Rotary Bulletin #14 for the Week of September 17, 2009
Pledge, Prayer and Song
Pres Emma rang us to attention with confidence; she was using a PAL microphone and knew she actually could be head. Immediate past president, Aaron Popejoy led us in the pledge. Past President Mike Desert led us in song using a gavel; as usual, the club responded with sweet harmony. The invocation was provided by Ron Griffen. He did such a fine job he should consider doing it more often.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests of Rotarians
Danny Nuffer, past president announced our visiting Rotarians; Cherise Alford, past president of the Imperial Breakfast Club, and Herb Pierson of the San Miguel club of El Salvador.
Herb Pierson’s guest was his daughter Kate, a student at U.C.S.D. with an ambition to follow in her mother and grandfather’s footsteps and practice law.
Paul McManus brought Bob Fugett and Brian McNeece from the Wintergarden Toastmasters club. Cathy Kennerson brought her newest employee at the Chamber, Sarah Griffen (wife of our new member, Rev. Ron Griffen).
Announcements
Rosa Caro is El Centro’s Rotarian of the Month for her fine leadership in the STAR program. The club donated 30 vaccinations to Polio Plus in her honor.
The Club will be dark on October 1st. We’ll be meeting instead on Saturday October 3rd at 10:45 a.m. The speaker, whose name escapes me, is known for his serious, understated, and intellectually rich presentations.
All Rotarians are invited to the Farewell Reception for Jose Guillen on September 24th at 4:00 in the Foyer between departments 7 and 9 upstairs at the Imperial County Courthouse, 939 Main Street in El Centro.
Rosa Caro announced a short organizational meeting for this year’s STAR program on September 23rd at 9:00 a.m. The meeting will be held at Harding Elementary School.
The Rotary Paul Harris Gala is on for November 7th at the Escondido Center for the Arts. One-third of the $70 ticket cost goes to the outstanding Polio Plus program of Rotary International. Speaking of medical needs, there will be a mechanical bull at the GALA. Don’t wear red!
El Centro Rotary raised $1100 plus $100 from a non-Rotarian to aid disaster relief in the Baja community of Loreto.
Board Action
It was approved to donate $10 per person to the Wounded Warrior program, which includes a Medal of Honor recipient over 100 years old.
Two thousand dollars was donated to the ICEC Gymnastics program. The club purchased 300 Rotary District Calendars as a fundraiser.
Emma’s Continuing Ed
Prez Emma wants club members to be up to speed in the area of texting and presented the following symbols and acronyms used in texting: #:) smiley face with a fur hat; *****@* centipede wearing a sombrero; :-)= smiley face with a beard; bctnd to be continued; BFN/B4N bye for now; ROFL rolling on the floor laughing; PRW or 9 parents are watching; STATE age and sex; KOTL kiss on the lips: GSOH Good salary sense of humor and own home; 411 information; IAAA I am an accountant; PUKS pick up the kids. Our thanks, to Prez Emma, for this Continuing Education project. Nobody got all of these right!
September being New Generations month, Pres Emma attempted to bridge the gap with a brief quiz. 1) Name the Jonas Brothers (no one could, though most of our grandkids could). 2) Name the Beatles (Burned into our DNA). 3) Name the leads and major lines from “Casablanca” (For many of use, this was a “when do you want me to stop?” questions).
Whining and Fining
David Takata is welcomed back and acknowledged for a fine picture and Finance Article in a local Women’s Magazine.
Ellie Kussman had a serious case of kneesels, requiring surgery. She shared all the gory details. Thanks Ellie.
Cathy Kennerson will be modeling at the Food Bank Fundraised Fashion Show at the Old Post Office on September 25.
Chris Yearger acknowledged a recent vacation on Catalina Island. Chris described having 10 ¼ family members in a big house for a week, and they were all speaking to each other at the end. Amazing!
Ryan Childers described his European Tour and Cruise. Ryan traveled down the Rhine, road in a Gondola in Venice, and languished on a sunny Greek beach in Mikonos, all in the splendid company of his wife. His high point: a naked Greek man on the beach. Nice, Ryan. Ryan then earned the universal disapproval of all fair-minded Rotarians by raising the bar for return of trip bribes: a classic Greek CD, soap with Greek olif3 oil, a tee shirt (in the right size, no less) and Greek owl, representing the Goddess of Wisdom.
Program
Paul McManus introduced several members of his Wintergarden Toastmasters Club: Bob Fugett spoke of his search for the perfect “Bucket List.” Learn to SCUBA dive, quit smoking, and get a college degree. Hallmark of a good list: make it bigger than just you, think of your family and your community and have fun.
Brian McNeece extolled the virtues of The Blues, which he described as the bridge between our primal desires and our higher aspirations through a series of theological digressions.
Eusebio Arballo described his anguish at having his admittedly difficult first name mispronounced by his first grade substitute teacher as “Estupido” (that’s wrong?) As well as the humiliation in Basic Training at get his tough-guy platoon named the “Goldfish.” (Marching chant; Goldfish – glub, glub . . . .) Sebio ultimately concluded that it’s the people, not what you call an organization or person that counts.
Rotarians concluded all three speakers were all winners.
Drawing
Speaking of winners, Veronica Henderson won the pot, though not the blue chip.
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