MEETING OF JANUARY 22, 2004

By Clyde Noel

Editor:  Dick Blanding
 

BOO BUE was the high spot of the noon meeting for this Rotary session. “I’m here to help us get acquainted with the 4-WAY-TEST, ” Boo said. “Remind the folks what they read in the paper and analyze it. But first let me tell you a bit of history and it goes like this:”

          From the earliest days of the organization, Rotarians were concerned with promoting high ethical standards in their professional lives. Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor, when asked to take charge of a company facing bankruptcy, created the 4-WAY TEST in 1932.

This 24-word code of ethics for employees to follow in their business and professional lives became the guide for sales, production, advertising, and all relations with dealers and customers and the survival of the company is credited to this simple philosophy.

Adopted by the Rotary in 1943, the 4-WAY TEST has been translated into more than a hundred languages and planted on the surface of the moon.

Without belaboring the influence of table captains to repeat the four introduction of words to help recall the 4-WAY TEST, Boo provided these synonyms: Tooth, Ferris Wheel, Truck and Neon Sign.

To each his own form of remembrance, but this is what Boo recommended to remember the famous ethical statement.

 1. Is it the TRUTH? Synonym: ”Tooth”
             2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? Synonym: “Ferris Wheel”
             3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?  Synonym: Truck”
             4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? Synonym: “Neon Sign”

            Implying that this meeting will never come to order, Prez Al admitted that knowledge is not enough because knowledge is power. He then went into announcements.

Nominations for the Board of Directors were announced and the slate will consist of: SHIV SHASTRI, SAM PESNER, BAIDRA PROCHNOW MURPHY, MARION TAVENNER, JOAN ROSSELLE and LARRY CHU, Jr.

            The RI Presidential dinner date in the Jan. 15 Rotator should be corrected to show: Friday, February 13, 2004 as the date (not Feb. 20 ) , R.I. President Johnathan B. Majiyagbe will speak at the Fairmont Hotel, 170 S. Market Street, San Jose, CA . Tickets can be arranged for $50.00 payment through Ginny Lear, who is gathering names for Club tables. Reserved Seating available, if we order by tables of 10 people. There will be a No Host Reception - 6:00 p.m., Dinner 7:00 p.m. , Black Tie Optional.

Announcements consisted of voluntary scullery maids needed to cut vegetables for the Feb. 27 Cioppino Feed and a sad message that BILLY RUSSELL broke his wrist in therapy and is resting at home at Bridgepoint.

DUDE ANGIUS again reminded the club of the Rotarian Fellowship for Fighting AIDS program. The club should seek a goal of 100 percent participation in this program. So far we are not getting close to 100 percent.

JOHN SYLVESTER was fine master and lightened the wallet of numerous contributors including many who previously joined the president’s club.  Eight providers with numerous amounts visited the bucket, but the most significant was JOE CORRAL who willingly contributed $80 to announce he has a complete cure of prostate cancer.

President-elect Cindy then introduced the speaker, State Assemblyman Joe Simitian, who is running for the Democratic nomination in the 11th State Senate District.

“It’s been a very interesting time in Sacramento.” Simitian said. “My first year we had the energy crisis, the second year the budget crisis, the third year the recall of Governor Davis and in year four we have Arnold.”

Simitian said he served during good times and bad times, but things are happier when you can say,  “Yes” to people. When you don’t have the resources saying, “Yes” is different.

During the period 1996-2000 Simitian was on the Santa Clara County Board of supervisors and the state grew 60 percent during that time with two governors. Stock options and other income grew from $4 billion to $17 billion and that increase was put in the budget. When things came back to normal there were hard choices to make because the dollars weren’t there.  

“Who do I represent? To whom is my duty? Is it my district, the state, the nation or the world,” Simitian asked. “The decision affects the state and the nation. On schools how do you look at under performing school districts when there are very few in my district?

“When it comes to a decision about resources do you consider a five-year old kid or the 17 year-old who is graduating from high school?" he said. “There are 423,000 people in my district and they are my responsibilities. At the end of the day they are part of the budget decision I have to go through.”   

Simitian said he represents a bright and well-informed district so whose values do you consider? He uses his best judgment on matters that are right or wrong.   How do you justify making a life and death decision?

Another decision hard to make is the education advocate position Simitian represents, but healthcare is essential for people of modest means.   It’s another hard judgment to make.

“Politics plays a role and the downside is to get people to think future. Thinking long term is difficult when you only serve two years at a time and you have to think about running for office again,” said Simitian. “Politics does not play a part in my decision. I make the right call first and politics is later to go forward.”

Regarding the $15 billion bond on the ballot, Simitian was one of three democrats who voted No.   His philosophy is to “Spend less, collect more taxes and do it now.” The longer we wait the harder it gets,” he said.

On the budget, 40 percent of the state budget is school funding and proposition 98 established that floor and the state can’t roll back public education. Healthcare and social services are 8 to 9 percent of the budget and it’s hard to cut that. 

The meeting ended on time since Simitian had to skedaddle back to Sacramento. 

Volunteer Opportunities

Partners for New Generations needs more tutors for elementary and middle schools in Los Altos,  Mountain View, and surrounding communities.   Time required is about 1 hour per week, or more, if you can spare it. 

 

Currently, we have openings at Graham and Crittenden Middle Schools in Mountain View.  Volunteers will help teachers at a Homework Club after school, which is about 3 pm, for one hour.  There are also tutoring programs at the 1^st through 5^th grade Elementary schools.

 

Many of our Rotary members are participating in this excellent program. School budgets are being reduced and the number of students in classrooms are getting larger. The students and teachers could really use your help.

 

If you would like more information contact John Cardoza (650 948-8172) for Mountain View schools or Lee Lynch (650 961-0394) for Los Altos schools.

Programs and Events

January

Jan. 29:  Maxine Goodman - Palo Alto Philharmonic
Jan. 31:  Progressive Dinner, 6 p.m., $30 per person

February

Feb. 5:  World Community Service
Feb. 12:  Alliance for Community Care - Workshop on Stigma
Feb. 13:  RI Presidential Dinner, President Johnathan B. Majiyagbe, Fairmont Hotel, San Jose.  Reception:  6 p.m., Dinner, 7 p.m.
Feb. 19:  Los Altos Rotary Speech Contest
Feb. 20:  Fellowship Night
Feb. 26:  To be announced
Feb. 27: Cioppino Feed, Garden House

March

March 4:  Trish Bubenik - American Red Cross, Be Prepared for the Unexpected
March 11:  Carl Guardino - Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group, Economic Outlook
March 26:  Fellowship Night

April

April 7: Celebrate Spring at Chef Chu's
April 8:  Mountain View High School Madrigal Singers Spring Program

May

May 7: Golf Tournament
May 15 and 16:  Rotary Fine Art Show
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 2004 The Los Altos Rotary Club

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