August 27, 2003

This week's Bulletin was written by Christopher Blin

This Week’s Meeting

Jim Dunn and his Mother celebrating her 80th Birthday!

 

President Frank De Francesco called the meeting to order at 7:35 am.  David Dawson led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Linda Spuck gave an insightful Invocation that focused on personal ideals and the characteristics of a respected life.  She paraphrased sir William Ossler's list which included doing a day's work well, following the Golden Rule of treating others as we want to be treated, and striving for success while still showing humility.

All sang a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” to Julie Dunn (pictured here) on the occasion of her 80th birthday.  She is the mother of Rotarian James Dunn.   Other Rotarians bringing guests included Lee Weekley who brought Brandon Goodman and James Arko; Brett Carlson who brought his dad Bud Carlson; Carol Jensen who brought her son Michael Jensen; and Susan Bleicher who brought Sue Braden.  Visiting Rotarians came from far and wide, including Glen Davis from Toronto, Julie Gibbons from Albuquerque, and Pam Russell form La Jolla Golden Triangle.  Welcome.

BLUE BADGES

Ken Juen Receiving Blue Badge From Frank

 

Blue Badge advancements were achieved by Ken Juen (pictured here) and Steve Waterman ( who limped up to the podium, nursing a tennis injury).  Congratulations to both on this fine honor. Steve (Charter Member with a short break in service due to moving to the Bay area) wanted to make it clear that the only reason he was receiving a blue badge was that he had lost his previous one!

Notable Notes

Ø      Rotary tailgate BBQ party at Qualcomm Stadium before the Padres game on Sept. 8.

Ø      Buy Rotaract's entertainment discount book.

Ø      Mike Stellman, our District Governor, will speak here on Sept. 10.

Ø      University Club requests all members and guests adhere to the dress code.

Ø      A few classy Rotary Tropical Parrot T-shirts are still available for $5 (and we correctly made $165 selling them at the Escondido District Dinner, not the previously reported measly $65!)

Ø      David Ferguson's son has announced his engagement and will join the Marines next June.

Ø      David Mc Quade was fined for inventing a new type of playing card in last week's Bulletin: the “Four of Aces.”

Ø      Rosalie Kramm was the high bidder ($30) for Gary Green's auction of 6 reggae concert tickets to see Freddy MacGregor live downtown.

Ø      And saving the best for last, Melissa Blackburn proudly announced that our own Jennifer Grebing and her husband Steve are expecting a new baby!  And the new arrival will be here within the next 6 months. Congratulations!!

this week’s program

Speakers Ben Bunn and Roberta Spoon with Frank

 

Our keynote speakers were forensic accounting CPA Roberta Spoon and personal injury attorney Benjamin Bunn.  They spoke on the Victims' Compensation Fund that was set up to manage donations in the days following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.  Within hours of the tragedy, American generosity started the largest victims' fund in history.  It is estimated that when all claims are finalized, $3-5 billion will have been paid out.

The Trial Lawyers' Care Program was set up to do Pro Bono claims processing for victims' families.  Thirty lawyers volunteered in San Diego to represent 30 New York families for free.  Benjamin told of the case of victim Tom Sellec and his wife Roseanne, and Rotarians were relieved half way through when they realized that it was not the real Magnum P.I. they were talking about.  Whew!

The number of claims filed total 2,239 so far, with 760 completed to date.  Compensation to victims' families ranges from a minimum of $250,000 well into the millions, depending on lost years of productivity.  When a claim is heard it takes an average of 120 days to get a check.  Lawyers help streamline a half-hour presentation (generally including a video of the family circumstances) for viewing by the court's “Special Master” Ken Feinberg.  The inevitable lawsuits filed against Feinberg challenging his decisions will be heard later, and it is generally thought that they will probably be dismissed for the good of all concerned.

Fraudulent claims amazingly amounted to relatively few (if any) cases during the entire process. Many thanks to our speakers Benjamin and Roberta.

Frank closed the meeting at 8:30 with these words of wisdom:

"Sacrifice is the essence of something given, not something given up."

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