MEETING OF MAY 13, 2004
Rotator Writer: Wyatt Allen
Editor: Dick Blanding
The Beginnings:
PAUL CONARD led the Pledge of Allegiance, JOHN MCDONNELL as song master led us in a rendition of “My Darlin’ Clementine,” and Pres. Elect CINDY LUEDTKE
welcomed visiting Rotarians and guest of the club.
HERB MARSHALL provided very concise thoughts for our day: (1) Patience is a valuable virtue and (2) as we approach our Fine Art Show, think of all the organizations and projects we are able to support from proceeds of a successful show.
Announcements and Pronouncements:
Pres. AL reminded those itching to contribute hard earned cash before the end of the year that May is the last month to receive rewards for making the president’s club. You have the choice of immediate gratification by selection some gourmet candy from IRENE PRESTON’S confection company or practice HERB’S patience virtue by waiting for Pres. AL’S wine to properly mature for maximum enjoyment.
Webmaster's note: Pictures of the art show can be viewed at: artshowpics.html
Pres. AL also announced that our By-Laws Review Committee, due to the quantity of information, states it is likely that an e-mail with all the proposed changes will be sent to members for review prior to presenting them for a vote.
MARY PROCHNOW announced that our “Los Altos Story” will be aired at Stanford University at 7:00 p.m. on May 19th. Fourteen years old and that video is still very pertinent and effective. Congratulations to the early RAP group and our entire club for that vision and achievement.
SAM HARDING returned from a visit to our sister city in Bendigo, Australia and to both Samoa and American Samoa (didn’t know there were two.) He presented club flags from his visit and explained Samoa used to be called Western Samoa and was under the influence of New Zealand. SAM explained that the one of the most popular frozen foods there was turkey tails. Fortunately, there was not a widespread plea to our caterer to add turkey tails to our lunch menu anytime soon!
JOHN CARDOZA provided an opportunity for most present to flunk the four-way test when he asked who had not received proper credit for a $100 contribution in fines. Let’s just say more members had their hands raised to claim the $100 credit than did not.
Also, does anyone know where a box of Rotary Club letterhead might have ventured? JOHN would like to know its whereabouts.
JOAN ROSSELLE announced Fine Art Show T-shirts were available were available for new members and for some of us who might have changed sizes.
BRUCE CANN announced that several of our members contributed a total of $6,000 toward a Rotary Foundation project to initiate an entrepreneurial bank in Santiago, Chile. Anyone wishing to visit the project is encouraged to contact BRUCE about the trip scheduled for June 16th .
JERRY MOISON, who had led us to believe that the announcements he had made at the prior meeting would be his last, couldn’t resist the opportunity for floor time. Thanks to JERRY for tying the record as Fine Art Show chair for the third year running!
The art show appears to be fully staffed and all preparations have been completed so all we need is for good weather and a successful show.
SAM PESNER announced yet another Rotary project in Chile, the funding of a burn center. There is a trip planned in November to the center that includes an opportunity of a cruise in the Chilean fjords. Contact Bert Raphael (650) 941-2491 if interested.
Pres. AL reminded us that TRACIE MURRAY was awarded the John W. Gardner award by the Los Altos Community Foundation earlier this year, partly due to her efforts to initiate an unusual cooperative child care center at the Los Altos Sub-Acute and Rehabilitation Center. A portion of a KPIX (Channel 5 in San Francisco) program was shown, that highlighted the child care center and applauded TRACIE for her pioneering efforts to combine youth and adult care that benefits both tremendously. In fact, three generations benefit; the employees, her employees’ kids and the elder patients at the center all benefit from the interactive child care concept. Bravo, TRACIE, for having the vision and the energy to make it happen!
STEVE ANDERSON asked that members be reminded of the timing for Los Altos Rotary Endowment Fund (LAREF) board nominations and elections. Nominations will be accepted from the floor at our meeting of May 27th and the election will be held at the following meeting, June 3rd.
Member News:
STEVE YARBROUGH introduced MARGE SENTOUS who is sponsored by MEL KAHN. Marge has been very active in leadership roles with various non-profit organizations, currently as Executive Director of Interplast. Welcome to the Los Altos Rotary Club, MARGE!
JOHN SYLVESTER extracted recognition amounts from the following members for mostly self-professed events: DAN O’DONNELL (future 52nd anniversary), LEM SUMMEY (no longer drinking cheap wine), JULIE ROSE (becoming a grandmother), JOANNE BYRNE (her brother was just named head of cardiology at Vanderbilt), MARLENE COWAN (successful West Valley Opera fundraiser), BILL PALMER (age of 85!), JACK HIGGINS (international medical project in India), BRENDA NIEDERT (having BUD OLIVER loan her money at a native plant sale), VICTORIA EMMONS (wedding anniversary) and KELLY HUDSON (for not having yet paid a fine this year).
Subject Matter:
MARY PROCHNOW introduced COETA CHAMBERS as our speaker on the topic of
Sexual Discrimination and Sexual Harassment. Most current laws and practices are based upon legislation passed by Congress in 1964 to end discriminatory practices. The law was designed to eliminate discrimination based upon race, ethnicity, religion, national origin and, evidently at the last minute, sex was added by a Congressman in hopes that would defeat the bill. Obviously, that was not the case and landmark law regarding discrimination was properly initiated. There are several Federal laws on the books and each State has additional laws defining discrimination in the workplace. Through the years, interpretation of the law has been developed through decisions on a wide variety of cases decided by juries and judges at both the State and Federal levels.
COETA stated that employers are responsible to provide a work environment that is free of harassment, sexual or otherwise. Since subjectivity permeates the entire subject, employers face great potential liability if complaints or issues are not properly dealt with quickly and effectively.
To begin with, every employer should have strong, well understood anti-discrimination and anti-harassment rules. Knowledge and awareness through training is important to assure everyone is “on the same page.” Damages can be minimized should an instance occur if, in addition to have rules and training in place, an employer takes any complain seriously and follows up by taking appropriate action in a timely manner.
Sexual discrimination and sexual harassment can be very damaging to any business. Any publicity can ruin a reputation of individuals involved causing promising careers to be destroyed. The company itself could lose clients and any monetary penalty is apt to be very painful. Having the appropriate policies regarding sexual discrimination and harassment assures better morale, an atmosphere where employees respect each other, stimulate higher productivity, and gain a reputation as an employer people want to work for.
Point of Order:
This is just a reminder for those of us who are inviting guests to our Rotary lunch meetings with the intent of sponsoring them for membership. We shouldn’t be vocalizing anything in front of our members about someone becoming a potential member. Please limit introductions to their name and their current (or past) business affiliation(s). They are a guest until such time as they are inducted into the club; then they become a member. There should be no such description as a “future member” or a person “about to be invited to join” our Rotary Club. Thank you.
Programs and Events
May
May 20: Steve Poizner, who spent a year as a Whitehouse Fellow, where he was assigned to the Counter Terrorism Department in the office of the National Security Advisor.
May 27th - Rotary Scholarships
June
June 3rd - Partners for New Generations Recognition Luncheon
June 3: LAREF board meeting, 5:15 p.m., Masonic Hall
June 9: Board of Directors, 7:30 a.m., Bank of Los Altos, 369 San Antonio Road
June 10th - LAREF Annual Meeting/ Art Show Recognition
June 17th - Rotary Aids Project- Update
June 24th - End of Rotary Year Celebration
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