June 29, 2001 Issue

ISSUE NO. 46 JUNE 29, 2001 OUR 80^th YEAR

http://RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org

SO LONG JOHN – HAIL HAL – HARKEN TO ALONZO

New Year’s day came again last Friday – fiscal new year, for all us Rotarians, all over the world. We start a new Rotary year this Friday.

Last week – and the week before, too – retiring President John Lehne bade us “not good-bye, but so long,” and we trust he’ll play an active part for many years to come, as do so many of our past Presidents.

Today will be the first time at the tiller for new President Hal Quigley. We already know him rather well. Somebody had the bright idea of inviting him to be a craft talker at our June 15 meeting, and he took the occasion to reminisce about his 22 years in this club, during which he served terms as director and vice president, a long stint as yearly inspector of the club’s financial records, and several as chair of various committees. What we don’t know yet is how he’ll adjust to the occasionally irreverent audience when he presides. He’ll get his first taste of such treatment this Friday.

Hal has named Alonzo Hill as scheduled speaker. This is Alonzo’s second year in the club. We recognize him by his huge white-toothed smile and happy manner, but we might like to know more about him. So . . .

He started out to be a petroleum engineer, taking a Bachelor of Science degree at University of California, Berkeley. But then, for undisclosed reasons, he joined the FBI instead of entering the oil industry. At first he was stationed in Bakersfield, near his home in San Jose, and joined the Bakersfield East Rotary Club. Then in 1997 he was switched to the big FBI office in Los Angeles. Presumably he is out investigating something most of the time. We’ve never been able to arrange an interview with him, and we suspect it’s because FBI machinery screens out some phone messages to him. Anyway, we’ll all be happy to greet him this Friday.

At our June 15 meeting President John gracefully paid tribute to Schiller Colberg, proud grandfather; Jim Reidy, centerfold photo subject; Monika White, spoon musician; Jim Cayton, personnel expert, for signing Esther Johnson as our durable and versatile executive secretary, who of course went on to fame as the world’s first woman Rotarian. A rare gentleness overcame John, presumably because he was presiding for the last time. He didn’t fine any of the above-mentioned.

However, John’s underlying intensity rose again at the sight of Bill Hunt, who looks strikingly youthful now that he has lost 37 pounds. John deemed this payable at the rate of $1.50 per pound, which by his lightning calculation came to $555 although others figured the $555 was $15.50 per pound.

Thanks to Mike O’Hara (our club Olympian, on and off court) who arranged for and introduced Dr. Mark Scholz M.D., at our October 27, 2000 meeting. Dr. Scholz provided us with a wealth of knowledge and encouragement regarding the dreaded subject of prostate cancer. He provided information relative to early detection, treatment alternatives and future scientific studies, as well as free PSA (prostate specific antigens) screenings.

As reported by Dr. Scholz, “Twenty-five men at the meeting underwent blood testing for PSA. Five had PSA levels above the normal range. All 25 were contacted by phone and informed regarding their PSA status. The twenty with normal PSA levels were encouraged to undergo repeat testing with their primary physicians every year. The five who had elevations of PSA above the normal range were advised to have further evaluation with their primary physicians. Three of these five are under continuing surveillance by urologists as repeat testing of the PSA indicated a return to the normal range. We recently contacted these three by phone and all three are continuing to do well without any further evidence of PSA elevation. Two underwent prostate biopsy that in both instances was negative for prostate cancer. In both of these the PSA has remained elevated and both are under ongoing surveillance by their urologists. Close follow up of these two individuals is important as there is still a possibility that they will ultimately be diagnosed with prostate cancer because there is a 20% false negative rate with needle biopsy.”

As suggested by Mike O’Hara the importance of this testing (by the results shown in the doctor’s report) is cause for alertness, awareness and action on our part. Not just as individuals, but on the club, district and Rotary International level. Since Rotary International has been successful in knocking polio out of the box, it makes good sense to help our fellow Rotarians by now accomplishing the same success concerning prostate cancer. Especially considering that Rotary International is a million+ member club with 93% male membership, at an average age of 57. We have no rational alternative other than to strongly encourage a full participation of our male members to undergo annual PSA testing. We believe if each Rotarian would continue this simple testing then each could benefit greatly and continue to serve and take care of others for many years, as healthy Rotarians. Referring to Dr. Scholz’s report (25 tested, 5 elevated); mathematics deems the seriousness of this subject. So my Rotarian caretakers of your communities please TAKE CARE OF THE CARETAKERS.

Imagine that you are in charge of delivering daily meals to 275 lonely shut-ins around Santa Monica. Six different hotels and hospitals prepare the meals. About 300 volunteer drivers will pick up and deliver if you map out routes. It’s up to you to organize the operation and keep it running like a machine every day. You have a small office with five part-time helpers. This is what Rosemary Regalbuto faces as executive director of Santa Monica/Malibu/Pacific Palisades Meals on Wheels. It is a freestanding organization, certified but not funded or directed by the Meals on Wheels Association of America.

Meals on Wheels hired her in June 1988 when she answered its advertisement for a director. She felt read to take charge of almost any kind of office, because she’d earned a master’s degree in business administration at City College of New York, meanwhile working part-time for an advertising agency. Then for four years she’d supervised 235 people at State University of New York’s optometric center.

But she was married to a well-known actor, Joe Regalbuto of television’s “Murphy Brown” sitcom. When the show moved from New York to Hollywood in 1976, she and Joe had little choice but to uproot the family and move with it. In Santa Monica she settled down to being a school mother, active in PTAs and other parent groups.

When her third and youngest child started pre-school, Rosemary found that idle hours at home were too dull. Meals on Wheels was an exciting challenge. “The office was archaic,” she recalls. “Two old-fashioned dial phones, so we couldn’t switch a call or put it on hold. No heating, so we had to wear extra clothes during the cold months.”

The real challenge was the homebound people MOW served. “Our volunteer might be the only person they see,” Rosemary says. “So we brought smiles and a little socializing with the food. And sometimes we do some rescue work. Once our driver found a client in diabetic shock, and saved her life. When I was delivering meals, I found someone who’d been trapped in a bathtub overnight.”

The Westside Ecumenical Conference funded the local MOW but can give only limited money. So Rosemary encouraged volunteers to organize fund-raising activities. With the added support, MOW now serves 550 meals every week. This means Rosemary is constantly recruiting new drivers, even though hardly any ever quit. “I tell every new driver to bring three friends,” she says. Maybe some friends are Rotarians.

Rotary Club of Santa Monica

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