August 29, 2001

 

This week's Bulletin was written by Keith French.

CALL TO ORDER

President Melissa called the meeting to order at 7:10 AM.  Pledge of Allegiance led by Carolyn Smith Morrow.  Invocation: Gary Green.  Song of the Morning: A Rousing rendition of I’ve been workin' on the Railroad led by Linda Jalving;

Announcements

Ø      Fund Raiser Committee Report:

Alan Talbot. Reported that the Committee had a great meeting last evening. Hosted by Carol “Gimp” Jensen. Alan reported, “she has a foot cast the size of an elephant, and it must be elevated at all times.”  Next meeting of the Committee is on September 12, 2001 immediately following the Rotary Meeting. The purpose of the meeting will be to finalize Theme and discuss venues.  At the next Club meeting Alan promised to provide Potential Donors Forms for member use in identifying potential donors for the Silent Auction. Plan on attending the meeting next week to pick up your forms.

Ø      Kayaking on Mission Bay:

Alan continued with a pitch for a “ Rotary Paddle”. It seems he has a friend who can provide kayak and all of the equipment needed for an incredible “Paddle” on Mission Bay at a very low price ($10). So with a show of hands (approximately 15 people committed to the First Annual (?) San Diego Breakfast Club Evening Paddle on Mission Bay at 6 PM. Alan will organize and get back to the Club with details, (hopefully before Daylight Saving Time ends).

Ø      Mike Jones and the Membership Minute:

Mike handed out cards for use by the membership in inviting potential new members to a free breakfast with the Downtown Rotary Club of San Diego. These cards were located in the back of Ron Erbetta’s BMW after five years. I wouldn’t want to get in that back seat, would you?

Ø      Rotary Foundation Seminar:

Jeffery Winters of the Coronado Rotary Club, in the official Coronado Club Hawaiian shirt, announced that the Annual District Rotary Foundation Seminar will held this year at Salk Institute Auditorium on Saturday 15, 2001 Registration and Breakfast at 7:00 AM and program from 8:15 AM to 11:55 AM. Learn everything you need to know and keep up to date about your Rotary Foundation. You will also have two chances to win $500 matching credit towards your Paul Harris Fellowship. (That is a good deal! And with good odds).

Ø      Uptown Rotary Club Charter Dinner

Melissa Blackburn announce that the Uptown San Diego Rotary Club Charter Dinner will be held on the evening of October 13th at Museum of Photographic Arts.

Ø      Garfunkel

Melissa had four tickets to a Garfunkel performance this Friday from Colette Murray who could not attend, so she asked that they be auctioned off with all money going to the Rotary Foundation. Gary Green in magnificent form auctioned the tickets at a discount for $140.00. Thank you Colette

Ø      District Conference 2002

President Melissa pitched the Rotary District 5340 2002 District Conference by announcing that it is planned as “California Cruising” leaving San Pedro for Ensenada with a stop in Catalina. Scheduled Dates: May 17, 18,19 & 20, 2002. Forms are available the sign-in desk at every meeting.

Sergeant-at-Arms

Frank DeFrancesco, the little Italian farmer, announced that the Wedding Anniversary of the Week was Barry Tobias. Barry in shock, it seems, feigned a memory loss but after reassurance that he was definitely married, admitted to his 13th anniversary of wedlock and bliss.

Ø      Bragging rights:

Leah Swearingen-Millett paid to confess that she had scored a 98 on her Hunters Safety Course in 100-degree heat in beautiful downtown Norco last Saturday.

Carolyn Smith Morrow paid to admit that this Friday is her sons’ 31st birthday. Boy did we all miss her real age. (35-31=4 years old at his birth, now that doesn’t compute at all, go figure!)

Alan Talbott paid to brag that he had visited Lake Tahoe last week, rented a bike and then rode all the way around the Lake. Wow. That is a feat to brag about. A drive in a car around the lake can take a minimum of 4 hours in light traffic.

Ø      Veggie Sales

Leaving at least 8 bags of yellow tomatoes and a notice that the fall crop is coming he turned the meeting back to Melissa for introduction of the Featured Speaker.

Speaker

Dave Ferguson introduced the speaker: Gerry Wilson President and CEO of the San Diego Better Business Bureau (BBB).  Gerry joined BBB in 1996. Since joining BBB Gerry has been responsible for an increased membership from 2100 to over 4500. The San Diego BBB is one of the fastest growing BBB’s in the nation. Before joining BBB Gerry was with the Union Tribune where he covered Fraud and Scams. Gerry is also a Rotarian and later admitted that he loves speaking to Rotary Clubs because he gets a free meal and a make-up too. (4 way test?)

Gary launched into several of the most famous and absurd scams and frauds that have been Ads in newspapers all over the USA

Ø      “The Most Worlds successful medical device……only $7.95 send check and SASE”. On receipt of the check the sucker receives back an envelope with one band-aid.

Ø      “The Worlds most successful bug killer! Forget the bug spray, this kills them dead….., $3.00, send check and SASE” On receipt of the check the sucker receives back a small box with two small blocks of wood…simply put the insect on one block and smash it with the other….

Hard to believe but these scams have been successful.

Gerry went on to describe the number one crime in America: Identity theft. To prove the point Gerry showed a tape of a TV news broadcast on Identity Theft, demonstrating one means to Identity theft: “dumpster diving”. In the broadcast the reporters went to Gerry’s house on the night before trash collection and rifled through his trash. The reporter collected from the trash enough information to successfully order bank checks for Gerry’s personal checking account. On receipt of the checks the reporter went on a buying spree (one item) and successfully used his checks to purchase goods from a local store. When Gerry found out, he was shocked and embarrassed to find he had been scammed, and so easily.

Gerry indicated that this kind of “Dumpster Diving” is quite prevalent and is one simple means of Identity Theft. His recommendation to all of us: Place your trash on the street the morning of collection not the night before, and shred your trash.

Slamming your Long Distance carrier is another Scam that is quite prevalent. To combat this Gerry provided a phone number to call to check if your Long distance provider has been slammed. Calling from the phone to which the long distance carrier is assigned, dial 1-700-555-4141 (this is a toll free call).

Be a good consumer if you need help or advice on scams, fraud, bad contractors call the BBB at (858) 637-4389 or go the BBB website www.sandiego.bbb.org.

President Melissa adjourned the meeting at 8:30 AM. Members surrounded Gerry asking questions and thanking him for his contribution to our well-being.

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