July 17, 2002
This Week’s Bulletin Was Written By Hugh Largey.
THIS WEEK’s MEETING
President Gary Green called the meeting to order with his now familiar signature appellation in citing our club as "the Crown Jewel" of Rotary District 5340. Jose Hernandez led all in attendance in the complete Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of our country. Next on what President Gary termed "Military Day" Lou Scanlon effectively led the group in singing the Navy's traditional "Anchors Away"! Recently inducted Club Member Melissa Armstrong gave an inspired reading from the words of Nelson Mendella. Pete Doody introduced among many visitors, newly elected Rotaract President, Melissa Stoneham, Admiral Betancourt, Commander Dave Koons, and Lieutenant Alli Myrick, Club 33's Assemblywoman Lucy Killea, and Steve Dentson of Del Mar-Solana Beach Rotary.
Announcements
Ø Gary gave an enthusiastic overview of his impressions from recently attending the 97th Rotary International Conference held in Barcelona, Spain with 20,000 other Rotarians worldwide. He pointed out last year's Rotary theme "The Business of Mankind is Our Business" rang true throughout the conference where the keynote speaker was the former Soviet Union's Mikael Gorbachev. In his 30 years as a Rotarian, Gary has found his returns have far exceed his givings of service without the prospect of getting something in return.
Ø Gary publicly thanked the 15 club members who joined with Kiwanis volunteers in serving food the previous weekend to homeless military veterans in the local Operation Stand Down. Rotarians cited are: Ron Erbetta, Bill Poirer, Lynn Hamilton, Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Dater, Lee Ann Owens, Melissa Armstrong, Frank De Francesco, Mr. & Mrs. Lou Scanlon & their Daughter Megan, Melissa Blackburn and her husband Rich, Mr. & Mrs. Dave Ferguson, Peter Doody, Maureen Eberle, Nancy Vaughn, James Dunn, Gary Green & his son.
Ø President Gary solicited members to attend the Rotary Membership Development Seminar offered on Saturday, July 20th at Grossmont College. He listed his 3 main goals for his term as to get new members and retain them, to have good speakers, and to be involved in the Polio Plus Program. Sig Weitzman & Tom Sayer plugged an upcoming event for the handicapped.
Sgt. Captain Scanlon
Gary announced since he himself has been a diabetic for over 30 years, this year's Sgt. at Arms fines will go to his pet charity, The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Sgt. at Arms Lou Scanlon corrected Gary as he understood Gary to have actually been a juvenile delinquent for 30 years! Lou brought Club Farmer Frank De Francesco up to sell his organic tomatoes and vegetables "freshly sprayed with pesticides this morning.” Lou then fined Dave Archambault for his son being a ball boy at the upcoming La Costa Tennis Tournament, Bill McColl for being away awhile, Past President Melissa Blackburn for not being fined for a year, Ron Erbetta for wanting a "new family", non military and military veterans who didn't help at Operation Stand Down, Jim Waters for plugging his wife's catering & food-to-go business.
This Week’s Program
Finally, Dave Donnelly through the
courtesy of Joe Ciokon introduced Rear Admiral Jose Luis Betancourt who was
born in Mexico, holds a Masters from Tufts University Fletcher School of Law,
and has had several sea duties since joining the Navy in 1972, including in the
Persian Gulf. Click
Here For Official Navy Biography.
He revealed he joined the Navy because he preferred their uniform to the
Army's! He found a unity of goals
with the Rotary & Navy in helping Operation Stand Down and their service to
the community and country. Admiral
Betancourt related his San Diego Area budgetary responsibilities alone are over
$5 Billion while his wider responsibilities extend to $17 Billion. His talk gave many interesting
statistics from the number of personnel to the number of naval vessels serving
in this area with their major impact on the economic life of our
community. Just one aircraft
carrier contributes roughly the same amount as a Super Bowl to this area. Also, our speaker gave significant
reassurances of the strengthening of forces to combat terrorism. He pointed out the Navy maintains a
strict environmental friendly policy as well. He concluded that a lot worse things could happen to one
than be required to serve his military duty in San Diego.
President Gary next illustrated that fact by honoring Admiral Betancourt as the Downtown San Diego Breakfast Club's 1st Honorary Military Member. Gary then fined this newest member $5 for being prominently featured in a local newspaper article! Click Here To Read The Article. The meeting was adjourned so we could "go out and make a difference."
Home - Calendar of Events - Getting Involved - Member Info
Service Committees - Bulletin - Links
Created by David Tereschuck of:
Copyright © 2000