Rotary Meeting Sept. 2, 2015

Posted by Bill Paul 
on Sep 06, 2015
 
(REDONDO BEACH, California) September 2, 2015 --Rotarian James Jackman provided our only craft talk today. Turns out he was originally one of two talks, but Ernie pulled out at the last moment for some reason and James had to fill in.  Good thing he is a talkative fellow!  More on his presentation later.
 
In the meantime, Jim Stickler and Chuck Anderson provided Meals-on-Wheels today. 
 
Gayle Bailey reminded us to enjoy a drink together Tuesday evenings during the entire month of September, at the Baleen Restaurant at the Portofino Hotel.  Yesterday we had eight folks from the club, or friends of club members, show up for an evening at The Baleen.  The bar there has offered to donate $1.00 to our club for every drink -- alcoholic and non-alcoholic -- they sell to Rotarians or friends between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m.
 
Gayle also announced the club's Mystery Bus Trip on October 10th. But don't ask where the trip is going, that's the "mystery" of the trip.  We have a motor coach lined up if you want to go.
 
Reminders from club President Nasrin:
 
September 12: Future Leaders Seminars with District 5280 leaders.
 
September 20: Rotary Family Picnic at the Lagoon here in Redondo Beach.  Scott Young reported we'll have a boat in the race.
 
September 26: New Focus Seminar
 
October 14: First evening meeting of the current Rotary Year at the Crowne Plaza.
 
November 14: PDG Rick Mendoza promoted the upcoming Paul Harris Annual Celebration at Lowe's Hotel in Santa Monica.
 
And now for James Jackman.  Turns out this is his third Craft Talk at our club.
 
 
 
He opened by recounting his childhood and education years from kindergarten through university, where he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. Then off to a career with Monsanto where he met Lori, his future bride.  Turns out Lori was moving around in the company and James, being the true lovebird and engineer that he is, engineered transfers for himself--at company expense, it was noted--to, where else, where Lori was newly stationed. They married in the spring of 1988. "I moved into increasingly responsible positions with the company," he said.
After 19 years with Monsanto James decided to take a fling at private enterprise.  He quickly learned there is scant money in art gallery, particularly in Phoenix, Arizona, so he switched to rehabbing homes and then home building while living there, and then on to mold remediation here in Los Angeles. The mold business lasted 10 years until he sold it recently.
 
He joined Rotary in 2003 and his sponsor was John Parsons.  James served as president of the Redondo Beach Rotary Club during the 2009-10 Rotary Year.
 
Now, James told us, he is executive coach with his wife's company specializing in startup companies.
 
Luncheon concluded at 1:30 p.m.