Rotator
February 17th, 2005

Upcoming Events:

Feb.  23 - Centennial anniversary of the founding of Rotary
Feb.  24 - Thursday, no meeting
Mar.   3 - Jason  Pierce, Crime Stoppers
Mar. 10 - Feff Foran, Decision Making

Mar.   2 - Art Show Committee 8:AM

See Programs for all of the important dates.

To see Neighboring Club meetings go to Clubs

To our Website

With a very busy agenda on hand, President CINDY chimed the meeting to order promptly at 12:30.  Past President Firooz Ghaffari led the Pledge of Allegiance.  February songmeister JOHN Mcdonnell, noting that this was Rotary’s centennial month, located another song from 100 years ago, and led the club in “Give my Regards to Broadway.”  John’s song sheet also had a short history of how the “fifth Rotarian” Harry Ruggles started the tradition of singing at Rotary Club meetings. (A copy of that is found below). 

The thought for the day was given by STEVE YARBOROUGH, who reminded us that humor is always a good thought, and that children often give us unique humor. (“What is benign? It’s what you are after you be eight"). 

Due to the length of the meeting, there would be no time for fines, but President CINDY did zing one member $40 for a ringing cell phone.  Howls of protest erupted, but President Cindy moved on.

Several Rotarians had important ANNOUNCEMENTS. 

President CINDY started by mentioning the great Rotary Mixer held last Wednesday night with the Chamber of Commerce.  Cindy extended thanks to those who helped, including: PAUL and Liz NYBERG who hosted at the café, DAVE LUEDTKE and LEE LYNCH who bartended.  Also, TRACIE MURRAY, a crackerjack with mixers, took care of many of the details.  DENNIS POTTER and President Elect-Elect SAM PESNER, helped in a pinch with the VCR so we could run the "Los Altos Story" tape.  And of course, JULIE ROSE of the Chamber who made sure all ran smoothly.  There was great representation from LARC there.

President Cindy also reminded us that the Centennial Dinner is coming up THIS WEDNESDAY,  February 23, at Rickey’s. (This is INSTEAD of the Thurs. 2/24 meeting: THERE IS NO MEETING THIS THURSDAY 2/24.)  The dinner will include music from the Jazz Connection with JOHN SYLVESTER.

Honorary Member DAVE LUEDTKE announced that the Cioppino feed will be March 11, and noted there was a signup sheet circulating ($40 per person).  Dave and JOE RENATI are custodians of the original secret cioppino recipe that is pulled out only for this event.

VAL CARPENTER reminded us that the ART SHOW is coming up on May 15-16, and it's time for signups (on the new and improved green signup sheet). 

JOHN MOSS spoke on the Relay for Life fundraiser for battling cancer.  Last year, the first year for the Los Altos Relay for Life, our town raised the most money ever for a first time event.  JOHN hoped our club could come up with 24 members to participate in the 24-hour relay.  JOHN also announced that the first meeting of the task force to improve the GARDEN HOUSE facilities would take place today.

A special presentation was given by John Stevenson, of Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, accompanied by an ex-LARC Rotarian, Rob Holden who is on their Board of Directors.  John discussed the history and local connection (Palo Alto) for his group, and stressed how important audio books are, not just for the blind, but also the dyslexic.  A dyslexic person could see 40 different spelling images of the word "cat".

New member SANDY BOSICH gave a brief talk on the history and importance of the FOUR WAY TEST.  Sandy pointed out that the test came about when a Rotarian was trying to save the Club Aluminum Company from bankruptcy.  Instead of the old way of doing business, they adopted the four way test for judging their actions and statements.  Telling the truth, in advertising, helped increase their credibility with customers.  Being fair, even to the point of not attacking their competitors, earned them the respect of both customers and competitors.  The four-way test saved the company.

Director of Membership LARRY CHU Jr. took the podium to induct two new members to our club.  Our new Members are KATIE NUTTER (sponsored by JOHN MOSS) and MICHAEL MAURRIER (sponsored by ROY JONES).

KELLY HUDSON spoke on behalf of the Rotary AIDS Project.  Kelly pointed out that she, like many members, had not been in the club when “The Los Altos Story” was made.  KELLY read a few entries from the small book “America Responds to The Los Altos Story.”  She urged all members, old and new, to pick up a copy of that book after the meeting, and to read the many touching letters received by RAP, AND to continue to support the Project by becoming a FRIEND OF RAP.  The flyer for becoming a Friend of RAP was available at the meeting, and is also attached to this copy of the newsletter.

DUDE ANGIUS then gave the Rotary Moment.  This moment came two years before DUDE became president, when a committee of Rotarians met with DUDE to ask that he become president.  DUDE repeatedly refused until DAN DUTTON sat down to bar the door and told DUDE he wasn’t leaving until he said yes.  DAN’S subtle persuasion led to DUDE becoming president and the birth of the Los Altos Story, so DAN is credited with being the father of the ROTARY AIDS PROJECT.

SPEECH CONTEST-  JACK KELLY took over to introduce the Annual Speech Contest and started by thanking all of his helpers in the project.

The first speaker was Cyndhia Ramatchandirane, a sophomore at Los Altos High School.  The title of her speech was "Knotty Ties."  Cyndhia is on the speech and debate team at LAHS and was accompanied by her father, Nadaradjane, and her HS Advisor, Robert Freeman.  Cyndhia spoke of her Indian heritage and the problems of moving into a new culture, particularly fitting in with other teenagers.

The next speaker was Jamie Gatewood, a senior at Alta Vista High School.  The title of her speech was "Future Turnaround."  Jamie was a "last minute" entrant and began preparing her speech the Monday before the contest.  She gave a moving account of the death of her father and the trials of her family coping with the future. 

Jack polled the astute judging crew (DICK HENNING, DENNIS YOUNG, BOO BUE), who agreed that the strengths, weaknesses & capabilities of both young ladies were virtually identical and agreed on a tie.  Both contestants were awarded the first place prize of $100 each.  The club representative for the Area level contest was decided by the flip of a coin.  The winner of the coin flip was Jamie Gatewood; we will continue to look for another club without a speaker, to adopt Cyndhia as their most excellent representative.

Further Announcements included:
TSUNAMI RELIEF FUND Joanna Medin, her daughter, Callie, son Alex, and our club president’s daughter, Hannah Luedtke, announced the fundraising for the Club’s Tsunami relief.  The kids sold Tsunami bracelets at school and in the neighborhood to raise money for our Club's tsunami relief fund.  Rotarians purchased bracelets at the table and were able to raise an additional $3,110 in less than 10 minutes.

The Black and White Ball of San Jose has committed to support Rotacare to the tune of $10,000.  In exchange, they are hoping to have some Rotarian volunteers from our club assist in their gala evening to be held on April 23rd.  Lets show the organizers our appreciation by showing up and pitching in.

FRIENDS OF RAP:   WHO IS A FRIEND OF RAP?  Anyone who wishes to assist  RAP  by making a donation to fund certain initiatives that RAP’s current budget can not now support.

WHAT DOES A F.O.R. GET? *A tax deduction* *A DVD of THE LOS ALTOS STORY on March 10^th*

*Satisfaction and pride in knowing that the F.O.R. has contributed to the ongoing growth and impact of the Rotary AIDS Project.*

WHAT ARE THESE INITIATIVES?  With the F.O.R. donations received so far, RAP was able to fund initiatives in Bangladesh ( 500 books distributed for District Conference) and Nepal ( translation of book into Nepali).

In addition to its ongoing distribution of the DVD and the book, HIV,HEALTH and Your Community, for which the current RAP budget allows, at its meeting on March 10^th the RAP board will prioritize the following initiatives based on the donations received by that date.

• Translation of the book – Russian
• Translation of the book – Chinese
• Translation ( subtitles ) of the DVD – Russian
• Translation ( subtitles ) of the DVD—Chinese
• Orphan education/care in Kenya, Uganda, South Africa

BECOME A FRIEND OF RAP TODAY!

Make checks payable to Rotary AIDS Project (a 501c3 corporation), indicate F.O.R. on the check,  mail to PO Box 794, Los Altos, CA 94023.

www.rotaryaidsproject.org

How Singing came to Rotary, (and Off-Color Jokes did not!) (from http://rotaryhistoryfellowship.org/leaders/ruggles/)

Almost everyone who is a member of a Rotary club for more than a year knows that Rotary member No. 5, Chicago printer Harry Ruggles, brought singing to Rotary meetings. What almost no one knows is why, and most don’t know how important it was to the life of Rotary.

Harry Ruggles was a very moral man. He detested off-color language, malicious innuendo and classless humor. He argued in club meetings for clean language. Little more than a year after Rotary had been formed, at an evening meeting in 1906, the guest speaker began a story. Having heard it before, Harry also had heard the off-color ending, and felt it was inappropriate for the club, so he jumped up in the middle of the joke and yelled, “Come on boys, let's sing!” He then led the club in the singing of “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”

This was not only the first time that members had ever sung in Rotary, but apparently, also the first time that a group of businessmen ever sang at a business meeting, anywhere. By his surprising actions at this evening meeting, Harry demonstrated that demeaning activities and off-color stories were not welcome at Rotary gatherings. “It was reported at the time that the would-be speaker was embarrassed and sore,” and so Harry Ruggles apologized, but the club backed him up. Right then and there, it was decided that all subsequent Rotary meetings should be conducted so that any woman could attend without being embarrassed. This has been the unwritten rule ever since, just as the tradition of singing has endured.

Dirty words were not the only controversy in the early days of Rotary. Oren Arnold, in The Golden Strand, revealed, "The time came, repeatedly, when Paul Harris was faced with failure; for one reason or another -- or for no real reason -- the club often was at the point of disbanding. On such critical occasions Harry stepped up front and shouted, 'Come on, fellows, let's sing!'

Was it the magic of Harry Ruggles and his music that worked? Was it his infectious enthusiasm for singing? Or, just maybe, some of the reasons for its use had more to do with easing barriers between men, and ending acrimonious discussions than a need for choral music.

History has proven that it was, and is, good magic for clubs anywhere, for families anywhere, for groups of people anywhere. Arnold continues, “After all, clubs are simply families; when they move in divergent paths, group singing often is the best way to reassemble them. Harry Ruggles knew that, hence the parent unit and the whole service club movement is indebted to him."

 From The Rotarian June 1938, Harry Ruggles is still standing on a chair and "singing." -  Wolfgang Ziegler