July 18, 2001
This week's Bulletin was written by Hugh Largey.
THIS WEEK'S MEETING
New Club President Melissa Blackburn gaveled the modest
assemblage to order with a reading of an inspiring invocation taken from the
inaugural words of South African President Nelson Mandella on our place in the
universe as "children of God. This reading was contributed by immediate past President Colette
Murray who was absent due to illness. Get well soon, Colette!
Jose Hernandez led in the Pledge to the flag.
President Melissa wearing her colorful Del Mar Races
opening day hat (Alan Talbot had one, too!) called on Jim Mulvaney to lead the
group in song with the "familiar" America!
Several distinguished guests were introduced
including the new Rotary District Governor, Bill Sturgeon.
Annoucements
Navy Public Affairs point man and Club Member Joe Ciokon
presented a Club check for $2,000 to Al Paluch for Operation Stand Down,
benefiting disconnected military veterans and their families. This is a worthwhile project in which we
have participated for several years. The next opportunity to "get involved" in this
fulfilling experience is this Saturday Morning, July 21st, starting at 7:00
A.M. at the San Diego High School Athletic Field. Serving on the food line, especially for new members, is the
best part! Al reported 100% of
those pulled off the streets last year are still sober; 72% are still
succeeding after 1 year. Since its
inception here, this program has been copied across the nation in over 200
cities.
Martin Blair announced Rotaract's annual fundraising
activity commencing next Thursday, July 26th. Tickets to this fun evening event are $20. The youthful Rotaract representatives
will be on hand at next week's meeting with all the details. Click Here For Invitation.
Melissa announced a "Matching Grant Foundation
Seminar" will take place this Saturday, July 21st, 8:30 to 10:00 A.M., at
the Braille Institute. Others
interested in learning about how to obtain matching grants can join her and
Jennifer Cusick there.
Don Lang reports 75% of the Member Roster Project is
complete. He asks members to get
their up-to-date stats (especially e-mail addresses) in to him ASAP.
Club Youth Activities Chair Hugh Largey congratulated and
presented a certificate of completion to this Spring's Rotary-sponsored Camp
RYLA attendee, Jesus Garcia. Jesus
commended the Club for helping motivate high school juniors through this annual
3-day event which features top professional speakers spawning group discussions
about life and reaching one's potential, as well as offering opportunities to
bond with some 300 other area high schoolers and their "tent family"
facilitators.
(Writer's observation): Perhaps we can increase the likelihood that ALL 3 of next
year's selected San Diego High students will actually attend this camp by
having them come to a club breakfast meeting beforehand. to gain a better understanding
of who and what we are and what the RYLA Program is all about.
Jennifer Cusick, also wearing her "special" Del
Mar Races Opening Day hat, related confirmation and thanks from El Salvador
District 4240 Governor Pasqual for our $1,500 contribution for earthquake
relief there earlier this year.
Melissa invited members to join a committee to help
acclimate our "Ambassador Scholar" from France to San Diego living. Sig Weitzman promptly volunteered to be
one of 3 or 4 still needed.
sgt.-at-arms
Sergeant-At-Arms Frank De Francesco began his weekly
"remarks" by asking absent member Gary Rice to rise for
acknowledgment! He continued
chiding members Peter Shaw (2 strikes) and Philip Welp (0 for 3) for their
noted absence!
Sergeant Frank fined Vladimir Anisimov for not explaining
why he brought a table to last week's Symphony Pops concert!
Frank introduced his newest "innovation" in the
form of a "Catholic" collection basket which will be placed each week
at the podium for those fined to throw their cash in as they are fined! Next he fined David Donnelly for
appearing on the cover of Living Better magazine with Channel 6 TV's Linda
Martin! (Further update:
Strangely, this magazine has since gone out of business? Maybe we'll learn why next week!) In a belated birthday observance, Frank
gave Jennifer Cusick 3 Winner's Luck scratch coupons that he required she split
half the "proceeds" with the club.
this week’s speaker
Jennifer Cusick introduced this week's distinguished featured speaker, Carolina Grego from SANDAG (San Diego Association of Governments consisting of 19 jurisdictions and 18 cities within the county). Originally a native of Chili and with SANDAG for nearly 5 years, Carolina is an Associate Regional Planner with a Master's Degree from SDSU in urban planning.
Carolina projected our region will grow from its present
2.9 million residents within the next 20 years to 3.8 million, much of this
from children and grandchildren of current residents, and adding over 300,000
new jobs. SANDAG calls its current
growth management strategy for this period "Region 2020." It's goals include raising the overall
standard of living, adequate affordable water, power, housing, and
transportation provided with better land use so as to respect the environment
and prevent sprawl. Another goal
of SANDAG is fiscal reform to protect local tax revenues and reducing reliance
on local sales taxes. An
"unscientific" SANDAG survey of 5,000 area residents in 1990 vs. 2000
found only one category of improvement in the quality of life here: the
economy!
Under questioning she acknowledged the challenge to get
everyone on the same page regarding the often conflicting aims of SANDAG,
the Chamber of Commerce, The Convention Center, Media, Sports Interests,
Developers, etc.
SANDAG hopes to implement "Smart Growth saving 400,00
acres of open land from sprawl by promoting "walkability" and greater
density of usage in existing areas.
Next week's speaker will be Dr. Ken Druck. Also, temporarily ailing Past-President
Colette Murray will present our Rotary Foundation awards.
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