Bulletins - 2007 -12/19/2007

This Week's Bulletin Was Written By Tom Sayer

THIS WEEK’S MEETING

Pres. Mike Whitehurst rang the bell to open the meeting and invited Mary Engles to the podium for the invocation.  Mary reminded us of the five enemies of Peace, and recited from an ancient sage that Peace is the Way.  Margaret Oppliger led us in the pledge and Linda Jalving and Jim Mulvaney chose Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer as our holiday song.

SGT. AT ARMS

Sheila Hardin and Frank de Francesco were our raffle winners today.  Sgt. Stone then raffled off a small chocolate cake made by Judge Cowett that was in the shape of a car -- or a boat -- or a truck – or ?!?  Judge Cowett bragged about her volunteer work with Rolling Readers at Washington Elementary.  Steve Seligman has earned his General Contractor’s license, and is now opening a renovation and remodeling business. Maureen Eberle asked everyone to remind Daniel, our Ambassadorial Scholar, that he is no longer to be trusted as he tuned 30 today!  Sheila Hardin reported that Paul Marsh and his partner contributed “food to feed 1400 families for Christmas” to the Casa de los Pauvres in Tijuana.  Bobbi Spinner-Flack just celebrated an anniversary (I think I heard it was her 29th).  Ken Juen rode 1000 miles on a donut in his recent tour of pubs in Ireland.

GUESTS

Pete McGuire introduced our guests and visiting Rotarians.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Mike reminded everyone about the Holiday Party at the Coronado Senior Center.
• Joe Ciokon gave us a military update, with thanks for our support of the Veteran’s Village Kids Xmas Party.  He then reported that the Midway is celebrating threes:  3 millionth visitor and Joe’s three thousandth volunteer hour.  Wow, Joe, that’s a lot of hours!!  Finally, Joe reminded us that we are at war – our carriers are supposed to have 12-months in port for every 6-months deployed, but the time in port is being reduced significantly while we fight piracy and terrorism around the world.
• Jose and the rest of the Univ. Club staff were recognized with a nice gratuity for their great service. 
• Chet Lathrop’s retirement party will be held at the regular noon meeting of Club 33 on February 2nd.  Chet is retiring as the longstanding Executive Secretary of Club 33.
• Susan Bleicher implored each member to bring in one new member this year.
• Melissa Blackburn directed everyone to the starfish ornaments and jewelry being sold to support Voices for Children.
• Dave Ferguson reported that Holes For Heroes raised $112,000!  Of that amount, $20,000 is being retained by the Club and the rest is being distributed to various causes supporting our men and women in uniform.

NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS

Mel Gallegos announced the slate for the 2008-09 Board and Officers:

After some heated discussion and serious thoughts of a coup d’etat, the above slate was unanimously approved by acclamation.

THIS WEEK'S PROGRAM

This week's speaker was Dr. Carl Luna. 

So what is the San Diego “Mystery Airport?”  I guess we will never know unless the San Diego Airport Authority agrees to pay fair compensation if and when this reportedly novel concept is actually chosen as a solution and built.  But Dr. Luna is convinced that it is the one and only solution that makes sense for San Diego. 

The Mystery Airport consists of the combination of some novel technology and a site in the San Diego area that will deliver the following breakthroughs:

• Convenience

Wow!!  Quite a claim!!  Quite intriguing -- and backed up with endorsements from Lufthansa and the former astronaut, the late Wally Schirra.  The SD Airport Authority is apparently not curious enough to agree to the terms of disclosure.  But all that is being asked is to pay fair compensation (a customary annual royalty payment) to the Airport Trust if and when the idea is adopted.  Doesn’t sound too complicated to me.  So if you want to know the secret, Dr. Luna asks that you contact your government representatives and urge them to pressure the San Diego Airport Authority to make a deal with the Airport Trust. 

Dr. Luna is a professor of political science at San Diego Mesa College and regular lecturer on American government, comparative politics and international political economy at the University of San Diego.  He has been a frequent contributor to the Op-Ed pages of the SD Union Tribune and is currently a columnist for the San Diego City Beat Magazine, which also hosts his political blog, “Political Lunacy.”

NEW MEMBER PROPOSALS

Jeff Winter owns an employment consulting firm, proposed by Jeff Christie.

Classification: Employment Consulting  

Dan Dehner is a CPA with KPMG, proposed by Jim Lauth.

Classification: Accounting  

Paul Downey is President and CEO of Senior Community Centers, proposed by Maureen Eberle.

Classification: Social Services – Seniors  

David Wright is a mortgage banker, proposed by Victoria Crown. 

Classification: Mortgage Banking