Phil managed to get us a tiny meeting room today due to some busy bookings at the Hilton. On top of that, our speaker for today had to cancel his talk at the last minute due to an emergency. Ken, Jon and Malcolm provided some Bocce updates and Bill tried to auction off some remaining Champagne and wine bottles. Jon updated everyone that the sponsorship collection was about $55K and Charlotte mentioned that the Auction+Raffle net collection was close to $15,000. Jon was not so sure about the nickel collection but he estimates that to be around $500.
Then Ken presented the annual past-president 18-carat gold Rotary pin with a real diamond in the center. This was designed by Malcolm. Apparently only past presidents and higher can wear a pin with a diamond in the center. Also, Susan read out a "Thank You" note form Reality Changers that was very touching.
Following that we had the "My 3 Things in Life" talk by Lou Oberman. He showed a picture frame that had some great sentimental value for him. There were three pictures in the frame, which his very best friend Syl Schaffer gave him on his 65th birthday. One picture was of the two of them when they were 4-5 years old, another one was when they were in their 50s, and the smaller one with his wife, was taken about 10 years ago. He passed away in 2009, and they were closer to each other than their own brothers. That friendship was wonderful.
He said he is involved in the Convention of States project and that he has given some 90+ talks for that organization. His dream was to be a major league baseball player. His school PSAL won the championship in 1949. Apparently his team was undefeated in NY city. They had a very tough and disciplined coach and this coach made sure the kids were absolutely clean and that their shoes were shining and spotless. Many commented that they looked the professional NY Yankees. Later when he was in college he was selected to try out with the NY Giants. However some leg injury prevented him from going. Then in 1952 he joined the Marine Corps. Once he came out of the Military he went into selling insurance but soon got disappointed with that and later saw that financial planning was what he really wanted to do and he saw that as the future. In 1968 he moved to CA and eventually to San Diego and retired in 2002 as a financial planner.
One of the quotes that he really enjoys is - "Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is Mystery and Today's Present is a Present".
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