Rotary Club of Santa Monica

"2001/2002 - A Rotary Odyssey"

Rota-Monica

JOINT MEETING WITH THREE CLUBS FRIDAY

“Relaxing attendance requirements, scheduling more flexible meeting times, dropping outdated practices in order to make the Rotary experience more relevant to younger members….”

Are these changes ahead for us?  Maybe yes.  Maybe no.  But if you read The Rotarian’s November issue (page 24) you saw them suggested by RI Membership Coordinator Robert L. Fish at the organization’s Presidential Conference attended by 541 Rotarians from 76 districts.

According to our magazine, the gathering’s two-day deliberations concentrated on a “one-time agenda:  membership growth.”  Growth is the aim of RI’s Global Quest, to be highlighted throughout coming months.  The Global Quest calls for each club to bring in at least one new member every month, overbalancing normal losses to end with a net annual gain of five members. 

Why this emphasis on growth?  RI President Richard King explained in his opening address, “The organization is at a critical crossroads.  Over the last 12 years, 1.3 million people have left Rotary.  Except for those few new clubs chartered every year, we would be in a sorry state.  We’ve been losing members from existing clubs.  We have to do something about it, or we will begin to die.”

 Our past president, Jack Siegal, is one of those chosen by RI to do something about it.  Achieving net growth in our own club and three neighboring ones is his task.  To tackle the task, he has arranged for the joint meeting of four clubs scheduled for this Friday.

The meeting will discuss changes in Rotary rules.  Leading the discussion will be district governor, Len Wasserstein; past district governor Garbis Der Yeghian; and district governor-elect, John Colville.  The joint meeting is scheduled for our own meeting place, the Riviera Country Club, at our usual hour, noon this Friday.

BRING BOOKS OR CHECKS FRIDAY

Susan Dawson, Chair of our club’s “Read By Nine” holiday book drive, says the drive has brought in about 250 books as of November 12, with a goal of 600 by this Friday, November 30.  The drive is to provide books that will entice younger kids (kindergarten through third grade) to read them for fun.  If you’d like to help, you can take your choice of four ways to do so:  (1) bring in gently-used hardcover books for the right age group; (2) buy new books from the list at the S.M. Rotary Website; (3) write a check to California Community Foundation/Rotary Read by 9; (4) drop $5 in the container on the back table on your way out at today’s meeting. 

FINERY FOR NOVEMBER 9 AND 16

TAXES ASSESSED SO FAR ($12,611)

Judy Neveau: $150 for (long ago) owning a 1955 Chevy with bench seat.  Were there other kinds of seats in 1955?  For newer Rotarians, look up Judy’s page in the roster to see some of what she’s accomplished since coming here from Hungary.

Esther Johnson: $50 because President Hal found her lost calendar.  We all love Esther’s music and the joy she brings to our club. 

President Hal’s executive secretary: $75 for a slight typographical error, sending out an e-mail signed by “Hal Quiglet,” which rhymes with “p—let.”  Absolute brutal power! 

Tom Loo: no tax for attending his high school class reunion.  But $250 for his partnership in the law firm that represented our president during the unpleasantness about the vote in Florida.

Harmon Sieff:  “Mr. Cool,” $150 for not attending the new member party, which he chaired.  It was his 50^th birthday, which he celebrated by attending a World Series game with his son.  Harmon is a native of Phoenix.  Even so, Harmon, which is more important – a world championship or Rotary?

Bob Sullivan and Monte Herring: $125 apiece for serving on the same submarine.  It figures that Monte would be an undersea commander with the name Herring, but we don’t know about Bob.

Bob Gabriel: $150 for a picture of him at a Kiwanis affair.  He was taxed not for attending but for not wearing his Rotary pin.  Good eye, Hal.

Jim Haljun: $125 for three and a half weeks cruising the Mediterranean.  Welcome back!

Dr. John Tarle: $100 for bringing Ms. Anna Byrd into the world about 20 years ago.  Anna was recently chosen as recipient of a $25,000 Rotary scholarship.  John made this possible.

Bill Hunt: $150 for buying a new car.  No doubt it was a birthday gift to himself.  What’s for next month, Bill?

Bob Baker and Hank Walther: $125 and $150 respectively as lessee and lessor ob Bob’s new office at 2530 Wilshire.

Paul Leoni: $100 for his superb job of cleaning the beach.

George Collins: $75 for reasons unknown except that he sent an e-mail to Jim Haljun.  Next time, George, try Jim’s phone at 393-9241.  It usually works. 

--Lionel Ruhman

YOU CAN HELP SMC STUDENTS

Business students who belong to Rotaract, our club-sponsored organization at Santa Monica College, would love to meet with Rotarians one-on-one or in groups to tap into your knowledge. This can be an important part of the students’ education and a rewarding experience for Rotarians.

As the Rotaract Handbook of Rotary International says, “Rotarians can enhance the professional development of Rotaractors by providing practical advice on entering the business worlds and overcoming business, vocational, and professional challenges”

Here’s how you can help:

1. Agree to meet one-on-one with a Rotaract member, starting with an initial meeting of an hour.  Commit to three hours in total with the student if the initial meeting goes well.
2. Host a small group of students at your place of business to give them a look at the operation and answer questions from students.

If you can do one or both of these, please contact Jim Westbrook (453-1991 e-mail: jkoorb@aol.com) or Ed Moosbrugger (452-1423 e-mail: writermoos@aol.com).

WE HONORED THESE VISITORS RECENTLY

Michael Gregory; Annie and Mary Lea Byrd; Klaus Billep; Keving Yardanian; Blair Brandenberg; Trisha Steiner; Bruve Lavachek; Marianne Bakalyan.

NEWS FROM OUR BOARD MEETING

We all are sorry to learn that Scott Brutzman, Ray Corvan and Roger Hager have resigned from the club…Our annual election of officers will be held at our Friday club meeting on December 14…Steve Eorio, chairman of the community youth and grant committee, is looking for worthy groups that are facing specific equipment needs.  Call him at (310) 821 3725…Our president always cocks an attentive ear to news about your fellow Rotarians that could be worthy of recognition by a fine…The board reminds all members that RI rules currently require that a member must attend club meetings 60% of each half-year period, and that 60% of attendance must be at our own club.  “Attendance” means 45 minutes of the meeting.  If a member must leave before meeting’s end, politeness suggests excusing oneself to the president, speaker or both.

COMING SOON

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