ISSUE NO. 25
JANUARY 19, 2001
OUR 79th YEAR
http://RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org
…was
to be Dr. Anthony B. Sokol, plastic surgeon, who travels the world rebuilding
the faces of disfigured children – for free! Unfortunately, he was called
out of the country on an emergency. He will, however, be a speaker at a future
date.
So,
our Program Chairman, Paul Gaulke is planning a craft talk by one of
our members. He’s keeping the speaker a mystery! Why the mystery? Well,
frankly, even Paul doesn’t know yet who it will be! However, we guarantee it
will be a program not to be missed! Craft talks have always been terrific
programs enjoyed by all.
Harmon
Sieff
learned more by listening than by speaking, one Thursday last year when he was
guest speaker at the Watts-Willowbrook Rotary Club. He talked about law and
small business, and no doubt was highly informative. But what he heard during
lunch started a chain of events only now reaching culmination. Club members
talked about the plight of the school library. It had only a few tattered old
books to lend. So youngsters weren’t stimulated to do much reading in spare
time.
Harmon
was chairman of our club’s “functional literacy” committee. “Let’s
buy books for the Watts school library,” he urged the club. But before this
could be done, the Watts club found a corporate backer who provided hundreds
of books. Word went to Harmon, “Help Compton’s Rotary instead. It’s only
two years old, with ten members. The town is bankrupt. The school library has
nothing. Families don’t read on their own.”
Harmon
talked with Alonzo Hill, his
successor as committee chair. “Gathering books for the Compton library would
be a great service project for my son’s school in Encino,” Harmon said.
“Those kids have books they’ve outgrown.” Alonzo said fine. Harmon’s
son Adam talked to schoolmates at the Castlemont School. The principal heard,
and printed a flier about it that went to all 300 youngsters in school.
They
brought in 1,100 books. Harmon, his wife Donna, and Dave Bohn each drove
to Encino and brought back an autoload. Scholastic Magazine, as promised,
matched this with 1,100 more new books. Now Alonzo and a Compton Rotarian with a
truck are arranging to transport them all to Compton. Isn’t it amazing what
results arise sometimes from casual talk?
Congratulations
Santa Monica College, on recruiting our most worshipful Rev. Joseph P.
Metoyer, Jr. for its personnel commission. And thanks to Joe for the $75. He
is one of the many who keep SMC the greatest.
Steve
Eorio leads
a double life (living part of each week in Santa Monica, part in Paso Robles)
and it cost him $150 at our January 5th meeting. That’s because
Paso Robles’ football team beat Samohi and subsequently won the CIF
championship. Since Steve is an alumnus and diligent supporter of Samohi, what
were his feelings during the game?
President
John treated
us to an edifying if incomprehensible harangue while fining Nat Trives
$200. There were mentions of Dr. Dave Rimer, of a picture of Nat hanging
in Fromin’s deli, and other matters too strange to explain. (John was in a
fanciful mode throughout the occasion; he even described John Miller as a
sylph when introducing him.)
Jim
Cayton may
have lost some of his spelling ability during his busy and distinguished career,
according to President John. Not to worry, Jim. For every imperfect speller
among high executives, there must be ten nearly perfect spellers among the
impoverished. So pay your $75 fine and enjoy your 21st voyage around
the world. Play bridge, just don’t play scrabble.
Salutations
to our club members on their largesse. A rough summary indicates that we have
collected about $6,000 in the club year that started last July. As we all know,
this is the way we make good on our pledges. The fining method generates a
certain happiness and suspense at meetings while we admire members’
distinction and get to know one another better. Please try to make sure that
John knows of your achievements (as well as those of others). Remember, the
Rotary Club enjoys promoting your renown, rejoicing in your prosperity and
gratefully banking your money.
-- Lionel Ruhman
What’s
happening in our partnership with the Los Angeles Times on the “Reading
by Nine” project? Our speaker will be the head of the project, Leilani Lattin
Duke of the Times.
Ten
years ago we helped start a new service for children in Santa Monica. We teamed
with St. John’s Hospital and the County of Los Angeles in giving free
vaccinations against six deadly diseases. The County donated the vaccines. St.
John’s sent doctors and nurses (volunteers) to jab the needles and write the
records. We sent members to set up signs and furniture and stow everything
afterward, meanwhile shepherding the waiting kids and keeping them happy with
balloons and cookies and other goodies.
The
operation took place on a church playground in the southern part of town,
because some foreign-born families feared taking their children into a hospital.
We spread word via radio stations, church bulletins, and whatever other media
would help. About twenty kids got shots that first time.
Every
two months since, the needlework mission has been repeated and expanded. After a
while, as families lost fear, operations were shifted into St. John’s
cafeteria, easing work for the hospital and for Rotarian helpers.
Other
organizations throughout the country have started similar projects. More than 80
per cent of pre-schoolers now get five of the six recommended immunizations.
Donna Shalala, Health and Human Service Secretary, told newspapers last month,
“We have seen a breathtaking decline in most vaccine-preventable diseases.”
But
the job never ends. “Each day 11,000 babies are born, and their immunization
coverage starts at zero,” says the director of the Center for Disease
Control’s immunization program.
In
Santa Monica, we help give shots to as many as 100 children at each bi-monthly
session. We’ll do it again on Saturday morning, January 27th. As
usual, nine Rotarians will be needed for the simple manual chores and friendly
atmosphere they provide. We need them in crews of three, for two-hour periods
starting at 8:45 and leaving by noon. Will you come and help?
If you will, please phone Joe Gonzales at 451-0910 (office) or 393-8820 (home). You can park free (courtesy of Monika White) behind the Center for Healthy Aging at 2125 Arizona. Drive to it through the parking lot on 22nd Street. And thanks for being part of a huge, lasting service to children.