Los Altos Rotary Club eNewsletter "Rotator"

Los Altos Rotary Club

Home of the Annual Rotary Fine Art Show

May 13 2010

Writer: Jean Newton Fraguglia - Photographer: Randy Gard - Editor: Cindy Luedtke

This Thursday's Program: May 20 2010 Lois Adams
PNG Appreciation Lunch

President TRACIE MURRAY called the meeting to order with her usual greeting of “Good Afternoon Los Altos Rotary” and JOANNE KAVALARIS led the Pledge of Allegiance.

TRACIE thanked Greeters JOANNA MEDIN, VON PACKARD and LEN McBIRNEY; photographer RANDY GARD, Sergeant at Arms STEVE POMEROY and MIKE ABRAMS, and cashier WYATT ALLEN.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

SHAWN KELLEY told us that on this day 25 years ago he was at Fort Dixon in boot camp at the age of 18 and proudly served in the military during peace and war for seven years. He likes to share memories of the places and people he served with by telling stories that he says his wife rolls her eyes at because she has heard them so often. But, citing Barak Obama, who said that the stories of veterans demand to be told as they represent generations of heroes, Shawn asked us to listen the next time a veteran tells a story because it represents what our country stands for, that our founding principles shine and countries around the world know freedom.

CLYDE NOEL led the song with a rendition of a tune from Sound of the Music that Julie Andrews sang for an elder crowd at Radio City Hall. Well, the joints might be aching, and the hips breaking, but “Then I remember the great life I’ve had, and then I don’t feel so bad.”

VISITING ROTARIANS
President Elect DENNIS YOUNG asked visiting Rotarians to stand. Two former Los Altos Rotarians, now from the great state of Arizona, are in town visiting just in time for the art show. Dick Hasenpflug is a member of Scottsdale Rotary and his bride, Katie Nutter Hasenpflug, belongs to Phoenix Rotary. Welcome back!

AND GUESTS
SAM HARDING introduced his son Dan; MARLENE COWAN introduced her two children, Katie and Chris; DENNIS YOUNG introduced his partner at Young Craig & Company and President TRACIE introduced Jeanne Scherer, who is BILLY RUSSELL’S daughter.

FOUNDATION PRESENTATION
WYATT ALLEN and SAM PESNER passed out a bunch of pins in recognition of contributions to the Rotary Foundation that helps others locally and around the world. As one of the largest scholarship foundations in the world, it was appropriate to honor donors today for the annual scholarship meeting. Receiving first time recognition as Paul Harris Fellows were BONNIE BURDETT, JEANNE MACVICAR, ROLAND PAYNE, DAVID SMITH, DAVE SNOW, and SANDIE WHIPPLE for their $1,000 gifts.

At the $2,000 level were RICH CASEY, COETA CHAMBERS, JOANNE KAVALARIS, TOM LISTON, and CAREW MCFALL.

JOHN SYLVESTER, SAM PESNER and JEAN NEWTON FRAGUGLIA were at the $3,000 level; DAVID DEMATTEIS is at the $5,000 level along with CINDY LUEDTKE, who was not present to receive her pin.

Jean Newton-Fraguglia and President Tracie Murray

MONA ARMISTEAD received two rubies for her contribution in excess of $5,000.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
President TRACIE said the Kiwanis Club would love to have us join them to help out for their Special Olympics Day on May 21st at De Anza College.

PP SETH MANNING announced that a transition and Kickout meeting would be held right after the meeting.

JEAN MORDO announced that raffle tickets were for sale to benefit the WCS project in Haiti, and his lovely wife, Barbara, was selling them. Top prize is a trip to Club Med in Ixtapa, second prize is a two-night stay at Meadowood in Napa, and the third prize, just donated by DICK HENNING, is two tickets to the popular Celebrity Forum series. Jean also needs help selling tickets at the art show.

JOHN SYLVESTER reminded us that a wine and cheese party will be held at DAVID SMITH’s house on May 21 and said that he was holding lessons after the meeting in the art of gesturing with smoothness and elegance instead of the herky jerky imitation last week.

MARY PROCHNOW on behalf of BAIDRA MURPHY who was out real estating announced that there would be a red badge meeting at the Met Life building at 6:00 p.m.

JACK HEIDMILLER announced that there was a need for shuttle drivers on Saturday from 4:30 to 7:40 p.m.

STEVE POMEROY and SAM PESNER, donned silly hats to talk about the art show and thank everyone for participating. It’s going to be a great weekend to raise a lot of money. See you there!

MONA ARMISTEAD and STEVE SHEPHERD announced the Golf, BBQ and Poker event on June 4th saying it’s not too late to sign up yet, even if you don’t know anything about golf or indexes. So far 35 players are ready to tee off but there is room for more. Past multiple winner, MONA ARMISTEAD, will be out of town, so this is a chance for another woman golfer to claim the women’s trophy or it may end up going to MEL KAHN or STEVE ANDERSON this year.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Today’s meeting featured the scholarship winners and it was a great day to honor the scholars and their parents, friends and supporters who were in attendance. Since the proceeds from the Art Show go to scholarships as well as other community and international projects, everyone was encouraged to come to the show. Pres TRACIE introduced scholarship chair KATHY BERRY and she introduced her committee consisting of STEVE GRUBER, SHIV SHASTRI, JOE CORRAL, MATT CABOT, VAL CARPENTER, JOANNE KAVALARIS, MARLENE COWAN and those who interviewed the students PHIL ROSE, JOE CORRAL, SETH MANNING, and KAREN GREGURIS.

KATHY also introduced the scholarship committee: MATT CABOT, BOB ADAMS, VALERIE CARPENTER, JOANNE KAVALARIS, MARLENE COWAN, and SHIV SHASTRI. Kathy also acknowledged CAREW MCFALL who volunteers every year but couldn’t make it this year. To augment the presentation, a slide show was created by KATHY BERRY, PHIL ROSE, JERRY TOMANEK, and STEVE GRUBER.

Kathy said the theme for this year was “Dreams, Achievement, and Success” and told the students that Los Altos Rotary Club believed in them and was thrilled to help them get to college. She introduced JOE CORRAL who presented four Rotary Outstanding Student Awards.

ROTARY OUTSTANDING STUDENT AWARDS

Leslie Crane - Principal, Blach Junior High School - Meghan McDermott and Keenan Zucker

Leslie Crane, Principal at Blach Junior High, introduced two award winners by saying she was proud to recognize Blach’s “Best of the Best”: Meghan McDermott and Keenan Zucker. Adjectives to describe Keenan included “cool calm, collected, integrity, kindness and easy going manner. For Meghan it was “academic cheerleader, organized, and she makes us better people. “

Brenda Dyckman - Principal, Egan Junior High School - Zach Gospe and Amanda McFarland

Egan Junior High School Principal Brenda Dyckman said it was her 18th year in presenting outstanding students to the club. This year she introduced Zach Gospe and Amanda McFarland. Amanda loves sports, and is friendly, super positive and has a good sense of humor. Zach sets a standard where recycling is a dominate theme and is happy, engaging, and thoughtful.

LOS ALTOS ROTARY ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
VAL CARPENTER introduced the academic scholarship awards and said that the criteria for high school scholarships was significant community service, at least a 3.0 grade point average and demonstrated financial need. Scholarships include $800 for those who will attend junior college and $2500 for those attending a four-year college. A total of $21,000 will be distributed.

Tommy Mouton, Senior Advisor Alta Vista High School, with - Briana Morton and Rachel Kolyer

Tommy Mouton, senior advisor at Alta Vista High School thanked the Rotary Club for “all you do and for giving them an outlet and support to have their dreams met.” He introduced Rachel Kolyer and Briana Morton and told them he was very proud of them for facing adversity and overcoming it. He knows they will do well at college.

Los Altos High School: Juan Arizmendi, Yessenia Moreno, Jessica Rodriguex, and Tania Peralta

Los Altos High School Assistant Principal, Cristy Dawson introduced her students Kimberlly Araracap, Juan Arizmendi, Jose Ricardo Mata, Yessenia Moreno, Tania Peralta, Jessica Rodriguex, and Wing Man Yip. She said it was an honor to represent the best high school in the universe and that these students were at the pinnacle, but parents and the community were also part of the equation. Kimberly and Jason will attend San Jose State, Jose was not present, Yessenia will attend Foothill College, Tania will study nursing at San Francisco State University, Wing Man Yip plans to study business in college and Jessica had not yet decided where she will attend.

Saint Francis High School: Fiammetta Dizon and Anna Pan

PHIL ROSE introduced St. Francis High School Guidance Counselor Sherri Tasnady, who acknowledged students Fiammetta Dizon and Anna Pan. Fiammetta has been accepted at St. Mary’s, while Anna has been accepted at many colleges but is not sure yet where she will study English and environmental studies.

PHIL ROSE announced the special scholarship category and said Donna Peltz, Assistant Principal at Mountain View High School, would introduce each of her students.

CHARLES COWAN SCHOLARSHIP FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Donna Peltz, Asst. Principal MVHS with Olivia Olmos - Cowan Scholarship for Science and Technology

JOANNE KAVALARIS presented this special award given annually by MARLENE COWAN in memory of her late husband Charles who was a chemical and nuclear engineer and believed in education, patriotism, was an Eagle Scout, coached many sports teams and developed nuclear rectors for energy on earth and in space. The recipient of this year’s award is Olivia Olmos who will attend UC Davis.

LEE LYNCH SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

Karla Alarcon - Lee Lynch Scholarship with Donna Peltz, Assistant Principal MVHS

PP SETH MANNING introduced the Lee Lynch Scholarship by describing Lee as having a huge heart, hardworking and dedicated. A former Mayor of Los Altos, Lee loved the community and service and wanted others to be able to do the same.

The winner of the Lee Lynch Scholarship was Karla Alarcon and she will attend St. Mary’s College.

BILLY RUSSELL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
Billy’s daughter Jeanne Scherer acknowledged TRACIE MURRAY, recognizing her as a strong leader and said she knew Billy was watching with pride from above during her year as president. She described her father as someone who would give his heart and soul to anyone in need so she was pleased to honor a well-rounded student. Recipient Kevin McKee was not in attendance because he was taking an AP test, but was accepted at both Harvard and Princeton and chose Princeton for college.

PHIL ROSE told the students that dreams can come true with hard work and congratulated them all for their efforts.

Before TRACIE adjourned the meeting, she encouraged the students to join either Interact or Rotaract and said she hoped they would all become Rotarians one day.
The meeting was adjourned.