Rotator for February 10th, 2005

Upcoming Events:

This Week's Program: 
Club Speech Contest

Feb.  16 - Mixer at Main Street Cafe jointly sponsored by LARC and the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce
 

Feb 18 - Possible showing of "Her Majesty" at Century 16 Theatres

Feb.  24 - Thursday, no meeting today.  See Feb. 23rd. 

See Programs for all of the important dates.

To see Neighboring Club meetings go to Clubs

To our Website

      JACK KELLY announced that next week is the Youth Speech contest.  If you know students and/or administrators do NOT introduce them to the people at your table.   For reasons of impartiality it is preferred that the students speak anonymously.

      ELLEN YAMANE FLANAGAN, our Fellowship Director, announced the Centennial dinner, February 23rd at Rickey's:  cocktails at 6p.m., $35.00 per person.  This is a regional celebration of Rotary's Centennial and the Club is dark on the 24th so come and meet some neighboring Rotarians! ALL CHECKS ARE DUE THIS THURSDAY.

      VAL CARPENTER pointed out the ART SHOW work sign-ups on each table. We are each asked to work two shifts, and signing up early gives you the opportunity to request your favorite job ( or avoid those that you might loathe).  The ART SHOW is May 14&15th and new members should know that this is the closest thing to mandatory service that we have, as well as being one of the most enjoyable ways to get to know and enjoy other members and their families.  Get it on your calendar.

      SHIV SHASTRI announced that the first SCHOLARSHIP meeting is March 3rd at the Garden House.  SHIV also mentioned that they are looking for young people who have finished two years of college, as candidates for the Ambassadorial Scholarships which bring up to $25,000.  Contact Shiv for details.

      Arley Marley, husband of MARY and SUNNYVALE ROTARY member, announced his club's CRAB FEED & AUCTION on Saturday February 26th at St Cyprian's Church. Contact Arley at nfo-scan.com or 408 737 1075.

      PRESIDENT CINDY announced a mixer to be held at Main Street Cafe Wednesday night, February 16th at 5:30. This is a joint LARC and Los Altos Chamber event.

      PAST PRESIDENT LARRY MADSEN (72-73) gave the day's Rotary moment and talked about the moment when Club President ROLAND RENSHAW encouraged a young member to stay, in spite of that member's doubts about Rotary.  The young member was Past President DICK HENNING.  LARRY left us to imagine how different the Club might have been had that moment not occurred!  We are grateful to ROLAND RENSHAW!

     PRESIDENT-ELECT MARLENE COWAN announced the BIG WAVE committee,  which has been meeting after our meetings and is working on a Tsunami relief project. At this time it appears that we will adopt a Village.   Generous seed donations have been made by DUDE ANGIUS, $500, BRUCE CANN $1,000 and GUY FARTHING $5,000.

     The children of JOANNA MEDIN and PRESIDENT CINDY are selling blue bracelets to Aid the Tsunami victims, as well. Congratulations to these young people for their concern at an early age!

    PRESIDENT CINDY announced the election of Directors MATT CABOT, JOHN MOSS, ROLAND PAYNE & JOAN ROSSELLE.  We express our congratulations and gratitude to all who stood for election.

   Mark your calendars one more time! Our famous gastronomical extravaganza: the CIOPPINO NIGHT is scheduled for March 11 at 6:30.

WEBMASTERS Notes:  1.  We are trying a new design for the Rotator.  Send all comments to me at Matt.Cabot@Gmail.com.

2.  Several weeks ago we saw a video preview by Mark Gordon, writer and director of "Her Majesty" a period coming of age file about a young Australian girl and the Queen of England.  It is suppose to debut this Friday at Century 16.  There was a large article in the Tuesday, Feb 15th San Jose Mercury News.  But no mention of the debut.  The Century 16 Website does not list it, and there is no phone number to call.  But it may have a sneak preview, who knows.  Let me know if you anything more about this.  Thanks.   

 THE PROGRAM---WE TALK ABOUT THE CLUB!

           Our facilitator for the day's conversation was Geoff Ball.  Geoff has a B.A. from Harvard University. His Master's and PhD are in engineering at Stanford. Geoff runs SMARTGROUPS from his Main Street office, and has worked on collaborative solutions for many local community issues, and is familiar to many Club members through his work with the Chamber, LAVA, the City etc.

       The question posed for discussion was "People have said that our club has grown so large that it is difficult to know one another. What can we do?"  Geoff told us that during discussion we should:
     o  Defer judgment. 
     o  Build on the ideas of others.
     o  Refrain from the evaluation of ideas. 
     o  Know that all ideas are good.

     A director or assignee worked as scribe at each table and presented that table's ideas as a wrap -up. Many tables suggested seating shake-ups in order to force interaction among different members rather than one's "buddies".  Several suggested an increased variety of fellowship opportunities outside of meeting time such as: book groups, sports etc. 

Another recurring theme involved the expansion of "five minute talks" to include more existing members.  More fellowship time at meetings also received many votes.  Adding new people to committees and changing assignments was also mentioned.  It was a lively discussion, demonstrating the interest and enthusiasm of the membership!   Rotate those tables on your own and have a great week!