PROGRAM July 10, 2018: Jim Gregory -“Central Coast Navigator’s in World War II”
By Dick Dannells
Pres. Scott Astrosky opened the meeting promptly at 12:10 PM with the invocation, flag salute, and introduction of guests including the following Rotary Club Presidents: Paige Chamberlain, of the San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Club, of the 5 Cities Eco Club, Mike Hunstad of the Grover Beach Rotary Club and Dave Nilsen, of the San Luis Obispo Daybreak Club.
INSPIRATION DOLLARS:
Pres. Scott had Paul Holden pay spin-the- wheel inspiration $40 for a phone infraction. He also levied $10 the same dollars on Trusha Patel and Ed Fish for not wearing their Rotary pin. Jeff King was assessed $5 for not knowing a name during introductions.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Jack Hardy reminded everyone of the Saturday, July 21 Summer Sizzle fundraiser in a little over 1 ½ weeks. Cliff Nagler reported that he reached a bargain with California Fresh Market for tri-tip at their cost, which amounts to $13.63 per person. Connie O’Henley stated that the next 7 days are critical for all members to get the Summer Sizzle tickets and money into her. If a member wishes to dropped them off at the Clark Center box office between 12 and 6 PM that would greatly a help to her. Ashlea Boyer mentioned that she’s doing away with the big board to keep track of the silent auction winners and will do it by computer. She has about 70 items at present, but she’s hoping that this total would be double by the end next week. The next big event on the July calendar is the District Governor’s visit at the Linda and Steve Curry’s Ranch on Tuesday evening, July 24. There will be a regular Tuesday noon meeting on the same date. Next week’s meeting will be a Club Assembly.
PROGRAM : Jim Gregory -“Central Coast Navigator’s in World War II”
Ashlea Boyer introduced Jim who retired 3 years ago as a Arroyo Grande High School teacher and in 2010-11 he was the teacher of the year. For some time, he has many of his books published including Patriot Graves; World War II Arroyo Grande; San Luis Obispo County Outlaws; and his latest: Central Coast Navigator’s in World War II. In each of his books, he tries to make the persons in the book more important than the history. He stated that the 96th Infantry Division practiced landing on the beaches in this area before being sent over to the Pacific Theater. Before there was a Hancock College in Santa Maria there was a Hancock Field and just prior to World War II it was used to train military navigation cadets. He then went into the beginnings of airplanes in this area. A plane that rivaled the Wright brothers plane was built in 1910 and was flown in San Luis Obispo. Someone piloting such a plane crashed and died before hundreds of spectators into the San Francisco Bay. Harriet Quimby, originally from this area was the first woman to fly the English Channel. However, about this time the Titanic sank so that her story appeared on the back pages of the London papers. He mentioned that the lubrication system of the P 38 was so sensitive to cold that could not be used in the war against Germany, but saw most of its use in the Pacific. Jim gave the example of a pilot’s guns freezing up, but instead of turning away, he went right after the German Luftwaffe. They turned away because the great reputation of the P 38. Jim then ran a short movie on the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) and their contribution to the war effort, which was not recognized until 32 years after the war when they were recognized as veterans. He told a number of other stories including the story of the donkey that became a mascot of the division that found it near death on the battlefield, which Jim turned into a children’s book.
THOUGHT FOR DAY BY PRES. SCOTT
“Man has affinity for his fellowman, regardless of race, creed, or politics, and the greater the variety, the more the zest. All friendliness needs is a sporting chance; it will take care of itself in any company.” — A Road I Have Travelled, THE ROTARIAN, February 1934
PROGRAM July 10, 2018: Jim Gregory -“Central Coast Navigator’s in World War II”
By Dick Dannells
Pres. Scott Astrosky opened the meeting promptly at 12:10 PM with the invocation, flag salute, and introduction of guests including the following Rotary Club Presidents: Paige Chamberlain, of the San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Club, of the 5 Cities Eco Club, Mike Hunstad of the Grover Beach Rotary Club and Dave Nilsen, of the San Luis Obispo Daybreak Club.
INSPIRATION DOLLARS:
Pres. Scott had Paul Holden pay spin-the- wheel inspiration $40 for a phone infraction. He also levied $10 the same dollars on Trusha Patel and Ed Fish for not wearing their Rotary pin. Jeff King was assessed $5 for not knowing a name during introductions.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Jack Hardy reminded everyone of the Saturday, July 21 Summer Sizzle fundraiser in a little over 1 ½ weeks. Cliff Nagler reported that he reached a bargain with California Fresh Market for tri-tip at their cost, which amounts to $13.63 per person. Connie O’Henley stated that the next 7 days are critical for all members to get the Summer Sizzle tickets and money into her. If a member wishes to dropped them off at the Clark Center box office between 12 and 6 PM that would greatly a help to her. Ashlea Boyer mentioned that she’s doing away with the big board to keep track of the silent auction winners and will do it by computer. She has about 70 items at present, but she’s hoping that this total would be double by the end next week. The next big event on the July calendar is the District Governor’s visit at the Linda and Steve Curry’s Ranch on Tuesday evening, July 24. There will be a regular Tuesday noon meeting on the same date. Next week’s meeting will be a Club Assembly.
PROGRAM : Jim Gregory -“Central Coast Navigator’s in World War II”
Ashlea Boyer introduced Jim who retired 3 years ago as a Arroyo Grande High School teacher and in 2010-11 he was the teacher of the year. For some time, he has many of his books published including Patriot Graves; World War II Arroyo Grande; San Luis Obispo County Outlaws; and his latest: Central Coast Navigator’s in World War II. In each of his books, he tries to make the persons in the book more important than the history. He stated that the 96th Infantry Division practiced landing on the beaches in this area before being sent over to the Pacific Theater. Before there was a Hancock College in Santa Maria there was a Hancock Field and just prior to World War II it was used to train military navigation cadets. He then went into the beginnings of airplanes in this area. A plane that rivaled the Wright brothers plane was built in 1910 and was flown in San Luis Obispo. Someone piloting such a plane crashed and died before hundreds of spectators into the San Francisco Bay. Harriet Quimby, originally from this area was the first woman to fly the English Channel. However, about this time the Titanic sank so that her story appeared on the back pages of the London papers. He mentioned that the lubrication system of the P 38 was so sensitive to cold that could not be used in the war against Germany, but saw most of its use in the Pacific. Jim gave the example of a pilot’s guns freezing up, but instead of turning away, he went right after the German Luftwaffe. They turned away because the great reputation of the P 38. Jim then ran a short movie on the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) and their contribution to the war effort, which was not recognized until 32 years after the war when they were recognized as veterans. He told a number of other stories including the story of the donkey that became a mascot of the division that found it near death on the battlefield, which Jim turned into a children’s book.
THOUGHT FOR DAY BY PRES. SCOTT
“Man has affinity for his fellowman, regardless of race, creed, or politics, and the greater the variety, the more the zest. All friendliness needs is a sporting chance; it will take care of itself in any company.” — A Road I Have Travelled, THE ROTARIAN, February 1934