We met at Café ‘n Stuff (I’ll always call it that, even though it’s Catering ‘n Stuff now), and all six tables of 6 were quickly filled. The cream soup was especially popular at our table.
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT – save the date- Sunday, December 11 - Mike Pohlen announced he and Chris will host a Christmas party again, with “lots of food, drinks, singing and cheer.” The Pohlen home is always decorated beautifully, and Christine plays the piano for us too.
PAUL Mathys said we definitely cleared $32,000+ to give to the Arc. Even more impressive, Paul looked over the figures since 1995, when we first dedicated the Golf Tournament to this worthy cause, and in 26 years we have given the Arc over $568,000. The figure is reliable since Paul, a CPA has his name on his eponymous firm (I wait for a chance to use that word).
Pres Mel was happy to say that Rotary has approved our District Grant request. The monies will pay for homemade blankets to be given to patients recovering from chemotherapy. We can expect to have some workshop-meetings to create a few. It’s Mel’s specialty. More details later.
FINE MASTER Ray Andazola had fun asking former club presidents about their most memorable experience during “their” year. Some weren’t too sure what exactly what year it was, but Ray knew. For Paul Mathys, 1996-96, was his parting gift at his Roast – a gift certificate with Dr. Kervokian. For those who are too young to remember, Dr. Kervokain championed euthanasia, via a chemo-cocktail he devised.
Dr. Dan Fox, 1995-96, was impressed by the International Convention in Nice, France, when the flags of the nations were displayed. “The pageantry of Rotary,” he said. Brian Saylors, 2008-09, said he was lucky enough to go to two Conventions, Los Angeles and Birmingham, England. Brian remembers the jousting demonstration. Larry Garces, 2014-15, loved the Christmas luncheon with the second graders, when Wayne Wilcox was Santa and listened to all the kids’ wish lists.
Mike Pohlen, 2001-02, remembers that that was the year our meetings were held “over the Mortuary.” The City was building the new Rio Hondo clubhouse, and “we had to find a place we could afford,” Mike recalled. “Money was tight, and the Masonic meeting hall was on the second floor of the Miller Mies Mortuary building was big enough to hold us. Ralph Granata catered the meals from his Italian restaurant across the street, and it worked out well.” For Mike, at the Conference in Barcelona he could see “how Rotary does good around the world.”
John Lacey, 1998-9, remembers that as the year Paul Mathys was the Banjo Man. Greg Welch, 2018-19, loved the Convention in Hamburg - he and Barbara have gone to many of them - and the post-trip to see castles in Germany. When asked if he had advice for incoming Pres-Elect Barbara Lamberth, Greg said “She has done every single job in the club. She’ll be a great president.”
As for Ray himself, his outstanding memory was the Convention in Bangkok. “Great diversity,” he said. The highlight for Ray was having lunch with Rotary International’s president.
You don’t have to be a president to go to the Convention, and this year it will be in Melbourne, Australia, a fabulous destination where they love Americans. Lots to see on pre and post trips, like Alice Springs and the Outback, and the Great Barrier Reef.
Our program was presented by Nathan Welch, Greg’s son, and we had a distinguished onlooker as guest, Nathan’s mother and Greg’s wife, Barbara Risher Welch, PDG of District 5400, 2003-04, and past pres of the Montebello Club.
Nathan’s told us about Mission Flight, and it wasn’t about the military, although Nathan recently retired from his flight career with the USAF, where he had 56 combat missions over Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.
Mission Flight “connects people in need with help and healing,” said Nathan. “Mission Flight is a non-profit faith-based flying club with a passion to serve the local community and our neighbors south of the border. It is primarily geared towards using aviation as part of a ministry. We bring medical and dental care to indigenous people isolated in the mountains of Mexico.”
“We serve both internationally and locally through SOAR, a backpack program, and patient medical transport flights. Backpack Program is for kids and SOAR builds kids' confidence.”
Nathan as a pilot has participated in flights to Mexico, The Mission range is from Ensenada to Puerto Vallarta, the distance the privately owned turbo-prop planes can reach comfortable within a day’s flight. “From Nayarit and Sinaloa to San Quentin, “where they grow every berry you can buy,” said Nathan.
A typical mission departs Thursday morning is back by mid-afternoon on Sunday. They carry dentists, doctors, and various specialists. One time Nathan remembers they recruited a female doctor because “the tribe we were helping did not allow male doctors to treat female patients.”
The volunteer organization has grown from one privately owned plane to ten, and so far 7,400 patients have been served. Ground participants, churches, doctors and nurses, have gotten the word out and the patients are waiting when the clinic opens at 5 am in Friday morning. We don’t have to do anything,” said Nathan, “just show up,”
As a faith-based organization, Mission Flight has fundraisers to purchase up-date equipment for the planes. Enticements to donate include a top prize: for $1.000, luncheon for two at Catalina’s Airport in the Sky.
Bill Kirkwood remembered that our dentist-member Wayne Wllcox made yearly trips to Baja California, in a plane piloted by Downey Rotarian Dave Johnson, with his wife, nurse Tina. Rotary Club of Downey sponsored their trips as our international project, and even collected a windfall of a thousand magazine and children’s coloring books for families waiting to be served.
President Mel announced that our cub was donating $1,000 to Mission Flight. Who will get to go to Catalina?
