This was a day of visiting Rotary dignitaries with District Governor. DICK LOHMILLER (our speaker) and Assistant District Governor (Area 10 Representative) MIKE MANSCH joining us for lunch.  MIKE kicked off our meeting by leading us in the Pledge and JOHN McDONNELL, despite the gloomy weather, led us in a spirited rendition of “You Are My Sunshine.”  That turned out to be a false hope since the rains came on Friday night anyway!
 
SCOTT RICHES provided several thoughts of the day from quotes of several people who had various degrees of notoriety.  Among the thoughts were to avoid procrastination because tomorrow might be the busiest day of the year and avoid being a spectator since you’d get a lot less out of life watching it go by.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRONOUNCEMENTS
Our softball team is being formed to defend the honor of Los Altos Rotary on the baseball diamond.  Games are likely to be Monday evenings.  If interested in getting some extra exercise (not much) or extra fun (lots!), contact LARRY CHU.
 
The Rotary Ramblers, in conjunction with the Los Altos Community Foundation, raised a record $12,150 by participating in the Relay For Life in support of the American Cancer Society.  KENDRA GJERSETH gave a great big “Thank You!” to all that participated to help make that happen. 
 
KAILAS CHIDAMBARAM reminded us of the opportunity to support the Coaniquem Burned Children Center in Chile by either buying raffle tickets @ $10 each and/or attending the fundraising dinner in San Francisco on October 5th. 
 
Closer to home, NANCY DUNAWAY reminded everyone of the Red Badger fundraiser Sunday, Sept. 23rd.  A reception will be held at Borel Bank (thanks, STEVE FICK!) and then attendance at the Bus Barn presentation of , “A Chorus Line,” is to follow.  Tickets for the event are $75 and raffle tickets are $25 each (5 for $100). 
 
TRACIE MURRAY, continuing in the theme of support for important fundraising events, encouraged all members to consider supporting A’Sante!  by either donating a silent auction gift, buying raffle tickets and/or attending the wine and cuisine tasting event October 24th at $50 per person.  This multi-club fundraising event directly benefits the RotoCare Clinic at El Camino. 
 
JACK HIGGINS announced a Health Committee meeting immediately after the meeting.  Admittedly, this won’t reach our collective membership in time for this meeting, by those interested can attend the monthly meeting on the third Thursday of each month immediately following the membership meeting.
 
LEE LYNCH is the coordinator for ten-minute talks this Rotary year and encourages each of us to contact her regarding the scheduling of our talk.  As Pres. JOHN has encouraged, he would like to provide opportunities for members to get to know each other better and the ten-minute talks are a great vehicle to accomplish that.  Please let LEE know when you might be available.
 
Pres. JOHN reminded those in attendance to get their copy of the 2007-08 Member Directory, an abbreviated version that contains contact information for all members.   Every member has a directory with their name on it.
 
Partners For New Generations  involved several people in the announcements and invitation to participate including members MONA ARMISTEAD, JEANNE MacVICAR and CINDY LUEDTKE, as well as the principal David Pribyl from Graham Middle School and Jamie Antonio, a student from Alta Vista. 
 
Jamie spoke of his involvement in drugs and gang activity and his consideration of dropping out of school.  He thanked BOO BUE as his mentor and Susan Sweeley as his tutor for turning his life around.  He is now attending Foothill College, the first member of his family to attend college of any kind.  Here is living proof that Partners can make a huge difference in a young student’s life.  Jamie was headed toward a gang-tainted life of crime without much of an education and he is now proudly attending college to better his position in life.  His story is definitely a “feel good” result of the efforts of volunteers in tutoring and mentoring.
 
Suggestions for volunteering for Partners in the Middle schools as presented by David Pribyl included reading your favorite poem or book to those needing to learn the proper pronunciation of words in English, sharing in a book club with gifted students, or taking your Toastmasters skills to help in speech and debate.
 
JERRY TOMANEK suggested we mention the passing of KENNETH KAYE, a citizen of our community who gave a great deal to many organizations and a member in good standing with Los Altos Kiwanis.  The obituary in the Town Crier encouraged contributions to whatever cause we favor, typical for KEN.   JERRY plans to honor his life through a donation to LAREF and encouraged others who knew KEN to make a donation to the cause of their choice in KEN’s name as well.  Thanks for the suggestion, JERRY.
 
MEMBER INFORMATION and RECOGNITION
REZA KHAMNEIPUR, reportedly our youngest member, provided his ten-minute talk.  REZA began be saying his the time for his talk should be shorter since he is younger than everyone else in the club, only to run over this ten-minute allotment.  Born in Iran, raised in British Columbia, Canada and initiating a career in the United States, REZA is truly an international member of our club.  He recalled family reunions in the south of France and traveling in Spain spontaneously with a buddy from Santa Clara University.  He has initiated a career in a chiropractic practice in Sunnyvale and was introduced to our club by MARY MARLEY.  REZA is one of fourteen members who were born outside the United States.  Can you name the others (without looking at your member directory from last year)?
 
DENNIS YOUNG demonstrated why he is the chair of the Recognition Committee by creating four new members of Pres. JOHN’S Star Club and extracting almost $500 in fines including members REZA KHAMNEIPUR, ROY LAVE, DENNIS YOUNG (yes he included himself!), WYATT ALLEN, JERRY and BILL MOISON (equal treatment?), MEL KAHN, LARRY CHU, JR (something about how MEL counted his shots in golf?)., ROY JONES,  IRENE PRESTON (commercialism for sweet tooths), TIM BYRD, BONNIE BURDETT, and FRANK VERLOT (out newest member).  The club’s budget should be healthy thanks to DENNIS today.

Visiting his 42nd club since taking office July 1st, District Governor DICK LOHMILLER and his wife, KAY, met with our officers and board to learn of the status and plans of our Los Altos Rotary Club.  He shared two passions about Rotary with our members; the health of each club and the Rotary Foundation.  He named off a number of our club members who have given of their time, their experience and their assets for the benefit of Rotary. 
 
Admitting he might be singing to the choir, he encouraged everyone in “Share Rotary – Invest in the Future” by strengthening your own club through involvement, retention and recruitment.  He reminded us that the second year of membership is the most crucial in a person’s decision to either become more involved or leave Rotary.  He stated that a mentor assigned to a new member, not necessarily the person’s sponsor, is a good method to retain new members and get them involved in the club other than just attending lunch meetings.
 
He used the example of “A Field of Dreams,” the film where Kevin Costner builds a baseball park out of a corn field with the belief that if you build it, they will come.  If you have a strong club, you attract Rotarians who will be involved and contribute to the local and world-wide community.
 
His second passion is the Rotary Foundation and related a personal story where his nephew received life-saving treatment in Belize due to a Rotary sponsored project.  There are so many example of what Rotary provides and accomplishes for the benefit of others around the world with one of the biggest and most efficient foundations in the world.  The Foundation, after using the interest off the collected funds for three years to cover administrative costs, offers about half the funds as District designated funds and about half to the world fund for matching grants. 
 
His goal would be for every Rotarian to be a Double Sustainer ($200 donor) to the Rotary (Every Rotarian, Every Year).  Foundation every year.  For every $20 raffle ticket purchased this year for the Rotary Foundation, the District will offer one drawing ticket.  First prize is usually an all-expenses paid trip to the International Convention.  Since it is in Los Angeles this year, the prize is a week at the Hyatt Regency in Maui with round trip economy class airfare.  Second prize is a trip to San Jose, Costa Rica, to attend the Uniendo America Project Fair in January 2008.  Our own club’s goal is to encourage every member to participate in the annual Rotary Foundation to whatever level they can.  Three members stepped up for Double Sustainer before the end of the meeting: KAREN FOX, GINNY LEAR, and STEVE YARBROUGH.
 

DICK LOHMILLER assisted the Rotary Foundation Committee in recognizing the following club members for their generosity to the Rotary Foundation:  SHELLEY POTVIN for achieving her Paul Harris Fellow, JERRY MOISON for achieving a one sapphire pin ($2,000+) ROGER ENG, JOHN MOSS, and STEVE YARBROUGH for achieving a two sapphire pin ($3,000+), STEVE ANDERSON for achieving a three sapphire pin ($4,000+) and MONA ARMISTEAD for achieving a four sapphire pin ($5,000+).  Congratulations to each and every one of you and a tremendous Thank You! for your continued generosity toward the Rotary Foundation.