Rotary Club of Santa Monica

"2001/2002 - A Rotary Odyssey"

Rota-Monica

ww.RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org

MOST DANGEROUS JOBS IN TOWN

             Fighting fires and crime used to be part of everybody’s duty in colonial America.  When a fire bell clanged, all male residents turned out for the bucket brigade.  Law enforcement was assigned to night watchmen, whose duties rotated among all able-bodied men.

             Benjamin Franklin organized a volunteer fire department in Philadelphia in 1736.  New York City installed professional, salaried fire companies in 1865.  Police power, under the 10th amendment to the Constitution, is reserved to the states, but in the 1830’s the states began giving municipalities the job of enforcing laws.  Theodore Roosevelt, New York’s police commissioner in 1895, established one of the country’s first efficient police departments. 

            Municipal fire fighting and crime fighting have been seldom-noticed parts of the scenery in Santa Monica since the 1920’s.  There was a period when our police department, like most others across the nation, was considered corruptible.  But after voters installed the city manager system, integrity and efficiency prevailed.

             Soon after our local Rotary Club was organized in 1922, members began to feel that our fire and police departments should be honored for their indispensable but little noticed service.  So we began singling out these departments for special honor at one meeting each year.  We call it “Public Servants Day.”  We celebrate it this year at our May 10th meeting. 

            Police Chief Jim Butts, Jr., one of our honorary members, will be with us to help honor the police.  He’ll call special attention to Detective John Henry, a 28-year member of the force, whose assignments are robberies and murders.  Maybe we’ll hear stories of cases he has tackled.

             The Fire Department hadn’t yet worked out plans for its part in the May 10th meeting as this issue of Rota-Monica went to press.  But there’ll be firemen with us, and we’ll be glad of the chance to let them know how we feel about them.

FLAVORS ARE THE FAMILY BUSINESS

One of a series on new members

             When Kimberly Smith first glimpsed Donald Wilkes across a hotel lobby in New York, she wished she knew him.  She acted on her wish.  She wrote a note, enclosed a photo, and asked a doorman to see that Wilkes received them.

             Wilkes, single, was a young executive in the flavoring business at Knudsen Dairies in Los Angeles.  He and Kim dated occasionally for about two years.  Then they drifted apart.  Ten years later they happened to meet again.  This time they felt they were meant for each other, so they married in 1998, and now live in Santa Monica with their young son. 

            Wilkes’ father, David, had built a flourishing company in the food-flavoring industry, finally sold it only to see it slip into bankruptcy, and maneuvered to regain control.  During a hearing in bankruptcy court, father and son sat in different parts of the courtroom and gave an impression that they were competitors.  A rival company mistakenly placed what it planned as an opening bid – only to see the judge award ownership to Wilkes’ father because the elder Wilkes had reserved what lawyers call “first right of refusal.”  Together, father and son regained the company for 60 per cent of its net worth.

             Donald eventually sold the business to a British company.  In 1993, he founded Blue Pacific Flavors, which now sells widely through offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, and Seoul.  From his headquarters in City of Industry (near the center of Los Angeles), Donald sometimes travels for weeks, proffering new tastes and aromas to American and Asian Pacific beverage companies. 

            David, now in his eighties, divides him time between residences in Florida, New York and Palm Springs but still helps by handling the “house” accounts for Blue Pacific on the east coast.

             Donald started his career as an illustrator, and nowadays is well known as an antique collector.  His array of Hawaiian memorabilia is featured in a forthcoming book on Hawaiian collectibles.  The Brooklyn Museum’s permanent collection displays one of his donations, a streamlined clothing iron made of glass.  He joined our club in March, with the avowed hope of becoming active in Santa Monica civic service, and of course, we’ll gladly help him do so. 

FIVE FINE ACES = $500

            Jim Reidy – member of this club since 1970, professor of computer sciences, former Santa Monica City Councilman, our envoy to ailing members, and friend of all – was taxed $100 for receiving Irish citizenship.  Congratulations Jim, and keep up your “fine” work.

             Joseph Fitzsimons and Bob Sullivan were simultaneously honored and taxed $100 each for selling the noted patch of land at 301 San Vicente Boulevard.  I remember Chet Hoover, former Rotarian and one-time owner of 301, threaten to demolish the property and grow vegetables there, when feeling disappointed with the rent control board.  Over the years 301 was an expensive garden patch.

             Another of our professors, Bill Crookston, was fined $100 for superb work in support of our club’s literacy program.

             “Most honored one”, Schiller Colberg, paid $100 for having a tennis champ as a grandson.  The fine was levied in tribute to the genetic process.  Congratulations to the family and especially the grandson. 

                                                                                                          -- Lionel Ruhman 

A THRONG OF GUESTS

             At our April 26th meeting, we welcomed more than two dozen non-Rotarian guests. About half of them were from the YMCA’s judo group, joining us to demonstrate some of their skills.  We hope many will eventually come back as members.

            The guests were:  Cassandra and Edward Shatzen, Justin and Sara Kocher, Rachel Shaffer, Bob Seldon, David Hahn, Kirk Uchida, Elizabeth Bowes, David Cherkes, Jack Mauch, Alyssa Clark, Don Price, Colette Taylor, Patricia Collins, Hilary Kaplowitz, Olivia Brown, Monica Metoyer, Malcolm Scott, John Magee, Alan Finkerstein, Thabin Sabahive, Matt Rogers and Mike Salter.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

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