August 8, 2001
This week's Bulletin was written by Linda Fox.
CALL TO ORDER
The Bell mysteriously rang itself -- and President Melissa Blackburn responded by calling the meeting to order. Steve Bridge led the Club in the Pledge of Allegiance and Pete McGuire gave the invocation. Jim Mulvaney, after briefly vacillating, chose to lead us in singing "America."
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Gary Rice was welcomed to the meeting, as were Kathy and Steve from Club 33, Amy (of Rotaract), and Matt Hurley.
Member update: Melissa and Jennifer Cusick visited Carol Jensen last night, who is housebound for another 4 weeks on her route to recovery. She's doing well, really appreciated the personal contact, and continues to actively support the Club, as evidenced by Carol's assistance with locating short term housing for our In-Bound Scholar from France . . .
Jennifer announced that Vanessa DuBois, In-Bound Scholar from France, will arrive on August 15, 2001, British Airways. Jennifer and Melissa invite members to join them at 2:20 p.m. at the airport to welcome Vanessa. Thanks to Carol, Vanessa, who will be studying for one year at UCSD, has a place to stay in Mission Hills for the first few weeks she is here and until she joins her new roommate - a woman from France who has been here for four years. Please call Jennifer or Melissa to coordinate if you will be able to meet and greet Vanessa at the airport.
Jennifer announced there would be a meeting of the International Services Committee held in her offices immediately after today's breakfast meeting.
Ron Erbetta requested that members get their paperwork (and $5 fee) in to him for the October 13 Family Cruise. He also auctioned off two tickets to Saturday night's Pops concert - for $40.
Joe Ciokon promised to bring plaques next meeting to present to Rotary for its support of Veteran's Stand-Down. Meanwhile, he thanked club members for their participation and announced that 747 veterans registered for the event, approximately 830 attended the camp on the first day, and 459 stayed and 3 days and attended the graduation ceremonies on the third day of the event. VIP tours of the event were given to the Mayor and other dignitaries. Nine veterans were placed in the 1-year residency program. Melissa seconded Joe's sentiments on the "success" of the event, and advised that San Diego's Veteran Stand-Down has spawned over 200 similar programs across the nation.
Amy announced that Rotaract's annual fundraiser was attended by approximately 50 people and $1,660 was raised. She invited Club members to attend the Rotaract's 5th annual picnic, to be held on August 25th at Scripps Ranch Community Park.
Martin reminded all to attend the "Meet Rotaract" beach party in Carlsbad (at his home on the beach) this Saturday, August 11th, from 1 to 4 p.m. Maps were available at the sign-in table.
Colette provided a brief update on the Foundation, and made sure that every Club member received their U.S. Bank piggy bank to start saving coins to be put toward becoming "Paul Harris Fellows." The Club will match $50 contributions of newer members for their first $100 annual pledge (toward a 10-year commitment).
Don Lang's success rate on the roster still stands at 95%. So close and yet so far away. Please help him reach 100% by sending in your updated information if you are that 5%!!
Mike Jones reported that the Membership Plan will be presented at next week's meeting. As a teaser: this year's goal is to grow at least one new member per month and to increase the number of clubs within the District. New members are Rotary's life's blood and necessary to reverse the downward trend of the 1990's.
REMEMBER: First breakfast for a guest is FREE.
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS ABSENT (We know Frank will get us double next week!)
OUR SPEAKER
Melissa "introduced" our very-own Carolyn Smith Morrow as our speaker for the day - on a topic clearly near and dear to Carolyn's heart: The California Medical Alternative Clinic ("CMAC").
Carolyn formed CMAC with her son, and acted as its president and chief operating officer until CMAC was forcefully shut down by a SWAT operation in April 2000, after 2 ½ years of operations.
CMAC was formed, at least in part, to respond to Proposition 215, which passed by a 60% vote in 1995 and mandated that cities implement a fair way to provide cannabis (marihuana) for medicinal purposes to the sick. Located on 4th Street in downtown San Diego, CMAC worked with the City Attorney, police and other community groups, to develop a protocol for dealing with the sick. Prior to its closure it had over 150 medical doctors referring patients, and worked with over 1,000 individuals suffering from AIDS (75% of the total served), cancer victims and chronic pain sufferers, among others. Carolyn reported that through the use of marihuana, either by smoking it or ingesting it via teas or in foods (the infamous "brownies"), the sick are able to keep medications "down", sleep better, experience reduced pain, and even re-join the work force as productive people. Carolyn shared the stories of three individuals whose lives were improved, even for one in the last days of her life, through the efforts of CMAC to make marihuana available to them.
Although CMAC and its founders agreed not to re-open in San Diego, and although the legal efforts continue against CMAC in San Diego, its founders have been invited by the City of Oakland to open a center as a division of that City. Financial constraints may make it impossible to accept this offer. Other similar centers have been opened around the state, including one opened by UCSD shortly after CMAC was closed down.
The closure of CMAC is clearly not the end of the story - and Carolyn has put on a author's hat to write her side of the story in a book titled: America's Finest City Turns Ugly.
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