ISSUE NO. 33 March 28, 2003 OUR 81st YEAR
www.RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org
Coming Our Way
Hang on to your hats, or your pockets, as the case may be, because our speaker on April 4th is the one who knows where the contents should be going. He’s Rick Auerbach, the 24th Assessor of Los Angeles County. Mr. Auerbach must be doing something right, because he was recently re-elected to a four-year term with 70% of the vote. He’s got his job cut out for him. The focus of this administration is to combine the latest technology, including extensive use of an Internet website, with an equal emphasis on traditional public service for one of the largest constituencies in the country. Auerbach’s property assessment agency alone has 2.3 million parcels. A professional and highly credentialed man, who, for his hobby, has completed 55 full 26-mile marathons, Rick Auerbach seems like just the right ticket for us next week.
The First ‘R’ Stands for Reading
If a book is the porthole to the world, then today’s program had all the elements to sail around it indefinitely. Children the world over can have their lives changed by first having the ability to read. Literacy is the goal that spurs our own Rotarians with the commitment to bring books and reading classes locally. Our book drive started modestly with 350 book; this year Norma Barnes and Shirley Dowling were proud to gather 11,000 books to stock school libraries and senior citizen homes. First Lady Mrs. Sharon Davis has made no less of a commitment herself. She has visited over 150 schools throughout California and encourages standards to aim ever higher. The task is daunting. There are over 6.2 million school children in 2,000 school districts. Having uniform standards in the classroom regardless of geography, better-paid teachers, accountability, and enthusiasm, the goals are being addressed and met: more students can take advantage of higher education, contribute to an improved economy and their skills to the workplace. Worthy goals, indeed.
Heads Up
The head table, representing literacy activism, was especially distinguished today, graced as it was by Norma Barnes, Chair of the Literacy Program, for the invocation; John McIntire, past president, whose special project was Rotary Reads to Kids; Kris Andresen, guest host and introducer of our esteemed speaker First Lady Sharon Davis; Rick Mendoza, District Governor for 5280, and Shirley Dowling, organizer of Rotary Reads to Kids, to introduce visiting Rotarians and guests. Karen Baker led the group in song, and Carol Jackson tickled the ivories.
The Welcome Mat
There were guests galore today, beginning with visiting Rotarians: Claude Alexandre from LA 5, Lenore Mulryan from Westwood Village, Pat Cashin from Culver City, and Dick Winchester from Pacific Palisades. John Colville, Governor Elect visited from Paramount, and Governor Rick Mendoza joined us from Redondo Beach. Guests were Joe Spearles, Carolyn Sackarinson, Cheri Orgel, Robin Squier, Heidi Nyman, Maria Richardson, Linda Gross, Ralph Mechur, Amanda Cerreto, Davis Potter, and Sharon Dyer.
Of Significance
| Children who have been stricken with polio have at least one thing going for them: Rotarians have pledged to eradicate polio, and soon. Following last week’s plea from Marv Levin, three members made $500 pledges that will be matched so that 12,000 doses of the polio vaccine can be purchased. Your commitment is especially important if you weren’t in the Club when the initial drive was made…new members are encouraged to join in and eradicate this preventable, debilitating disease. Contact Hal Quigley or Marv Levin. |
| May 1st is the beginning of the big weekend at The Pechanga Resort in Temecula. If you plan to attend the District Conference, book your reservation now because the demand is high. Information can be obtained at http://www.rotary5280.org/conference/. Here’s some of what’s in store in addition to the break-out sessions: winery tour and tasting, Governor’s Banquet, Sunday Brunch, golf, tennis, 5K run/walk, casino, and lots more! |
| Norma Barnes reminded us that March 31st through April 4th has been designated Rotary Reads to Kids week. Volunteers were asked to read to kids in grades K, 1 and 2 at Edison, McKinley, John Muir and Rogers elementary schools. Good news: 50 people have already volunteered. Please add your name to the sign up sheets to share yourself with our children. After hearing Mrs. Davis speak so eloquently on the subject of literacy, who can refuse? |
| April 25th is the date to acknowledge your assistant…you know, the one who’s probably responsible for making sure you actually get calendared to attend all of our weekly Rotary meetings. We’re having a fashion show and special treats for these unsung heroes. Call Diane Margolin 393-2707 regarding how many guests you’ll be bringing so they can all be accommodated. |
| Remember to save April 27th for an international food fest at the home of Tom Loo. Ethnic cuisine is the theme of the day…and libations too, which calls for six Rotarians to volunteer to bartend for one hour each. Silent auction items are to be handed to Oded Wolf (bring them to our meeting and either Oded, George Collins or Barry Bouley will be happy to accept them from you). Steve Alexis will schedule your culinary contribution. Call Karim Jaude for more information at 471-4185. |
| President Crookston and eight other Rotarians paid their last respects by attending the memorial service for Bruce Blickensderfer. Bruce had been a member since 1952 and was proud to be a Paul Harris Fellow. He shall be missed. |
| Who is George Rosenthal? Movie Mogul? Real Estate Baron? Businessman? Hotelier? If you guessed All Of The Above, you’d be right. He’s the owner of the Rosenthal Winery, “Rosenthal-The Malibu Estate”, and he has a passion for fine wines. You can meet him, talk about wine, sample the best, and have a private tour of his estate in June. Stay tuned. |
Fine Time
Mike O’Hara will have to ante up $100 because he looked the same as he did in 1950, according to his photo that was printed in the Alumni News from Samohi.
And Spyros Dellaportas will have to pay $100 as well, but for the life of me, I couldn’t understand why. Something about his daughter and his nephew and someone else’s birthday. (Playing Trick The Editor isn’t nice, boys.)
On The Agenda
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April 11 Chief of Police & Fire Departments, Public Service Awards Day |
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April 18 Dark: Good Friday |
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April 25 Administrative Assistants’ Day/Fashion Show |
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April 27 International Food Festival |
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May 2 Cynthia Stringfield, DVM, Veterinarian for the LA Zoo |
International
Service is our passport to world understanding. International Service is
worrying a little more about whether you understand the other person than
whether she understands you. –Henry J. Brunnier, 1953-53 President,
Rotary International