Greeters JERRY TOMANEK, KIM COPHER and REZA KHAMNEIPUR	Pledge leader, LARRY CHU	Thought for the day, Baidra Murphy
Song leader, JOHN MCDONNELL	Guest MTV Rotary, Judy Hannaman	Guest Bob from Greater Bend Rotary Club

Serendipity – Loosely defined as The art of finding something by looking for something else. MIKE ABRAMS spoke about it at our meeting this past Thursday.  More on his talk later.  But I too need to relate a serendipitous effect as well.  I say serendipity, because last week, there was another writer of the Rotator, and that person got sick.  Then I got another person to write the Rotator and that person did not show up, so it defaulted to me.  Now, I have an opportunity to tell you what really bugs me.

About a month ago, do you remember the brouhaha that overtook our TV newscasts about the seemingly tragic effects an oil spill in the bay had on some birds?  There were literally hours and hours of coverage ad nauseum about the ‘poor birds’, and the army of wonderfully dedicated volunteers who attempted to save the lives of these woeful birds.  From what I can tell, we have too many sea-gulls anyway, but that is a topic for another time.

Then the other night Jay Leno had a guest who went around Africa saving chimpanzees from something. 
Now, here’s what is bugging me.  Did anyone else wonder if all of that effort either for the birds, or for the chimps would have better been spent in an effort to help children of AIDS, children in poverty or neglected or abused children?  I guess it just isn’t ‘sexy’ enough to get much attention of our press or our neighbors.  I know there is a writer’s strike on, but maybe Jay’s wife, Mavis would have been a better guest.
But the real truth is that lots of people are helping people in need.  We just don’t hear about it very often.  We have our WCS, and the fine work they are doing, and of course our speaker today, Bud MacKenzie is a good example.  While we don’t hear about it very often in the news, efforts are going on all around us.  I feel better now.  If this isn’t serendipity, I don’t know what is. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS  -  The Ying and the Yang.  It was announced that sadly, KATIE NUTTER has resigned as Art Show Director, but happily JERRY MOISEN has agreed to take on the project.  Jerry was Art Show director 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.  So experience he has.  Now, all he needs is VOLUNTEERS to step up and help fill the enormous gap that Katie left.
There will be a meeting of Art Show Committee soon and one very important position yet to fill is volunteer coordinator.

Here's an email from Jerry:

The 1st meeting for the 2008 Rotary Art Show is scheduled for 8:00am on Wednesday February 20th in my offices at 350 2nd Street, Suite 7. If you are a "Chairperson", we need you there. If you would like to assist in the initial plans, we would love to see you here.

This is Rotaries biggest annual fund raiser, by far. It only gets done with your help. We have a fun time and the reward is putting on one of the best events in Los Altos every year. If you want to get involved at Rotary and meet the "shakers" in our Club, this is your opportunity.

Lots of people doing just a little, gets it done!

Jerry Moison
Chairman

And, an email from PP GINNY LEAR:

President John announced that the District Conference is April 11, 12 and 13.  That may seem like a long way off, but because Cirque de Soleil is performing as one of the entertainment slots on Saturday, April 12, tickets for that will probably go fast.  Check the District Website for more information.  It wasn’t there at press time, but do check frequently and sign up on line.  Don’t be disappointed.  There are probably only 400-500 reservations accepted.  Incidentally, as good as Cirque de Soleil is, I think you will enjoy the rest of the conference as well. 
PP STEVE ANDERSON pointed out that we will have a joint Los Altos Rotary vs. Mountain View Rotary Poker Tournament on Friday night, February 29th right here at the Garden House.  So maybe we have home court advantage?   Steve talked about a clipboard.  Maybe, just maybe, we can get him to set up an online sign-up.  He’s secretary, right?

10 MINUTE TALK - Red Badger MIKE ABRAMS introduced himself to the club today using “Serendipity” as a theme.  He spoke of going on a blind date.  Actually he said it was his last blind date.  I’m not sure what he was looking for, but he found a wife.  He and his wife spent four years in Hong Kong where he got involved in man-made diamonds.  Along the way he was involved with the French Secret Service and some guy named One-Ball something.  They (he and his wife, not One-Ball) ended up in Qualalampur for a while.  He finished his talk by saying that we should not allow his wife to play poker with us.  I am not sure this was partly due to the One-ball story, or something else. (My notes are sketchy on this point.)

RECOGNITION  DENNIS YOUNG took over the podium as Fine master, and collected a record amount from a record number of people.  Twenty two people from my count.  Most people had little to say at this whirlwind attempt to fleece the group.  However, Jerry offered one comment that will be omitted from this document because underage people (even younger than HERBIE MARSHALL) might get a hold of it.

RED TO BLUE Scott Fleming has successfully completed all of the requirements of a Blue Badge and was awarded it Thursday in recognition of his efforts.  He was greeted with a rare standing ovation.  His interests include Partners for New Generations and the newly set up Partners for Elder Generations. 

SPEAKER PRESENTATION - Our intrepid traveler, Allart Ligtenberg introduced our speaker for PE SETH MANNING who was out today.  This, by the way, is the second part of my serendipity event.  Our speaker was Bud MacKenzie, who has quite a resume.  About five years ago he got interested in Afghanistan because of an article in Parade Magazine by Gary Mortenson.  Eventually he contacted Gary and Gary sent him on this quest to build a school in a village in Afghanistan.

 
He had also heard of our DOUG FRANCO’s Paintbrush Diplomacy and was intrigued in the impact that art has on bringing peoples together.  Bud also mentioned the tremendous effect the book entitled “End of Poverty” The End of Poverty by Jeffery Sachs had on him.  He highly recommends that book.  Take a look at the link above.
Bud finished his talk by encouraging all of us, particularly the baby boomers to address this vital need with our hearts and talent.  He encouraged all of us to “GET ON A PLANE.”

 
MacKenzie is in the process of developing a website that should facilitate this.  It is called BoomerCorps.org and can be found here:  BoomerCorps.  His other endeavor is called Trust In Education, or http://www.trustineducation.org.  You can read more of Bud MacKenzie story at: http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/news/headlines/2006internatldevconf-challengeseducationpanel.shtml  As you can see, I had nothing to be upset about after all.