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June   9 - LAREF Annual Meeting & Art Show report

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[Webmaster's note:  Two-for-One:    Due to graduations, and a bunch of other things, we are presenting two Rotators for the price of one: ]

May 26th Rotator:  [STEVE YARBOROUGH]  PRESIDENT CINDY LUEDTKE rang the bell to start Scholarship Day at the Los Altos Rotary Club promptly on time to have some Rotary pride and fun.  RICH FISHER led the pledge and silver throated ALAN LAMBERT led us in song.

DAVE SMITH presented the thought for the day from a prayer he heard during his three-week sojourn in South Africa to visit a Rotary project school for the blind.  In essence, the thought was that Rotarians make others better by using their freedom.

President Elect MARLENE COWAN, who loves to tout our club as the third biggest, but most fun, introduced visiting Rotarians and Rotarians with guests.  Rotarians included visitors from India, Cupertino, and Columbus, Georgia.  Guests were many.

Bruce Keeps on Dancing  Rugged Rotarian BRUCE CANN just returned from Australia, where he went to see family and friends.  Bruce, who went skydiving on his 80^th birthday, has multiple myeloma.  He’s such a brave fighter that he inspires all of us.  As Bruce said, “Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we’re here, we might as well dance.”  Keep on dancin’ – yeah!  (BeeGees).

Kick Her Out! SANDI WHIPPLE reminded all that it’s time to pay for the annual kick out dinner for President Cindy.  Sandi was kind to report that you pay even if you don’t go, so go.

JOHN MOSS announced the Relay for Life event (see below), plus a new program at the Senior Center for disposing of unwanted medicines in an environmentally safe manner.  We don’t want drugs in the bay, so don’t flush them!  Bring them instead to the Los Altos Senior Center for safe disposal.  It's at 97 Hillview Ave., on June 6-10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Scholarship Event  Scholarship Committee Chair SHIV SHASTRI was both profound and professional in presenting the annual Rotary Student Awards Program.  A strong public speaker, Shiv pointed out that the scholarships given by Rotary make a lasting difference in the lives of the recipients and are an investment in the future of Rotary and the larger world.

Shiv advised that the funds raised at the annual art show provide the resources to make these investments in our youth.  He thanked the many Rotarians in our club who volunteer their time for the committee.

BAIDRA MURPHY, Director of Youth And Vocational Service, introduced Principal Arthur Harris who presented the Blach Intermediate School Award to Mary Reynolds and Edwin Jeng.  Mary is a superb athlete, scoring 20 of her team’s 36 points in the recent championship game.  “With Mary, it’s never about Mary, it’s about the other person,” Harris said.  “She could probably run the business of the classroom herself if needed.”  Harris said that Edwin has the “kind soul reflected in his music”  – appropriate for a first-chair violinist.

Brenda Dyckman, Egan Intermediate School principal, introduced Maureen McBirney and Daniel Moerner, both top students at Egan.  “Mo has a perfect 4.0 GPA,” she said.  “Thoughtful and unassuming, she’s about making others shine,” Dyckman said.  Math coordinator Laura Masauro presented the award to Daniel Moerner.  She said Daniel has great integrity and fantastic attention to detail – thus his 2^nd overall win at the recent math contest. “ He’s also a true gentleman,” she said.

Just before the presentation of the Rotary Scholarships, Rotarian Shiv made the following comments about the scholarship program.  “This is a very fulfilling role to play,” Shiv said of his participation as chair of the committee charged with naming the scholarship recipients.  “Today’s challenges for young people are perhaps even greater than in previous generations.  They are constantly barraged with many influences in their lives.  By making these awards, Shiv said, “we are standing behind the values and principles of commitment to community service.”  The reason these young people were chosen is because they 1) are dedicated to community service, 2) have demonstrated superior academic achievement (a min. 3.0 for consideration) and 3) financial need. 

Mountain View High School Principal Patricia Hyland presented the community Service Scholarships to Sheila Donovan, Daniel Slate, Kevin Stanek, Karisa Tang and Donna Vo.  Shiela is attending NYU.  Daniel will go to Stanford.  Kevin will attend USC.  Karisa will enroll at UCLA. Donna will attend UCLA. “These kids are resilient and represent all youth,” Principal Hyland said.

Los Altos High School Principal Wynne Satterwhite presented the awards to Wei-Wei Liu, Victor Ruelas and Matthew Weiden.  Wei-Wei will attend Stanford, Victor will go to Whitman, and Matthew will attend UCLA.  Each of the honorees was a top student in the class.  As Victor said, he studies not for the grades, but for the love of learning.  Rotarian Marlene Cowan presented Victor with the Charles Cowan Award for Science and Technology.

Mountain View Academy science teacher Jim Marxmiller presented the award to Andrew Nguyen.  His teacher said "Andrew  is vice president of the National Honor Society, and the Intel Computer Award Winner; he’s respected, diplomatic and will be a talented scientist."  Andrew will attend UC San Diego.

St. Francis High School guidance counselor Sherrie Tasnady presented the award to Rebecca Vu.  She said Rebecca combines talent with service.   Able to answer a “genius-style” math question, Rebecca was accepted at Yale, Cornell and all the UC’s, but chose to attend Stanford.

It will be a good future.

RELAY FOR LIFE walk-a-thon on June 25^th and 26^th.  Los Altos Rotary club has a team, and is still looking for walkers.  Apparently only 7 (out of 37) of you have gone to the website to sign-up as a walker.  Here is the information:  Go to the Los Altos Relay For Life website at:  http://www.losaltosrelay.com/.  Then, click on Click here to join or start a team!  .  then, agree to Waiver/Agreement clause, and click “I AGREE”.  Then you click on “Join a Team”, and then click on the drop down box to select the Rotary Team:  ROTARY RAMBLERS, click on “Continue”, and fill out the application form. 

Once that is completed, you have an opportunity to donate right then are there.  It is as simple as ordering something from Lands End, without picking the size and model, and color numbers.  Just fill in the amount, and your credit card information and you are signed up.

One thing. This is a fund raiser, so, surprise, surprise, you are expected to either/or/and solicit donations from your non walking friends, and family members.  I just happened to mention it at family dinner the other night and my daughter-in-law (just fresh off a Fund Raiser at Monclaire) offered to walk and solicit for the cause, so you never know. 

Another point: as a walker, you will be asked to set up an account to accumulate all of the donations that will be made in your name.  Be sure to do that.  That way you can keep track of your goal.  You than can send the donation URL to your friends and family.  You don’t have to collect checks or anything.  It couldn’t be easier. 

 If you are not a walker, you can use this same website to make your donation.

June 2nd Rotator:  [MARY PROCHNOW] 

A GATHERING OF EAGLES:  In recognition of his long commitment to PARTNERS FOR NEW GENERATIONS(PNG) Past President BOB ADAMS led the Pledge of Allegiance to open the very well-attended gathering.  KENDRA GJERSETH led an active version of "Beer Barrel Polka" in honor of the last month of her fellow Wisconsin native's reign as "Big Cheese".  STEVE SHEPHERD  gave the Thought for the Day.

PRESIDENT CINDY mentioned that we had received a "Presidential Citation" from the District at the recent DISTRICT CONFERENCE, as well as a patch for our CENTENNIAL PROJECT, which, of course, consisted of the tenant improvements at ROTACARE.

Past President BOB ADAMS returned to the podium to give the ROTARY MOMENT. BOB spoke of the joys of traveling for Rotary and particularly his own memories of meeting people in Guatemala who benefited from the Village Bank, selling chickens, women's lingerie etc.

President Elect MARLENE COWAN introduced visiting Rotarians from Cupertino and Columbus, Georgia, and Dr. Asokan, former District Governor from the most Southerly point of India.  Dr. Asokan will bring 'THE LOS ALTOS STORY'  back to India.  Our District Governor elect, ARLENE GREENBERG was also kind enough to join us as a guest.

FINING, RECOGNITION OR A FINE HOW DO YOU DO!  SHOSHANA ZIMMERMAN tried to get some of those fining numbers up among the low scoring group but several eluded her again with their absence.  Those who were available included CAREW MCFALL, BOB RAYL, BRIAN WARD, DON WITT, and BRUCE CANN,.  Volunteers were: soon to be first- time father MIKE CABOT, (and no one captured GRANDPA MATT!), PRESIDENT CINDY for this week's 25th wedding anniversary, SANDY BOZICH (ok, she didn't actually volunteer) for her Presidency of the Optometrist's Society, KELLY HUDSON, who is off on her third AIDS ride from San Francisco to LOS ANGELES this weekend (pedal, KELLY, pedal!) and PAST PRESIDENT JACK HEIDMILLER celebrating a son's wedding in Chile.

Volunteers are needed to sell Chef Chu's famous chicken salad at the Art and Wine Festival July ninth and tenth.  A sign-up sheet came around, and will come around again next week for your sign-up.  Please note, on all sign-up sheets that come to your table.  Look at them; sign-up if you want, and pass it on.  Don't let it get stuck at your table.

Past President WYATT ALLEN, now with First Republic Bank in Palo Alto, announced a special 2 for 1 offer that the District is making.  Make a donation to the Rotary Foundation before June 30 and the District will match your donation!  [Here is an insert from GINNY LEAR, LARC Rotary Foundation Chair:]

Rotary Foundation 1:1 Matching Gift Offer:  From now until June 30, 2005, District 5170 will match all individual donations to The Rotary Foundation Annual Programs Fund dollar for dollar!  For example, a $50 contribution from you becomes $100 from our club.  In three years, a portion of our club's total annual giving comes back to LARC as matching grants, to be decided by our club through World Community Service. 

Or, for $500, you can become a full Paul Harris Fellow, or give one to someone special.  If you wish to know how close you are to becoming a PHF, or to reaching the next level of Paul Harris giving, please contact Wyatt or me.  We both have the updated donor list from The Rotary Foundation office. 

Please make your checks payable to The Rotary Foundation and send or give them to me or to Wyatt before the June 30 deadline.  (VISA/MC is also an option.)  Wyatt will complete the Foundation paperwork and send it directly to them.  For newer members of the club, please ask questions if there is anything you want to know about this vital part of Rotary International.  There are answers at Rotary.org, or contact Wyatt or me. Your understanding is the key to your support.
Thank you,
Ginny Lear LARC Rotary Foundation Chair  vklear@los-altos.org
Wyatt Allen  LARC Rotary Foundation Liaison  wallen@firstrepublic.com

PARTNERS FOR NEW GENERATIONS  SANDIE WHIPPLE who, along with HINDA WEBER, chaired PNG this year, began the program by thanking The Community Foundation & ROY LAVE, The Packard Foundation & Nancy Glaze and LAREF for their support of the project.

PAST CHAIR and active member MARY MARLEY highlighted the group's busy year with lots of expansion of programs and an increase in volunteers.  The tutoring program has expanded into middle schools (MARTY SPANGLER could use some companion volunteers there) and the program has expanded to Whisman and Mountain View. MARY thanked Past Presidents DON HULL & BOB ADAMS for the Alta Vista basketball program. She thanked Bruce Barton and PAUL NYBERG for PNG coverage in the Town Crier. Honorary Rotarian LOIS ADAMS was recognized for working the booth at the Farmer's Market and kudos were sent along to CHUCK LINDAUER for having solved the data base problem and "web enabling" PNG.

A SUCCESS STORY  Oscar Garcia, a graduate of Los Altos High and UC Berkeley, now successful in the software industry, spoke on the value of tutoring.  Oscar is the only one of 10 siblings to attend College. When entering kindergarten, Oscar spoke only Spanish.  His parents still speak only Spanish and were unable to lend much assistance to him in his quest for education.  His first tutors were his teachers and then later his counselors and MESA (math, engineering and science) tutors.  U.C. outreach helped him prepare and apply for the U.C. system.  Oscar spoke and simultaneously demonstrated the power of tutoring!

TABLE TALK  Each table had a PNG member at the table who led a five minute discussion about the program.  Questions and ideas about the program were also welcomed.

THE DUAL VALUE OF TUTORING  Mountain View/ Whisman School District Teacher of the Year, Jody Maccini spoke on the strong bonds of trust and friendship which often develop between student and tutor, and how  she sees students often able to accomplish the work of two years in one year under the guidance of a tutor.  She talked off the enthusiasm of the students and the many students waiting for the help of a tutor. She asked that we enlist friends and neighbors in support of these willing students. Jody contends that the tutors will receive back much more than they give and tutors throughout the room agreed with her.

MENTORING PROGRAM  Mountain View Rotary President and Mountain View Police Captain Bruce Barsi, mentor along with Martin Fernandez, mentee, talked about the joys of the mentoring program. This is what started as the "out to lunch" program and involves as little as a couple of hours a month, to as much as it becomes.  All involved suggest that each of us might benefit from our own commitment to this fine PNG program.

BEND IT LIKE HERB AND CHRIS  HERB MARSHALL & CHRIS ELSON, as well as two of their ALTA VISTA soccer stars modeled the uniforms purchased for the soccer team by LAREF.  HERB & CHRIS obviously enjoy their coaching experience and are working to try to create a continuation school soccer league following the model of the basketball league begun by Past President BOB ADAMS. 

CLOSING REMARKS  MARY MARLEY closed the presentation thanking everyone involved one more time and asking each of us to consider tutoring and mentoring.

Have a wonderful week, enjoy the summer weather, now that winter seems finally to have passed. Make a difference; today's program offered many opportunities for doing so!

[Webmaster note #2:  This is Past President MARY PROCHNOW'S last Rotator for a while.  She is taking a sabatical from writing the Rotator.  All of us who have enjoyed her reporting and writing will miss her.  Thanks for your work.  

Which reminds me, we need more Rotator writers.  Please email me at Matt.Cabot@Gmail.com to express your interest.  A new season starts with President Elect Marlene loosing her "Elect" status.