The rain clouds parted, the blue sky opened and sunshine poured into our Rotary meeting of May 15th, 2015. John Schurict tinkled the piano with the latest 1940’s top tens while five full tables of Rotarians settled themselves for the usual terrific meeting of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Rotary Club.
Our illustrious president Jim…no, no, wait…that’s not Jim…that’s Les Fishman at the podium. Where’s Jim this week? However, Les, in good Rotary tradition rang the opening bell at 12:30. He was followed in rapid succession by new member Brian Saunder leading us in prayer; Keith Deisenroth patriotically pledging allegiance; and Gary Tossell leading us in “God Bless America”, but we know that he was mumbling something about a queen.
Harry Kitter mellifluously introduced Audra Plazt, a guest of Suzy Zimmermans’ and Dr. Ralph Black of the Sunset Rotary Club. They were then serenaded by the PV Rotary Glee Club. If they come back again, it will have been a success!
Kjell Hellberg reported that our previous guest Michael from Germany had donated $40 to the Foundation. John Stillo reminded us that the next evening meeting was at the Trump Golf Club. Julia Parton whispered invitations to the Demotion Dinner.
The most important part of the meeting followed with Inga claiming a white wine, Gary Tossell grabbing the red, and Suzie Seamans getting the third prize that was NOT a raffle!
At last John Stillo introduced our distinguished speaker, Pat Means, the manager of the Outreach Program of the Alta Sea program at the Port of Los Angeles. She, and her fellow Texans [all the Rotarians] shared the story of the upgrading of the tourist and business facilities of the Port. If you weren’t there you missed the story!
Les gonged the meeting to an end at 1:25 and everyone went on their merry way…
Out of respect for our host, Donald Trump, and being aware of his sensitivity toward his hairdo, your reporter vowed not to mention anything related to hair in the accounting of our May 20 Wednesday night event at Trump National Golf Club. But it is difficult not thinking about something once you know it’s taboo.
Paul Rubincam was prepared with name tags for everyone, and he used a hair over 40 of them for our guests. Newer members Marc Mazorow and Henry Ott brought their spouses. Julia Parton Rosas, who never has a bad hair day, brought Coldwell Banker agent Glenn Thompson. Christine Barnicki kept us in her cross hairs with her camera, but she saw neither hide nor hair of Les Fishman, our incoming president.
The hors d’ovuers were tasty, but not enough to put hair on your chest. Liz Fitzgerald’s husband Dan sported his new I-Watch which seemed a hair out of place to this Luddite. President Jim Hartman and wife Pat just returned from letting their hair down on an Italian cruise, and are really looking forward to the upcoming Demotion Dinner. Tom Hiatt told hair raising stories about his Africa trip, while David Rowe had a hair of the dog that bit him with spouse Carol. Harry Kitter and Robin are tearing their hair out over a proposed home remodel, while Allan Bond stays a hair’s breadth from a speeding ticket in his new Corvette.
District Governor in waiting (hair apparent?) Greg O’Brien, always in someone’s hair about district news, proudly presented the “Unsung Hero Award” to Paul Rubincam, and the “Vocational Service Leadership Award” to Joan Behrens in absentia. Other honors for our club included having the most new members, greatest annual membership growth, top capital giving per capita and the “Vibrant Club Award.”
The Interact Club of Rolling Hills Prep and Renaissance Schools initiated a school-wide fitness challenge to raise money to purchase an adaptive hand cycle for Ryan Porteous who was paralyzed in a sailing accident when he was 19.
The Interact Club, sponsored by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Rotary Club, was newly founded on the campus this school year. Interact is a service learning organization that offers access to community service opportunities to its members on and off campus. The IM ABLE Fitness Challenge was Interact’s first major project.
The idea was born in conjunction with Kathy Hagee, the club’s advisor, and the IM ABLE Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Pennsylvania. The mission of the IM ABLE Foundation is to remove obstacles that prevent people affected by disabilities from being physically active by providing grants, resources, fitness opportunities and motivation. This is the Foundation’s first project on the west coast.
The IM ABLE Foundation connected the Interact Club with Ryan Porteous. Ryan was in his first year at UC Santa Barbara when he was in a sailing accident that broke his back, resulting in paralysis. One of Ryan’s personal goals is to complete his first triathlon. An adaptive hand cycle would help him achieve his dream and the students of Interact were determined to help.
Students, faculty, and staff were encouraged to join the 3-month IM ABLE Fitness Challenge which included doing a certain number of jumping jacks, sit ups, and miles (running or walking). Participants had to get sponsors in order to join the challenge. The schools also designated physical education classes towards the challenge so that students could complete their goals.
The Interact Club set a goal of $2,500, the cost of a hand cycle, but the total raised was $4,200. On May 21, 2015, the Interact Club and the students at RHP and Renaissance presented Ryan with his new cycle. Ryan will use the cycle to compete in his first triathlon. The remaining funds were donated towards another bike for a recipient to be decided by the Foundation.
