ROTARY CLUB OF LA JOLLA
“Service Above Self”
Focusing on Truth, Fairness, Better Friendships and Shades of Beneficence for All
Presiding (8/9): President Lee Vida
Invocation: Bob Schroeder,
“I know a number of you are avid readers, I am. I just finished a book on George Washington by Ellis called “His Excellency”—a fabulous book, if you get a chance, get it. The one thing that struck me in reading that book was how purposefully George Washington lived his life. At times he definitely put his life at risk, and certainly putting his fortune at risk. His attitude toward life was if it ends, it ends, but he’s going to live it the right way. At the same time I’ve had two friends, one who some of you know, George Boynton, who is struggling with cancer; and I had lunch the other day with a friend of mine, Harry Collins, who is now lying in intensive care in a hospital in Colorado from a horse injury, and is in very serious condition. It showed me how precarious and short life can be. I bring these two together for this moment in time. What I’d like you to do is reflect on your own life in terms of how you might live it purposefully and rededicate yourself to doing that, and also ask you to communicate with your creator on those people in your life who need that healing power. Amen.”
The Pledge of Allegiance: Pat Stouffer
Song Leader: Ron Jones
Song: “In the Good Old Summertime”
Ed Note: A fair amount of generation gapping was noted by musician John Hawkins during the sketchy rendering of the day’s group song, “In the Good Old Summertime”, even after Ron Jones ran through the lyrics. The large number of twenty-something’s filling several tables had never heard this classic American standard played or sung before and couldn’t carry the tune. It confirmed John and Ron’s belief that we as a society have become diluted in our cultural common-ality. We don’t know the same stuff anymore. The media veterans both agree that the corner was turned when Top 40 radio died. “We used to listen to the same music, often read the same books (who reads for pleasure anymore?) and saw the same movies on one screen,” observed John. What do you think?
Last week these pages reported in depth Bob Rubel’s generous $650.10 donation to the Garfield High School STRIVE scholarship program, the total proceeds of his recent art sales at Wesley Palms, as well as printing a portion of Bob’s feature story from the Wesley palms newsletter. We again gratefully acknowledge Bob’s generosity as he ups his ante with last week’s additional $80 donation gained from his artistic pursuit…Movin’ On Dept: Walt Hall, a long time community service-oriented citizen and co-active friend of the La Jolla Rotary Club, has relocated to Portland, Oregon, to be closer to his family. His dedication to all things La Jolla, particularly his work at the Recreation Center, will be sincerely missed…Congratulations to Linda and Wayne Woods’ Burns Drugs for grabbing the regional Valu-Rite Pharmacy of the Year award… Several weeks ago we had the privilege of witness-sing the commencement celebration of Zeke Knight’s empowering creation now in its 14th year: the Summerbridge scholar’s program. Set on a grassy knoll at La Jolla High School were clusters of fifth to eighth graders sitting cross-legged, with their proud families with video cams perched on lawn chairs above them. Zeke reports that 17 southern San Diego elementary schools participate in the program that is effectively taught by college-aged volunteers who teach anything from math to cooking. “The kids relate to them because of their youth. There’s an enthusiasm to learn. The class sizes are small; it’s hard to teach 40 kids in a class. The parents are really supportive. When we have parent/teacher meetings, 99 percent of the parents show up. ” It was warming to see the wonderful rapport between student and instructor. “It’s life changing for both,” Zeke said… The club’s newly instituted Public Relations committee, chaired by Jeanne Cherbeneau, has already made their inky mark with last week’s La Jolla Village News feature story written by Mera Kelley about the recent League House “Tropical Paradise” picnic staged by the Senior Citizen committee. Last Tuesday evening saw the committee (John Hawkins, Ron Jones, Jeanne Hawkins, Lisa Reynolds, Mera Kelley ,Michelle Serafini, and co-chair Amanda McLaren) gathered around Jeanne’s living room coffee table to establish an overall mission statement. We’ll let you know as soon as it’s completed. In the meantime you can be an associate member of the committee simply by suggesting stories of merit to Jeanne, or any committee member, for follow-up and publication… Carol Foreman has accepted the keys to the club’s Rotary Boutique from Geoff and Maureen Schwartz. We suggest you take a few minutes to browse the racks filled with “neat items.”