"2004/2005"

Rota-Monica

www.RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org

April 1, 2005

Joy is the feeling of grinning on the inside

What a program we had today.  Tish, our invocator reminded us to “Be Proud of Who You Are” Paul Gaulke, the Master of Ceremonies, called the police chief “the Big Blue Butts” and Ann Greenspun said Tom Loo was her oriental manservant … and that was just the beginning.  We acknowledged Help Guide for winning the Bronze Medal in the 2005 Horizon Interactive Awards in the Public Service Category — what a wonderful surprise that will be for Robert Segal when he gets back from vacation.  We welcomed our visiting Rotarians:  Peggy Bloomfield from Westwood Village and Aleksandar Stefanovic from Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro.  We were happy to see Jamie Menzies and laughed along with John Pacheco for bringing his assistant, Marion Blount for Administrative Asst’s Day, three weeks early.  Marv Hecht brought Joe Wallach and Darrell Goode visited us too.  Steve Alexis reminded us about the International Food Fest, Mitchell Krauss a final plea for auction items, Susan Annett the beginning of the Citywide Reads book, The Kite Runner on April 12th.  Bill Hunt reminded us of the Arboretum Adventure and also that we had forgotten his birthday three months in a row.  George Collins urged us not to forget the person most important to us:  our secretary or administrative assistant.

Due to a tremendous amount of work by Judy Neveau we had a wonderful warm and fuzzy program.  We honored representatives from our Police, Fire, School and Bus Departments.  From the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District, Dr. Gabe Soumakian, the Human Resources Director, accepted the award on behalf of Angela Woo, a music educator from John Adams Middle School.   Unfortunately, she was unable to join us, as she was a guest instructor at a music honors camp in Portland, Oregon.

Stephanie Negriff from the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus told us why their honoree Motorcoach Operator David St. Clair was very special to them and all those fortunate enough to ride on his bus.   His wife Caroline and Bob Ayer, the Transit Operations Manager, joined him.

The Fire Chief Jim Hone introduced and awarded his honoree Michael McElveney.  Michael’s wife Susan came, along with Fire Chief Tom Tolman and Don Matthies.

The Police Department’s honoree was Saul Rodriguez joined by his wife, Angelica and Kevin Baker, Joan Rosario, Vince Gamache, Rudy Flores, Robert Alamada, Cody Green, Wendell Shirley and Gary Gallinot.  Chief Jim Butts paid tribute also to Sgt. Gary Gallinot who might be retiring next year.

The Big Blue Bus folk generously donated miniature busses, the police travel mugs filled with chocolates; the fire department gave us those great red fire helmets and Judy bought the red apples and yellow #2 pencils.   While a certain doctor, who used to be our program chair, and I picked up all the pencils all that was left in the end were the red apples.  I guess we are not a very health-conscious bunch.

Because of Judy our club had an opportunity to thank those wonderful people who serve us “below the radar” day in and day out.  Judy, you did an incredible job.  Thank you!

Happy Birthday to our April Rotarians

Don McDaniel, Roy Almeida, Andrew Parker, Carol Jackson, Mary Mathews, Paul Gaulke, Ken Miller, Bob Fredricks, Dick Hart, Jr., Merv Hecht, Nat Charnley, Bob Moore (in order of appearance) … Did I Mention Bill Hunt????

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

            April 8                                      Craft Talks - Brenda Katz & Sally Pai

            April 9                                      Gotta Go Group -  The Los Angeles County Arboretum

            April 12                                                Board Meeting  Conductor Lionel and crew

            April 13                                                Board Meeting  Paul Leoni and your new board     

            April 15                                                DARK - Rubber Eraser & Income Tax Day

            April 17                                    International Food Festival - Tom Loo’s Forbidden City                                                                        

            April 19                                                Roteract Meeting          - Santa Monica College

            April 22                                                Fun Fashion Show        - Administrative Assistant’s Day  

            April 28 – May 1, 2005                        District Conference - Palm Springs 

            April 29                                               Stepping up to the Plate - David Closer                         

            June 10                                               The Governor’s Reform Agenda - Billie Greer   

Be sure to sign up for the Secretary-Administrative Assistants Day program on April 22.  It is going to be a memorable event with our manly-man models strutting their stuff on the runway.  Entertainment and fun favors (if you let us know who you’re bringing) are planned.  RSVP to Diane Margolin at 310.393.2707 or June at rotaryclubofsantamonica@verizon.net.           

Your new 2005 – 2006 board

            President                                          Paul Leoni

            Vice-President - Committees              Monika White

            Vice President - Programs                  Bob Klein

            Secretary                                         RoseMary Regalbuto

            Treasurer                                         Steve Litvack

            Directors                                          Steve Alexis, Kris M. Andressen, Ann Greenspun,

                                                                   Iao M. Katagiri, Marv E. Levin, Oded Wolf

            Advisory Board (Past President)          Lionel G. Ruhman

            Executive Secretary                         June M. Doy

            President Elect                                Jim Dyer

To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.”

Donate Life California is a nonprofit Organ and Tissue Donor Registry dedicated to saving the lives of thousands of Californians awaiting life-saving transplants.  Officially formed in 2004 after being authorized by the state, California’s four federally designated non-profit organ procurement organizations are committed to giving every person waiting for a transplant – a second chance at life. 

Right now more than 18,000 Californians wait for an organ transplant.  That’s nearly 20% of those waiting across the country.  Tragically, 1/3 of them will die – waiting.

Until now, no Registry has existed for those of you who wished to express your wishes to be organ and tissue donors. Historically, while signing a donor card and placing the pink dot on your license served as an important symbol of your intent, it did not place you on any list or Registry.

Now, Donate Life California allows you to express your commitment to becoming an organ, eye and tissue donor. The Registry guarantees your plans will be carried out when you die.  You have the power to donate life — sign up today to become an organ and tissue donor.  Your generosity can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance another 50 through tissue donation.  Want more information?  See Carol Jackson. 

Tuesday, April 19, 2005:  Roteract Meeting @ Santa Monica College - Mike O’Hara (speaker)

The club meets at SMC on the 2nd floor of the business building room B207 located by the swimming pool.  The meetings are from 11:15am – 12:15pm.  By the way, this is a great way to do a makeup! 

The District Conference in Palm Springs—April 28 – Sunday May 1,

Thursday - April 28, 2005

        Golf Tournament – Doral Desert Princess Shot Gun Start 11:00 AM

        Palm Spring Aerial Tram & Buffet Lunch - Aerial Tram @ 12:00 Noon

        Palm Springs Follies - Bus Departs Desert Princess Hotel @ 6:00 PM

Friday - April 29, 2005

        Vocational Club Service Plenary 8:30 am - 9:45 am • Club Service Plenary 10:00 am –          11:15 am

        Lunch 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm • Youth Service Plenary 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

        Rotary Hospitality 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Saturday - April 30, 2005

        Walk / Run 6:30 am

        Community Service Plenary 8:30 am - 9:45 am • International Service Plenary 10:00 am -        11:45 am

        Lunch 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm • Business Meeting 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

        Governor’s No-Host Reception 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm • Governor’s Ball 7:00 pm - 11:00pm

Sunday - May 1, 2005

        Ecumenical Service 7:45 am - 8:15 am • Closing Breakfast 8:30 am - 10:30 am 

Friday, April 29, 2005:  David Kloser – “Stepping up to the Plate”

Palisades High School junior varsity baseball coach David Kloser, author of ‘Stepping Up to the Plate: Inspiring Interviews with Major Leaguers,’ is a man who emphasizes lessons the game teaches and those lessons can be applied to life off of the baseball diamond. 

A collection of inspirational quotes and stories from 140 top Major League players who share their life-long experiences about playing the game they love and grew up with.  You’ll discover what baseball has taught them about life on and off the field and how to apply it to your own success.  These Major Leaguers reveal:

The kind of teammates they really want on their team

How they deal with making errors in front of thousands of people         

The secrets to handle hecklers, name-calling and teasing

The importance of a winning attitude

Lionel wondered if the very official police cup would help if he was ever stopped by the police and then concluded that is wouldn’t hurt anything but certainly wouldn’t help.

Respectfully Submitted … RoseMary Regalbuto