Jim's story for the June 7 Bulletin

It was Monday, May 24, 2021, and President Tim Hageman called upon Vinny Fazzino (whose construction work at the Baja orphanage continues on) to lead the Pledge and to share the words of the first official telegraph message:  What hath God wrought?......Guests included Jim Hunter’s wife/Bill Bloomfield’s sister/Sandpiper Supreme Joanne Bloomfield Hunter……Richard Montgomery reported that the City Council has extended outdoor dining at least past Labor Day, that City Hall is open, and that budget conversations are ongoing……Scott Yanofsky threw in happy dollars to celebrate his son’s wedding at the Dana Point Yacht Club…..President Tim showed us a Memorial Day video, lest we forget amidst the weekend’s post-pandemic celebrations.

 

Jim Hunter arranged for Larry Wolf’s craft talk, presented to us by Larry’s and Lynn’s sons Tyler and Alex (like their dad, both realtors).  Larry’s father was in the Navy in World War II, and his parents raised him in the south side of Chicago.  He went to University of Illinois in aeronautical engineering, after which his college roommate and still closest friend joined him on a road trip to Los Angeles, where he ended up spending 10 year with Douglas Aircraft and Hughes.  In 1965, he settled in Manhattan Beach and got a Master’s at USC, mixing in six months of travel in Europe and North Africa with enough trips to Mammoth to stumble upon Lynn in 1970 (next year is their 50^thanniversary).  In that same year of 1970, he got a real estate license and joined a small outfit called Shorewood Realtors—with him aboard, the place went on to peak at 500 agents in seven offices, plus Brighton Escrow and Grand Harbor Property Management (Larry’s take: the worst and best parts of the job are that you have to, and you get to, work with people).  

 

Larry and Shorewood have always been active in the community.  He’s been on the Board of Richstone for decades and long active in Rotary.  He and Lynn are intrepid adventure travelers, often with fellow Rotarians.   They have an array of pets.   Larry has golfed, skied, and run four marathons and was active with the Wall Nuts.  He and Lynn have a home in La Quinta as well as here.  Five years ago, the West Nile virus devastated him.  He lost the use of his limbs and was on a ventilator for years.  He finally came home last year and is now out and about in his wheelchair.  Joanne Hunter told us he welcomes visitors, best in his backyard between 11:30 and 2 with a call in advance.   Positive notes:  Larry is totally with it, keeping up to date, entertaining visitors, and engaged in the business.  His sons made it clear that Larry, not they, composed this craft talk.

 

Jim Schlager introduced Kim Siehl, Executive Director of Grades of Green (www.gradesofgreen.org), a group started by four Manhattan Beach moms which has now expanded to involvement with 600,000 students in 47 states and 27 countries, supported by many global partnerships, devoted to developing student-led environmental programs focused on advocacy, leadership and habit change.  Supported by multiple Rotary Clubs, including ours, one of their organizers, Malcolm Au, used our meeting to announce a competitive Eco-Grant awarded to Gardena High.  Mike Matthews thanked them for helping transform MBUSD into a National Green Ribbon District.   Kim especially thanked Harrison Clay for connecting us to them.  Robyn Murphy of Grades of Green described the Rise – Climate   Solutions Campaign, supporting year-long, student-driven programs with grants and mentors, plus training and stipends for teachers.

 

But stealing the show was Samantha “Sam” Torres, daughter of Jesse Torres and a junior at Mira Costa.  Sam has been active in environmental work since 2^nd grade, leading projects from beach cleanup to the Meatless Mondays social media campaign.  Articulate and bursting with energy, Sam preached the virtues of plant-based food, telling us that meat, dairy and eggs produce 15% of all global greenhouse gas emissions and dissipate massive amounts of water and agricultural land.  She challenged us to swap plant-based alternatives into our diets.

 

Remembering Jesse Torres’ craft talk, I suppose it’s no surprise that his daughter Sam Torres would be so accomplished at such a young age.  We often talk about how much Rotary service multiplies its effects in the community, in vocations, and around the world.  So it was especially fun to see first hand how Jesse’s dedication to service has seeped into his daughter’s consciousness.   We parents all dream that our children will improve upon our generation’s work.  If Sam Torres is any indication, they will.