Today’s Veteran’s Week meeting began with Veteran, PAUL NYBERG, leading the club in the Pledge.  We then gave our regards to Broadway, led in song by JOHN SYLVESTER.  JERRY TOMANEK reminded all of us about hope, and recited part of the Emily Dickinson poem, “Hope”:

 
“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all---”

We had a plethora of announcements this week:
 
-        PRES JOHN will be out on the 15th, so our meeting will be led by PP SAM PESNER.   We’re sure to hear at least one good ‘story.’
-        This month’s BOD meeting is on Tuesday, one day early, 7:30 AM at the First Republic Bank’s Community Room.  Use the rear entrance on Lyell.
-        Flu shots will be administered next week, November 15th, starting at 11:30 AM, for $25 per person.
-        Rotary has a trip to Costa Rica organized for Jan.19-27, 2008. See PRES JOHN for more info.
-        The Los Altos School District Community Finance Advisory Board is looking for a Rotarian to volunteer their time and advice.
-        JEANNE MACVICAR reminded us that Partners for New Generations (PNG) needs our help.  There are opportunities for tutors and mentors and local schools from elementary to Jr. High to High School. If you can contribute – please see a PNG member.
-        Hot off the press! JULIE ROSE unveiled the latest Chamber of Commerce Guide and Business Directory, cover photo by our very own JERRY TOMANEK.

-        DON WITT announced the Festival of Lights Parade, which will be on Sunday, November 25th at 7pm.  Rotarians will gather at Main Street Café as early as 5pm to enjoy fellowship, dinner, and get a good seat for the festivities.  Oh! And our very own Santa will be there making his list---
-        JACK HIGGINS announced that an effort for Dominican Republic hurricane relief has been formed.  Donations are being accepted – please make your checks payable to “CAREL or John Katz”.
-        PP MARLENE COWAN announced that the Rotary Singles Fellowship has officially been accepted by RI and is now an international fellowship.
-        PP MARLENE also reported back from the STRS weekend workshop and presented three club members who attended and received their leadership certification: PAT GRAY, DAVID SMITH, and yours truly, KENDRA GJERSETH.
 

Our 10-minute talk today was given by RICH CASEY, who really raised the bar with visual aids!  Some of the highlights include fellow Rotarians that have been in Rich’s life including PP MARY PROCHNOW, JERRY TOMANEK, BONNIE BURDETT, and PP MEL KAHN.  RICH had an impressive career in Pharmaceuticals and in honor of his talk, became a Paul Harris Fellow.  Congrats, RICH!
 
Fine master, PP SAM HARDING, had an effective technique. He had a number of people stand and await their fate. Then when it was their turn on the mike, they had to give their best excuse as to why they had not joined the President’s Club yet. DAVID BERGMEN opted to join rather than think of a reason why not to.  JEANNE MACVICAR announced her first grandchild was arriving in January.  KIM COPHER’s husband sold his start up and cleaned up, so he will reimburse her for the $50 she pitched in.  SHELLY POTVIN, new mom, hadn’t slept in 84 nights, so got a half-price deal!  DAVID DEMATTEIS had no excuse.  JERRY TOMANEK only agreed to $49 now so he could talk to us again in a few weeks. (Writer notes: JERRY should pay extra since his hard-to-spell name is in the Rotator a total of four times).  DON WITT’s daughter needs new shoes!  JACK HIGGINS and DICK HASENFLUG joined the fun and gave their share.  MARY MARLEY needs lunch money, so got a deal. And with the winning excuse--- KURT HUEG--- the dog ate his homework!  KURT, shouldn’t he have eaten your checkbook to make this excuse work?
 
Our program speaker was introduced by PP GINNY LEAR. Veteran, Patricia Matthews, served in the US Air Force and now represents the hard work and dedication at the Palo Alto VA Hospital.  Palo Alto is one of four regional Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Lead Rehabilitation Centers in the United States; the other three are in Minneapolis, MN, Richmond, VA, and Tampa, FL.  Patients at these centers are treated for injuries including TBI, amputation, blindness, auditory disorders, and mental health concerns.
 
Ms. Matthews presented a video, originally televised on CNN, which featured two Iraq War veterans. These two men are rehabilitating from injuries they received while serving in Iraq. They both had traumatic brain injuries.  Ms. Matthews explained that soldiers returning home may appear to be normal, but really they have scars within. Some of these disorders don’t become apparent for months after their return home. She urged us all to our part and be sensitive to these disorders. Regardless of our political views or stance on the war, we should support these veterans and victims in any way we can.