ISSUE NO. 3 July 29, 2003 OUR 82nd YEAR
www.RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org
WHAT A CRAFTY TABLE
This past week we had a table of money and communications. Representing the world of high finance were renowned accountancy head JIM WESTBROOK doing Visitors and Guests and home finance wizard PHIL TIRONE as craft talker. From the adrenaline pumped world of communications came JACK SIEGAL and publishing magnate DIANE MARGOLIN who shared her experiences as a publisher and Rotarian. A beautifully moving invocation was invoked by KAREN BAKER.
Southern California native DIANE MARGOLIN is a true home grown star with her Santa Monica Star. Coming from West LA she attended SMC and UCLA, and after stints around the country is back home contributing to our community with awareness and making celebrities.
The maestro of music, that Man of Mortgages, that Can-Can Leader from Canoga Park, the man who should be called “Phoenix Phil”, PHIL TIRONE gave a positively positive craft talk on who he is and what made him so. From his early days failing second grade reading improvement, being denied admission to all his frathouse pledges, heck, being denied admission to all the colleges he applied to, he has become a star performer. He was Man of the Year at ASU, for two years he was President of the Rotary club that originally denied him admission. And of course we know how well he now leads in song and success in the business world.
CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OUR CRAFT TALKERS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING EFFORTS IN BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE!!
A BRAZILIAN ABRAZO – Notes from Annie Bird
Bem-Vindo ao Brasil!!!
I just arrived today to Recife where I will begin my vacation from school. I have always wanted to learn more about this incredibly rich culture and I am extremely excited to be here.
The last month was very busy taking exams, writing papers, and working in the NGO. I am proud to announce that I received a perfect grade of 10 (the grading scale here is 1-10) in my International Comparative Latin American Politics class where I wrote a paper on Colombia. For my exam in International Latin American Politics class, I wrote two in-class essays: one on the history of the Latin American Economic and Security situation and the other based on Latin American sovereignty and integration. I also wrote a paper on the history of Mexico. In my International Negotiation class, I utilized class theories to understand the crisis of the mad cow disease in Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. And finally in my literature class of Jorge Luis Borges, my final brought together main themes and principal issues in his works read throughout the course. I learned a tremendous amount this semester and feel like it was a very successful, productive, and positive experience.
I have become more involved in the non-governmental organization, Avance por el Desarrollo Humano, that I spoke about last month. The experience has been absolutely incredible. I have started going to the villas (poor neighborhoods) weekly to observe and begin to learn how to participate in the organization. I have visited many of the villas now within Capital Federal and am learning more about how they function, who lives there, and how they remain there. The majority are immigrants from Bolivia and work illegally in Buenos Aires. The majority of their ‘houses are without electricity, plumbing, sometimes without closed windows or doors, or proper floors. The children do attend school within the villa and have limited medical attention, depending on the villa. We visit families to see how their businesses are going and to remind them to pay the loan. The connection between the economic and the social is very important within this organization. Borrowers do not just receive the loan and are then forgotten; a relationship is established and maintained throughout the whole process. I have been able to talk with individuals and hear their stories. Recently, I have begun explaining the idea of the NGO to people in the community, as well as interviewing those interested in the loan.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to work with this organization and broaden my understanding of the Argentine reality.
I wish you a very happy July and, as always, look forward to hearing from you.
Un gran abrazo,
A big hug,
Annie
(Editors Note: Annie is sponsored by Monte Herring)
“ HI MIKE, Hi Mike, Hey Michael, Howdy MIKE!”
This week we had one Rotarian visitor, MIKE DOELL from Manhattan Beach.
Our guests were RICHARD TAUSSIG, BOB CORNISH and ALEX CHEN.
OF NOTE
OLE JOHNSON, husband of ESTHER JOHNSON passed away last week. Please remember her in your prayers.
From VEEP NAT TRIVES: There are seventeen open speaking dates remaining for the Rotary Year 2003-04 and they are: August 22nd; October 3rd & 10th; December 12th; January 16th, 23rd & 30th; February 20th; March 12th & 19th; April 16th; May 7th, 14th 21st & 28th; and June 4th & 18th, 2004. There are more than 25 invitations out to potential speakers who have not confirmed as of yet. If you are working on speakers for me please check this report carefully.
DAVID’S
DOODLINGS
Because we are not made stronger by what comes easy, it is important to always remember that on a good day I learn nothing, on a bad day I learn a lot.
-David Pisarra
What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight - it's the size of the fight in the dog.
-Dwight D. Eisenhower