Meeting on Jan 16 2013
GREETER: Bill R lead us in the pledge and gave the Inspiration. - A quote from his recent compilation of Sueisms: "It is what it is". If you can help the situation, then pull up your sleeve and do it without a fuss, but if you have no control or impact, then c'est la vie.
GUESTS: Tim Carueke, Past Assisttant District Governor and member of San Rafael Harbor
Matthew Briggs, attorney and brother-in-law of Matt T
Will Walsh: Banker and transferring from the Fairfax Club
Millie Makarewicz, Volunteer Coordinator of Whistlestop and guest of Farhad
This was one of our best attended meetings and we would like to share Past Pres Rolando's notes on the meeting
(without his permission).
Great meeting, the man behind the curtain; we try, you succeed - Herman
Great speaker, 29 attendance, record for the last 5 years - Emerson
Great energy, a driving force, good organization - Chuck
Great behind the scenes work, quiet but oh so loud, it is what it is - Bill
Great energy, great behind the scenes work, will always get the job done, not so quiet, but oh so effective - Farhad
Thank you for making me (us) better people.
Roland Carr
Written in the style of a race horse handicapper. I will always bet on you.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Pres Elect Chuck spend a bit of time on the Ride4Vets.org event scheduled for August 17, 2013. We will need a lot of volunteers. Jirayr stepped forward to be the official photographer for the event. Chuck and Herman are meeting with a veterans organization and with West Marin Social Services to initiate the many preparations required for the event. Chuck is even in touch with singer John Meyer who is quite involved with veterans programs.
Barbara and Stephen finally returned home after a three months stay in Italy. They loved the trip and visited the ONLY three Rotarians who are on the list of home visits for the entire country!! Barbara brought back a bunch of flags. Stephen said that the highlight of the trip for him, without a doubt, was visiting Rotarians.
Dianne announced that she would like to hear back from anyone who knows members in Marin Yacht Club.
Cristy and friends visiting her had a great time exploring our beautiful Bay Area
Jim shared his time in Mojave desert with daughter and son-in-law. His Rotarian contacts helped to get his son-in-law's car fixed right away!
SPEAKER: Our own EMERSON JOHNSON talked about his experiences in the South as segregation was being dismantled.
Emerson lived through the aftermath of the Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. He shared his first hand experience of what the South was going through starting in 1954 and continuing through the the next decades. Hearing history from a devoted and outstanding citizen like Emerson was riveting. He reviewed how the system was skewed in favor of whites, especially the school systems. His own personal experience in helping the totally desolated blacks was eye opening.
What finally broke resistance to change turned out to be the power of economics as exercised by our military. It was our admirals and generals who finally convinced states such as Virginia and South Carolina (where there were many economically important bases) to change. As Emerson noted, the battle is not over. All we have to do look at our own club that, despite having members from multiple countries and religions, we no longer have an African American among our ranks.
A GREAT SPEECH. - It was such a spell binding 35 minutes that your editor did not dare to take notes for a chance of missing his comments.