ISSUE NO. 1 July 8, 2005 OUR 84th YEAR
www.RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org
Paul’s first meeting started off beautifully: Carol Jackson comfortably back on the keys with John Miller’s melodious voice leading us in song. Even John’s “paul-ized” version of Old MacDonald was fitting.
Paul, our Prez, he has a pharm Swings the gavel here,
Ointments, pills, condoms, Socks a big fine there,
And from his pharm we need some drugs; Calls for prayer, cites the pledge
Stimulants and Tums. Sings some dopey, lame song …
Paul our Prez who has a pharm
As I try and sing it now, I am having trouble making it work. But Friday afternoon, we sounded great.
The head table was more than full with your current board, secretary, treasurer, immediate past president, president elect: Kris Andresen, Steve Alexis, Jim Dyer, Ann Greenspun, Iao Katagiri, Bob Klein, Marv Levin, Steve Litvack, RoseMary Regalbuto, Lionel Ruhman, Monika White, Oded Wolf and Prez Paul.
Paul was very gracious and introduced every board member in detail, bringing lots of squirming and some barely audible yawns from the general populace. “Every yawn is worth $10” Paul quipped to our number-one-trouble-maker Bill Fritzsche. That encouraged much more participation from an area suspiciously close to Dick Lawrence. Paul was not fazed … he has not been a Rotarian with perfect attendance for 25 years for nothing. By the time Paul got to Jim Dyer, he was cajoling Jim to stay well, as he was going to be in Paul’s shoes in 357 more days. That brought an impatient comment “Jim, take over now,” from a table towards the back. I really do not want to mention too many more names but after Kent Colberg mentioning USC students and SAT scores in one sentence, I can safely say it came from “HIS” table. Then Bill Fritzsche actually stood up, demanded a microphone and said, referring to the head table, “we were the Last Supper if ever he has seen it.” Paul eagerly responded, ”It is rumored that you supplied their dinner.” Another voice from the back added, “Paul, you know what they did to the guy in the middle.” My, you were a boisterous bunch. Where was X-Prez Dee to call all the boys and girls to order? Our new and noble leader went on with his announcements despite comments such as “great first program” and Hal Quigley introducing his whole table as past presidents. Paul acknowledged the Rotarians that attended the Chicago International Convention and informed us that the June 2006 Convention will be in Copenhagen, Sweden. Well, you can imagine it took half of the club about a nana-second to remind Paul that Copenhagen is in Denmark with the other half still thinking about the $1.02 fine imposed on Emory Stoops. Was it because he rode in the Pacific Palisades 4th of July Parade or because Hank Walther was driving the car? I will spare you the rest by simply listing all the important dates below in the “Calendar of Events.”
Other Announcements:
“Tish” Tisherman – “My first announcement is to adjourn this meeting.” I bet you all heard Paul say, “but you do not have the power” so instead Tish invited us all to a SLUMBER PARTY. No, it is not just women only. We are going to walk, eat, laugh, sip some wine, sleep, sit, rest, run, smile and after all “this is a service club … let’s get out there and be of service.” Well done, Tish! Our Rotary Team will participate in a continuous 24-hour relay that raises money for cancer research and care.
Please join us at Santa Monica College anytime from 9:30 am on Saturday until 8:30 am on Sunday.
Schedule for Saturday, July 23:
Opening Ceremony 9:30 am – 9:45 am
Survivor’s Lap 9:45 am – 10:00 am
Luminaries Celebration & Walk 9:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Jim Dyer was next talking about the 2006 International Conference as a joint effort of Sweden and Denmark and made some comment about geography not being a strong emphasis at USC. I heard Dick Lawrence voicing a question somewhat boisterously “When is the dethroning Party?”
Then it was Lionel’s turn and Paul gave him a minute and a half. It took Lionel almost a minute and a half to realize he had been negligent in introducing his Board. He started with Hank Walther – VP, and Jon Kemp – VP … the balance of the Board to be introduced later. “Well, we received more information in the last 15 minutes than all of the information last year. Congratulations Paul.”
Paul gave Lionel another minute and a half and Lionel acknowledged those receiving awards at the de-throning. One to Frank Blenkhorn (60 years) who was not at the dethroning and wasn’t there on Friday either. Same was true of Phil Whiting (46 years). Good thing Paul (25 years) was Prez Elect or he might not have been there either, and that would have looked really bad if all our perfect attendance awardees were just not there. (It was certainly nothing personal Lionel … and Phil, Harris, Tish, Frank and Greg you missed a heck of a party). Additional Certificates of Appreciation went to Harris Levey, Emery Stoops, and your entire 2004-2005 Rotary Board. The two women in Lionel’s life who took such good care of him, keeping him on track and timely received Paul Harris Fellowships. Thank you Elza and June for putting up with us as well.
Austin Jennings Award Greg Hargrave
Esther Johnson Spirit Award Carol Jackson
Four Avenues of Service Hal Quigley
Herb Spurgin Award Jillian Alexander & “Tish” Tisherman
Jim Cayton Award John & Kay Lehne
Joe Gilbert Award RoseMary Regalbuto
President’s Award Mike O’Hara & Marv Levin
By the time we got to our guest speaker he was ready to leave with anyone who took Paul up on his one-minute break for those who needed to be excused. He had seen how tough we could be and wasn’t sure he even wanted to try. However, we calmed down and thoroughly enjoyed Steve’s talk about his family’s San Antonio Winery.
In 1917, Santo Cambianica left his home in the Northern Italian province of Lombardy to settle in the midst of a bustling Italian-American community in Los Angeles. Here, on Lamar Street, he founded the San Antonio Winery. In hope of good fortune in this new country, Santo dedicated the winery to Saint Anthony, his patron saint.
In 1920, Prohibition jolted the wine industry. The majority of Los Angeles wineries closed forever, but Santo requested permission from the Catholic Church to make sacramental wines. The church granted his request and San Antonio Winery was able to survive. Over 65 years after the repeal of Prohibition, they continue to produce altar wines for religious services.
Today, the LA River is paved and the vineyards have been replaced with heavy industry. San Antonio Winery remains the only producing winery in Los Angeles. Still in its original location on Lamar Street, the Winery is the last vestige of the rich winemaking tradition of this region. In recognition, the city of Los Angeles designated San Antonio Winery a Cultural Historical Landmark.
Since the Winery’s founding, four generations have carried on Santo’s tradition of handcrafting fine wine. In 1938, Santo’s nephew Stefano Riboli refined and expanded his uncle’s company with a spirit of innovation and dedication to quality that has become a hallmark of this family business. Today, the family’s dedication is evident in every aspect of San Antonio Winery. Stefano and Maddalena, sons Santo and Steven, daughter Catherine, and grandson Anthony honor this tradition with their award-winning Riboli Family of Wines.
Rotary International President 2005 – 2006
Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar made a grand bow to continuity and the successes of the past century when he unveiled the 2005-06 theme, Service Above Self, at the International Assembly in Anaheim, California.
“I would like to be modern. I would like to recycle and I also want to promote continuity,” he declared in the theme address at the opening plenary session. “Therefore, I have chosen the best motto ever created for Rotary International: Service Above Self.”
The RI president explained that his theme selection was also guided by Rotarians’ need for landmarks while entering into a second century of service.
“In our efforts to work for a better world, we need a leading star to follow, a theme that we can all fix upon,” he said. “Over the years we have had many different themes: Enjoy Rotary! Be a Friend, Lend a Hand, Celebrate Rotary, just to mention a few of them. Each and every one of these themes was, or is, perfect for its time.”
For the 2005-06 logo, Stenhammar again reached out for something both simple and familiar in the Rotary world: “I am recycling again, and I have chosen the best logo ever created for Rotary International: our trademark, the Rotary wheel.”
Calling continuity a new wind blowing in Rotary, Stenhammar announced that this year Rotary clubs and districts will carry on with the presidential emphases already in place: literacy and water management. Those emphases will include an additional focus of “alleviating hunger and improving the health and well-being of all who are deprived of these essential resources,” he said.
Stenhammar explained that there was no need to change course from the areas of concern that both Past President Jonathan Majiyagbe and President Glenn Estess Sr. wisely identified and successfully encouraged Rotary clubs and districts to address locally and internationally.
“Gone are the days when our organization went north one year, to the west the next, followed by east and, then, maybe north again,” he said. “Our main direction must be the same for many years to come.”
The president said that Rotary International would continue to seek and embrace opportunities to cooperate with other organizations in areas of mutual interest.
Rotary can reap a lot of goodwill from the public exposure received during the yearlong activities marking its centennial. “Therefore, I am planning for a Public Image Resource Group to capture this opportunity and help clubs use it as a platform in our continued efforts to enhance our public image,” said Stenhammar.
The 2005-06 president said it was time to expand the role of women in Rotary. He pointed to the appointments of three past district governors — Carolyn E. Jones, of District 5010, as a trustee of The Rotary Foundation, the first woman appointed to the Trustees; Mary Margaret Fleming, of District 5230, as the new Public Image Resource Group chair; and Eileen M. Gentilcore, of District 7250, as Literacy Resource Group chair — as a good start.
“Please remember very well that it is through their talent, not their gender, that these women have earned their appointments,” he said. “I agree that there might be a disproportionate number of assignments to women during my year, compared to the mix of Rotarians, but by doing this I am sending a message to the women in Rotary as well as those who are not yet Rotarians: There is a leading role for you in our organization.”
The Rotary Youth Exchange program will be another key area for the incoming district governors to promote in their clubs, Stenhammar announced.
To address the issue of membership, the president said that he would ask every Rotary club to recruit just one new member in 2005-06 to reach a modest goal of a total membership increase of 31,000.
Thank you Paul for our pins … displaying Carl Wilhelm Stenhammer’s theme: Service above Self.
Calendar of Events
Wed. July 13 Board Meeting Rand - 5:00 pm
Fri. July 15 Dr. John Robertson Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery
Fri. July 22 William Chadwick Chadwick & Saylor
Sat. July 23- 24 RELAY FOR LIFE Join “the Rotary Team”
Tues. July 26 First District Breakfast Crown Plaza Hotel at LAX 7 – 9:00 am
Mayor of Hollywood Johnny Grant is the speaker - see June to attend
Fri. July 29 CrAfT tAlKs three mebers 10 minutes each
Fri. Aug. 5 Don Burgess The Lance Armstrong Story & Bring a Guest Day
Fri. Aug. 19 District Governor’s Visit "Let’s all be on our best behavior"
Sat. Nov. 12 Paul Harris Dinner Queen Mary see June for info
The Power of Drugs – Dedicated to Paul
Late one Saturday night, a young man was walking home from the pub. It was a cold, wet, windy evening, and he was tired and freezing. Most of the streetlights in the area were broken, and the silence was only broken by the occasional sound of a stray cat sifting through a dustbin. Then suddenly he heard a strange noise.
BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . .
Startled by this, he turned, and to his amazement, through the driving rain, he saw the faint outline of a large box turning into his road.
BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . .
He froze to the spot, he couldn’t believe his eyes, as the box approached from the shadows, he was able to make out its shape more clearly. It was a coffin. Not wanting anything to do with this, he put his head down and started walking briskly home.
BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . .
He could feel the coffin gaining on him, he started walking faster …
BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . .
The coffin was closing with his every step, he started to jog, but he heard the coffin speed up after him . . .
BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . .
He started to sprint, but so did the coffin . . .
BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . .
BUMP . . . BUMP . . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . . BUMP . . .
Eventually he made it to his front door, but he knew the coffin was only seconds behind. Fumbling around in his pocket, he pulled out his keys. His hand trembling, he managed to open the lock, he dived inside slamming the front door behind him. He shot into his front room, and slumped into his comfy chair. Suddenly there was a loud crash, as the coffin smashed its way through the front door. The force of the impact broke the lock off the coffin allowing the lid to swing freely on its rusty hinges it continued its chase . . .
BUMP . . . SCREECH . . . BUMP . . . SCREECH . . .BUMP . . . SCREECH . . . BUMP . . . SCREECH . . .
BUMP . . . SCREECH . . . BUMP . . . SCREECH . . .BUMP . . . SCREECH . . . BUMP . . . SCREECH . . .
In horror the young lad fled again, as fast as his shaking legs could take him he bolted upstairs to the bathroom and locked the door. . .
BUMP . . . SCREECH . . . HOP . . . BUMP . . . SCREECH . . . HOP . . .BUMP . . . SCREECH . . . HOP . . . BUMP . . . SCREECH . . . HOP . . .BUMP . . . SCREECH . . . HOP . . . BUMP . . . SCREECH . . . HOP . . .
The coffin again gave chase up the stairs, across the landing and launched itself at the bathroom door. With an almighty smash, the bathroom door flew off its hinges. The coffin stood in the doorway, then started to approach the young terrified lad.
BUMP . . . SCREECH . . . BUMP . . . SCREECH . . .BUMP . . . SCREECH . . . BUMP . . . SCREECH . . .
BUMP . . . SCREECH . . . BUMP . . . SCREECH . . .
In a last ditch attempt to save his skin, he reached for his bathroom cabinet. . .He grabbed a bar of Imperial Leather soap and threw it at the coffin . . . still it came . . .
BUMP . . . SCREECH . . . BUMP . . . SCREECH . . .
He grabbed his can of Right Guard deodorant and threw it . . . still it came . . .
BUMP . . . SCREECH . . . BUMP . . . SCREECH . . .
He grabbed his first aid kit and threw it . . . still it came . . .
BUMP . . . SCREECH .. BUMP . . . SCREECH . . .
He grabbed some Robitussin cough mixture and threw it . . .
The coffin stopped
Paul’s Thought for the Day: Always strive to excel, but only on weekends. - Richard Rorty, Philosopher
Respectfully Submitted, RoseMary Regalbuto