Rotary Speaker Talks of RM Camp for Kids; Doing Great Work!
Exec. Dir. of Camp Ronald McDonald - - Fatima Rodriquez put on a terrific presentation about the camp for child cancer victims. the program was far superior to the threatened craft talk by your editor. Photo by UPI
This Past Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Last week’s Downey Rotary Zoom meeting opened with a few newer faces. There are a couple of proposed new members who fell for the promise of free lifetime membership if they swore allegiance to President Willy. Also, two more guests dialed in who were trying to understand what all the excitement is about with Downey Rotary. Semi-member Steve Bellesteros also made a semi-appearance, displaying a Napa sign that either could have been the California wine country or a sad advertisement for NAPA auto parts.
Irrespective of their reasons, they joined us via Zoom and got to see Rotary in action – warts and all.
The only administrative item of note was an interesting fine master stint by Rotarian Ronnie Fernandez. Rather than the intelligent back-and-forth banter between fine master and Rotarians that suggests serious preparation time, Mr. Fernandez opted for a short video involving perception and someone in a gorilla costume. Based on Rotarian facial expressions afterwards, we were either enlightened, or mightily disturbed.
The program was turned over to Executive Director Fatima Djelmane Rodriquez, who described the wonderful works of the Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times that exists solely for child cancer victims. It was a wonderful presentation that evoked tears, smiles, and gratitude, and the Hub Bub applauds the efforts of Ms. Rodriquez and the entire team that manages the camp and brings smiles and joy to the kids.
Well done.
Contact information for Ms. Rodriquez and the camp is supplied below, upon orders from Mel Sanchez.
Next Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Some Governor or District dignitary is supposed to show up and President Willy apparently wants us to behave. Give me a break.
______________________
No, Not These Four Guys
It's a New British Invasion!
So District Governor Bette Midler, um… Hall will be making her once-a-year visit to Downey Rotary on Tuesday. Per tradition, it will be the Governor’s only visit to Downey for the year. We are, prior District Governors have noted, an acquired taste, and are best sampled in small, infrequent bites.
That said, President Willy Medina has apparently pulled out all the stops to make this a delightful experience for our Governor: Paul McCartney is slated to dial in and wish DG Hall the best. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to join the Zoom meeting from 10 Downing Street. His Excellency is expected to actually comb his hair for the meeting. Finally, David Beckham will be joining us, even though he refused to drop his standard Zoom appearance fee until wife Victoria intervened.
If there appears to be more participants than normal, that’s because Secretary Patricia Megallon paid $10 to each of her extended family members and relatives to dial in and pretend to be Rotarians. If you see new faces quoting the 6-Way Test and mentioning Rotary Incorporated, then you’ve got a good idea where they came from.
That said, attendance is encouraged, even if it means seeing Dale Self and Larry McGrew at the same time, or, heaven forbid, the reclusive Paul Mathys.
_______________________
Ronald McDonald Speaker Gives Contact Info
From Fatima Rodriquez
Dear Rotarians,
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times and our healing programs for children with cancer and their families. As I mentioned during the Zoom meeting, we are celebrating both Hispanic Heritage and Childhood Cancer Awareness month this September. It’s apropos considering the majority of the campers we serve are Latino (60%) and Camp host the only Spanish language oncology Camp (Campamento Familiar) in Southern California—all free of charge!
Here is the three minute video I shared during the presentation that demonstrates our impact, healing places cancer treatment cannot reach for the whole family. If you’re interested in learning more about Campamento Familiar, check out the amazing coverage by our media partner Univision here. We are excited for our next round of Camp in a Box and Camp at Home this October that will be held in both English and Spanish (check out Camp at Home here)—let me know if you and your family would like to join us and I’ll be sure to sign you up!
Lastly, you can learn more about going gold with Camp here and donations can be made here.
Again, thank you for the opportunity and we look forward to continuing to partner with the Downey Rotary Club.
Best,
Fatima Djelmane Rodriguez
Executive Director
Work: 310.473.0351
Mobile: 562.631.5877
_________________________
Space Center Gets Rotary Donation;
All Are Stunned
Downey Rotary spent part of last week adding to the coffers of the folks that manage the renowned Columbia Memorial Space Center on Columbia Way here in the city of Downey. While many of us had no idea that the country of Columbia even had a space program – much less a Space Center (!), we congratulate them on whatever achievements they have been able to muster in outer space.
Seen in the picture above, Downey President Willy Medina and Lorine Parks are presenting CMSC President Ben Dickow with an $800 check to remove the cracks in the collage showing in the background.
The collage was original made from trash discards from the local McDonalds. Those have slowly been replaced with unused election materials from prior city council races.
_______________________
District (Almost) Holds Zoom Class
The Zoom class sponsored by the District 5280 leadership needed to be cancelled at the last minute because none of the attendees knew how to log on to a Zoom meeting. "Yeah, it was a little embarrassing," reported Tori Hettinger, from the District 5280 offices. "we assumed a modest level of understanding, and I guess that, with Rotarians, you have to lower your expectations."
One members of the LA Downtown Rotary club was able to log on, but, with great embarrassment, it was to a Kiwanis seminar.
_______________________
Fantasy Football Genius Revealed
It’s that time of year, and all football fans throughout the Southland are eager to hear the latest on the 5th Annual Downey Rotary Football League. The attention is justified, as the Rotary Club of Downey has earned a reputation for outstanding draft picks, astute trading strategies, detailed analysis, and highly professional trash-talk.
Rising to the top of this assemblage of football aficionados, two-year veteran Ray Brown is tied for first place with an undefeated team. Yes, yes, in the interest of transparency, there have been only two games played, but the larger point is, well, there is no larger point.
But look at what the pros at ESPN show in the highlighted graphic above – Ray Brown aka Casa Brown is trending numero uno for year end standings. Not bad for a guy that two years ago thought a tight end was a term of endearment.
Hub Bub readers can expect Fantasy Football updates in direct proportion to the success of the Casa Brown Fantasy Football team.
_______________________
_____________________________
Mel Sanchez Tries to Make Nice
Mel Sanchez contacted the editor last week for inclusion of speaker information for the Hub Bub, and it was revealed to her that I was having a crappy day. The wailing and sniveling may have initially given it away. But more likely, it was when I said, “I’m having a crappy day,” that she probably was clear that I was having a crappy day.
Regardless, sympathetic Mel sent the following motivational tool to me, and I was left with a couple of thoughts:
I'm particularly fond of smooth seas.
I was never much of a sailor, but I suspect that I’d prefer being a happy sailor than a skilled one.
I’m fond of reminding people that, “if a bad experience doesn’t kill us, it makes for a great story afterwards.” This is, of course, a load of crap, and I’d prefer to die ignorant and happy without a lot of wisdom derived from painful experiences.
Lastly, I’m unhappy so rarely that I savor the times I’m miserable. Does that even make sense?
Regardless, Mel Sanchez, thank you for pretending to care. JK…
_______________________
Downey Rotary Gambling Problem
President Willy Medina’s stance on gambling is pretty clear: it’s not a problem until someone is banging on the front door of your house at 3AM, demanding repayment and threatening the health of your knees. Then, it's a problem.
So, with a clear conscience, Downey Rotary introduced a 50-50 raffle at this past week’s meeting, and while nobody understood the rules, many opted to participate.
Patricia Megallon apparently won her modest share of the grand prize, but since Willy and Patricia engineered the whole thing, serious doubt exists as to the honesty of the raffle.
