Los Altos Rotary Club Home of the Annual Rotary Fine Art Show May 7th 2009

President Seth started the meeting on the dot at 12:15.  This was Seth’s 43rd meeting.  It seems he has it all under control.  Not that we are counting, but there are only 53 days until a new regime is heralded in. 
 
The Thought for the Day was delivered by CHUCK LINDAUER.  His thought:  HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY.

Guests today were numerous.  We had a whole contingent of the Los Altos Kiwanis Club join us for lunch as guests of PE TRACIE MURRAY.  Kiwanis, as you know, run the very successful Pet Parade that ushers in our Rotary Fine Art Show on Saturday.  I am fully convinced that their popular Pet Parade contributes immensely to our success by bringing thousands of families to the downtown area, thereby exposing them to our goings-on.  So for that, Kiwanis, a big THANK YOU. 
 
It turns out that there is more to thank Kiwanis for, but more on that later. In addition to the eight Kiwanis, we had several guests of the club as well.  “Guests of the Club” generally means that they are potential members.  We should all welcome these guests and make them feel at home.  No one wants to come to a club of snobs.  At my table, Ron Packard was a guest and I learned from him that most Packards came from the same one individual who immigrated to America somewhere back in the 1600’s. 
 
Speaking of “Guests of the Club”, today Membership Chair, JOHN CARDOZA, introduced three new members to the club.  He read a brief resume of the three and asked sponsors to pin on the now famous Red Badge.  Just to remind you, new members are are singled out with Red Badges to remind us all that they are new, and important to the club.  The rest of us, Blue Badgers, are compelled to get to know each of the new members, and make them feel welcome.  They are the ones who bring new energy into the club, have visions of the future, and are eager to serve. 
 
Committee Chairs should look to recruiting them as willing contributors to your committee.  The next time I become Fine Master, I am going to test how well the Blue Badgers know the Red Badger at their table, so be forewarned. 
 
The new Red Badgers are: SCOTT CHASE, HEINZ HOLZAPFEL and WARD WILDINGER.  Sponsors are DAVID BERGMAN, SETH MANNING, and CINDY LUEDTKE respectively, although LEN MCBIRNEY, a long-time friend of the Wildanger Family, was a stand-in for CINDY at today’s meeting.  All were welcomed with a standing ovation.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  We had an unusually large selection of announcements.  DAVID BERGMAN had two:  1. On-Line signups for the Art Show are closed.  Please do not sign up for any more jobs, or change jobs for the Art Show using the on-line signup on our website.  Email David with any requests (hopefully none).  2. David needed 5 jobs filled. During the meeting, he got the jobs filled, so with David’s persistence (mostly) and the generosity of the rest of the club, all Art Show jobs are filled.  My standing ovation goes to David’s fine and hard work. 
 
PP SAM PESNER found a glimmer of hope in this gloomy economy by attending the Saratoga Art Show and reporting that they had over $400K in sales.  So by extension, we should have an excellent Art Show as well.  We have a better layout, thanks to our cartographer MARV PATTERSON.  And Sam should know.  He has been Art Show Director three times over.
 
I think it was FRANK VERLOT who mentioned that LOUIS BOREL was in the hospital but was expected to return home on Friday.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to him.  Just the other week, Louis was part of the food collection for CSA and the Gazebo gang helping make the gazebo presentable for the Art Show next weekend. 
 

MARY MARLEY reminds all Red Badgers about the Red Badge meeting coming up this coming Thursday at 6PM at First Republic Bank on San Antonio.  The question came up at the meeting about the use of the proceeds from the Art Show.  While we will get a full report in June, HERB MARSHALL (and I think PP and this year’s Art Show Director, SAM PESNER) will give the Red Badgers a preview of that distribution, and give them an opportunity to see the different programs within Los Altos Rotary that benefit from the Art Show proceeds. 
 
KENDRA GJERSETH also had two announcements.  First of all she put on (figuratively) the STEVE SHEPHERD golf hat and reminded us about the golf tournament.  Everything she said about it is on our website, so rather than repeat it I will just direct you to our website.  You can sign up for golf, dinner, or poker (or any combination).  Take a look at the flyer. 
 
Her 2nd announcement was about Relay for Life.  So far she only has 5 signups.  In as much as there are 24 hours in the race, she will need 19 more.  Go to the Club’s website to the Relay for Life article and sign up.  Also, there is a fellowship event on the 31st of May.  See our website for information about that as well.  Just so you know, the Relay for Life event is June 20th and 21st. 
STEVE POMEROY concluded the Art Show Sponsorship campaign with a resounding $11,000 in sponsors.  Be sure to acknowledge those sponsors with your business if you can. 
 
PP JACK HEIDMILLER, who is in charge of the shuttle people for the Art Show reminds everyone who is a driver to be sure their driver’s license is up to date. 
 
TRACIE MURRAY thanked everyone who joined her in the Challenge Ride last Saturday (you know, those with the orange shirts everywhere).  She also mentioned that she is counting the days until she is President. 
 
She also reminded everyone that the District Assembly is coming up and everyone should sign up. 
DAVE SMITH showed a short slide show showing Rotarians at work.  It fit nicely into the program of the day.

Take a look at the most recent District 5170 Newsletter here.   

FINEMASTER, DENNIS YOUNG filched quite a few pockets.  Those that “volunteered” were BILL PALMER turning 90 next week, MICHAEL STADLEN for his 42nd birthday (young, but only half as young as Bill).  Others fined were, MARY MARLEY, GEORGE STAFFORD, DAVID BERGMAN, JEAN (John) MORDO, HERB MARSHALL, TRACIE MURRAY, and the list goes on and on.  David Bergman ended up paying an additional $100 because he said it he could fill all 5 remaining slots, he would donate $100.  Well, not to be left out, our visiting Kiwanis took all 5 slots, costing Dave the $100, but at the same time, a strong sense of relief.

Turn around is fair play.  The Kiwanis need some help next Friday.  You probably already got an email from President Seth.  Take it as an opportunity to help a worthy cause.

PROGRAM BUD OLIVER introduced Professor Tom Nazario who spoke to us about his organization, The Forgotten International.  There was a short slide show showing some of the faces of poverty.  He said that there is a disproportionate number of women and children who live on less than $1 per day.  Please take time to look at their website at http://www.theforgottenintl.org.  (Just click on this link, and you will be directed to their site.) 
 
Professor Nazario mentioned that they do not want your money, but rather they want you to come with them to the poverty stricken countries of the world and serve the people.  He knows you will be blessed by your efforts.  There is much more information on their site. 
 

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