Fire
It was Monday, November 26, 2018, and President Ken Deemer was missing his usual Sgt-at-Arms, who was replaced by Chris Ullman, who claimed he asked a Buddhist hot dog vendor to make him one with everything…..Mike Matthews reported on the fire in his neighborhood, a canyon near Zuma, where all were evacuated.  His home survived—his neighbor’s did not.  21 houses were lost there.  In the neighborhood of the high school he supervised before coming to Costa, 200 homes were lost.  The silver lining is that the community has become closer…..Jim Hallett reported he sneaked in a wedding to Susan Devlahovich between masses at Martyrs the day before.  Our faithful waitress Maria served wedding cake to all Rotarians and guests at this Monday meeting.
 
Fireworks
Pete and Gwen Moffett previewed the annual Pier holiday fireworks, this year on December 9, calling our club a “perpetual sponsor.”  Richard Montgomery is the event’s chief fundraiser, and more sponsors are needed.  Pete described the mechanics of putting on this amazing show.  Eight seats on the upper seating deck were auctioned off to club members at $200 each (the auction took all of 30 seconds).
 
Events
Tim Hageman requested we each bring an unwrapped gift to our holiday party for Richstone.  Needed: transportation/storage……Our next meeting will be at Manhattan Beach Community Church on Peck, featuring Sylvia Whitlock, RI’s first woman member and the subject of the U.S. Supreme Court case that ordered RI to admit women…..December 4 is Santa’s sleigh ride, with Candy Deemer as Mrs. Claus.  Elves welcome…..Our December 17 meeting will feature a White Elephant—something about everyone brings a gift under $10…..Sign up on the website to decorate RI’s Rose Parade float…..We are dark December 24 & 31.
 
Rotarian of the Month Kelly Stroman
In a departure from the norm, our club president has named a new member Rotarian of the Month. President Ken told us that Kelly Stroman has jumped into everything we do so fast that we can’t remember what it was like before her.  Tru dat.
 
RI In Germany—Exclusive Tour
Ingo Werk treated us to a video previewing the upcoming RI Convention in his home country of Germany, specifically in Hamburg.  Let Ingo know by Christmas if you can join the package tour he is arranging, exclusively for Manhattan Beach Rotarians.  This will go from May 30 to June 10, with the first four nights in Hamburg for the convention followed by a bullet train ride to four nights in Munich, where we will live with and be hosted by German Rotarians, all arranged by our former club member, Karin Rosskopf.
 
Protecting The President
Russ Samuels introduced our speaker, Russ’ neighbor, Secret Service Special Agent Brandon Baker, one of our most entertaining and compelling speakers this year.  A Manhattan Beach resident, he has three boys in Manhattan Beach schools.  He came with many videos and photos, recounting a career of being personally present with and protecting five U.S. presidents.  Highlights included escorting the King of Swaziland to Michael Jackson’s fantasy home.  He showed a video of the attempted assassination of President Reagan, when Agent Tim McCarthy instantly jumped in front of the president (agents are trained to run into a bullet, to banish the instinct for self-preservation).  The attempt betrayed a breakdown of the multiple perimeter system of protection—the assassin somehow got into the inner circle.
 
The Secret Service
The Secret Service was established in 1865, authorized by President Lincoln on the same day he was assassinated.  Its initial mission was to combat counterfeiting.  The Service now not only provides protection but also does criminal investigations, which is Agent Baker’s assignment here in Los Angeles, with a 98% conviction rate.  Agent Baker demonstrated  on Russ Samuels, a pretend president (greeted by a chorus of catcalls from our Republican members), the instant turn-and-cover move used to protect an assassination target.  Describing his job, Agent Baker said, “You go in knowing someone is going to do something.”
 
This Is Rotary
From fires to fireworks, from Germans to American presidents, from the Supreme Court to Richstone, this is Manhattan Beach Rotary, always involved and always seeking better.