October 10, 2001

 

This Bulletin Was Written By Linda Jalving.

 

This Week's Meeting

Wednesday, October 10th dawned clear and crisp, a lovely fall day… and the San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club had another fantastic meeting!  President Melissa called the meeting to order at approximately 7:30 AM, Jennifer led us in the Pledge, and Dan spoke about “What a difference a day makes” - a new perspective of life after 9-11.  We sang the patriotic song, “You’re a Grand Old Flag” with feeling.

Announcements

Ø      Melissa introduced several folks from club 33 and Amy from Rotaract. Eric introduced our foreign exchange student, Julian from Argentina.  Julian thanked us for our support and told us a bit about his life in Argentina.  Melissa then introduced Vanessa, our ambassadorial scholar from France.  Vanessa shared her excitement about her upcoming internship at San Diego State, where she will be studying dolphins with the goal of helping autistic children.  She is living her “America Dream” and thanked Rotary for our part in this success.

Ø      Colette asked us to support the Rotary Foundation by attending the foundation dinner and buying raffle tickets. The raffle money also goes toward your sustaining foundation membership!  We were also encouraged by Frank to remember the foundation “permanent fund” in our estate planning.

Ø      Gary Green and Amy reminded everyone of the Rotaract fundraising event  at Martini Ranch, and Gary made the proud announcement that 100% of our club has participated in raising over $5,000.00 to send to the New York Rotary club.

NEW MEMBER

Mike Jones (our clubs membership chair) asked Ron Erbetta to introduce Bill Poirier, Jr., who is a loan officer with Amerihome Mortgage (“we finance the American dream”).  Motorcycling, scuba diving and travel are Bills hobbies. Please make it a point to welcome Bill to the club.

Sgt.-At-Arms

Sergeant-at-arms (and gardener) Frank gave away lottery tickets to those birthday folks who were at the meeting, and offered more produce for “sale”, but spoke only briefly to allow our speaker time to share his presentation.

This Week’s Speaker

Mr. Len Brass has worked in education for 35 years and been a Rotarian for 6 years.  He was a high school principal in Littleton, CO for many years.  The day after several children and a teacher were killed at Columbine High School, he made a decision to become a speaker and address the issues of children and violence.  Len assured us that (especially as Rotarians) we can make a difference in children’s lives.  He then shared a very heartwarming story about a group of young girls who had formed a club called “The Nobodies.”  They formed this club because they did not feel that they “belonged.”  After being told by these girls that if they should die, no one would miss them, Len told them “I adopt all of you!”  Every week on a Tuesday afternoon, the “Nobodies” met with Len. After the year came to an end these girls were saying, “I’m a special person and demand to be treated accordingly.”  When a child feels special, they don’t make bombs and pull triggers, they make a difference in their own worlds.  When an adult helps children feel special, they make a difference, too.  Len brought copies of his book, “How to Raise Kids Through the Elementary School Years” and offered to autograph them.  100% of the price of the book is donated to the Orangewood Home for abused and neglected kids.  Len was an exceptional speaker.

P.S. One way in which you can make a difference is to bring children’s books to our meeting next week for the “Kids at Heart” program.

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