Bulletins - 2005 - 09/14/2005
This Week’s Bulletin Was Written By Rosalie Kramm
Our wonderful President Maureen called the meeting to order at 7:31 a.m. The meeting started with an inspiring invocation by Jane Berry, “Hold On.” Martin Blair led the Pledge of Allegiance. With our usual songbirds not present, Mary Engles was brought to the front, and the club sang a very, very short, but beautiful, rendition of “Oh What A Beautiful Morning.”
Visiting Rotarians And Guests
Pete McGuire introduced a bevy of guests, and we had the privilege of three members of Club 33 join us.
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Cynthia Sener reminded us that September is women’s suits month. Cynthia introduced Sylvia McKinney of “Dress For Success.” If any Rotarian wants to bring in women’s suits this month, Cynthia will bring her car to your car to gather the clothes. The blouse box will be passed around to collect cash in order to purchase blouses for women to wear with their new suits
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Maureen also provided an update on the disaster wrought by Katrina as seen through the eyes of Don Chauvin, the President of Rotary District 6200 in Louisiana, for both his district and District 6840. According to Don there are 50 Rotary clubs in District 6200 and all are doing their best to offer aid and assistance to those that need it. District 6200 covers 22 Parishes in South Louisiana, while the neighboring District 6840 covers most of New Orleans and parts of Mississippi. Don’s message as delivered by Maureen is that the Rotary clubs could utilize all types of aid however the single highest priority is cash contributions.
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Jay Sener has collected over 4,500 Teddy bears to give to children who have survived Katrina. Andy Calderon donated 2,500 bears himself. Wow! That’s “beary” great.
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Maureen announced that $4,050 was collected last week to send to the victims of Katrina.
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Melissa Blackburn and Gary Green are collecting money, foursomes, and tee/hole sponsors for our golf tournament on October 14, 2005. Call Maureen or Gary if you want to play in our exciting tournament.
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Ron Erbetta announced the Foundation Gala Dinner is to be held on November 11, 2005. It will be co-chaired by Gary and Karen Green. Heather Xitco was particularly excited when she read there would be free babysitting. The cost is only $50 per person. 6:00 socializing; 7:00 dinner.
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Dave McKee, Dave Ferguson, and Cynthia Sener received sapphire pins as double Paul Harris Fellows. Steve Seligman is now a Paul Harris Fellow. Congratulations!
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Jerrilyn Malana gave a report on how great the Foundation Seminar was last Saturday and highly encourages all to attend next year.
Larry Nuffer began a new gaming pool that includes raffle tickets and high school football teams. It is a bit mysterious how the high school game works, but we have three initial winners who have picked their teams: (1) Mary Dawe – Francis Parker High School; (2) Lynn Hamilton – Scripps Ranch High School; (3) George Mullen – Torrey Pines High School. Stay tuned for how the high school pool turns out.
Larry Nuffer had us play “Name That Rotarian.” Here are the clues. (1) He worked at a winery; (2) at one time was thinking of becoming a priest; (3) was a card carrying member of the Girl Scouts. The answer is: MEL GALLEGOS. Frank De Francesco had his own version of “Name That Rotarian.” Here is the clue, “15 years ago he started the Poway Chiefton newspaper.” The answer is: LARRY NUFFER.
Membership Chair Jay Sener announced the induction of a new member sponsored by Karny Stefan. Karny then took the microphone to provide some background on the Rotary Breakfast Club’s newest member, Rachel Humphries. Rachel has spent the last 17 years working with under-privileged children. Rachel started a non-profit agency designed to support Latino children and is enthusiastic about contributing to charitable causes south of the border. Welcome aboard Rachel!
Kathleen Murray of the Salk Institute was this week’s speaker. Kathleen gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Salk Institute and Dr. Jonas Salk. The history of polio goes back to early civilizations, and it was found in every country. But in the 19th century there was a major epidemic which began in Stockholm with a polio strain that caused paralysis. By 1952 the disease had spread throughout the United States, and there were over 40,000 cases. In 1952 Franklin Delano Roosevelt, along with his law partner,
created the foundation, “The March of Dimes.”
Jonas Salk was born in 1914 and even as a child had a strong desire to help people. As a young man he was trying to decide whether to be a lawyer or doctor and decided being a doctor would help more people. Jonas Salk became well-known for developing the first influenza vaccine and thus was recruited by the “March of Dimes” to create a vaccine for polio. On April 14, 1955, the announcement was made, “There is a polio vaccine!” A gigantic media blitz ensued to get children vaccinated. By 1960, there were only 950 new cases of polio reported in the United States.
The City of San Diego had an old horse farm up in Torrey Pines that it wanted to develop. Jonas Salk spent two years traveling around the United States looking for the perfect place to create his institute. He contacted the great architect Louis Kahn looking for a referral to help him design the institute. The two became quick friends, and Mr. Kahn happily agreed to be the architect for the project. When Jonas Salk saw the views from atop Torrey Pines, he knew that was the place to build his laboratory. The City of San Diego donated the land and construction began.
Cutting-edge science is currently happening at the Salk Institute with research into areas such as neural path finding for spinal disease. San Diegans can brag that,” We have World Class Science and World Class Architecture with the Salk Institute.”
Next week’s program will be Sally Montrucchio with Tender Loving Canines. If you have allergies, be sure to take your medicine because four of canine friends will be accompanying the speaker.
