MEETING OF JUNE 24, 2004
By Clyde Noel
On entering the Garden House, today’s greeting for Rotarians and guests, consisted of four distinguished characters from the 19thcentury dressed in fashion conscious periwigs.
Conferring dignity and solemnity with glasses of shiraz, JOHN McDONNELL,
ELLEN FLANAGAN, MARLENE COWAN and DAN O’DONNELL welcomed members to the annual full house Rotary kickout.
As Rotarian President AL TRAFICANTI approached the podium, overwhelming respect was paid by members expressing continuous clapping and a standing ovation. SETH MANNING exercised double duty with an inspiration memoir from the Ronald Reagan library and new words to stage production Bye Bye Birdie.
“Make the bed and light the light, he’ll arrive home late tonight. AL T Bye Bye.”
During introduction of guests, departing PREZ Al T introduced his family and extended family members. They were all seated at one table in front of the podium so they could enjoy the proceedings.
President elect CINDY LUEDTKE acknowledged Rotarian guest Robert Smithwick. He was recently honored with a Humanitarian Award from the University of Chicago. Only two awards of this nature have ever been given.
Cindy asked each member of the Rotarian relay team to stand up. They will be walking for Relay for Life.
Relay For Life is a fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research for the American Cancer Society. During the event, teams of people gather at schools or parks and take turns walking or running laps. Each team tries to keep at least one team member on the track at all times. Good luck Rotarian walkers.
Rotary District 5170 is presenting a Roast and Toast evening from 5:30 to 9 p.m. July 8 at the Saratoga Springs Resort located at 22801 Big Basin Way, Saratoga. Anyone interested should fax a reply today to Bob & Mary Barbatti or call (408) 378-7739. You can also e-mail: mbarbatti@aol.com. Cost is $32 per person.
Rotarian CINDY DAY traveled to China and Taiwan and presented President Al with a Taipei flag from the their Rotary.
No recognition fines were bestowed on any Rotarian at the meeting, but Environmentalist TOM LISTON proudly gave a $100 fine because he shot his first bear with a bow and arrow.
STEVEN YARBROUGH introduced DENNIS POTTER as a new member to the
Los Altos Rotary Club. Dennis’ new classification will be “digital home working.” His business is called Digital Home Comforts and the business is doing nicely.
While at the dais, Steve mentioned the result of President Al’s ambitious year relating to membership.
“When Al became president we had 145 members and today we have 161,” Yarbrough said. “We have 120 new members and only lost four the past year. At the start of the year, attendance was at a 60 percent low and now we have 79.1 percent.”
MARY PROCHNOW offered accolades to departing President Al and said, “For the rest of the meeting we will go with anarchy.”
But there was no anarchy in the program that started with the CD movie titled “A Vintage Year.” It is a well executed and programmed movie of Al’s year as President of the Los Altos Rotary Club.
Starting with the inspirational overture from Brigadoon as a background of music, the CD was a short blast-off of Rotary Year 2003-2004.
Segments from the chippino feed, mini -socials, golf tournaments, the golf tournament dinner, red badge auction and the 2004 art show, most members paid close attention to the screen hoping to find their picture included in the film.
The finale included a “Thanks for the Memories “ segment by Al in his usual classy presentation.
Nancy Traficanti, Al’s gracious wife, said it was a wonderful year for her too and provided a book for the year and a huge tome that chronicled pictures from the year.
SAM PESNER, provided the newest of Rotarians his Italian brogue piece on “Di Tre Berrese.” A recycled piece that members with less than 10 years longevity had never heard.
As the hours and the production became short, Mary P took out the “George Parham sculpture” that adorned her fireplace the past year and presented it to Al. After much confusion, it was determined that it was a SAM HARDING trophy made by
HARDY JONES. The sculpture is an iron shoe last that indicates the boot or kick-out and given to the outgoing president.
Among the long lists of accomplishments during Al’s regime, 20 Rotarians became new members. They are: MALINA ALLES, KATHERINE BERRY, HEINZ BLENNEMANN, LOUIS BOREL, DOUG FRANCO, PATRICIA GRAY, JOHN HAMBLIN, MIKE HARRIGAN, HARDY JONES, TOM LISTON, JOE LoCANTE, MARLIS McALLISTER, DENNIS POTTER, PAUL SCHUTZ, MARGE SENTOUS, DAVID SMITH, HINDA WEBER, RHONDA WENTZEL, DON WITT, and SHOSHANA ZIMMERMAN.
At 1:15 p.m. President Alexander J. Traficanti ‘s year of lending a hand came to an end.
“And there are no last words from you Al, you are kicked out,” said Prochnow. “We will see you tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. at the Los Altos Golf and Country Club for the formal part of your kickout.”
Presidents' Message: Thanks to all of you who sent cards and letters which were presented to me at the Kickout Dinner; thanks, also, to Past President Mary and to those who helped her put on this enjoyable elegant and final party event of the Rotary year. For those who were not present, it was my honor and pleasure to name Jerry Moison Recipient of the Guy Shoup Clock Award, Outstanding Rotarian of the Year 2003-04. Lastly, thanks to all of you who contributed to making our Club the outstanding, respected, motivated and greatest group of Rotarians ever. It has been my honor and privilege to serve as your President.... As ever, yours in Rotary, Al
Programs and Events
July
July 1 - President Cindy, Club Assembly
July 8 - Gloria Duffy, Weapons of Mass Destruction?
July 15 - Don McDonald, History of Los Altos
July 22 - Sam Bishop, Rotary Flying Fellowship
July 29 - Rick Salazar, Therapy Pets
August
August 5 - Bernadine Fong, New Developments at Foothill College
August 12 -
August 19 - Steve Gruber, Rotary on the Web, at Foothill College’s Krause Center for Innovation (not at Garden House)
August 26 - Ron Sekkel, District Governor’s Visit
September
Sept. 2 - Richard Walker, Expanding Market in China
Sept. 9 -
Sept. 16 - Mary Alice Rathbun, RotaPlast
Sept. 23 - David Sloss, West Bay Opera in our Community
Sept. 30 - Larry Rinsky, Operation Rainbow in Nicaragua
OTHER ROTARY CLUB MEETING PLACES
On-line Meeting: www.rotaryeclubone.org
MONDAY
Palo Alto: Rickey's Hyatt House, 12:15 p.m.
TUESDAY
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