Pres. Scott opened the meeting at 12:38 PM with the usual introduction of guests.

Linda Osty is still looking for a couple more volunteers at this Saturday’s Christmas movie.. Karen Zappia announced that today is the last day for collecting CASA gifts at our meeting. Those who have not brought their gifts today should bring them to her office or the CASA office, both in San Luis Obispo no later than this Friday. Ashlea Boyer stated that our Christmas party on Tuesday December 13 from 5:30-8 PM will be potluck and each couple is asked to bring a wrap gift of $20 value for a gift exchange An email will be sent as to what food item we are to bring. Scott reminded us of the January 12 Cal Poly Women’s Basketball Annual PolioPlus day. Andrea Lueker stated that we will be participating in a get down and dirty fence building project at the Grover Beach Expiration Station on 2 different dates January 5^th and the 26^th. She also stated that the Community Giving grants will be accepting applications for charities with the deadline for submission on January 11. Anya Stanley reported that the Pismo Beach Parklet in front of Joel and Sarah Conn’s veterinary clinic is in need of paperback book donations for it’s free library. Finally, she stated reported that a 238 foot cruise liner will be moored at Port San Luis this weekend. Because this is the first meeting of the month, Pres. Scott showed off his loud stockings and asked members to come forward with similar stockings, leggings, etc. At Least Steve Curry and Rae Breen did come forward with such wearing apparel.

Dick Dannells donated $5 IDs for his successful trip to Laughlin. Pres. Scott assessed Mark Olson $25 IDs for the poor introduction of the guests at his table. He then auctioned off the ID-free badge to Mark Olson for $25.

Dana began by asking us to spell Hanukkah. She pointed out that since Hanukkah began before written language, the spelling came about by phonetics. Another version is spelled Chanuakkah, but Chan is pronounced Han. The reason the 8 days of Hanukkah begins the last days of November to the early days of December of our calendar is it’s based on the Jewish calendar, Kislev. She then asked whether the Jewish people are a race, an ethnicity, a nationality or a religion. Although an argument can be made for each of these terms, ethnicity seems to seem to account for most of the characteristics of the Jewish people. Ethnicity refers to cultural factors such as nationality, culture, language and beliefs. Mattathias led a large-scale Maccabees rebellion against Antiochus, the Greek king that had been killing thousands of Jews. Hanukkah refers to the dedication of the Jewish Temple after this rebellion and is a celebration of this event. The menorah in the Temple was required to burn for 8 nights, but they only enough oil for it to burn for 1 day. Based on a miracle, so the story goes, the menorah burned for the 8 days. Dana then lit the 3 candles in the menorah, representing the first 3 days of Hanukkah. We took part in the celebration by eating traditional Jewish latkes with a trollop of sour cream and applesauce. Later we ate a piece of sweet bread and grape juice after the menorah was lit.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Marianne Williamson