Rotary Club of Santa Monica

"2001/2002 - A Rotary Odyssey"

Rota-Monica

OUR DAY TO HELP MUSIC IN SCHOOLS

            When Rotary District 5280 decided to help promote music education in schools, it started a district-wide Music Awards program.  It named the award after our member and “First Lady of Rotary”, Esther M. Johnson.  Naturally our club decided to help.

             We set aside one meeting of our year for Music Awards competition.  Each local high school in our community was invited to send its best musician, after which judges would choose a winner to represent our club in competition.  The three top finalists would play at Rotary’s district conference in May.   

            And so, for four years in succession we’ve had a concert-like treat for our members and guests.  We’re looking forward to the fifth time at our meeting this Friday.  Samohi, New Roads School, St. Monica, Crossroads and Malibu have been invited. 

            Nat Trives, this year’s chairman, is in charge of arrangements – which included having the piano tuned, arranging our meeting room for best acoustics, ordering plaques for the players, and appointing judges.  Nat reminds us, “This is a wonderful opportunity to encourage music in the schools and honor Esther by treating a guest to lunch and fine music.”

  WHO’S NEW

             Fourteen new members have joined our club since last July 1, thus keeping our average up to about one every two weeks since the start of 2001.  Her are the 14 newest members:

                        Dr. Robert A. Adams, Ph.D.

                        Steve Alexis

                        Kristina Andresen

                        John Deasy

                        Kathryn Dodson

                        Sara Frank

                        Eloise Helwig

                        Iao M. Katagiri

                        Jacqueline Kittaka

                        Tod Lipka

                        Andrew Parker

                        Myles Henry Pritchard

                        Vivian Rivas

                        Michael Rosenthal

GUEST OF MEMBERS

            At our January 25th meeting, members brought the following as guests: Craig Blenkhorn, Dolores Fritzsche, Oded Wolf, Bob Skousare, John Alex, Mary Jo Dalton, Dr. Ray Hall, Kai-Li Quigley, Brian West, Scott Brutzman, Lisa Leight.

TAXATION WITH REPRESENTATION YIELDS $1,750, OR $23,251 SO FAR

            At our January 25th meeting seven of us were honored for pictorial notability and good work at the YMCA:  Jim Haljun, Dick Lawrence, Gee-Shin Lee, Paul Leoni, Marvin Levin, Dee Menzies and Nat Trives.  All were taxed $100 except Dee (more about her later). 

            $100 apiece for attaining celebrity status by “Posing with Arnold” – Susan Dawson, Tom Loo, Chris Lawson, George Collins, Hal Quigley.  $125 for taking the photo: Dave Bohn. 

            Dr. Frank Lavac, our gentle veterinarian, was taxed $150 for his article on brushing dogs’ teeth with meat-flavored toothpaste.  Sounds like a good idea for a quiet lunch – or perhaps a happy hour, with a little bourbon flavor?

             Helping to celebrate the Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center’s 75th Anniversary cost Bob Gabriel $75. 

            Barbara Hopper was charged $25 for “exemplary duty.”

             Their first grandchild (produced by their son Jake and daughter-in-law) cost Dr. Eric Schmitter and Marilyn $125.

COMING UP

            Features of our future Friday meetings