Los Altos Rotary Club
Home of the Annual Rotary Fine Art Show
November 20, 2008
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Los Altos Rotary ClubHome of the Annual Rotary Fine Art ShowNovember 20, 2008 |
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| Writer: Jean Hollands - Photographer: Baidra Murphy - Editor: Cindy Luedtke |
This Thursday's Program: No Meeting.
Happy Thanksgiving
 Dec 4 2008 Dr. Art Ammann - World AIDS Day  |
On November 20, 2008, our president, SETH MANNING, called the meeting to
order. The greeters were DAVID SNOW and LOUIS BOREL. Photographer,
BAIDRA MURPHY, rotator writer, JEAN HOLLANDS, and Sergeant at Arms,
STEVE POMEROY presided over the day.
With a full house of attendance (eight in the outer table), the Pledge
of Allegiance was delivered by PAUL NYBERG.
For the Thought
for the Day, JOAN ROSSELLE reported on the tragedy with the loss of
three people when a recently terminated employee tried his own justice
system on the innocent neighbors of our community. She asked us to
put the victims in our thoughts and prayers.
The Song for the Day: JOHN
SYLVESTER led us in “God Bless America”.
Announcements:
Announcements were made by JOHN MOSS who reminded the club about
the Volunteer Awards Event featuring our own, PAT FARRELL and Dr.
Smithwick (one of the founders of Foothill College), on December 5 at
the Youth Center, ($25)
GINNY LEAR recounted her amazing story of her trip to the Ivory Coast
and about the many gifts the Rotary brings to those in need (Instead of
polio shots which were not available, the volunteers were able to
distribute Vitamin A shots and other medicines.) Ginny urged others to
take a trip like this and receive the gifts of giving themselves.
WYATT ALLEN presented the 5-Sapphire Paul Harris award to DAVID
DEMATTEIS for 5 years of wonderful contribution.
SAM PESNER reminded us about Foundation checks which are due and wishes
for 100% participation. JERRY TOMENAK shared the news about
make-up meetings on line and how for one half hour you are educated and
attendance served.
STEVE ANDERSON announced that Dr. John McEnany, a former president of
Mountain View Rotary during Steve’s term, died this week.
DAN O’DONNELL reminded us how simple and important it is to sign up for
RotoCare meal delivery.
DON WITT reported that the Los Altos Festival of the Lights will be
November 30 and Rotarians can meet in the Main Street Café and watch the
parade. FRANK VERLOT announced the World Community Service meeting and
NANCY SIMON reminded us about the Holiday Drive.
There were no visiting Rotarians but many club members introduced their
spouses today.
Recognitions:
Master: GINNY LEAR
Ginny’s theme was Thanksgiving and the Butter Ball Hotline. Before
questioning, many volunteers announced their special celebrations,
including PAUL SCHUTZ, with his lovely wife in attendance, his
anniversary, BONNIE BURDETT, service announcement, and WYATT ALLEN,
another anniversary. JOE CORRAL did not answer the correct answer
about the first turkey, but GINNY reminded him it was actually his
birthday date. JEANNE MACVICAR, with her husband, Duncan as a
guest, contributed for their anniversary. DAVID SMITH, answered
the Thanksgiving question and KAREN OWEN, also responded to the question
of “who wanted the Thanksgiving bird to be the Turkey—answer, Benjamin
Franklin.” Although JOHN MCDONNELL couldn’t quite answer the trivia
question, he graciously responded.
Speaker for the day:
JOHN DODSON, THE HISTORY AND MEANING OF
THANKSGIVING John, former minister of the Los Altos United Methodist Church,
currently living in Santa Cruz, presented a quiz on Thanksgiving and
most of the audience missed many of the questions, but enjoyed the
information. John shared that he is involved with the Institute of
Personal Transformation now, and that he is living a more authentic life
for himself. Then, after a few remarks, John looked at me,
Jean Hollands, and said I had urged him to throw away the speech and
talk his life.
With a deep pause, the beautiful, robust, much thinner John, deviated
from his prepared speech and spoke about the loss of his beloved wife,
Sue, three years ago. She died in a one-car accident on her way to
her favorite bell-ringers group. This happened after a wonderful
day with John, at a San Francisco Art Museum and then to their favorite
hamburger shop in San Francisco, and home with smiles on their faces.
John said goodbye and never saw Sue again.
When Sue died, John eventually decided he had to look at this tragedy as
a gift to him—to grow up, to grow, to be thankful and to be thankful
that now Sue rings her bells in the heavenly choir. John spoke
deeply and passionately, and at one point, when John questioned us on
what are you thankful for, or what do you think about your own personal
losses… there was not a sound in the room. Breathing seemed to
stand still. That quiet moment appeared to open the hearts of all
the participants, and a soft feeling touched most of those who were
transfixed by the questions.
John urged us to use every moment, to savor every friend, to open
ourselves to new adventures and to look at trauma and tragedy as a path
to a renewal that we seldom expect in that horrific moment of pain.
He reminded us about giving, and giving all you can, and of finding your
own way to be thankful.
The most difficult and wrenching claim that John made to us was, “I am
grateful Sue left me. I have come to learn that I had to grow up.
Every moment counts.” Those hard words were so courageously
offered that most of us felt uncomfortable and stunned. A brave
John shared his deepest, darkest, most inspiring thoughts and he closed
with “Do it now!”
I, Jean Hollands, would like to share an anecdote about John.
When my husband was diagnosed with Lymphoma many years ago, John knocked
on our front door moments after we came home with the diagnosis.
Now, Don Wuerflein, my husband, had been dragged to church and he
actually wasn’t impressed with the “little round man who hugged and
kissed everybody” and he groaned when he saw John at the door.
But, John bounced in the door, and then hugged Don, and then pronounced
to Don, “Don’t worry, Don. I am on your team!!!!!!”
That pronouncement carried Don for 12 more years. He would happily
tell anyone who listened, that John Dodson was on his team, and somehow,
that medicine, John, preceded the chemo and all the rest, in Don’s
personal belief about his recovery. br />
Now, John didn’t really see much of Don in the next 12 years, but he had
made the commitment, and Don accepted it.
At this meeting, John made the commitment again, to all of us. “I love
you. I urge you to be thankful. I am on your team.”
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