accident far out in the dessert of Namibia, when her truck hit a boulder and overturned.  She knew that no one would ever be by to find her, so despite her serious injuries, she forced herself out of the truck, and then walked 5 hours in 110 degree heat to find help.  It was this accident that bonded her to the orphans.  She could see in the children the suffering and the fear that no one was coming to save them.  She felt that same fear when her truck hit the boulder.  As she fought her way out of the crumpled truck, she vowed to help the orphans, and this led to the book and the Qfund For Aids.  She has already used the proceeds to build a first school for some of the orphans.  She displayed many of the photos and stories from the book BUT she forgot to ask us all to buy a copy to help her work.  You can go to http://www.qfund4aids.org  to buy a copy (they are based in Palo Alto if you want to drop by).

 Dude finally came up as “closer.”  He mentioned the January 15 meeting for the Rotary AIDS Project, where a number of new ideas will be considered.  The focus is likely to be on Africa, where 7000 die of AIDS and another 14,000 are newly infected every day.  Dude closed by recalling the theme in the year he was club president was “A Golden Opportunity.”  He said we all have the "Golden Opportunity” to become a “Friend of RAP.”  He mentioned that when you do, RAP gets your money, and you get a small pin made by AIDS orphans in Africa, a more than fair exchange.

Programs and Events

Committee Meeting Locations

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LARC	Board of Directors - Los Altos Rotary Club	Heritage Bank Community Room, 369 S. San Antonio Road
LAREF	Board Of Directors - Los Altos Rotary Endowment Foundation	Masonic Lodge, 146 Main Street
PNG	Partners for a New Generation	Heritage Bank Community Room, 369 S. San Antonio Road
WCS	Committee - World Community Service	Northern Trust, Third Street

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DECEMBER

Dec.   8 - LARC Board of Directors, 7:30 a.m.

Dec.   9 - Salvation Army

Dec. 15 - Holiday Party

Dec. 16 - Main Street Singers Holiday Program

Dec. 21 - WCS 8:00 AM

Dec. 23 - No LARC meeting

Dec. 30 - No LARC meeting

 

JANUARY

Jan.   5 - PNG meeting, 8:15 a.m.

Jan.   6 - LAREF board, 5:15 p.m.

Jan.   6 - Symphony Silicon Valley by Andrew Bales, Director

Jan. 12 - LARC Board of Directors, 7:30 a.m.

Jan. 12 - PNG Mentor Training, MVLA Board Room, Noon

Jan. 13 - Building Intuit by Tom Lefevre

Jan. 14 - Friday Night Fellowship

Jan. 20 - New Developments at Foothill College by Bernadine Fong, President Foothill College

Jan. 27 - Peter Magowan, owner of the San Francisco Giants

 

FEBRUARY

Feb.    2 - PNG meeting, 8:15 a.m.

Feb.    3 - LAREF board, 5:15 p.m.

Feb.    9 - LARC Board of Directors, 7:30 a.m.

Feb. 10 - Club Assembly

Feb. 14 - Speech Contest

Feb. 17 - Four Way Test Presentation (speech contest meeting)

Feb. 23 - Centennial anniversary of the founding of Rotary

 

MARCH

Mar.   2 - PNG meeting, 8:15 a.m.

Mar.   3 - LAREF board, 5:15 p.m.

Mar.   4 - Cioppino Feed

Mar.   9 - LARC Board of Directors, 7:30 a.m.

Mar. 10 - Decision-Making by Jeff Foran

Mar. 18 - Friday Night Fellowship (LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED)

Mar. 23 - PNG Mentor Training, MVLA Board Room, Noon

 

APRIL

Apr.   6 - PNG meeting, 8:15 a.m.

Apr.   7 - LAREF board, 5:15 p.m.

Apr. 13 - LARC Board of Directors, 7:30 a.m.

Apr. 13 - Dinner at Chef Chu's

Apr. 29 - Golf Tourney

 

MAY

May   4 - PNG meeting, 8:15 a.m.

May   5 - LAREF board, 5:15 p.m.

May   5 - Cinco de Mayo Celebration by Russ Clark of Estrellita's

May 11 - LARC Board of Directors, 7:30 a.m.

May 14-15  Rotary Fine Art Show, Lincoln Park

May 19 - District Golf Tourney

May 20-22 - District Conference

May 26 - Scholarship Awards

 

JUNE

June   2 - LAREF board, 5:15 p.m.

June   2 - PNG Volunteer Luncheon, Garden House, Noon

June   2 - LAREF & Art Show reports

June   8 - LARC Board of Directors, 7:30 a.m.

June   8 - PNG meeting, 8:15 a.m.

June   9 - Partners for New Generations - mentor appreciation

June 18 - 22 - Rotary International Convention in Chicago

 

JULY

July 1 - Kick-Out Dinner

OTHER ROTARY CLUB MEETING PLACES

Copyright 2004 The Los Altos Rotary Club