ISSUE NO. 11 SEPTEMBER 22, 2000 OUR 79th YEAR
http://RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org
THIS 10-LETTER WORD CAN CAUSE ARGUMENTS
At this week’s meeting we’ll hear a leading spokesman and
practitioner of the branch of alternative medicine called homeopathy. It’s
based on the theory that “like cures like”. In other words, small doses of
a substance that causes a disease may cure or prevent the disease, thereby
rectifying system imbalances. Homeopaths aim to treat the whole patient
instead of just a specific disorder.
Noel Aguilar, Ph.D., carries on practices in Beverly Hills and in south
Florida as a specialist in homeopathy, herbal therapy and nutrition. He has
also lectured widely for the past six years in Germany, Canada and across the
United States. When he’s here, he serves as the staff homeopath/herbalist at
the Los Angeles Center for Healing on So. Robertson Boulevard, and heads a
research lab that tests new nature products. Not long ago he was featured on a
Fox Network show called The Power of Wellness.
Dr. Aguilar wasn’t available to give advance information about his
talk. But we gleaned this much from reference books:
“Homeopathy
was developed by Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician (1775-1843). It is
seldom practiced today. But Hahnemann’s investigations were a significant
contribution to medical science. He discovered that cinchona bark, used to
treat malaria, caused symptoms of that disease. This led to studies of other
diseases.” (Family Health Guide, Reader’s Digest)
Today there is a Hahnemann Medical College of Homeopathy. Dr. Aguilar
attended, and earned a degree there.
“Around 1900 the prevailing system
of medicine in this country, homeopathy is now limited in scope, as a result
of an intense drive against it spearheaded by the American Medical
Association. … Renewed interest has brought this practice to the fore.” (Anti-Aging
Program, Kensington books.
Dr. Aguilar may have fought
battles on behalf of his specialty, and seems likely to tell us stirring
stories this Friday.
COMING
SOON
September 29 – Olympic Memories,
Nikki Stone
October 6 – Return of Vince Lombardi,
in a way
October 13 – Fire Ants, Killer Bees
and Other Pests
October 20 – Josephson Institute on
Ethics
November 7 (Tuesday) – Rotary Golf
Tournament, Sterling Hills
When Klaus Mennekes and Spyros Dellaportas arose to be honored for
their talents as hoteliers, we knew our attention would be distracted from basic
facts. These two brought tears of joy and laughter to the dialogue. Amid the
merriment, John Lehne levied $50 on Spyros and $175 on Klaus, as both their
rooming facilities were highly mentioned in the elite GEO Plus magazine. We
should be proud to be a guest in either the Palms Motel or the Shutters Hotel.
Both hosts are artists in guestology, and by nature are kind, considerate and
compassionate. In fact, we have heard that should a young couple need a room and
cannot afford the full rate, the Palms can offer a pro-rated minimum amount.
What could be more accommodating?
Another prominent entrepreneur, Bill Crookston, was granted an
opportunity to transfer $50 to the club. He is a member of the Marshall School
of Business (USC) which was recognized by US News and World Report as number two
in the nation. We couldn’t be more impressed unless he were rated number one.
Congratulations, Bill.
All those admirable UCLA and USC alumni
members of our club paid $25 each for their universities’ upset victories over
Alabama and Penn State, respectively. Great going, men! Keep up the good work.
Lionel Ruhman
“Home, home on the range, where the deer and the antelope
play…” It doesn’t take a new member long to realize that our club has a
real fascination with this song. If we sing it after guest introductions, its
refrain is liable to be heard for many minutes.
Sometimes when a meeting is dragging (“Our meetings don’t
drag”, says President John), a group will more or less spontaneously enliven
things with “Home on the Range”.
How did this all start, you may ask (if you may, please do). It
began when former mayor of Santa Monica Herb Spurgin was our President in 1959.
Herb was fond of “Home on the Range” and asked that it be one of the
songs we sang regularly. Of course, his friends began bedeviling him with it and
the tradition was born. So, the next time you hear others begin, feel free to
join in.
Bill Fritzsche, club historian
(One
of a series on club directors)
Probably the hottest question mark confronting John Lehne last
spring, as he recruited a team to help run the club during his presidential
year, was “What Board member will direct our International Service
Committees?”
Those committees are among the least glamorous, least noticeable of all the 38
standing committees on our club’s organization chart. Their work is done
behind the scenes – lining up host families for Rotary visitors from abroad,
arranging trips for students we send to foreign countries, coordinating
international projects with other Rotary clubs and with District 5280. Most of
our members are barely aware of the names of these committees: Group Study
Exchange, Rotary International Foundation, Student Exchange, and World Community
Service.
But John luckily had no trouble filling this gap on
his Board of Directors. Philip X. Tirone volunteered. Phil obviously had the
needed background and energy.
Last year he chaired the Group Study Exchange Committee, arranging housing and
transportation for a group sent here by Rotary International. The year before,
as Chair of the International Foundation Committee, he personally canvassed
every member of our club for contributions.
He had made his mark in Rotary earlier. He joined the Rotary Club of Prescott,
Arizona, at the inexperienced age of 22; became a club Director at 23, and
President at 24.
And he was strenuously interested in the world abroad. He had learned Spanish,
spent a summer in the slums of Ensenada, Mexico; attended the University of
Madrid and played on its rugby team; journeyed to India as leader of a Rotary
International group study team, and worked for ten days alongside the nuns in
Mother Theresa’s Order in Calcutta.
Phil went into the real estate business after graduation from Arizona
State University. Now, at 28, he is with First Capital, a mortgage corporation
with offices in Santa Monica. He has become widely acquainted in our club
because he is an engaging conversationalist, asking questions about the duties
and experiences of everyone he meets.
This summer, recruiting leaders for the International Service Committee must have been one of the harder tasks Phil has tackled in Rotary. He approached numerous prospects who said “no” because they couldn’t commit to the irregular hours and days. Now, only about one-fourth into the Rotary year, he already is lining up some replacement chairmen as members who accepted the posts find themselves unable to continue because of personal schedule changes. Nevertheless, those who know Phil are sure that, no matter how much trouble it takes, he’ll find the needed members.