Next Week's Program: 
Don Kassing - SJSU President
 

Upcoming Events:
11/17  Judge Len Edwards

11/17  • LARC Board:  Heritage Bank Community Room, 369 S. San Antonio Road 3:00 - 5:00 pm (revised)
11/24 THANKSGIVING (no meeting)

December:  1st:
   • RAP program
   • LAREF:  2570 W. El Camino
     Real Suite 400 MTV  5:15 PM

December 19th:
  Holiday Party

See our Calendar for all of the important dates.

To see Neighboring Club meetings go to Clubs

To our Website

To District 5170

A hearty “Arigato!” for Past President, Roy Lave.    Roy stood in for President Marlene while she is enjoying the serenity of Mount Fuji and its surroundings in Japan.  Roy has a way of making this presidential stuff look easy.

He invited Mona Armistead, who is a Paul Harris Fellow, to open the meeting by joining her in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Mona did so with grace and style.

Next, Poo-Bah-In-Waiting, Sam Pesner welcomed Rotarians with guests, of which there were many, as usual.  President-Elect Sam advised that next week’s program will feature the President of San Jose State University.

Sam Harding,   who is in charge of this year’s Rotary Foundation drive, accepted Sam’s check as the first of many club members will offer in support of the Foundation.  As all of you should know, the goal is 100 percent participation, so send your checks in the amount of $200 to Sam so you don’t get your arm twisted by his henchmen. The Rotary Foundation is the basis for all the good works that Rotary does in the world, so everyone should make an annual contribution.

Shelly Potvin reminded everyone about the Los Altos Police Department program for emergency preparedness, CERT, which starts this weekend.

Boo Bue   presented the thought for the day.  Nobody was sure what Boo was doing until the end of a five-minute monologue about a man named George that Boo knows who became the handball champion of the mid-western world.  Turns out the man only had one arm and was able to beat Boo handily.  George reminded Boo after his defeat, “It’s not what you have in life that counts, it’s what you do with what you have in life that counts.”  By the way,  Boo is both a Paul Harris Fellow and a Guy Shoup Fellow.

The Rotary Handbooks are available for pick up at the meeting.  Acting president Roy reminded everyone, very gently, that the information in the handbook is for each member’s personal use for Rotary purposes only.  You may not use it as a mailing list for your birthday party (or any commercial purpose)!

Membership Chair, Larry Chu, Jr.,   welcomed new Blue Badger, Sandra Bozich, sponsored by Marlis McAlister.  Sandy said she was not going to reprise her famous five-minute talk with the possum fur warmers.  She did say she was enthused about Rotary and looking forward to doing some good in the world.  Welcome Sandy!

Jeanne MacVicar    served as “Funmaster” today.  She playfully picked the pockets of Dude Angius, Joe Coral, Mike Cabot, Joanna Medin, Marlis McAlister, Al Lambert, Bob Adams, Dick Haspenflug, David Smith, Bo Kearns, Julie Rose, Sandy Bozich, Seth Manning  and Steve Shepherd.  We all learned some useless factoids during the process. 

Stand-in, Roy, reminded Rotarians to return next week with their voter registration stubs just in case the next fine master wants to see proof of participation in the electoral process.

Asante! The fundraiser for Rotacare is set for tonight! Be there!

ED SOX, former LARC member now residing in Oceanside, is reported to have undergone surgery for cancer.  This is Ed’s third bout with the colon disease and his prognosis is said to be good.  Please send you thoughts and prayers to Ed and family.  You can reach him directly at:

Ed Sox
Kaiser Medical
4647 Zeon St
San Diego, CA 92120
Hospital 619-528-5000 (for about a week)
Home 760-724-1101

The speaker for today was Los Altos Rotarian,   Karen Fox.  Karen is an expert in marketing for social causes in the non-profit sector.  A Fullbright lecturer, with degrees from Stanford and Northwestern, Karen is the author of several books on marketing.  She also is an expert on the Soviet Union.  She does not work for the CIA.  Her topic was the Soviet Public Health System and Health Problems Today in Russia.

Karen informed the group that the Soviet Union had several advantages in health – among them, they had determined that everyone in the Soviet Union, without exception, would receive free health care.  Unfortunately, the reality was far different.  The quality of health care workers – doctors and nurses – failed to keep pace with the needs of the system.  Peasants were accepted into medical schools, but professionals were not.  This produced a lower than ideal level of care providers.

The Soviets constructed many clinics and hospitals, but failed to provide them with equipment necessary to adequately do the job of providing health care.  For example, 30 percent of Soviet hospitals lack running water.

Karen    said the Soviets tried to shape health behavior through scare tactics, a process of coercion and mobilization.  They were successful in wiping out typhus with this approach.  They burned people’s clothes and houses in the process.

The Soviets tried to influence public behavior through information and coercion.  They fought against alcoholism and smoking with posters using these same techniques.   Karen described Gorbachev’s anti-alcohol campaign which utilized posters comparing drinking deaths to the atomic bomb deaths at Hiroshima – the 12 Hiroshima’s.

Later, the Soviets reversed the approach and garnered better success.  But in a country where beer is viewed as a soft drink, it’s a battle that has not been won.

Karen discussed the Russian campaign against smoking, which began with Lenin in the 1930’s. In Russia today, more than 70 percent of men 30 percent of women smoke.

One in 1,000 Russians have tuberculosis.

One million Russians are infected with HIV/AIDS. 

Karen’s talk showed that there is much work to be done for Rotarians in the world.  She graciously fielded many questions from Rotarians after her talk.  Thanks to Karen for a very informational and professional presentation.

[webmaster's note:  Last week we credited Mike Harrigan for the fine photographs - It was in reality JERRY TOMANEK's fine work.  Sorry, Jerry.  Mike was the photographer for today.]