President Dan’s Demotion!
President Dan McVeigh (Downey Brand LLP) went down as smooth as a glass of Irish Whiskey in a stunt-filled raucous yet affectionate and appreciative farewell of his presidency as his term ended at Tuesday’s meeting. More toasts were sure to follow at the evening’s party at de Vere’s Irish Pub.Past President John Frisch (Cornish & Carey Commercial) took the podium and donned a red wig for a humorous look back at Dan’s term as we prepared for the “bloodless transition of power” to incoming President Elect John Lemmon (Knox, Lemmon & Anapolsky). Posing as President Dan, Frisch jokingly recounted his Monday emails to members as a “stream of consciousness” writing that he would repeat at Tuesday’s meeting. Sargent-At-Arms Tom Bacon (Kidder Matthews) announced a new potential member, an attorney named Sue Yu.
Past President Walter Dahl (Dahl Law, Attorneys At Law) took a microphone to expose the scandal of the McVeigh presidency as a photograph appeared on the video screen of McVeigh and President Elect Elect Diane Woodruff smiling in their bathrobes. “Isn’t it true you were in a Japanese Bathhouse with this woman!” Dahl accused.
Wearing a traditional robe acquired during Rotary’s International Convention last year in Seoul, South Korea, and tour of Japan, Woodruff rushed through the room to his defense. “I was not Dan’s concubine,” she proclaimed as a new photograph of the two with their spouses in bathrobes appeared on screen. “Dan is a man of honor,” she said. “He was a perfect gentleman.”
Woodruff recounted their wonderful adventures on the tour and Dan’s love of ice cream. She presented him with a gift certificate for a year of free ice cream and praised his warm sense of humor, love of family and his Irish eyes.
Past president Rob Scherer (Dale Carnegie Training ) then pretended to interview Past President John Hamlyn (retired managing partner at Downey Brand) about why he had hired McVeigh to work at the reputed law firm of Downey Brand and posed the question if the Russians had been involved in Dan’s demotion.
Hamlyn, retired and attired in a top hat and Hawaiian shirt, said he couldn’t recall as the hiring took place only a couple of hours before his family convinced him to enter rehab.
“I’m still not sure he is a licensed attorney,” Hamlyn opined, saying that Dan was still taking the bar every year until Hamlyn had retired. Dan did show up every day in clean clothes and all the contributions the firm made to Rotary had won him the presidency. Hamlyn then conceded that McVeigh had been an excellent lawyer and Rotary president.
On a serious note, Dahl took over the podium and proclaimed that Dan as the club’s 105th president “is a man of tradition and a man of value. He leads by example.” A devout Catholic, Dan often praises his wife and best friend, Rebecca Baumann, who was given a bouquet from Relles Flowers during the demotion ceremony.
Dan proposed the Spring Fling as a dinner and dance to encourage spouses and families to share Rotary together. Dahl said Dan had raised $11,000 for Polio Plus, financed the construction of a library in Costa Rica and filled it with books. Dan, who had his Irish locks shaved, also raised $87,000 for St. Baldricks, childhood cancer research foundation. Dahl presented Dan with a bottle of MacCallan 15 whiskey.President Dan thanked everyone, all his committee members, foundation trustees, board members, office staff and club members for making his year so memorable. During his term, he said the club raised and donated $273,507 to various charities.
He said with a laugh that he may not be as funny as Frisch or well-dressed as Past President Diane Mizell, but he had a great year. “I thank you for making this year a success,” he concluded.
The meeting started with an invocation by Mik Miklaus (Integrity Mortgage). Greeters included Jack Anderson (Dick James & Associates) and Frisch. Ted Kappel (Kappel Mortgage Group) was wine sponsor. Seated at the head table were Mizell, Lemmon, McVeigh, Miklaus, Frisch and Dahl. Audio visual was provided by Kevin Williams (KVIE) and Aaron French (Zanker Recycling).
In announcements, John Swentowsky (Swentowsky Photography) said he needed volunteers to serve at Loaves and Fishes Lunch Shift on Thursday. Bob Miller (First US Community Credit Union) needs golfers for the August 7 Golf 4 Kids Golf Tournament and President Elect Lemmon invited everyone to his installation as president on July 11 at our new trial location, The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 600 Alhambra Blvd. He thanked the Dante Club for serving the club after Woodlake Inn closed.
In roasts and boasts, Jim Relles (Relles Flowers) donated $100 for his successful business trip. Bob Gaines gave $1,000 in honor of his granddaughter’s recent wedding in Madrid, Spain, and his European tour. Son-in-law Todd Andrews (Andrews Construction, Inc.), whose daughter was married, said he could only afford $100 after the wedding.
Thank you John Swentowsky (Swentowsky Photography) for the photos!