President JACK KELLY has turned the reins of the annual Rotary Speech Contest over to BARRY GROVES and JEFF BAIER.  They introduced the stars of this year's Los Altos Rotary Club event -- five talented students from Mountain View and Los Altos HIgh Schools.

Each student was asked to present on a topic of their choice that integrates the theme "Engage Rotary, Change Lives" and one or more of the principles of the 4-Way Test.  Speeches were limited in time and must be an original work.  Cash prizes were awarded to the winning contestants.

Rotary's objective is to educate students about Rotary, increase their public speaking skills and increase participation in volunteerism, hopefully, as future Rotarians.  The speakers were not introduced by name to maintain impartiality, and applause was held until the end.

Lillian Zhou, a Los Altos High student was the first contestant.  She set the stage for her argument that life is not always about a chicken in every pot with stories of those who have managed to change the direction of their lives.  "It's not about what you have," she said, "its about what you do with what you have."

Leo Patimore-Zarcone, a three-time LAHS participant and past winner of the event, is now a senior at Los Altos High School.  He retains his ambition to become a civil servant.  He wants to become an ambassador.  A simple paradox, the power of stereotype to hurt and kill, was his topic.   Leo said, "We cannot come together, if we are afraid of each other." 

Carley Miller, a junior at MVHS, set an ambitious goal: to be happy.  As a teenager she is juggling many balls in the air at the same time: honors classes, grades, sports, this speech, and more.  She's afraid to let the balls drop.  A concussion brought her to her senses.  Now see considers herself a witness to the world.  Setting down the juggling balls, has been a benefit to all.

Leland Lee, sports a lot of confidence.  You must have confidence to wear bright yellow pants to a Rotary meeting.  Leland has obtained his confidence the hard way by confronting his insecurities.  "Fake it 'til you make it," he said was his approach until he spent a summer in Hong Kong sweating up the down staircase. 

Riyana Basu, this year's winning contestant, a sophomore at LAHS, projected a calm and determined demeanor that wowed the judges.  Her parent's traditional culture, exemplified by the tangy Bengali dinners prepared by her mother, conflicts with the direction her personal compass yearns to point.  This adds another layer of expectations to her life that many other teens in our diverse community also confront.  It has become a process of identifying and answering her inner voice, she said.  "There is always a new direction to go, internalize and act, as you will."   Change starts with the smallest of ideas.

Chief Judge DICK HENNING gathered in chambers with his crew to compute the results.  After a lengthy delay, Jeff and Barry welcomed each contestant to the podium and honored them for their excellent and courageous talks.  Jeff presented the first place award to Riyana Basu, Second to Carley Miller and third to Leo Patimore-Zarcone.

This is the largest group of students in several years to participate in the event.  Thanks to the Speech Contest Committee for all the hard work.  Thanks to each of the students for joining Rotary for lunch!

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Fast Forward:  Getting to Know Jeanne

Rotarian JEANNE MACVICAR says she's a Mother Hen combined with Mama Bear.   We know she is a multi-talented organizer and community leader.  Jeanne, now a top-k-notch Los Altos Realtor, describes herself as a horse-loving country girl.  She was born in Kansas to solid Mid-Western stock. 

Jeanne began a singing career at age four, which has never abated.  She is active with the United Methodist choir and has tried to lead Rotarians to better musical heights as song-master on numerous occasions.

She is married to Duncan MacVicar and has one daughter Bryn.  Jeanne went to Colorado Women's College and the University of Kansas.  She taught Spanish for 10 years.  She and Duncan moved to Los Altos in 1980, when she went into real estate.

When Jeanne was 14 she crashed on a motorbike and was severely injured, enduring 20 surgeries.   She said she is lucky that she still has both legs.  So she puts them to great use.

Jeanne has been extremely active in organizing Relay for Life to combat breast cancer.  She has been instrumental in raising more than $2 million for research into the disease at Stanford.  This is an important program to Jeanne because both she and her daughter were diagnosed with cancer before age 40.  Due to early intervention, both are still going strong!

"I am grateful for every day" Jeanne said.  Her fellow Los Altos Rotarians are grateful to have Jeanne in our club!

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Minutia of Minutes:

STEVE SHEPHERD unleashed a perfect chip shot and landed in the pockets of fellow Rotarian LONNIE GARY where he located a crisp $50 bill.  Seems that Lonnie had a few things to celebrate, but when he told the story of his Senior year Valentine, the Finemaster had no sympathy.

RICK GLAZE told everyone he had changed his Valentine recipient for a younger one.  Even though that turned out to be his daughter,that cost him 100 bucks!

BRANDON SMITH paid $35 for his explanation of a vacuum cleaner being the perfect Valentine gift.

ALLAN VARNI and JULIE ROSE contributed each contributed $20 for the privilege.  STEVE SHEPHERD made a matching gift.  Nice job, Steve!

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Getting rolling:

The meeting began, as usual, with the Pledge.  I have never understood why that has to happen at the beginning, but BOB ADAMS, must know the answer to that question because he led the group. And he did an outstanding job.  That was followed by BRANDON SMITH who planted seeds of love sprinkled with chocolate from Charles Schultz.  GARY LANDIS and JOHN SYLVESTER attempted to lead us through "My Funny Valentine," but it was not very funny when 120 people were mumbling and singing out of tune.  Nice try guys.

NEXT WEEK:  IT'S ALL ABOUT MEMBERSHIP;

Want to go with President elect KENDRA GJERSETH to the Rotary Convention in Australia May 29-June 9??   Book your tickets now.  It's a once-in-a-life-time experience that will cement your dedication to Rotary. 

DENNIS YOUNG announced that on March 6, 2014, Rotary will meet at the Los Altos Country Club to celebrate the club's 65th anniversary.  Lunch will be $35.

KATHY LERA reminded everyone to attend the Cioppino Feed on March 7.  Auction items are needed.  Contact Kathy or RON LABETICH.  If you are unable to attend the event, you can always sponsor a veteran to attend the event.  Proceeds benefit the Veterans Support Committee.

ALLAN VARNI presented a banner from the Rotary Club of Tanzania and told about a project helping the Massai.

ROY JONES asked Red Badgers to pick up their Rotary t-shirts before the Art Show.  See Roy.  HARN SOPER said there are many jobs remaining for the Art Show.  Every Rotarian is required to participate in at least two shifts.  Sign up now!

MARY PROCHNOW announced that the Los Altos School Board had voted to name the new LAHS gym in the honor of Rotarian DUDE ANGIUS.  Well met!  Thanks TO MEL KAHN, DICK HENNING and others for advancing the idea.

The new LARC Board of Directors were elected by voice vote: CRYSTA KRAMES, DONNA VERNA and ALISON SALISBURY.  Welcome (and thank you) to each of them!

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This Thursday's Program:

Jean Mordo - Membership Update