"2004/2005"
ISSUE NO. 15 June 06, 2005 OUR 83rd YEAR
www.RotaryClubofSantaMonica.org
Today was Lionel’s last meeting (of course he was sure to give VP Jon Kemp some pointers on conducting a successful meeting before he left. High on his list was to make sure to start/end the meeting five minutes late. Lionel has, after all, maintained this record for his entire Rotary year.) Phil Tirone is back and we responded with a rousing welcome and boisterous singing. Did you know that he was the youngest Rotary Prez at 22 (in Prescott, Arizona)? Dee Menzies introduced our visiting Rotarians and guests and kept all the boys and girls quiet and under control. We were so good that we got to have recess after all. As Dee said, when we have a past, we have a future as she introduced the five visiting past, present and future District Governors: Len Wasserstein (2001 – 2002); Rick Mendoza (2002-2003); John Coville (2003 – 2004); Pat Cashin (2004-2005) and our new District Governor Ingo Werk (2005-2006). Also joining us was Rebecca Garcia-Prieto the person that keeps all the district business well oiled and running. Other visiting Rotarians were Margaret Bloodfield, Joel Greenberg, Jonathan Port, and Kirk Wickensham. Guests of Rotarians were also abundant and we were able to welcome Bruce Rankin, Vanessa Newmann, Diane Lawrence (Kathy Dodson’s mom), Kai Li Quigley, Gail Miron, Elza Ruhman (our first lady), Herb Katz, Nikolas Konstance, Justin Miron, Jamie Menzies and Kip Dellinger. Tom Larmore presented two $1,000 scholarships: One the Tom Fox Scholarship to Christopher Mangum and another to Ruth Legesse. Tom Loo received a standing ovation as Rick Mendoza belatedly acknowledged Tom and his family as major contributors to the Foundation. That was when Alonzo Hill walked in wondering what he has missed. Lionel acknowledged Diane Margolin for visiting her other Rotary Club in Koreatown. He gave her permission to visit again, as long as she remembered to come home to us. Lionel had another surprise for us. He introduced his friend Charles Faust. Charles was Mr. America in 1972 and remembers meeting a little skinny guy at World Gym when Ahh-nold came to Cali-Forni. Looking at his watch Lionel realized he still had about four minutes to talk, which was probably two more minutes than needed. However, he used the time well thanking everyone in the Club (a few yawns could be heard). He thanked all the District Governors and Past Presidents (more yawns) He thanked Bill Werner for hosting the double board meeting the previous Wednesday, then he thanked the current board, the future board and was just about to announce the name of every club member to thank them, when a spontaneous & unanimous “Home, Home on the Range” filled the room. Lionel got the hint and explained that Yogi Berra was his mentor for public speaking and quickly turned the mike over to Kris Andresen to introduce our guest speaker. Billie Greer was appointed director of governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Los Angeles office in March 2004. In announcing the appointment, the Governor said, “Billie’s years of experience working with a variety of community, business and government leaders in the Los Angeles area are a tremendous asset to my administration. She will help me work with the people of Southern California and to understand the unique issues affecting the region.” Billie spoke about the Governor’s Reform Plan and we were honored to have her visit our club.
A short review: Lionel’s primary responsibility as Prez was to ensure that our club functioned effectively. He had to: Sustain or grow the membership; Support our community and the communities of other countries; Support he Rotary Foundation and Develop future leaders. On July 1, 2004 Lionel Ruhman’s duties as Club Prez came into function. During the previous months he had served as President Elect. A lot of preparation went into his effectively serving our club. During those months of preparation, Lionel followed these steps in his own special way:
1. Assessment of the club's membership situation – we haven’t gone down … no one seems to have time these days.
2. Discussion regarding the service objectives – it is ONLY about those we help.
3. Identification of ways to improve support for The Rotary Foundation – he’s been a great example
4. Development of future leaders by promoting attendance at every important Rotary event at district level – no need to say anything about this, he has involved so many.
Then there were the tasks and actions he was determined to carry out soon after election:
o Appointment of committee chairpersons – Boy its hard to get some of you …
o Attendance to PET (President-Elect-Training) Seminar – and what a dear man he is! Almost a perfect PET.
o Encourage all club leaders to attend the annual District Assembly so as to acquire the skills and knowledge required for success in the coming year – it was a wonderful, successful year.
o Hold one or more meetings with the new board of directors -- how about twelve – but always with good food and good friends
o Begin to set club goals for the coming year – “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!”
From the classic: The Little Engine That Could
o Supervise the preparation of the club budget – that is what we have Barry Bouley and Greg Hargrave for.
After July 1st Lionel had to: review the status of our current club projects; Execute the membership development plan to bring qualified new members into the club; Review and adapt plans and objectives for the year to incorporate the RI theme of the year; Ensure that each committee has definite objectives; Review committee progress throughout the year; Hold the first club assembly early in the year to discuss the agenda and schedule regular assemblies; Prepare for the governor's official visit and visits made by the assistant governor; Ensure that all correspondence was answered promptly, especially from clubs in other countries; Delegate responsibilities as appropriate; Preside at all meetings of the club and ensure that all club meetings are carefully planned; Plan carefully for all board meetings, which are to held at least once a month; Review information and suggestions from the Secretariat and use as appropriate; Direct important information from Rotary World, the governor's monthly letter, etc., to the RotaMonica editor, as well as to appropriate individuals and committees; Attend and ensure club representation at the district conference, which is open to all Rotarians and their families; Conduct a semiannual checkup in January on all committee activities and objectives; Promote attendance at the annual RI Convention; Submit a comprehensive report to the club on its status in June, prior to leaving office; Confer with his successor before leaving office to ensure as smooth a transition as possible; Arrange for a joint meeting of the incoming board with the retiring board of directors to assure continuity.
Lionel you did a great job … Thank you for everything!
Message in a time capsule: At the RI Convention, club presidents and presidents-elect will have an opportunity to place a letter in a time capsule that will be preserved and opened 100 years later at the 2105 convention. The capsule will have messages from clubs about Rotary’s past achievements and its hopes for the future, commemorations the organizations first century of service.
The stainless steel capsule will serve as a large-scale version of the proverbial message in a bottle, standing three feet tall and weighing 1,000 pounds. It will be on display in the House of Friendship, where club leaders can have their photographs taken as they deposit their letters.
As a cherished relic of club achievements and aspirations, the time capsule will be preserved and displayed at RI World Headquarters in Evanston, Ill. Following the Chicago Convention and then stored in an offsite facility until the 2105 convention.
A little laugh … dedicated to Alonzo Hill, in case you do not know, he sat next to me on Friday and kept a running commentary on Billie Greer’s views as I was conscientiously trying to take some notes.
Just in case you think the FBI is not on the job, I received a true intercept that the FBI made of itself while conducting an investigation in Santa Monica. It is called "The FBI Pizza Call." FBI agents conducted a raid of a Santa Monica psychiatric facility pharmacy that was under investigation for medical insurance fraud. After hours of reviewing thousands of medical records, the dozens of agents worked up quite an appetite. The agent in charge of the investigation called a nearby pizza parlor to order a quick dinner for his colleagues. The following telephone conversation took place and was recorded by the FBI because they were taping the hospital.
Agent: "Hello. I would
like to order 19 large pizzas and 67 cans of soda."
Pizza Man: "And where would you like them delivered?"
Agent: "We're over at the psychiatric hospital."
Pizza Man: "To the psychiatric hospital?"
Agent: "That's right. I'm an FBI agent."
Pizza Man: "You're an FBI agent?"
Agent: "That's correct. Just about everybody here is."
Pizza Man: "And you're at the psychiatric hospital?"
Agent: "That's correct. And make sure you don't go through the front doors.
We have them locked. You will have to go around the back to the service
entrance to deliver the pizzas."
Pizza Man: "And you say you're all FBI agents?"
Agent: "That's right. How soon can you have them here?"
Pizza Man: "And everyone at the psychiatric hospital is an FBI agent?"
Agent: "That's right. We've been here all day, and we're starving."
Pizza Man: "How are you
going to pay for all of this?"
Agent: "I have my checkbook right here."
Pizza Man: "And you're all FBI agents?"
Agent: "That's right. Everyone here is an FBI agent. Can you remember to
bring the pizzas and sodas to the service entrance in the rear? We have the
front doors locked."
Pizza Man: "uhhhhhhhh, I don't think so."
Community Grants: Two grants were given on Friday although time restraints did not allow for their formal presentation.
o The Westside Food bank received $2,000 to provide food safety training. The Food Bank is not only committed to distributing 4 million pounds of food per year to 65 Westside social service agencies, but it is also determined to ensure that people in need get food that is in healthy and safe condition.
Congratulations to our Paul Harris Fellows – whether it is only once or as many as eight times you are all very special:
Henry Alcanter; Steve Alexis; Karen & Bob Baker; Frank Blenkhorn; David & John Bohn; Barry Bouley, Ray Briem; Nat Charnley; Kent Colberg; Bill Crookston; Clarence Davis; Susan Dawson; Spyros Dellaportas; Don Dickerson; Shirley Dowling; Allen Drysch; Bill Frank; Bob Fredricks; Nancy Freedman; Bill Fritzsche; Bob Gabriel; Joe Gonzales; Jack Gregory; Jay Gross; Jim Haljun; Greg Hargrave, Charles Hart, Merv Hecht, Monte Herring, Alonzo Hill, Bill Hunt, Erik Jorgensborg, Bashir Kadri, Iao Katagiri, Brenda Katz, Jonathan Kemp, Bob Klein, Frank Lavac, Dick Lawrence, John Lehne, Paul Leoni, Marv Levin, Steve Litvack, Tom Loo, Monty McCormick, John McIntire, Jim and Dee Menzies, Jack Michel, Gene Miller, John Miller, Ken Miller, Rex Minter, Ken Mirch, Bob Moore, Jeff Moskin, Vince Muselli, Sam Muslin, Judy Neveau, Conn Oyler, Graham Pope, Hal Quigley, RoseMary Regalbuto, Jim Reidy, Dick Rice, Dave Rimer, Herb Roney, Lionel Ruhman, Robert Segal, Gene Shank, Stanley Shu, Jay Smith, John Tarle, Bob Thomas, Phil Tirone, Lloyd Torgerson, Nat Trives, Bill Werner, Phil Whiting, Oded Wolf.
Fri. June 17 through June 23 International Convention, Chicago
Fri. June 24 Dethroning End of the Line for Lionel @ Riviera Country Club
Respectfully Submitted, RoseMary Regalbuto … “I want to thank you for making this day necessary." -- Yogi Berra