Los Altos Rotary Club eNewsletter "Rotator"

Los Altos Rotary Club

Home of the Annual Rotary Fine Art Show

October 11 2012

Writer:Steve Yarbrough - Photographer: Randy Gard - Editor: Cynthia Luedtke 2012-2013 #15

Rotary Club of Los Altos Strikes Blow against Bigotry
President JOHN SYLVESTER tolled the 10, 11, 12 meeting of the Los Altos Rotary Club at 12:13 p.m. Past President SAM PESNER led the pledge. TOM POWERS provided the thought for the day and DONNA VERNA led us through a rousing Beer Barrel Polka to start the meeting.

Before the announcements, President John advised the club that the LARC Board of Directors had sent the following letter to the Boy Scouts of America, which he read to the club.

BSA National Executive Board
September 12, 2012
1325 Walnut Hill Lane
P.O. Box 152079
Irving, TX 75015-2079

To Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive and the BSA National Executive Board:

I write to you on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Los Altos, California, in opposition to the Boy Scouts of America’s stand to discriminate against homosexuals both as members of the Boy Scout troops and in leadership roles within the Scouting organization.

Our Rotary Club has both chartered and supported a local Boy Scout Troop for the last sixty years. We have always been strong supporters of the Scouting programs in our area because of the value that we have seen it bring to the youth of our community.
Rotary is founded on the premise of “Service Above Self” and guided by the Four Way Test. Rotary asks the members of its over 34,000 clubs worldwide to apply this test to everything the Rotarian says or does. This test is comprised of the following questions:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

As we try to apply Rotary’s Four Way Test to the Scouting stand to discriminate against homosexuals in Scouting, we find that it does not fit. The BSA Board of Director’s stand is NOT FAIR to all concerned, it does NOT build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS, and it is NOT BENEFICIAL to all concerned.

As the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Los Altos, we have discussed withdrawing our support of our local Troop and pulling the Charter. We have chosen not to do that at this time. However, as a Board of Directors, we feel compelled to voice our disagreement with and disdain for your stance. It is our hope that you will revisit this stand and make a change in the Boy Scouts of America’s archaic position in favor of the inclusion of all individuals.

Sincerely,
John Sylvester, President

cc: Mr. Sakuji Tanaka, Rotary International President
Mr. Joe Hamilton, District Governor, Rotary District 5170

At the conclusion of the reading, applause began and swelled to a standing ovation for President John and the Board of Director’s.

Announcements:
KAILAS CHIDAMBARAM reminded everyone that we still need a few more dollars to meet our club’s goal of continuing support for the three burned children at the Quaniquem Burn Clinic in Chile. Get your donations to Kailas. Even if you missed buying a ticket to drawing, a small donation will go a long way to reaching our goal. Kailas said we were $300 short, but he had received some support before the meeting ended.

Past President SAM PESNER announced that the Rotary Foundation Month is approaching, but our club has started the annual club sustainer drive early to get new Paul Harris Fellows and Double Sustainer awards in time for the visiting of the District Governor. You know how he likes to hand out awards. Be sure to get yours for a $200 contribution toward your Paul Harris Fellow. If you contribute a minimum of $200, your donation will be matched with 200 Club Recognition Points which also credits you toward your next Paul Harris level.

TRACIE MURRAY reminded Rotarians that ASANTE, the benefit for the Rotacare Clinic is right around the corner. Be sure to get your tickets: $55 for a beautiful commemorative wine glass and many refills. See TRACIE at her table as you enter and exit the meeting!

JERRY MOISON was giving away tickets to the weekend Fry’s golf tournament.

KAREN GREGURAS announced the Vets Committee meeting is being rescheduled..

ALLAN VARNI said that Child Aids Project is on the road. Last stop was at the San Francisco Rotary Club, the second Rotary Club in the world. Allan and crew are raising $150,000 to march ahead with the Liberia aids education effort.

CAROL GARSTEN announced that the Red Badge Committee’s Pens for Vets party will be November 2, 2012 at the Nature Gallery in Los Altos. Come to the party 5-8 p.m. Food from GoGoGyro and music from the Jazz Connection will be provided. Join your fellow Rotarians for the fun.

ROLAND PAYNE invited participation in the Future Vision of Rotary. Our club recently went through the process and our district wants to submit suggestions to RI for the decade ahead. If you have ideas or want to assist Roland, please email him.

KAREN GESSERT announced that the October Wine and Cheese social will be held at her house this coming Friday, October 19th, 6 to 9 PM. Go to the website to sign up and to get a map to Karen's home.

Please join Karen Gessert and her family for a great evening of Fellowship and Fun! Wine and Cheese socials are a great way to get to know your fellow Rotarians in a casual setting. Please bring a bottle of wine, or beverage of your choice, and an appetizer to share.

Tom Liston’s Vocational Elevator Speech

Engineer TOM LISTON presented his elevator speech. We learned that in addition to his expertise in HVAC systems for buildings, his career has morphed into serving as an expert witness on construction defect cases. He reviews the problems and advises his attorney client on what he believes is the root of some failure in the system.
Tom knows about how to fix existing buildings, is an expert on carbon monoxide poisoning cases, most are caused by generators and boilers.
Nicely done, Tom!

Fine Time with Steve Anderson
Past President STEVE ANDERSON was pleased to step into his finemaster robe to mix it up with Rotarians with an unusual baseball quiz. BOB ADAMS, fresh from Down Under and that other country, Alabama, was nicked for $20.

GARY MAGGARD and DAVE DEMATTEIS were stepping to the plate for $20 bucks each at the same moments the Giants were leading the Reds 6-3 in the bottom of the 7th.

Then Steve threw fastballs by DICK HENNING, JOHN BOGART, TOM LISTON, JEAN MORDO, BOO BUE, LOUIS BOREL, CRYSTA KRAMES, MARV PATTERSON, and MONA ARMISTEAD.

MARV PATTERSON gave us a mini-program on how he met Mary Lou’s family and her brother confronted him on a sports question. Then he blurted out to Mary Lou and all in earshot, “You could have found any guy in a bar who could answer that question.” To prove it, her brother cornered a 9-year old nephew and asked him the same sports question, which the boy promptly answered. Welcome to the family, Marv.

Computer History Museum rocks!

JEANNE MACVICAR introduced speaker John C. Hollar, President of the Computer History Museum in Mt. View. The Museum, a non-profit founded in 1983, preserves for posterity the artifacts and stories of the information age. Its centerpiece is "Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing," which opened in January, 2011. Hollar's priority is to build a world-class institution with the Museum's $38 million endowment.

The Museum brings computing history to life through an acclaimed speaker series, dynamic website, onsite tours, as well as physical and online exhibits. It has the largest international collection of computing artifacts in the world, encompassing computer hardware, software, documentation, ephemera, photographs and moving images. Its website, www.computerhistory.org, is one of the world's leading internet sites on computing and computing history.

Hollar previously held senior executive positions at the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in the United States and at Pearson in the United Kingdom. He has also practiced law in Washington D.C. and served as a senior legal advisor at the Federal Communications Commission. He holds bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science from Southern Methodist University and a law degree from Harvard Law School.

The 100,000 item collection includes 500 oral histories. The museum experienced a $20 million expansion and covers 2,000 years of computing from abacus to Iphone. Hollar was particularly proud of the inter-country youth exchange program in problem solving the museum hosts. The program draws on computer game inventors from Silicon Valley including Rich Hillman inventor of Madden Football, and other exceptional leaders.

The next generation of computer data flow will be called “cognitive computing”, where, Hollar said, processors are injected into the data.

THIS THURSDAY'S PROGRAM:

Sasha Gourevitch "JobTrain"
Our speaker, Sasha Gourevitch, is the Youth Services Coordinator at JobTrain in Menlo Park. Founded in 1965 as OICW, it is an educational and training non-profit institution that offers career counseling and job placement services. They help adults find jobs by offering classes in many different vocations, i.e., culinary arts, computer and telecommunications technicians, construction, medical office assistants, health care workers, office skills, etc. There are also classes for youths to prepare them for the job market.

Other courses taught at JobTrain include English as a Second Language, GED preparation, introduction to computers, and interviewing skills There is also a store where students can find donated business clothes and professional attire for interviewing and work.

Sasha started at JobTrain as a volunteer in 2008. In May 2009 she became full-time and oversaw the summer internship program, YouthSTAR. Shortly thereafter she became the Project Coordinator for JobTrain’s Community Challenge Grant (Teen Pregnancy Prevention).

In May 2010 she was appointed Youth Services Coordinator/Youth Counselor where she oversees both In-School-Youth and Out-of-School Youth programs and is the counselor for youth in Project Build, CST, MOA, PHCW and Culinary Arts. She is now also counselor and job developer for Office Skills.

Sasha is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara with a BA in Political Science with an emphasis in Public Service.