Los Altos Rotary Club Home of the Annual Rotary Fine Art Show June 5 2014

On this date in history, Los Altos Rotary Club President JACK KELLY opened the meeting of The Finest Rotary Club in all the Land precisely at the moment when, in 1977, the first Apple personal computer -- the Apple II, went on sale.  The rest is history.  Thanks for the great thought, GARY BROWN!
 
You can count on JEANNE MACVICAR to get the meeting rolling along.  Many Rotary clubs don't sing anymore.  I am glad we do.  Jeanne is always a bright spot when she leads the tune, and this was no exception. 
 
"California, Here I Come" is a song written for the 1921 Broadway musical Bombo, starring Al Jolson. The song was written by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Meyer, with Jolson often listed as a co-author. Jolson recorded the song in 1924. It is often called the unofficial state song of California.  (Wikipedia.)
 

"Say Hey!" PE KENDRA GJERSETH is off to Australia for the International Conference in Sydney. 

PEN JERRY MOISON was called upon to introduce visiting Rotarians and Rotarians with guests.  With a little more practice, he may be able to handle the job when Kendra takes over the reins next month.  Welcome to Tammy Shaw of the Sunnyvale Rotary Club. She welcomed us to Dinner at the Dump, a great fundraiser.  Other guests were Bill Palmer from Denver, South East, Bob from Walnut Creek Rotary and numerous guests.  President Jack had a full house for lunch.
 

Jerry said next week we will hear from the Art Show Committee on the show results.  We also will hear from Los Altos Rotary Endowment Fund (LAREF) board members on how the grants have been allocated this year.  Don't miss this meeting.
 
Speaking of meetings, JOHN SYLVESTER said the Kick Out dinner is June 27, 2014 at the Los Altos Country Club.  Rotarians have already paid for the dinner, so you better be there to enjoy it!  Guests are $85.  Please register your attendance.  Thanks, John, we're looking forward to a great changing of the guard evening.
 
The Summer Solstice Wine and Cheese gathering of the Los Altos Rotary Club will be hosted by CHUCK and Ilona LINDAUER, Friday, June 20.  Bring your favourite beverage and a finger food to share.  For details and directions use your secure Rotary website, or email HARRY PRICE, of the Fellowship Committee.

 
BOB ADAMS reminded everyone that the Los Altos Rotary sponsored U.S. Open of Golf is this Friday at Shoreline Country Club. Play, or come for dinner and poker after the exciting rounds are completed. We need a few more golfers to round out the match, 48 are signed up.
 
FRANK VERLOT invited World Community Service Committee members and Red Badgers interested in world service to join him at Chef Chu's June 24.  Email Frank for more details.
 
From afar, PE Kendra asked for a volunteer to serve as our Polio Plus liaison.  If that challenge sounds interesting, contact Kendra -- when she gets back from visiting the Aussies!
 
DAVID SMITH invited Red Badgers to attend the meetings of the Los Altos Rotary Endowment Fund.  Contact David for more details.
 
FYI:  District Governor Angie Hassler will be in attendance next week.  Her surprise appearance has something to do with "the finest Rotary club in all the land."  Wait and see.
 

10-Minute Talk:  Rotarian DEBRA PENDER, Wyoming Cowgirl, Singer, Mathematician, MBA
 
Debra comes from the Mackey Clan in Edinburgh, England and the Leybourne family of Southern England.  Her grandfather suffered a mustard gas attack in World War I and was advised to find a clear, dry climate for his health. He settled on Cheyenne, Wyoming.   That's where Debra and her six brothers and sisters began their "Leave it Beaver," childhood of wind, tumbleweeds, acting in community theatre, car travel with her musical parents, and all together singing in the back seat.  She moved into the big city of Fargo, North Dakota, for middle school and high school. Throughout, she was active in music and theatre.  
 
But Debra has a mathematical mind.  So she went to the University of Utah and obtained degree in math.  She was the only woman in the department. 
 
Then, a year of biking and skiing, including a cross-country bike ride that started in Astoria, Oregon and reached to the Atlantic, led her to a job at Victoria's Station, which eventually led to the University of Oregon, where she obtained her MBA.  She worked in the tax arena, where she met and married her "cube-mate."  
 
Debra has three children, Jenny, Sarah and Bobby and was active with them at home for 20 years.  Jennifer is a chef, Bobby, a senior in college, and Sarah a graduate.  Upon returning to the workforce, she met BONNIE BURDETT, who not only employs her as a CPA, but sponsored her into Los Altos Rotary.
 

President Jack asked JERRY MOISON to stand as impromptu finemaster.  Jerry did a fine job, collecting presidential pocket money.  He was fining in a flurry, so if your name does not appear here, maybe they won't miss you:  MARK ROGGE, MARLIS MCALISTER, ROY LAVE, TRACIE MURRAY, FELIX HU, TOM LISTON, and at least two other Rotarians!
 

President Jack announced that Dr. JACK HIGGINS is on his way to Monrovia, Liberia and he sent an email with photos concerning the Rotary Aids Project and Save the Children.  He will be meeting with our counterparts in Liberia for this renewed effort to prevent mother to child HIV infection.
 

WORLD COMMUNITY SERVICE
Los Altos Rotary Reaches Around the World
 
ALLAN VARNI and FRANK VERLOT introduced the World Community Service Committee's annual report to the club on the projects we support and pursue around the world.  Allan said that the impact of the Los Altos Rotary Child Aids Prevention program, support for the SOPUDEP school, the Yucatan school project, solar cooking, bio-mas fuels, and rocket stoves, and has impacted thousands of lives since initiated by this club and the committee's 30 volunteer participants.
 
This is the third year for the SOPUDEP school reconstruction project in Haiti following the massive earthquake that levelled everything, including the school.  Now WCS is administering a $15,000 grant to build desks for the classrooms.
 
In Tanzania, our club is working with Rotary Area 6 clubs and Saratoga Rotary to equip classrooms with desks, chairs and solar lighting.  This is a global grant of $80,000.
 
In Liberia, where JACK HIGGINS is now, Los Altos Rotary's Child Aids Prevention project will prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child at birth.  The process is simple and inexpensive, just $24 per mother -- education, counselling, testing and drugs. 
 
ALLART LIGTENBERG told us about the advances he's been making in Nepal with solar cooking, rocket stoves and bio-mass fuels.  The program is focused on sustainable development, health, water, energy, poverty, the environment, help for the disabled, and empowerment of women.  All that in ONE PROJECT!  Allart deserves a medal.
 
Allart went into detail of the work being done in Sanku villages, Neulapur villages including introduction of "Tuki" solar lights.  Now in preparation is a new $40,000 global grant for the Tatopani villages.
 
The Sumba, Indonesia project, in conjunction with the Baili Rotary Club, is working on a $168,000 sanitation project for the island people.
 
In Guatemala, WCS is engaged with other clubs to provide computers, books and supplies, including rocket stoves and solar cooking to avoid deforestation.
 
There will be opportunities for travel by Rotarians this year.  This includes trips to the Yucatan, Tanzania, Indonesia, and Nepal.  Join WCS for all this fun, and more!

Harn Soper, Jean Mordo, and David Smith "Art Show and LAREF"