ISSUE NO.23 OUR 79th
YEAR JANUARY 5, 2001
http://RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org
Remarkably well-recommended. But
sort of mysterious. The phrases sum
up what your editors know about this Friday’s speaker, Bruce Sievers.
Rota-Monica’s protracted publication schedule cornered us into seeking
facts about Mr. Sievers during a period when people can’t be reached by phone,
fax, or e-mail - the Yuletide. Don’t
ever try research during Christmas week.
We do have a sheet sent earlier by Mr. Sievers’ representative.
It indicates that he has spoken to six thousand groups during the last
twenty years (almost one per day, we figure).
These include engagements at the White House for Presidents Ford, Carter,
Reagan and Bush Senior. Elsewhere
for five hundred Rotary clubs and six Rotary district conferences.
Evidently word had spread that he is well worth hearing.
What does he talk about? The
sheet doesn’t say. But it does
report his “unabashed advocacy of a single theme:
An American In Love With His Country.”
It adds that he has been honored by the Freedom Foundation and the
Daughters of the American Revolution.
Almost as an afterthought it mentions that he served in Vietnam as a
Green Beret. So as an educated
guess we infer that he’ll tell about war experiences.
Anyhow, those Rotary engagements signify we’ll like him. We predict another hit for Program Chairman Paul Gaulke.
Our past president Jack Siegal “just did what comes naturally” and
paid Rotary $300 for it. He was master of ceremonies for Family Service of Santa
Monica, at a banquet honoring many outstanding local volunteers.
Harmon Sieff’s son brought honor to the family and $75 to Rotary by
being elected vice-president of his 6th grade class.
Congratulations to Harmon, Donna and their son.
Congratulations to Monika White on becoming president of the Santa Monica
College Associates. She’s another example of a very busy person continuing to
serve others. Her $100 to us will
be well invested, of course.
Robert Segal was honored ($200 worth) for his help with the Upward Bound
senior housing project at 12th and Washington.
Bob always seems available to help the elderly, the young, or the needy.
Traveling in Southeast Asia, Don Graham spread Rotary good will and
brotherhood in several countries. We
rewarded him with a $65 fine. Welcome
to the club, Dan. It gets better
and more expensive.
Winner of $500 at the annual Boys and Girls Club Dinner Auction, Don
Oyler was fined $200. Our
mathematics indicate that he is still a winner, and always will be, in our view.
The club appreciates his continuing generosity.
Our president John was caught again in his own fining process.
He is know for his piety and gentleness, but was absent from St.
Monica’s service when Monsignor Lloyd Torgerson praised him.
Shriley and Bill Dowling, fellow members, noticed this and reported it to
our club, whereupon John felt
impelled to fine himself $100. Still,
if a man has spent six years in seminary, doesn’t he seem entitled to an
excused absence? John has a reason
for skipping church. He chose to
watch football instead.
Lionel
Ruhman
An insider’s view of the Saturn and Titan space missions from Dr. Kevin
Grazier of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
President-elect 2001-2001 Hal
Quigley
President-elect Designate 2002-2003
Bill Crookston
Vice Presidents George Collins, Hugh Travis
Secretary Jim Haljin
Treasurer Gee-Shin Lee
One-year Directors Nancy
Freedman, Rick Kennedy
Two-year Directors Jim
Menzies, Mike O’Hara
Holdover Directors Erik
Jorgensborg, Tom Loo
Seventeen years ago our innovative president wondered how to get members
to interact more frequently and regularly.
For many past years the club had arranged large parties at least once a
year. But as time went on these large parties became more difficult
to site, and harder to attend, because members lived farther away, and many were
involved in other outside activities. What
to do?
Our imaginative president thought up an idea that could bring us together
socially, and would also finance vocational scholarships at Santa Monica
College.
This idea was our host/hostess dinners, whereby four Rotarian couples
dine at each other’s homes for time a year.
Each couple hosts once, and is guest three times, and are billed
reasonably.
This program had its roots in our past, but many of us are enjoying it
still. Those who haven’t tried to
are missing something good.
The name of that innovative and imaginative president -- still noted for
those qualities today -- is Dick Rice.
Bill
Fritzche, Club Historian