Jim's story for the April 19 Bulletin

It was Monday, April 12, 2021, and President Tim Hageman posted the U.S. flag with the POW-MIA flag while Sandesha Singh led the pledge, followed by a reflection on the simple joys of family camping with no wifi, accompanied by these words:  “Live simply so others may simply live”…..Hilary Mahan reported on the successful online Operation Teddy Bear……Ron Sokol choked up in his remembrance of Tommy Lasorda while sharing his Blue Crew Review, then led us in singing “We Are The Champions” to celebrate the Dodgers’ first championship in 32 years, all on the occasion of the first day of the new baseball season (when hope springs eternal in 32 cities).

 

Membership Chair Dave Long happily reported our club managing to bring in six outstanding new members despite the obstacles presented by Covid.  (Dave described them as fitting the profile we’re looking for, which prompted some introspection on my part.)  And, to top it off, Kathleen Adams is expected soon to return from her leave of absence.

 

Jan Rhees was loaded with news.  Maryrose Jeffry reported that son Adam is seriously ill, and she and husband Tom Jeffry are in New York tending to him…..Sharon Gradinette reports that husband Paul Allman has a second round of chemo this week…..John Ranaudo is back at Aerospace Corp four years after retiring, while his son’s wife’s business More Than Just Sprinkles carries on along with a new baby…..Chris Ullman handled Covid by “practicing patience and gaining weight”……Renee and Ron Sokol are the proud retro parents of a new VW Bug…..Lee Walker sold his business and is now in a new job with a five-year contract……Kathleen Terry is sketching while husband Fred Manna is becoming a chef…..Russ Samuels and his physician wife Sondra and their two sons and French bulldog make for a busy family life…..Not to be outdone, Maggie and Matt Peck have taken on a rescue bulldog (not one of those little Frenchies; the real thing)……Jan Buike, working at home and building a deck, is impressed by the resilience of older adults……Jay Harkenrider’s oldest brother (Jay is #7 of 9) has died.

 

Jim Schlager introduced our speaker, Howard Pollack, of Nature’s Best (now sold) and Rainbow Acres (a store occupying most of a mini-mall on Washington Blvd. on the Westside), a 40-year family business.  Howard is also a past president of Venice Rotary and a member of Playa Sunrise Rotary.  He also founded Campus Natural Foods, serving college campuses, and has done pop-up holiday stores in malls all over town.   He depends on his 4,000 square foot certified organic kitchen near the 105 and 110.  He attends almost every RI Convention.  Sadly, he has lost two of his four children.  But he goes forth jauntily nonetheless, as demonstrated by what really turned into an anecdotal craft talk, touching on the Self-Realization Fellowship, raising champion Great Danes, selling Sprouting Jars, and much more.

 

President Tim awards every speaker a certificate honoring the speaker by donating 100 polio vaccinations in the speaker’s name.  Leave it to a fellow Rotarian to take it one step further:  Howard Pollack donated $100 to our Foundation in gratitude for that acknowledgement.  He’s an example for us all to follow.