Sep 6 2016-Rotary Forum

By Dick Dannells

Pres. Greg Baker opened the meeting at 12:32 PM, with on this date in history: California became the 31^st state on September 9, 1850; Bob Dylan’s “House of the Rising Sun" hit song” made its debut in 1962; and the United States got its nickname Uncle Sam on September 7, 1813 because Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from Troy, New York, who supplied barrels of beef to the Army during the War of 1812 and stamped the barrels with “U.S.” for United States, but soldiers began referring to the grub as “Uncle Sam's.

Andrea Lueker exchanged her red badge for her permanent blue membership badge. Terry Fibich is seeking volunteers for a Highway cleanup Saturday, September 17 starting 7:30 AM at Coco’s restaurant. Steve Curry is seeking 10 volunteers for the AmpSurf hamburger barbecue this coming Saturday, September 10 from 10:30 AM to 1 PM. Joel Conn needs a few volunteers to help with the planting on the parklet from 5:30 to 6 PM next Monday, October 12. Karen Zappia circulated a sign-up sheet for the District Gov.’s barbecue on 20 September with a reminder to bring a jacket and a chair. Pres. Greg reported that the District Conference will be held from October 14 to October 16 at the Hyatt hotel in Westlake Village and that the next board meeting will be held at the Arroyo Grande hospital this Thursday at 6 PM. Linda Osty made 2 announcements: there are 7 tickets left for the $125 October 2 fundraising dinner and this year’s Christmas movie is “Going My Way.” Joel Conn will conduct a program on membership at our next meeting. Jack Hardy, this week’s secret greeter, picked Frank Montesinos who drew Scott Astrosky’s number and Scott won the $213 jackpot.

Fine master Jack Hardy fined everyone in attendance who was not wearing a Rotary pin.  He fined Pres. Greg $25 for not auctioning off the fine-free badge so Jack had to raffle is off to himself with a winning bid of $45. Jack is celebrating his 64^th birthday and fined Frank Montesinos $50 for guessing that he was 68. He respectively levied $50 fines on Mike Kee for not attending the Summer Sizzle and Andrea Lueker for not wearing her new membership badge.

Steve began by pointing to a map of Uganda, a country of 50 million people, to show the Entebbe International Airport where he landed from a flight from Dubai.  He got to the home his host, Valence Lothaire , by 4 PM. Valence did not get much sleep because his daughter had come down with malaria, so Valence had to take a nap. Steve took the opportunity to go for a long walk around town where he was greeted by dozens of smiling children.  He noted everyone seemed to be making their own bricks to make additions to their homes and that most of the families had either a goat or a cow. During his stay in Uganda, he was the speaker at 2 Rotary meetings, attended three evening social events, and a major press attended event attended by local politicians to dedicate the new school. He explained that the majority of the Ugandans were Christians with Muslim and the native religion coming in second and third. Everywhere he went, people wanted to know about America and were trying to sell something down to the woman that was selling a single avocado. When he got to the school with most of the students off on holiday, he was able to meet with a classroom of students who are studying for scholarship exams. He met with the 2 students that we are sponsoring at a cost of $360 per year per student. He visited the grammar school where we put in the well project, which cut down there 1 mile trip to a few blocks. He visited the homes of the students whose parents were working in the cane fields and he met with the grandparents. Most of his presentation was via video after a bit of difficulty.

“Worry is hopeful anxiety; it destroys peace and accomplishes nothing.”