Rotary Club of Santa Monica

"2002/2003"

Rota-Monica

www.RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org

Coming our Way

Who is Donald Wilkes and why is he going to speak to us?  Good question, which is why you should show up on May 16^th to hear his craft talk. We’re a fascinating bunch, and we’re about to get ‘up close and personal’ with Don next week.  Be there.

On Winning the Peace

Jerrold Green, Ph.D., RAND Senior Political Scientist, and Director of Mideast Public Policy, makes the distinction that it is far easier for a super military power such as the US to win the war than it is to win the peace. Collaborating with diverse Middle Eastern cultures, languages, religions, and motives to create an effective government is a complex scenario that poses as many questions as it answers. That a peace of sorts has been won with the ouster of Saddam Hussein is clear, but managing the aftermath is what will ultimately determine whether the endeavor was successful, particularly in light of the divergent views of our own government. Time will tell whether the adage is true that when there’s a conflict between interest and ideology, interest triumphs.

Heads Up

The head table was graced by John Lehne, who gave a moving invocation in honor of Mother’s Day. New member Larry Mortoff was introduced and whetted appetites to hear his craft talk. Iao Katagiri introduced speaker Jerrold Green, Ph.D., and the ever-clever Harris Levey introduced guests and visiting Rotarians. Welcome back to song master Phil Tirone of elbow fame, and thanks to Dick Rice, who worked the knobs and dials to insure our music and our lyrics were in synch.

The Welcome Mat

John Elman, Rotarian from Malibu, joined our meeting. Visitors were Rev. E. Keith Richardson, Anne Rimer, John Katch, Jillian Alexander, Ronny Longwell, Bill Frank, Fred Marx, Rajesh Khanna, Mark Olson, Duncan Rolph, and Eileen Rolph.

The Rotary Club of Malibu is holding a dinner/theater event on May 16^th to benefit Malibu Schools and Polio Eradication Worldwide. Members were encouraged to attend a showing of Light Up The Sky, followed by dinner at the Gray Whale. Call 589-1998 for more information.

Of Significance

There’s nothing more significant than the multitude of honors awarded this club at last week’s District Conference.  To correctly summarize the duly earned awards, Rotary of Santa Monica was named the Club of Distinction (for the second consecutive year). In the category of Club Service: first place for Overall Club Service, Electronic Communication, District Participation, Programs, and Membership Development. In the category of Vocational Service: first place in Overall Vocational Service, Literacy, and Special Projects. Merit Awards were given for Best Club Program, the Red Quill Award for the Rota Monica, Overall Community Service, Give of Yourself Organ Donation, Community Development, Special Projects, and World Community Service. In Youth Services, a Merit Award was given for Rotoract and International Special Projects.  Last, but certainly not least, Rotary of Santa Monica was honored with the governor’s Award of Excellence.  Kudos to President Bill Crookston and to his leadership style for bringing out the best in us.

Fine Time

It may have been in honor of mothers worldwide, but John Lehne’s invocation earned him a $75 fine for, well, for being John Lehne. 

Now Harris Levey, on the other hand, got himself fined $190 for relentlessly challenging the ‘pres to a verbal game of bridge. I think the fine means that Harris got trumped.

 Under the category of No Good Deed Shall Go Unpunished, Blair Green will have to pay $100 for winning a trip to Hawaii (this after selling 10,000 tickets so Rotoractors could go to Brisbane). It probably wasn’t that deed that got him fined, but rather his decision to bring along his sponsor, Phil Tirone, as his guest.

 The real-life Robert Segal, the one who earned it, but didn’t get the recognition for his fabulous display at the District Conference, will nonetheless have to ante up $50. Hey, such is life.

 For the act of dancing and singing on the Third Street Promenade, Ann Greenspun and Nat Trives will have to give back $50 each. The cost of celebrity keeps us solvent.

On The Agenda

On Imbibing in April:

W.C. Fields said:

“Once, during Prohibition, I was forced to live for days on nothing but food and water.”

Johnny Carson said:

“I know a man who gave up smoking, drinking, sex, and rich food. He was healthy right up to the day he killed himself.”

and Robert Heinlein said:

“Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors, and miss.

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