ISSUE
NO. 35
MARCH 30, 2001
OUR 80th YEAR
http://RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org
BIG MONEY BASEBALL –
WILL IT KILL ITSELF?
As
an intermediary and executive in the sports world, Richard M. Brown has had a
close view of what may become the slow death of big-league baseball.
Gene
Autry, owner of the California Angels, brought him in as vice president of
Golden West Broadcasters in 1981. He joined the Angels’ board of directors
in 1986, then took charge as president in November 1990, just after the Angels
finished last in the American League West.
He
started a rebuilding plan that brought the Angels to a tie for first place at
the end of the 1995 season. He left the following May when the club was sold.
Since
then he has been attorney, arbitrator, mediator and consultant for athletes
and sports organizations.
Tom
Loo, who will introduce him at our meeting Friday, knows Brown as an
associate. They are members of the same law firm, Bryan Cave LLP, which has
offices in eight U.S. cities and others in Asia and Europe. “We sought Dick
out six months ago,” Tom says. “He’s a noted expert on sports law and
entertainment law. He’s written articles on the business of sports, and has
been a speaker for many organizations including the UCLA School of
Business.”
As
fans know, big money has been transforming baseball in recent years. Some
clubs have hundreds of millions of dollars to spend – most clubs don’t.
Competition for pennants seems to be limited to the richest organizations.
Less prosperous clubs often lose stars they’ve developed in their own farm
systems. Will baseball hold its broadcast audiences? What will happen to gate
receipts?
Friday
we’ll hear what Dick Brown thinks about such questions. Maybe he’ll also
tell us about problems that arose in pulling the Angels from last place to
first.
MARCH 16 WAS A FINE LIVELY DAY
Bill Fritzsche became so exuberant
in his tribute to Past President Bill Pollock that he forgot to introduce
Bill’s wife Dolores. Never mind, Bill, for $125 we can always fined
forgiveness. Thank you.
We all thank PP Spyros Dellaportas for
arranging the great party March 14. Allan Young’s “gotcha” comment
to President John summed up our feelings. PP John McIntire’s bowling
team won the Chamber of Commerce league championship. For this achievement John
was fined $130. Of course, he can apply for a piggy bank loan at Encino Bank to
pay for it.
Con Oyler’s daughter was named to the
first-string all-CIF soccer team. Congratulations to all the Oylers! We thank
your daughter for necessitating your $150 contribution to Rotary. Clyde Smith
was recognized $80 worth for a twofold distinction, joining the Chamber and
founding his new computer manufacturing company. We congratulate the Chamber,
and wish you great success in your new enterprise.
Editorial comment: Our club has been fortunate in the
continuous flow of talent that has filled the officers’ chairs. Year after
year we’ve admired the leadership and energy laced with humor at the rostrum.
Our past presidents’ day (honoring same) was again a highlight as our unique PP
Ed Rafeedie entertained and enlightened us. Congratulations for Paul Gaulke
for another great program. But Paul, why didn’t you know a barker from a
talker?
-- Lionel Ruhman
HELP FOR INDIA
Our club, busy all the time helping organizations
around Santa Monica, sometimes extends a hand to groups elsewhere. The
earthquake and famine that have devastated part of India (including the part
where our Bashir Kadri was born) has stirred a reaction here. Phil
Tirone of our board of directors sends this message:
“Our Rotary Club will be sending $1,000 to India
for disaster relief, and to support Bashir’s home town. Any Rotarian who is
interested in donating additional money, please make your donations payable to
the Rotary Club of Santa Monica, and give it to our treasurer, Hugh Travis.
We are asking the District Governor to match all the money we raise, so your
donations will be very important.”
COMING UP
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Friday, April 6 – Prize-winning student essayists in our “Four-Way Test” contest. |
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Friday, April 13 – DARK. No meeting. Good Friday. |
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Friday, April 20 – Craft talks by members. |
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Friday, April 27 – Our secretaries and administrative assistants are with us as our guests. |
BACKSTAGE
WITH PAST PRESIDENTS
(One
of a series on little-known aspects of club operations)
Presidents of many organizations take office with scant
experience in the organization. After their term, their usefulness dwindles, and
they’re likely to leave.
Presidents of our Rotary club are different. We have an
unusual system that propels seasoned members into the presidency for a year
apiece. The system also keeps many past presidents actively helping after
finishing their term.
We follow a broad path laid down by Rotary international
but etched more sharply in our Policies and Procedures Manual. This guide was
written last year, primarily by PP Dick Rice, in counsel with his
committee of PP Bill Fritzsche, PP Dick Lawrence, and board
members Carol Jackson and Hugh Travis.
The manual spells out the unwritten but long-standing
duties of our past presidents – including their service as an advisory board
for the president and board of directors, and as the club’s nominating
committee.
The PP’s meet as our nominating committee in early
November to select the candidates for our officers and directors. That slate is
announced at the Friday meeting three weeks before the club’s annual election
day, the second Friday in December. Any members may make nominations from the
floor at the meeting when the slate is announced. (No floor nominations have
been offered within living memory, but it could happen.)
Meanwhile the PP’s also select one of the club’s
past vice presidents to become the president-elect designate (one and a half
years before the date of taking office). About a dozen PP’s, in a group,
typically visit the prospective nominee, explain the presidential duties and ask
him (or her) to serve. If the candidate agrees, automatic election follows. Then
Rotary’s district organization puts the future president through special
training. Another part of the president-designate’s training is to listen for
a year at monthly meetings of the club’s board of directors.
The newly elected board and president-designate begin
meeting several months before taking office. They set goals and lay plans.
Consequently, by the time a new group takes office in July, they are well
prepared.
Each June, when the outgoing and incoming boards gather
for their traditional dual meeting, the Advisory Board is likewise present, and
often offers written suggestions. The Advisory Board may also meet on call from
the president, or from the board of directors, or from any three past
presidents, to discuss any knotty problem that arises.
Selected past presidents are appointed to a Rotary
Information Committee, which arranges “fireside talks” for each incoming
batch of new members. At these sessions, past presidents explain aspects of club
operation. At one recent fireside gathering the six speakers’ Rotary
experience averaged 28 years, for a total of 169 years.
Individual tasks come up periodically. A PP may be asked to visit with a prospective member, explaining what is involved in Rotary membership. He may take charge of ceremonies installing new members, or presenting Paul Harris fellowships.