Los Altos Rotary Club Home of the Annual Rotary Fine Art Show March 4 2010

The welcoming hands of JOE LOCONTE, JULIE ROSE, and FRANK VERLOT greeted Rotarians and guests on this clement Thursday afternoon as they waited to pay today’s luncheon fare with PP WYATT ALLEN.

After deciding whether to pay for the buffet or the salad, Rotarians looked for friends or interesting people who talk for their table selection.  My table started to fill with a masculine touch and no women Rotarians or guests but they were unusually quiet. Finally, PP LEN McBIRNEY started to talk about the surgery on his hand, PP BOO BUE kept eating while JERRY TOMANEK talked about the beautiful day we had this morning.

That vehement female voice was missing today, but PP ROY LAVE filling in for PRESIDENT TRACIE MURRAY opened the meeting on time. After the usual flag salute, JOHN SYLVESTER’S thought for the day concerned the astute sayings of Will Rogers. Being appropriate for the time, Rogers said, “The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf has,” and “I am not fond of politicians. Be thankful we are not getting everything we paid for. “
JEANNE MacVICAR, The song leader for the day offered the old favorite “Home On The Range” because Topeka, Kansas will be known as Google, Kansas during March.

Looking for visiting Rotarians, President Elect DENNIS YOUNG found Nick Leon from San Jose East Rotary and PDG Jim Warner from the Hawaii Rotary District. Visitors with guests included MARY MARLEY, VAL CARPENTER and DAVID BERGMAN.
Looking behind him at the Four Way Test, ROY said, “TRACIE selected me to be the president in charge today because she owes me. It all concerns the head table where no one wished to sit. But I changed that policy.”

Announcements:

• Visiting Rotarian Nick Leon first spoke concerning a young miss caught in Chile during the recent earthquake. Katherine Fong decided to stay there and help the people caught in the earthquake. Because of her valor, Leon is setting up a program to donate money in her name to Rotary District 5170 Chile Earthquake Fund. Nick said he personally would match the total of the Katherine Fong Fund.
• PP CINDY LUEDTKE spoke about the deplorable representation of Rotarians at the cioppino dinner next Friday night (March 12th) that benefits the “End Polio Campaign”. Even though a ticket is 100 % deductable (thanks to our generous sponsors), only 100 tickets to the event have been sold.  Out of those 100 tickets sold, only 25% are Rotarians out of a body of 170 Rotarians. “It’s all you can eat crab, prawns, clams and mussels in a slow-cooked red sauce.  The recipe is for 120 persons.  Reserve your spot before Tuesday, March 9th with Cindy (luedtkefam@aol.com), JERRY MOISON, or MATT CABOT and you too, can partake of this special event.
• MIKE ABRAMS brought attention to the 2nd annual Los Altos Live. The variety show is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., April 10 at Los Altos High School’s Eagle Theater. Proceeds benefit Los Altos High School programs.  If you think you've got talent, (or not) contact Mike for audition information.
  
• KAREN GREGURAS, a new member at PNG (Partners for New Generations), has taken over the work of Nancy Traficanti who retired. Karen will coordinate the elementary tutors work for PNG.  At this time she is looking for Rotarians willing to help second graders prepare for test taking at Castro School one day a week for six to eight weeks beginning March 8. Interested Rotarians should contact Karen at KarenGreguras@yahoo.com.
  
• PP STEVE ANDERSON thanked all the thirsty Rotarians who came to his wine tasting party last Friday night. Over 100 people signed up for the party but only 52 came and there was room for everyone to have a good time.  A good time was still had by all attended.
  
• BEVERLY TUCKER said a get-well card was being passed around to cheer up ex-Los Altos Rotarian and Past President KURT HAMMERSTROM who is battling cancer.
  
• JOHN SYLVESTER announced that all the lameo's that didn’t go to PP STEVE ANDERSON’S party have another opportunity on Friday March 26 to chill out at Beverly and STEVE SHEPHERD’S house at 465 Cavalier Court in Los Altos. Unfortunately, he cannot accept more than 100 revelers.
  
• FRANK VERLOT mentioned the Santa Clara County Commission on Art has under written free tickets to the Russian Art event. See Frank if you are interested.
  
• KATHY BERRY requested the 2010 Scholarship Committee meet in the back room after the meeting.
  PP DICK HENNING was pleased with the response to the visitors from Brazil for Rotary International. He has five responses to host the visitors. They will meet March 10th to set up an itinerary if you are interested in joining them.
  
• TOM LISTON said poker tournament time is back again. He mentioned the Sunnyvale Sunrise Rotary will be holding a tournament at the Main Street Café . Tom said it would be held a week from Saturday so we presume that is March 13.
  
• PP ROY LAVE was looking for a Russian translator for a Russian group in the area.  Please contact Roy if you or someone you know is interested.
• BILL PALMER announced that the PEG (Partners for Elder Generations committee will meet TOMORROW, Wednesday, 3/10 at noon also at the Main Street Café
• SEAN KELLY had an announcement, which I missed.  I can write just so fast.  Sorry.

Area Speech Contest:
JACK KELLY was prepared for the second level Area 10 Rotary speech contest. His only comment was, “turn off your cell phones and no applause until the speeches are over.”

The contest is open to all students approved by their high school and the purpose is to help youth progress in speech and debate in preparation for future leadership roles. The topic for the speech is the student’s choice, however the speech must show the practical application of all four points of the Rotary Four-Way Test. The speech may not be read verbatim, but notes may be used.

The Area 10 contest started with Speaker A without their name or the high school they attend. Most of speaker A’s content concerned the Haiti earthquake and orphans looking for their parents. The main points were easy to follow and all four points of the Four-way test were included in the speech. Notes were used to follow the content, but they did not distract from the speech. Comment was made that “the future of Rotary is in our hands and let us shout out that we care about life.”
Speaker B also spoke about the Haiti earthquake. With our help the poor families will benefit. We are bridging the gap between rich and poor with communal action. The speaker was relaxed and at ease and looked at the audience. The feeling was expressed that Rotary International can make a big change in the world and the future is in our hands. All four points of the Four-Way test were emphasized.

Before the awards were announced, each speaker’s name was revealed and spoke a few words about their personal life. The winner received a check for $200 and 2nd place received a check for $100.

Speaker A was Kathy of Huynh, of Silver Creek High of San Jose. Presently a volunteer at the library she would like to be a pediatrician when she grows up. She received the second place award.

Speaker B was Alshay Shrivastava, the winner who now goes deeper into the District Rotary Regional contest in April. In addition, he won $200 for first place.  He wishes to apply to Stanford University, but he is not definite on his life’s work. “I just want to be a decent human being,” he said.

Rotary Recognition:
Kurt Hueg, Chair of Recognition, was held off until after the speech contest, but he lost no time fining poor Rotarians.  He had another good day with numerous fines of Rotarians who hung around after the speech contest. Unfortunately he decreased the wallet contents of the following: