The following narrative is a continuation of a series of how a member was introduced to Rotary and subsequent memories. If you would like Rotary to be part of your life's story, please contact Mary Bates at marybates2020@gmail.com)
Bob Miller
Joined Rotary February 13, 2008
October, 2023
Sixteen years ago, when I was a speaker at a luncheon, when I gave a speech on managing chronic pain with holistic methods, 
I was introduced to the club. In 2005 I had retired from a 40 year career with the Federal government. 38 of those years were spent working in various positions with the National Labor Relations Board. After that speech I met many members of the Club and immediately decided that I needed to join as “Pursue your passions, not wealth, and in so doing make positive contributions to society” is my philosophy of life.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, my father was the Political Editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer. I have often wondered whether writing skills were somehow inherited, as the ability to write well and cogently. I obtained my Bachelor Degree in Business at Penn State University. While there I had engaged in numerous non-academic activities including being a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity. As President of Hillel for three years, that position often had many aspects of service. I was inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa, also for significant non-academic activities. a fraternity the equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa. I received my law degree from Dickinson School of Law, now part of Penn State University. Graduating 14th in the class, I was also an Editor of the Law Review and had two articles published.
Per my philosophy of life, wealth was never a factor in my professional life. I had decided to use my law degree and license to practice law to assist employees in their legal right to unionize. While I commenced my career at the Department of Labor, my goal was to work for the NLRB, as that attorney position would be a civil law enforcement one, guaranteeing their right to unionize, by enforcing the National Labor Relations Act (herein Act). While I started my career in the Pittsburgh office, I transferred to the Los Angeles office, where I became a supervisory attorney. In 1977, I was promoted to be the Regional Attorney in the San Francisco office. Newly married, Bonnie (who had a 34 year career with the IRS) and I moved to the bay area where we settled in Foster City in 1979. As Regional Director, I was responsible for managing the Office as well as one in Hawaii, which was a sub-regional office. I also had the responsibility for making the legal decisions as to whom would be civilly prosecuted for violation of the unfair labor practice portions of the Act. I vigorously enforced the Act with a 93% settlement rate and a 90% litigation win rate. Secret ballot elections were held, as to whether employees desired union representation.
The concept of service led me to become active in the Bay Area Federal Executive Board (herein FEB). FEB's are established by federal regulation, and exist in many metropolitan areas in America. I was elected Chair of the FEB by fellow federal agency directors and high level managers. FEBs are responsible for the safety of federal employees within their area of jurisdiction, as well as running the multi-million dollar charitable campaign, the Combined Federal Campaign. Being Chair of the FEB in 1987 and 2001, I had to order the evacuation of all federal employees due to the earthquake and 9/11. While the FEB was also responsible for overall supervision of the charitable campaign, I served as Chair of that campaign for 2 separate terms.
Recognizing how popular bicycling was, a good friend of mine, David Kurk and I decided to write a book on bike trails in southern California. Price, Stern and Sloan, published two editions of the book in 1997, with sales over 25,000 copies. One of my passions was the area of holistic health. Thus, I became a certified holistic health counselor pursuant to a 9 month course of study at the World School of Massage and Advanced Healing Arts. After suffering a severe bout of chronic back pain and being treated at the Stanford University Pain Clinic, I eventually recovered. I had gained so much knowledge by education and treatment I decided it must be shared with others. Thus, in conjunction with my co-author, Chris Opie, an English teacher and master hypnotist, we co-authored “Back Pain Relief: The Ultimate Guide”, and produced two audio CDs teaching the physical and mental means of pain relief. While those pain relief methodologies were spelled out in the book, they were also taught on the wo audio CDs, “The Mental Means of Pain Relief” which included hypnosis and visualization to name a few and the physical means which included specialized exercise programs as Feldenkris, as well as traditional back pain exercises. An original musical score was on the two CDs. Dr. William Brose, the founder of the Stanford University Pain Clinic, and my doctor, wrote the foreword. The book was a Book of the Month Club selection, distributed world wide, selling over 19,000 copies.
That book led to the third I co-authored, a woman in Ireland informed me that a retired Irish police officer, Neil Boyle, was seeking an author for his book on massage therapy, that literally cured chronic nerve pain. Neil visited me at my home and agreed I would write the book, provided he could heal pain in my right foot as I was suffering from plantar fasciatis. After a 30 minute massage, using his specialized therapy, which he taught me, I authored a draft for 40 conditions. We also produced 2 DVDs teaching the therapy, where I was the narrator, he was the masseuse and my wife, Bonnie, the patient. While self published in America, it was professionally published in Ireland. Selling about 8,000 copies. In my research I had discovered a highly effective infrared heating pad that relaxed muscles and relieved pain. I had a small online business, named Back Pain Relief Alternatives. As wealth, and thus business, was not a major factor in my life, I closed the business after a few years of operation.
After a 40 year career working for the Federal government, mostly within the Senior Executive Service, the highest civil service ranking, I retired in September 2005. Education was a primary activity through attendance at the Fromm Institute and participating in two study groups. World travel with Bonnie was also a priority and in 2001 we purchased a home in the Sun City Lincoln Hills retirement community, where we are members of a Jewish social club and the Investment Club, which frankly bores me, as it relates to wealth.
Prior to joining Rotary I researched diligently through books, articles, and movies, the JFK Assassination. As an attorney, I decided if there was to be a lecture, it had to be supported by evidence. I am in process of preparing a revised lecture, which will include photos and video, that will answer these two questions. "Who and why was JFK assassinated? and "Are we alone in the universe?" These two questions are interrelated. As a sneak peek of the lecture, I recommend that one watch the following documentary which is found on Tubi: “ETs Amongst Us VII”
My eventual goal is to become a cruise lecturer discussing the concepts in the pain relief books, evidence revealed in the solving of the JFK Assassination per the questions posed and the evidence surrounding the issue of whether we are alone in the universe. While the answer is “No”, that lecture has not been prepared, due to the fact that I have not completed all the research.
In addition to meeting attendance, save Zoom during the pandemic, I traveled with the Club to Mexico to distribute wheel chairs, served many times at the July 4th breakfast, and for three years was responsible for assigning minute taking duties. Currently I am working with Vocational Chair, Theresa Pope, in assisting with the Employer award program. This is a natural fit for me, due to my professional career. While we have recommended the Foster City Police Department receive the award, based on their most recent annual report, in a memo drafted, discussing numerous standards of excellence warranting the award, I am currently working with the President and Theresa on implementing the presentation of the award.