Los Altos Rotary Club Home of the Annual Rotary Fine Art Show June 23, 2011

After several sweltering days the weather became comfortable again and walking into the Garden House greeting us with hugs and misses were BAIDRA MURPHY, ANNE ARJANI and CRYSTA  KRAMES.

Short time President DENNIS YOUNG opened the meeting at 12:15 p.m. and asked PAUL SCHUTZ to salute the flag that was finally removed from the right side to the official side.

Performing two chores for the day, Past President CINDY LUEDTKE stepped away from her luncheon money desk to acquaint us with the thought of the day concerning “success and happiness.”  Using the thoughts of Confucius, Einstein, the Dali Lama, Cindy wished us best wishes, success and happiness.

JEANNE MacVICAR led us in a tune we all remember “Take me out to the ball game” with new words that Jeanne authored last year and we occasionally sing. “Take me out to Park Shoup.” Jeanne dedicated the song to our future and present club presidents: MONA ARIMSTEAD and DENNIS YOUNG.

Future president JOHN SYLVESTER filled in for PE MONA ARMISTEAD and had little to do. Introduced were Judy Hannemann from Mountain View Rotary and PAUL NYBERG’S guest.

Announcements:

President DENNIS announced his Rotarian for the Month of June was JEAN MORDO. “Jean is one of those individuals who work in the background and make things happen. He has been the art show treasurer for the last three years including other functions to enhance the Rotarian effort.”

JACK HEIDMILLER is looking for help at the next month’s Downtown Art Festival. He has one opening to sell chicken salad sandwiches and needs fill in spares.

JEANNE MacVICAR referred to last week’s speaker and to a tag along HBO show entitled, “Wartorn 1861-2010”.

PP SAM PESNER sent a card around the room asking for encouraging words for MICHAEL STADLEN and recovery from his brain tumor.

BAIDRA MURPHY reminded members who are bringing guests to the “Kickout” they should make the reservation and pay $90 for the privilege.

FRANK VERLOT reminded everyone that WCS is having their last meeting of the year with a Tuesday luncheon at Chef Chu’s.  Anyone with interest is invited to come for $20.

BEVERLY TUCKER reminded everyone about the Peninsula Symphony free concert and showed a huge poster that will display the information around town.

At DENNIS YOUNG’S next to last meeting he was proud to have two new Rotary members inducted.

Using the principal Rotary motto of “Service Above Self,” FRANK ELMER and KEVIN SCHICK were introduced to encourage and foster the ideal.

FRANK ELMER was sponsored by CLARI NOLET and given his pin and red badge. After a successful career in finance, FRANK started his own investment company where he will be focusing on active portfolio management.

KEVIN SCHICK, sponsored by DAVID SMITH, has been working with transportation companies after receiving his MBA from Northwestern University. He has two grown sons, been married for 32 years and spends many hours as a Road Runner for El Camino Hospital.

                                New Members Frank Elmer and Kevin Schick

Recognition: Fine master BONNIE BURDETT, started off her stint with the old muse  “If you aren’t wearing your Rotary pin today please throw a dollar on the table.” So now the Rotary pin becomes a part of the official uniform for lunch.

Since this was the last opportunity to fine members and achieve the President’s Club, Bonnie called on those who were scanty in being members of the President’s Club. New President Club Members who’s fining totaled $100 or more for the year were:

LOUIS BOREL, CRES McFALL, JOAN ROSELLE, GEORGE STAFFORD, FRANK ELMER, KEVIN SCHICK, DAN HARDING, GREGORY DABB and SHELLY POTVIN.

Speaker for the day:

PP ROY LAVE introduced our own BEVERLY TUCKER as our guest speaker for the day.  BEVERLY is Recreation Director for the Los Altos Recreation Department. 

BEVERLY started off by saying she is fortunate in working in Los Altos. “It is unique and special. However there are many challenges in meeting the different requests received from the users.”

The water from Adobe Creek that runs through Redwood Grove and the Shoup Park is semi-controlled higher up in the elevation and in summer dwindles to a trickle. The most requested inquiry from the users in the recreation program is “Please turn on the water in the creek.”

 BEVERLY mentioned the different changes that are occurring in the recreation uses. More males are attending classes, the participants are getting younger and older, the parent-child programs are becoming popular and there is increased ethnic diversity, which means that language instruction is integrated into the programs.

The department has 18,500 people who participate in the programs. To run these programs the annual expenditure is $1.7 million while the annual revenue is $1.2 million.

The Garden House, where the Rotary meetings are held, constantly needs repair and to renovate the building would require between $1.5 mil to over $2 mil.

With BEVERLY finishing her talk a couple of minutes early, PP DENNIS took over with his basic thank you to the members.

“This will be my last functional meeting before kick-out and I just want to tell you that this is the best Rotary Club in the world, because all of you made it so.”

The meeting was over at 1:30 p.m.

THIS THURSDAY'S PROGRAM:

LARC President Dennis Young's "Year in Review"