ROTARY CLUB OF LA JOLLA
“Service Above Self”
Focusing on Truth, Fairness, Better Friendships
and Shades of Beneficence for All
September 13, 2005
Writer: Ron J. Jones
Presiding (9/6): President Lee Vida
Invocation: Sally Fuller
“Heavenly Father, we gather today
to count our blessings;
we are so fortunate to live in San Diego County.
We are deeply saddened by Hurricane Katrina
and the devastation wrought in the Gulf States,
and in New Orleans,
the jazz capitol of the world, in particular.
We pray for the homeless, the ill
and for the rescuers:
all the local, state and national helpers
who have come together to help in this,
the worst disaster ever to hit America.
We are deeply saddened by the untold misery
it has brought to those living in that area
who have lost everything: homes, belongings, jobs, pets, some without families.
We pray that relief will come soon to all,
and for Marge Vida’s speedy recovery.
In God’s Name, amen.”
The Pledge of Allegiance: Gene Foster
Song Leader: Sam Wurtzbacher
Song: “God Bless America.”
Visiting Rotarians (9/6):
We welcomed Peter Platt, San Diego #33, International Law, and Ed Chaplin, San Diego #33, Hospital Rehab.
Guests of Rotarians (9/6):
Ron Jones introduced Dual Protective Strategy Management representative Ellyn Quiggle, “By Day she’s a hedge fund manager; on the weekend she’s the lead singer for the Vision Band. The Vision Band was the season closer for La Jolla Concerts by the Sea, and it was a great show.”
Patty Coleman presented Cathleen Ruffner of PayChex, Inc.
Jerry Allen hosted Arthur Smith, “A kid I met a few years ago told me that he wanted to be an airline pilot one day. Well, he graduated and now he’s working for American Airlines.”
Vida mins:
Rotary International president Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammer announces September to be New Generations Month. “We could just as well call September ‘the month of our future’ because investing in our youth is our future. We can take pride in the act that we have youth programs for just about any age group with Rotarians serving as active, caring sponsors.” Youth Services chair Susan Fox is already meeting with the LJHS Interact leadership discussing its role in several upcoming club calendar-slated events…
Membership committee chair Patty Coleman reports, “We now have a supply of business cards for our club. The cards show contact information as well as meeting information. There are cards on each of the tables today. I encourage everyone to keep one in their wallet so you have information to pass on to guests and prospective members.”…
Think thoughts of post-operative good health for First Lady Marge Vida as she recuperates from a difficult surgery…
Michael Morton has agreed to serve as our club District Events Chairman. The Red Badger will be the liaison between the club and district for District Council Meetings and all other district events…
Through John Brown’s masterful administration and financial manipulation of clients Paul and Harold Johnson’s trust fund, the John Vaughan-engineered Baja ESL/Computer Lab was presented with nearly $69,000 via the club’s Rotary Foundation…
All in the Family Dept: Kevin Choquette’s brother was recently recognized as 2005’s Department of Defense Airman of the Year…
We congratulate Amanda McLaren as she announces her engagement to be married to long-time beau Eric…
Bob Fehlman relates that his oldest son, Mark, has retired from a remarkable career in architecture at the age of 52, to devote Ron Spelman-like days to oil painting. You may remember that Mark Fehlman was a guest speaker a few years ago with a “show and tell” featuring his award winning cinematic theater designs…
Although we’ll never see a killer hurricane blowing in from the cove, we are prone to serious disasters of other sorts: fire and earthquake. We’ve all seen the destruction created by Katrina, as well as the revealing gaps in situational preparedness, clueless local and hesitant federal government support in the disturbingly chaotic, victim-filled aftermath; thinking that you might be on your own for a bit (should you find your self in supremely difficult circumstances, as well) could be the grim reality. Forward-looking Rancho Bernardo resident David Hayes recently graduated from a timely and pioneering training program (CERT) offered by the city’s Fire Rescue Department. It’s a free emergency response training course designed to train locals in safety preparation and how to respond to disasters: to act as information resources for the community on emergency response plans, evacuation routes and brush management. If CERT-ification sounds good to you, connect with Dave or call 619.533.3075 for class times…
President Lee Vida announces that our club’s board has voted to assist any motivated RCLJ member who wishes to donate to hurricane relief efforts through Rotary, can have his or her tax deductible contribution expedited via our club’s foundation directly to impacted Gulf Rotary Districts 6200 (Baton Rouge, Houma, Grand Isle, Lafayette, and Lake Charles) and 6840 (New Orleans, MS, Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, McComb and Hattiesburg) for dispersal. The board has authorized up to $5,000 in matching grants. Checks should be written to The Rotary Club of La Jolla Foundation with “Katrina” or “hurricane” noted on the check and left at the sign-in desk, given to Treasurer Ted Rutter, any Board member, or mailed to the club’s post office box.
A Dynamic Duo
We appreciate last week’s program presentation quickly assembled by psychologist Dr. Midge Coburn and hospital emergency room director Dr. Davis Cracroft in lieu of the scheduled unavoidably absent John Hawkins. The two health care professionals shared the half hour time allotment focusing on the mental and physical difficulties faced by those left floating in Katrina’s wake. Midge reported on the prevalent post-traumatic stress disorder due to unimaginable losses certain to be suffered by the majority, and Davis discussed the monumental medical hurdles facing physicians suffering shortages of facilities and supplies. At press-time we learned that Davis is preparing to join a 35-member team assembled by Scripps Hospital set for duty at the Houston Astrodome.
Mildred,
the church gossip, and self-appointed monitor of the church's
morals, kept sticking her nose into other people's business. Several
members did not approve of her extra curricular activities, but
feared her enough to maintain their silence. She made a mistake,
however, when she accused George, a new member, of being an
alcoholic after she saw his old pickup parked in front of the towns
only bar one afternoon. She emphatically told George and several
others that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing.
George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just
turned and walked away. He didn't explain, defend, or deny. He said
nothing. Later that evening, George quietly parked his pickup in
front of Mildred's house - and left it there all night.