November 30, 2005

This Week’s Bulletin Was Written By Tom Sayer

THIS WEEK’S MEETING

This week’s meeting started with an invocation by Sandra Rugg and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Lesa Chang.  Linda Jalving and Rosalie Kramm warmed us up for our upcoming caroling at the Senior Community Center with a round of Jingle Bell Rock.  We had our usual introductions of guests and visiting Rotarians.

Announcements

Ø      Maureen came back from Palau with a most unusual Club banner – carved in wood!  With her eyes wide open to all the incredible sights, she kept exclaiming, “WOW!”  -- at least until she discovered that “WOW” means “STUPID” in the native language!  She just happened to time her visit for the Club’s 10th Anniversary Gala and was received as an honored guest by the DG from Japan and the Ambassador to the Philippines.

Ø      Mary Dawe introduced this month’s Student of the Month.  Sonia Franco came to U.S. for medical treatment when she was 12.  When she first came to San Diego she did not speak English, but she was determined to keep up with her 7th grade class, so she learned English quickly and passed all of her classes during her first year here.  She is a senior at the School of the Arts at San Diego High and has appeared in several plays and was set designer for another.  She also has excelled in academics.  She is a member of Movimiento Estiantil Chicano de Aztlan.  For this organization she has organized canned food drives for farm workers in Carlsbad, participated in community forums about human rights needs and programs, learned more about Chicano history and culture, and passes on what she has learned to other San Diego High School students during after school programs.  She wants to attend college with the goal of becoming a teacher at the high school or college level.

Ø      Maureen reminded us to pick up the Responsibility Project Letters to Santa.  Most of the letters were picked up today, but there still may be a few available.  Contact Melissa Blackburn if you didn’t get one.  DROP OFF WILL BE NO LATER THAN THE NEXT (DECEMBER 7th) MEETING.  Remember that the gifts should NOT be gift wrapped, but should be delivered in their original packaging, all self contained in a plastic bag with the number written on the outside and the original letter taped to the bag.  PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LETTER, ITSELF.  There should be materials for packaging at the meeting, but you can save us all a little hassle if you get everything properly packaged in advance.

Ø      Geoff Miller made sure we won’t forget that the Rotaract Jazz for Diabetes Fundraiser is tomorrow, December 1st at the Onyx Room on Fifth Avenue. For more information go to www.sdrotaract.org.  Special extra incentive:  get a chance to see Maureen and Ron dancing at the RI Convention in Chicago where our Rotaract Club was honored for last year’s Jazz For Juvenile Diabetes event.

Ø      Maureen announced that on December 3rd at 8:30-11:30 am  there will be a Rotarians at Work Day Seminar at the Braille Institute in UTC.

Ø      Linda Jalving, Pat Cowett, Maureen and Eileen Henesey are having a jewelry and gift party on December 5th at 5:30 pm at Maureen’s home, 3136 Old Heather Road, San Diego, CA.  Try Clicking Here For evite and to RSVP.

Ø      Pat Cowett reminded everyone that our annual Holiday Party will be Friday, December 9th at Susan Davis’ home from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

Ø      Alex Kwoka  announced that we will be serving lunch and caroling at the Senior Center on December 10th (Note the change of date from December 3rd).  We need 15-20 people or so for this event.

Ø      Larry Mascari of the Old Mission Club has invited us to join them to distribute food, blankets and backpacks to hundreds of poor families in and around the El Nino Colonia in Mexico.  The event is on December 10th, 7:45 am to 3 pm.  For more details, contact Larry at 619-582-8200 or 619-807-4361.

Ø      Ken Juen is organizing a Rotary Night with the Gulls at ipayOne Center (SD Sports Arena) on January 14th.  Details to follow.

Ø      Great to see David McKee back at the meeting today!  And Mike Sisson and Duane Horning both thanked us all for the “miss you” cards.

Ø      Condolences to Rachel Humphreys whose mother passed away unexpectedly, and to Steve Davis (Susan’s husband) who lost a son unexpectedly.

Sgt. At Arms

Ø      Brad Leitch won the latest raffle, but lost $10 for missing the last two meetings.  John D’Amore better show up soon or his entire winnings will go to Larry The Loan Shark! 

Ø      Leah Swearingen-Millet couldn’t guess right in this week’s Name That Rotarian. 

Ø      Alex Kwoka’s  son graduated from law school, passed the bar and has a job!  (all in that order, presumably!)

Ø      Cynthia Sener dropped some cash in thanks to the Club and many members who wished her well at a baby shower last night.

Ø      Melissa Blackburn congratulated Voices For Children for being honored by SD Magazine as the best charity in the City!

Ø      Ken Juen’s son is a coach for the SD Gulls – that’s how he got us a great deal for January 14th!

Ø      Ron Erbetta continues to rake in the gambling winnings – this time with the MA Lottery!

Ø      Leah Swearingen challenged Scott Carr with a pop quiz on the Ten (or Eleven) Things Every Rotarian Should Know.  Scott got the four Avenues Of Service correct!

The PRESENTATION

Jeff Chin joined us this week from the California Innocence Project, a non-profit clinical program based at California Western School of Law in which law professors and students work to free wrongly convicted prisoners in California. Founded in 1999, the California Innocence Project reviews more than 1000 claims of innocence from California inmates each year and has earned the release of four wrongfully convicted clients.  Students who participate in the year-long clinic work on cases where there is evidence of actual innocence and assist in investigation and litigation by tracking down and re-interviewing witnesses, examining new evidence, filing motions, securing expert witnesses, and providing support to attorneys during evidentiary hearings and trials. The California Innocence Project operates out of the Institute for Criminal Defense Advocacy at California Western School of Law in San Diego.  Profiled for us today was the case of John Stoll who served 20-years in prison for child molestation before having his conviction reversed.  After the California Innocence Project, along with the Northern California Innocence Project at Santa Clara University School of Law, took on Stoll’s case they uncovered new evidence that disputed the purported victims’ testimony and soon were granted an evidentiary hearing.  Seven lawyers, a dozen law students, and an investigator spent hundreds of hours prepping witnesses and preparing for the hearing which took place in three parts from January to April 2004.  Four witnesses who testified against Stoll as children recanted their testimony. They admitted that the sexual abuse stories they told as children were lies and that law enforcement officials, social workers, and prosecutors coerced them into making false allegations against Stoll.  At the conclusion of the hearing, Stoll’s conviction was overturned and he was freed after 20 years.  For more information, Click Here.

Next Week’s Speaker will be Warren Ogden on The Aja Project.  See you all there!

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