Los Altos Rotary Club Home of the Annual Rotary Fine Art Show November 8 2012

So many guests and Rotarians wearing patriotic boutonnieres! So many people to thank for their service to our country! Today the Rotary Club of Los Altos was joined by Los Altos Kiwanis to honor veterans with an appreciation luncheon, complimented by cheerful red, white and blue table decorations and boutonnieres provided by PP TRACIE MURRAY, herself a veteran.
 
The full house was welcomed by President JOHN as he asked visiting Kiwanian and US Navy veteran Buzz Thayer to lead the flag salute. PAUL SCHUTZ gave the Thought for the Day, and RON STEFANI led us in a rousing series of patriotic songs representing all branches of military service. Sung with enthusiasm, this was perhaps our “finest hour” of singing at LARC.

 
Pres JOHN recognized those who helped make today's busy meeting run smoothly: Greeters MIKE ABRAMS, MARV PATTERSON, CAROL GARSTEN, AND LINA BROYDO; Cashier CYNTHIA LUEDTKE, Photographer CHUCK LINDAUER, and Rotator Writer MARLENE COWAN.
 
Visiting Rotarians hailed from Charlotte, NC and Denver, CO. LARC members with guests included FRANK VERLOT, BILL PALMER, and ROY JONES. Guest veterans included numerous vets who are now students at Foothill College, Kiwanian Howard Bischoff and several members of his club. In all, 12 guest veterans represented the Marine Corps, the Army’s infantry, military police, a medic and a mess sergeant, as well as two Navy pilots and a sailor.
 

Announcements:
Club members were very sad to learn that BOO (Louvain) BUE, 1987-88 LARC President, passed away Oct. 31. Boo was a Dale Carnegie trainer, dedicated golfer, and a trusted friend of many in the Rotary Club and in Los Altos.  A video showing his June 14, 2012 speech recounting his flight school experiences and flying air transport in Africa during World War II is now online.  Boo will be sorely missed. A celebration of his life is planned for November 16, 2 pm at the Los Altos United Methodist Church. Donations may be sent to The Rotary Foundation or a charity of choice.
 
JEANNIE MACVICAR invited all to attend the Nov. 18 speech by Los Altos High PNG mentee and graduate who recently wrote a Time magazine cover story, reporter José Antonio Vargas. There is no charge for his program at Eagle Auditorium, LAHS with PP DICK HENNING as moderator.
 
PAUL SCHUTZ reminded the Welcome Veterans group of their meeting immediately following today’s luncheon
 
JULIE ROSE invited all to the City of Los Altos’ 60th Birthday Diamond Gala on Dec. 1 at 6:30 pm in St. William Parish Social Hall. $75 per person.
 
JUDY OTT passed a card to be sent to Gretchen Bue.
 
In recognition of all veterans, PP TRACIE MURRAY showed a touching video picturing each LARC veteran, including BOO BUE. The “Cradle of Liberty” statue in Shoup Park and the Cupertino Vets Memorial were also represented.
 

Finemaster PP SAM PESNER managed to tweak our memories with multiple choice questions relating to veterans.  CAROL GARSTEN volunteered to join the President’s Club in celebration of her 25th anniversary in business and the very successful Red Badge fundraiser held at the Nature Gallery on State Street.  Among those that SAM nicked for $20 (whether or not they knew the correct answer) were LONNIE GARY, ROY JONES, STEVE WHEELER, President JOHN, GREG HARTWELL, JACK HEIDMILLER, RON LABETICH, VAL CARPENTER, and JOHN EVANS.

 
PP TRACIE gave enthusiastic appreciation to RON LABETICH for so successfully managing the Red Badge project which raised $14,000 to purchase tablets, graduation cords, and smart pens for vets to use in their Foothill College classes.

 About $3,000 were raised when 150 people attended the November 2 event at CAROL GARSTEN’s Nature Gallery with PRES JOHN’s trio entertaining and delicious snacks from a local restaurant.  RON said 40% of the total funds came from LARC members and 60% from others outside Rotary.  As a very touching example of our veterans’ sacrifices, he described the outstanding courage and sacrifice made by young Los Altan, Matt Manoukian. His question: “What more can we do for our vets?”
 

Program:  William Ball, Chief of Voluntary Services, VA Hospital
As an interesting aside, our speaker knew all the answers to PP SAM’s detailed Veterans questions during Recognition today.

William Ball currently serves as Chief of Voluntary Service at the VA Palo Alto Health Care in Palo Alto. He manages one of the largest Voluntary Service Programs in the Veterans Health Administration. The volunteer program at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System serves three inpatient divisions and seven outpatient clinics.
Mr. Ball described the 17 bed unit for brain injury vets which is one of only five brain injury trauma centers in the nation. “Though our country did a poor job of caring for Vietnam vets,” he said, “we now provide much better care for vets and their families and spouses.” Mr. Ball fundraises to provide a “home away from home” so that families can stay close and assist in the patients’ recovery. For example, Mr. Ball has fundraised to provide one recently arrived vet’s family with a rental car, Safeway gift cards, and day care for his child.

The vets’ clinics in Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Livermore provide 108 beds. Their services and building campaign operate with a $735 million budget. The Palo Alto clinic is doing “state of the art” genomic research which has already enrolled 100,000 vets and has a goal of reaching 1 million vets to check their blood samples for pre-existing illnesses.  Massive 8-10 year construction campaigns are underway in Menlo Park, Livermore and the Central Valley to provide poly trauma centers for multiple injuries, rehabilitation centers, and ambulatory care buildings. He described the new Palo Alto psychology center as “an incredible healing environment”, especially for PTST victims. He cited the 2900 volunteers who contributed 300,000 hours and $1.6 million last year for patient programs including laptop computers and personal care items.

Most importantly, he encouraged all recently separated vets to register immediately for their 5 years of free health care so as not to miss the cut-off date. PP STEVE ANDERSON volunteered that he has been receiving excellent, free care weekly since becoming 100% disabled after his military service in Vietnam. “I have never before had such good medical service!” RON STEFANI added that his friend also received cancer care at the VA hospital. Due to this hospital’s affiliation with Stanford, the medical staff is top-notch; this hospital has been judged #1 in the nation by a patient and employee satisfaction survey. The place to check eligibility for VA benefits is “VA benefits” online or Building 101, first level at the Palo Alto VA Hospital.

Carmela Xuereb, manager of the Vets Center at Foothill College, attended today’s Vets Recognition Luncheon and announced with emotion, “Support from Rotary has been so overwhelming, I want to say ‘thank you’ from the bottom of my heart!” The Vets Center opened in September 2011 and is located upstairs in the Student Center, room 2014, where it offers computers, smart pens, advice and a place to socialize with some of the 200 vets on campus. Foothill College has been named among the top 15% of schools nationwide by GI Jobs Military Friendly Schools.com.
Several Rotarians mentioned this was one of the most touching programs they have attended.

THIS THURSDAY'S PROGRAM:

Nov 15, 2012
Alyssa Gallagher & Kami Thordarson
"Innovation in Los Altos School District: Blended Learning through Khan Academy"

 Alyssa Gallagher, Asst. Superintendent of Curriculum/Instruction.

Alyssa joined Los Altos School District in 2006 as principal for Santa Rita Elementary School. Prior to her four years at Santa Rita, Alyssa spent the first ten years of her educational career in Southern California, working first as a primary grade elementary teacher spanning all subject areas and then as an administer for both San Diego City Unified and Del Mar Union School District. Alyssa is passionate about creating 21st century learning environments that meet the needs of all students and is the mother of two young boys, ages 2 1/2 years and 9 months.

Kami Thordarson, Instructional Coach: Innovative Practices
Kami has taught in Los Altos for four years and came to us from the Poudre School District in Colorado where she began teaching in 1999. Kami holds a B.A. in Communications and a M.A. in Education. Kami is an expert in project-based learning and enjoys engaging students with creative lessons that focus on incorporating 21st century skills. Last summer, Kami completed the MERIT program through Krause Center for Innovation.