This Week's Program: 
Jan 18 - Jeanne Smith -- Exit Stage Right
 

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BEGINNINGS
JOANNE BYRNE, BOB RAYL and (if she made it), KELLY HUDSON were the smiling faces that greeted you as you arrived at the Garden House this cool, clear January afternoon.

Pres. SAM called the meeting to order at fifteen minutes past the hour with the announcement that he is now on the “down slope” of his Rotary year.  DUDE ANGIUS led us in the Pledge of Allegiance and MEG SOLERA helped us appreciate the Girl Scout campfire song where there was a lot of hand clapping, foot stomping and yelling associated with the singing.  It turned out to be a very “fitting” song for your later discussion of health and fitness.

BUD OLIVER provided the Thought for the Day with excerpts from a book entitled, The Art of Living.”  It encouraged us all to be a friend by treating others with respect, appreciation, tolerance, understanding, by forgiving mistakes, lifting others spirits, giving encouragement and setting an example of how others should be treated.  Wouldn’t this be a better world if everyone treated each other that way?  BUD encouraged all of us in Rotary to live life that way and that, in it, would be a big influence on others.

Pres-Elect JOHN MOSS introduced visiting Rotarians (today from Sonora, Bellevue WA, Mobile AL and India) and Rotarians with guest today included JOHN HAMBLIN, JACK HIGGINS, Mary MARLEY, Joanna MEDIN, Mary PROCHNOW, Julie ROSE, Cindy WEMYSS and Steve YARBROUGH.  That is a good example for the rest of us to share Rotary with others in our community.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pres. SAM encouraged everyone to pick up their 2006-07 Rotary Handbook.  He stated that BILL MOISON looks a lot like his brother JERRY in the book (not to mention in real life!), and SAM claims both names have JERRY’S picture affixed.  Additional copies are available, first come – first served, for the $25 cost of printing.

Pres. SAM shared letters received from Rotary (sharing annual reports of Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation) and the two children, burn center victims we supported in Chile. 

He also encouraged everyone to get his / her club pin, a lapel-type pin that is a tiny replica of our Los Altos Rotary Club flag.  It is true that anyone able to read the inscription definitely does not need to make an appointment with STEVE ANDERSON, SANDY BOZICH or SAM PESNER. 

DICK HENNING announced that a four-person Group Study Exchange (GSE) Team will be visiting from Buenos Aires, Argentina in early April.  DICK is looking for home stays for PAULA AULICINO (biochemist who works with children with HIV), MARIA GUTIERREZ (international relations), STELLA BUGGIANO (an architect) and EMILIANO CHIARELLI (an attorney).  If you are interested, let DICK know as soon as possible. 

JERRY TOMANEK encouraged members to participate in CERT classes (Community Emergency Response Training) classes beginning in February.  The four evenings and weekend time needed for the class would be for a good cause (both you and our community!).

MONA ARMISTEAD announced an event co-sponsored by Partners for New Generations and the Mountain View Los Altos Community Scholars called, “From High School to College.”  The event, to be held Feb. 2^nd from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the Youth Center behind City Hall, will cover, well, preparation for students making the transition from high school to college (what else did you think it would be about?). 

ROY LAVE  (trying to impersonate JANE REED), announced a hands-on trip to Merida, on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, by Los Altos and Palo Alto Rotarians to work on the new home for Projecto Itzaes.  Activities will include painting the interior and exterior walls, helping children paint murals and plant in new garden containers, help adults to build and learn how to use solar cookers, distribute clothing and other needed items (and any other worthwhile activity while there).  The cost is anticipated to be approx. $650 for airfare from Houston (TX) and $600 for lodging and some meals.   Speaking of handing out clothing, etc., is anyone willing and able to donate the following:  summer clothing (for adult and children); pens and paper; working computers; books in Spanish; toys, sports equipment, and cold hard cash.  If you’d like to know more about Projecto Itzaes, check out their website www.proyectoitzaesusa.org/. 

KATHRYN BERRY recruited members for our various committees that support our Rotary Scholarship program.  KATHY and LEE LYNCH will co-chair the process, but volunteers are needed to fill out the four sub-committees whose efforts benefit our local youth.  The first organizational meeting will be held before our Rotary meeting of Feb. 2^nd.  Let KATHY or LEE know of your interest in lending a hand

CINDY WEMYSS, our club Director of Community Service, thanked JERRY MOISON, TRACIE MURRAY and JOAN ROSSELLE for their stellar efforts to make the A Sante’ fundraiser event such a success.  Preliminary reports indicate $25-30,000 was raised.  CINDY also thanked the club for collectively gathering two truck loads of toys and approximately $400 in cash that were donated to our Community Services Agency for their kids’ holiday program. 

DAVID SMITH announced that the World Community Services Committee meeting of Jan 23^rd will need to be postponed to Jan 30^th.   (Same time and venue, evidently).

JACK HEIDMILLER announced the annual dinner for Los Altos Sister Cities will be held next Thursday, Jan 18^th at the Garden House beginning at 5:30 p.m.  As an additional incentive, CHEF CHU’s will be catering the event honoring the four sister cities of Los Altos.  A short meeting (can you believe only fifteen minutes!) after dinner will be followed by entertainment provided by the Foothill College Gospel Singers

JACK HIGGINS introduced the first “conversational” meeting of our Health Committee.  JOANNA MEDIN, in turn, introduced our two invited guests from the health field, NATALIA GABREA-TAJADA from Hiruko (Loyola Corners) and JUSTIN APPLEQUIST of the El Camino YMCA. 

NATALIA stated that some 75% of all diseases and health conditions are preventable, yet most of us haven’t a clue how to achieve that prevention.  She went on to inform us that it is not any one activity, but a balanced combination of activities that focus on circulatory, cardiovascular, lymphatic, digestive, nervous and respiratory systems.  She had us practice three breathing methods (no, not inhale, exhale, and hold your breath until you pass out!) as examples of how to use the respiratory system to influence health and relaxation.  First was breathing in deeply, and then very slowly breathing out until your lungs were empty.  Second, was breathing in, and then giving off a loud sigh.  The thirds, was to tune into your breathing during the remainder of the meeting and assuring that you are working your lungs with your breathing (not shallow breaths).  NATALIA announced the availability of a class on Qigong (pronounced “chee-gung”) beginning Feb 19^th at her Hiruko Center for Health.       

JUSTIN described how various programs at the YMCA assist people, especially those not accustomed to or able to participate in strenuous exercise, begin to get into a routine that promotes health and fitness. Through a gradual build-up of activities, and with the use of an occasional personal trainer and computer tracking of your progress, individuals are often surprised how quickly they can get into a active routine that stimulates overall fitness and good all around health. 

(I still like MEG SOLERA’s participation song at the beginning of our meeting for those of us not on a regular exercise program.  Please pass the S’Mores!  )

SPEAKER OF THE DAY
DICK HENNING (yes, you can’t keep him away from the microphone) introduced Past District 5170 Governor RON SEKKEL and his subject of the day, “Building Bridges to Rwanda.” 

Before beginning his topic, RON announced that our club was granted approx. 30 copies of the District 5170 Centennial Yearbook. The books will be available for sale at future meetings.

RON’s theme, based on activities to assist Rwandans, was how one individual can indeed make a difference, a huge difference.  He used examples of four separate individuals who were in or closely connected to Rwanda in 1994 when the genocide began between warring tribes.

Through unrelated efforts, the four were responsible for saving over 100,000 lives which is a tremendous difference if you realize over 800,000 people were killed in a little over 100 days of conflict. 

Through a cooperative effort with Assist International under the guidance of BOB PAGETT, the Scotts Valley Rotary Club and District 5170 has made a difference in Rwanda. They were able to deliver two monitoring units for an intensive care unit in a university hospital that up until that time had no equipment to help save lives.  The equipment was delivered and installed. People were trained how to utilize the equipment to monitor people with life threatening injuries or conditions.  It was the investment in time and caring by Assist International and Rotary that made a significant difference in the lives of many Rwandans. 

Often, it is the power of one that makes such a difference in the world.  First, one person has an idea or a passion or a cause.  The interest in helping others or making a difference is highly contagious and others begin to share that idea, that passion or that cause.  Soon a catalyst moves that idea, passion or cause into action that provides a benefit to those less fortunate or victims of some of the ugly atrocities of mankind.  If you remember RON SEKKEL’s examples of four people in Rwanda who cared enough to take action, putting themselves at tremendous risk, to save the lives of others (over 100,000 of them who had become victims in their own homeland!). 

Each time one or more of us reaches out to aid another less fortunate, we are using our time, talent and treasure to benefit someone not as fortunate and without the resources to help themselves.  The power of one can go a long way in improving our world.  Together, imagine how much more we can achieve!  Helping others help themselves is what Rotary is all about in my mind.  I hope it is in your mind as well.  If you have the time and talent, please put it to good use.  If you have the treasure, but lack time and talent, support our Rotary Foundation that, in turn, can provide the funds to work wonders in our world. 

RI PRESIDENTIAL DINNER, SAN JOSE CA

Webmaster's note:  The good news, and the bad news:  The good news is that we have a highly dedicated team of photographers lead by JERRY TOMANEK.  The bad news is that JERRY is away and he is the only one who knows how to fix pictures that may have the 'white balance' button stuck, or whatever happened to some of the pictures that our photographer took.  But take heart. Jerry will be back, soon I hope.  He will fix the pictures and we will update the copy of the ROTATOR is on the website EVENTUALLY.